Speaker: Sarah Allen, Institute of Technical Skills and Strategy (ITSS)

This session is open to all staff and students and is particularly relevant for early career researchers or anyone seeking to strengthen their networking skills as part of their Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Networking can often feel uncomfortable or carry unhelpful connotations. This workshop will explore practical and realistic approaches to building professional relationships in ways that feel purposeful and manageable. The focus will be on identifying strategies that work for you and developing achievable actions to strengthen your professional network.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the benefits of networking
• Identify forms of networking and relationship building that suit their style and context
• Evaluate their current network and develop a practical plan for next steps

To prepare, participants are asked to reflect on three recent networking opportunities, considering what went well and what they found more challenging. Please ensure you have access to a device with a microphone and camera to gain the most from this interactive session.