Every year, the Institute (tCI) hosts a conference for its Associates. This year it was held in York and was arguably our best one yet…

The conference brings together in one room, some of the best minds in the consulting industry to discuss recent information and developments in the field of public consultation.

Martyn Beeby, our Video Content Producer, has created a short video to give you a feel for what the day entails.

As many of you know, tCI has a network of carefully selected Associates who are chosen for their skills and experience in a wide range of consultation and engagement activities.

We have welcomed four new Associates to our fold, their experience spanning from the Construction industry to the Health sector. In addition, we also welcome the introduction of a sector specific Special Advisor and look forward to branching our expertise into new areas.

The day provides our Associates with a great mix of learning; exploring up to date case law to advise clients of the most recent legal precedents set by the Courts, opportunities to discuss and offer feedback on future tCI developments, such as online training and of course, plenty of socialising!

This year the focus was on three ‘hot topics’:

• International opportunities (led by Fraser Henderson)
• Independent Reconfiguration Panels (led by Paul Parsons)
• Co-Production and public engagement (led by Andy Wright)

Co-Production is currently one of the most talked about methods in public engagement and consultation and tCI is excited to offer its first training course on it next month. The Conference enabled tCI Associate and course developer, Andy Wright, the opportunity to discuss with other Associates’ the benefits of an asset based approach to consultation, valuing the input of all and developing a richer dialogue and set of solutions from an enhanced relationship with citizens. The discussions ranged from the roots of the approach in consumer behaviour, to the application of the principles in civic society, to the practical applications of the approach in consultation and engagement.

The training course which is designed for public and in-house delivery, has already seen a large uptake in bookings and is expected to be a ‘big hitter’ with clients this year.

Finally, tCI have introduced the concept of #Worksmart or smarter, an initiative to explore client’s requirements to meet best practice in smart and cost-effective ways.  It is designed to help clients understand that change management, engagement and consultation does not have to be cumbersome or risky.