Birmingham 2007

BASE conference: Birmingham 11-12 September 2007

image of conference audience This year's BASE conference took place at the Birmingham Conservatoire on 11-12 September. It was attended by 230 delegates from across the Uk and heard keynote speeches from Anne McGuire MP, Minister for Disabled People; Dianah Worman OBE, Diversity Advisor to the Chartered Institurte for Personnel and Development; and Christopher Banks CBE, Chair of the Learning and Skills Council. 24 separate workshops looked at a variety of themes and topics.

image of Shelforce logo image of Visage logo We would like to thank Birmingham City Council for their support in putting on the event and for arranging a civic reception for delegates. Thanks also go to Shelforce and the Visage project for sponsoring the conference.

View the conference brochure. The presentations are available for downloading on our member pages. All members have been issued with a user name and password to access these pages - ask your manager for details if you don't have the password.

Speakers

image of Anne McGuire Anne McGuire MP (Minister for Disabled People)
Dianah Worman OBE (Diversity Advisor, CIPD)
Christopher Banks CBE (Chair, Learning and Skills Council)

Workshops

Hidden Disabilities
Jo Todd (Key for Learning)

Making Consortia Work
Chris Barlow (Pure Innovations Ltd)

Working Interviews: An employer perspective
Sean Connell (Barclays Bank)

image of delegates Where Next for Disability and Employment? - Dr Martin Hill (Department for Work and Pensions)

Creating a Culture for Employment
Luke Joy-Smith (Brandon Trust)

The Visage Equal Project
Marion Summers (Newham MBC)

Lone Wolf - Bringing a social role valorisation perspective back to supported employment
Doug Cresswell (Pure Innovations Ltd)

Learning for Living and Work
Ellen Atkinson (Learning and Skills Council)

Welfare Benefits
Judy Scott (Independent Consultant)

image of discussion panel Panel Discussion - The Future of Factory-Based Provision
Panel members: Martin Davies (BASE); Dr Martin Hill (DWP); Tom Milner (Wigan MBC); Tony Wardle (Nottinghamshire CC)

Transitions and Further Education
Sue Goodwin and Rosa Smith (Breakaway Supported Employment)

HoursWork - Square pegs don't fit in round holes
Gina Hilton and Dave Ferrier (Pure Innovations Ltd)

Developing an Employment Focus in Mental Health Services
Neil Lowther (National Social Inclusion Programme)

Marketing Supported Employment Effectively
Fred Bowen (Bury EST) and Emma Holmes (Nottinghamshire CC)

Monitoring Distance Travelled
James Lowrey (Northumbria University) and Janine Pearson (Newcastle CC)

image of delegates Supported Employment and the Transition from College to Work
Yola Jacobsen (National Institute for Adult Continuing Education)

In Control - self directed support and employment
Jackie Lawley (In Control programme)

Article 19: Making the most of public procurement
Jack Salter (DWP), David Honeybill (Gloucestershire CC) and Robert Fairbairn (Bradford MDC)

Leaving the Local Authority and Operating at Arm's Length - Forming an ALMO
Colin Slow and Martin Davies (PLUSS)

Mentoring and Employment with Ex-Offenders
Caroline Thorpe and colleagues (Network Employment)

Partnership Between National and Local Providers
Colin Scott (Working Links)

Quality Standards in Vocational Rehabilitation
Gail Kovacs (KMG Health Partners / Vocational Rehabilitation Council)

The Work of the Office for Disability Issues
Paul McCourt and Dave McKenlay (Office for Disability Issues)

The Rehabilitation Council
Joy Reymond (UNUM)

Annual General Meeting

BASE held its annual general meeting during the conference. A number of motions were passed and these are posted on the NEC section of the members pages.