The ABPCO Festival of Learning
Connect, Collaborate and Challenge
Bringing the association events community together to promote & encourage excellence, share, learn & collaborate
The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers, (ABPCO) is the UK’s leading professional body for association conference & not-for-profit event organisation. We are excited to announce that the Festival of Learning event iwill be taking place in person on Tuesday 29 April 2025 at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham, with a networking supper and event tech showcase the evening prior.
Connecting Event Professionals - The Festival of Learning will be attended by over 100 leading PCOs in the UK and a range of industry partners.
Please see the schedule for the full action-packed programme
If you have any queries email Heather Lishman on heatherlishman@abpco.org.
Interested in sponsorship?
This annual gathering attracts industry leaders, association professionals, and key decision-makers, offering a unique platform to enhance your brand's visibility, engage with influential stakeholders, and contribute to the future of professional conferences and events.
Align your brand with innovation and excellence at the ABPCO Festival of Learning!
We would like to thank ACC Liverpool for being our Student Support Sponsor again this year - we will have 5 places for event management students to attend the Festival fully supported. If you are interested please send a 1 min video explaining why you should be one of those students, to heatherlishman@abpco.org by the 1st Feb 25.
We would also like to thank Cvent our event app sponsor, Harrogate Convention Centre for sponsoring our refreshments and Eastside Rooms for sponsoring the Networking Supper.
We still have a few sponsorship opportunities left, and would be delighted to speak to you about these.
See the SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES here
Monday 28th April
6.30-7pm - ABPCO first-timers - join us for a pre-meet and introductions
From 7pm - At the Eastside Rooms - join us for a newtworking supper and event tech showcase (full details available in the New Year)
Tuesday 29th April
9.30 – Welcome from Jo Powel, MC and the ABPCO chairs
9.50 – Venue and sponsor welcome
10.00 – Panel - 'State of the industry', chaired by Suzanne with Paul Black (Visit Britain) , Robert Wright (Davies Tanner), Sandra Eyre (MIA) and Rick Stainton (the Power of Events)
10.40 – Robert Dunsmore – out of the box – creative thinking session. A learning experience to prove out of the box thinking is for everyone, the beauty and utility of new ideas and how rapid idea generation is good for business.
11.15 – Break
11.45 – Tackling the Talent Crisis: Recruitment and Retention Strategies for the Events and Hospitality Industry – panel discussion with Pauline Beattie, Candice Kass, Gemma Savage and Sarah Millington
12.25 – PCO led quick-fire sessions
- Delivering an event certified to ISO 20121 sustainable event management – Influencing for Impact - Jessica Penney and David Murray from BSI
- Silent Success: How We Transformed the Exhibition Floor into a Sponsorship Powerhouse - Zackary Puttock, Association of Anaesthetists
- Building our sustainable society (BOSS) programme: Fostering inclusive collaboration – Nicole Leida, MCI UK
1pm – Lunch and networking
2pm – Energiser
2.10 pm – Beyond compliance – transforming Events through inclusion and wellbeing – panel; Gabby Austin-Browne, Helen Moon and Kaylie Hodges
2.40pm – PCO led quick-fire sessions
- Circular steps, carbon savings: How the circular economy hotspot 2024 cut carbon and boosted sustainability – Judith Dix (Conf Care) and Charlotte Homa (Freshwater)
- Meeting Needs - an update from Caroline Windsor, TFI Lodestar
- Stronger Together: The Essential Role of Teams in Event Legacy Success – Caroline Mackenzie – the Hip Preservation Society
- Fostering Professional Growth and Community Engagement: Lessons from the BMFMS 2024 Conference – Alice Paines, Outsourced Events
3.25pm – coffee break
3.45 - How To Forge Ahead - A Lived Experience Mental Health Playbook! Nick Elston - this keynote is a unique opportunity to learn real-world techniques grounded in lived experience. Nick will be sharing strategies that have worked for him and many others to overcome mental health struggles, navigate imposter syndrome, and thrive. Through storytelling and practical takeaways, Nick aims to empower attendees to develop their own “mental health playbook” they can turn to in challenging times.
4.25 – Summing up
4.30 - Close
Delegate Terms and Conditions
Delegate Terms and Conditions
Cancellation or postponement of event
In the unlikely circumstance that ABPCO has to cancel the event, we will refund the full cost of any pre-paid registration fees. ABPCO shall not be liable for reimbursing the cost of travel or accommodation arrangements booked by those attending an ABPCO event.
In the event of a postponement, all tickets will automatically be valid for the new date, or transferable to someone else in the same ticket pricing bracket. Refunds will be available if you are unable to make the new event date.
ABPCO reserve the right to change the event venue within 10 miles of the advertised venue.
Cancellation of attendance at an event
Please let us know if you cannot attend an ABPCO event as soon as possible by emailing heatherlishman@abpco.org
Where a fee has been charged, you will be reimbursed as follows:
- For cancellations on or prior to 28 March 2024, a 50% refund will be given.
- For cancellations received on or between 28 March 2024 and 28 April 2024, no refund will be given, but name substitutions can be made at any time.
To cancel a booking email heatherlishman@abpco.org
Name changes
Tickets are transferable: it will be possible to amend the name on your ticket to a colleague within the same ticket pricing bracket at any time.
To arrange for a name change contact heatherlishman@abpco.org
Payments and payment methods
From 19 April 2024 onwards, only credit card payments will be accepted for new bookings. If we have not received payment to cover the total cost of all bookings under your contact details on or before 19 Aptil 2024, we reserve the right to refuse entry to the event.
Force Majeure
For the purposes of these terms and conditions, "force majeure" means any cause beyond our reasonable control including, but not limited to, war, acts of terrorism, governmental requirements, acts of local or central government or other competent authorities, acts of God and industrial disputes.
We will not be liable to you for failure to perform any obligation under these terms and conditions or in relation to your booking to the extent that the failure is caused by force majeure.
Conditions of attendance
You must comply with instructions and directions given by staff, ABPCO and stewards and agents of the venue (where relevant) and any applicable policies and procedures of which you are notified.
We reserve the right to refuse access to, or remove any delegate from any ABPCO event who, in our reasonable opinion has, or is likely to affect the experience of the other delegates, in our reasonable opinion is acting under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or who behaves in a manner which may cause a breach of the peace.
ABPCO is dedicated to creating and maintaining a positive event experience where everyone is treated with dignity, courtesy and respect.
Any discriminatory language and imagery are not appropriate at any ABPCO event, including in presentation material. Violation of these rules could result in exclusion from the event without a refund.
ABPCO are committed to and actively encourage diversity and promote inclusion and accessibility at our events.
We value the participation of each individual and want everybody to have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. All communication and behaviour should therefore be appropriate for a professional audience.
By attending an ABPCO event, you’re agreeing to respect and be kind to everybody, regardless of their gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other aspect of what they look like, where they come from or who they are.
For further information and our full code of conduct please visit our website here.