BACK this year - CLASS Network Conference 2016. Half-day networking meeting for all PSS. Places on the workshops are limited, so don't delay, register today!

This year's event will be opened by our guest speaker - Sue France (FCIPD, FInstAM, INLPTA) who will be delivering her talk on "Understanding the science of brain efficiency for PSS" where she will teach you a technique to help you take control of your subconscious emotional mind and give you tips and techniques to help you in your everyday role by optimising how your brain works well.

Sue has been an assistant at every level, including at board level for 30 years, as well as a training manager to over 600 executive assistants at a global accountancy firm and now owns Sue France Training for office professionals since 2009. She is a world-renowned motivational training, one-to-one coach and continues to conduct workshops for assistants in 21 countries, including the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, America and Europe.

She is author of two best-selling books: "The definitive personal assistant & secretarial handbook" - the 3rd edition now includes neuroscience and "The definitive executive assistant & managerial handbook". Both books have been endorsed by the Institute of Administrative Management and are used on business administration courses and by secretarial colleges, and Sue's books will be available to buy at a discounted price at this event.

Coffee, cake and networking will follow our guest speaker and after this you can take part in your choice of TWO exciting workshops.

Workshop Options

Workshop 1: Pilates - Gail Heathcote-Milner - Pilates is a great form of exercise which keeps you strong, mobile and flexible. The taster sessions will be a basic Pilates class, particularly focussing on good posture and how to manage neck and shoulder pain.

Gail has been teaching in the Fitness industry for 30 years and qualified as a Pilates teacher in 1999. I’m sure some of you have already tried some of her classes. Come along to this taster session on Pilates.

Workshop 2: Button Jewellery - Zoe James - Everyone loves buttons! BUT what do you do with “that” box that we all have lying around? During this session you will learn jewellery making techniques working with wire, chains and buttons to create a beautiful button necklace to take away. You will be able to use the skills to continue making jewellery with your collections at home!

Zoe studied three dimensional design at University focussing on jewellery design. After graduating in 2009 she became self-employed delivering jewellery-making workshops both for adults and in schools as well as creating her own work too. She has worked freelance in several venues in and around Manchester. Zoe has also trained as a secondary art teacher and works teaching 11-16 year olds in Bury, Greater Manchester.

Workshop 3: Calm & Clementine - Mary Walsh - These sessions will be an introduction to mindfulness practice and to some relaxation techniques. They will offer practical ways of getting into a state of calm energy; will offer simple stress management tools for use in everyday situations; you will be introduced to a variety of specific meditation practices and some relaxation techniques, such as breath awareness to manage everyday stressful situations.

Mary is a senior counsellor in the University of Manchester Counselling Service. She has taught mindfulness at the University for 13 years and runs many groups and workshops related to mood and stress as well as organising Wellbeing events.

Workshop 4: Colour therapy - Pat Groocock - Let a little colour into your life in this taster session to learn more about what colour can do for you. Colour is an important aspect in fashion and wellbeing, as well as style. Get it right and you can feel and look good, but do we know enough about colour and what the right colour shade is for us? Which hue gives us the confidence, balance, a boost I our well being – this taster should answer some questions.

Pat worked for the University for 21 years, where for 16 years she worked as a PA for a colour chemist in Textiles. She became very interested in all aspects of colour/chemistry and enjoyed typing reports and documents relating to colour and its chemistry with fabrics. When she left, she undertook a short course on colour in London with Colour Affects, so that she could carry out one-to-one sessions and be able to classify which group of colours would complement a person. She also understands that each colour can have a physical effect on us, giving a greater appreciation of each colour and why you wear that particular colour.

Workshop 5: Hula Hooping - Julie (Hoops) This workshop will take delegates through some basic hooping postures to get them going and work through moving and grooving with the hoops. Some off-body hooping will be tried and if time, maybe a trick or two at the end of the session.

Julie has been teaching hula hooping for five years and teaches hoop dancing and fitness to both children and adults. She also does kids and hen parties with the hoops. Julie performs with LED and fire hoops (though not at our CLASS event!) and takes the love of hooping to festivals throughout the summer months.