Staff Training Spring 2026

Sign up for CPD-accredited staff training webinars. For all higher education staff interested in student financial wellbeing and outcomes.

Every session will be useful for staff in student services. New for this series, the sessions are designed for other teams within universities and colleges to join as well - details below.

In each session, we’ll dive deep into the topic with the help of expert speakers and students themselves. You’ll gain actionable insights and have the chance to ask questions, ensuring you can solve any challenges specific to your institution too.

The schedule:

1. [PAST EVENT] Preparing students for the real cost of housing (24 March)

• Speakers: Lee Rawlinson, We Are Homes for Students and Serena Ferris, Unite Students
• Practical tips for helping students successfully budget for accommodation and easing the settling in process.
• Useful for: support services, housing departments

2. [PAST EVENT] Graduate careers in the age of AI (14 April)

• Speakers: Melanie Nethercott, STACK Infrastructure and Daniel Wilson, Amazon
• How to have conversations with students about use of AI in job applications and help them prepare for a career in the age of AI.
• Useful for: support services, careers teams

3. [PAST EVENT] Financial wellbeing for international students (5 May)

• Speakers: Deka Ahmed, Student Wellbeing Coordinator at StudentEase and international students sharing their personal experience
• Insights on the most effective financial support for international students and practical ideas to prepare them for the real cost of living in the UK, to ensure a smooth transition.
• Useful for: support services, international teams

4. Pre-arrival preparedness (26 May)

• Speakers: Alan Cook, The University of Sunderland and first-generation students sharing their personal experience
• First-gen students share how to support realistic expectations and successful budgeting. Plus, learn about the University of Sunderland’s financial readiness with Y12/Y13 students project.
• Useful for: support services, access, recruitment and outreach teams

5. Collaborating with your SU for student financial wellbeing (16 June)

• Exclusive for Blackbullion partners - this session will be held during our Annual Partner Workshop

How to join:

You'll need to register individually for each session. By registering, you will secure your free spot and receive the link to join the Zoom webinar on the day.

The final session is for Blackbullion partner universities & colleges only. There’s no need to sign up for this, the link will be sent to staff at our partner universities & colleges along with your Annual Partner Workshop information. Once you receive the link, feel free to share it with your colleagues too!

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