THE CONSULTATION INSTITUTE

ESTABLISHED 2003 - 5,000+ PROFESSIONALS TRAINED

EP-101Intermediate · Virtual workshop
Skills

Facilitation skills for engagement.

The practical skills to plan and run engagement sessions, workshops, public meetings and group discussions, that are inclusive, productive and well managed.

Book this course → See calendar
A facilitator with a microphone addressing a seated audience
1 day
Duration
£295+VAT
Public · per delegate
POA
In-house
30 CPD
Credits
Fig. 01 · Running the room
01Overview

A good facilitator makes a hard conversation feel easy.

Whether it is a public meeting, a workshop or a community forum, the quality of facilitation shapes what a session produces. Good facilitation draws people in, manages conflict and turns discussion into useful outcomes; poor facilitation wastes everyone's time.

This foundation course builds the core skills: planning a session, setting the room, drawing out quieter voices, managing dominant or difficult participants, handling conflict and capturing outcomes that get used.

02Learning outcomes

What you'll take away

Delegates leave able to plan and run effective engagement sessions.

01Plan a session with clear purpose and structure
02Set the room and the tone for participation
03Draw out quieter and reluctant voices
04Manage dominant or difficult participants
05Handle conflict calmly and fairly
06Capture outcomes that get used afterwards
03The day

Four sessions

A full day of practical facilitation skills.

09:30Planning a sessionPurpose, structure and setup.
11:00Drawing people inParticipation from everyone.
13:30Managing the roomDominant voices and conflict.
15:00Capturing outcomesMaking the session count.
04Who it's for

For anyone who runs sessions.

For officers who facilitate workshops, meetings and group discussions.

Engagement & consultation officers
Community development workers
Project managers
Policy officers
Anyone facilitating group sessions
05Continue learning
All courses →
Intermediate Making Community Engagement Meaningful Reach the people your sessions are for. View course → Intermediate Focus Groups Apply facilitation to structured research. View course → Advanced Advanced Co-production Facilitate genuine power-sharing. View course →
06Before you book

Common questions

Anything not covered here, ask us. We answer the same day.

01How many CPD points do I earn?Thirty tCI CPD points. Every virtual and face-to-face course carries 30, and points are logged against your record when you attend. Members can download a CPD statement from the membership portal at any time, and this course counts towards the taught element of a tCI qualification.
02Is it virtual or face-to-face?Open places run as a live virtual workshop, delivered in real time by a tCI trainer, never a recording. Groups stay small enough that everyone can speak, and you work in breakouts as well as listening. The same course runs face-to-face at your own offices as an in-house session.
03How long is the course?One full day, 09:30 to 16:30, in four sessions with breaks between each, opening with ‘Planning a session’ and closing with ‘Capturing outcomes’. The day is built around practical exercises rather than presentation, so you leave having worked on facilitation rather than only having heard about it.
04Can you run this in-house for our team?Yes, and it is the usual choice for teams of six or more. In-house delivery works from your sector and the consultations you have in front of you, so the facilitation exercises use your own material. We can run it in person or virtually, and split it across two half-days where a full day is hard to protect. Ask us about bespoke for a quote.
05Do I need prior experience or other courses first?No prior course is required. It is pitched at intermediate level, so it suits people who have run or commissioned engagement already. Newer practitioners do well on it too. You will simply cover some foundational ground faster than others in the room.
06Who delivers the course?A tCI trainer who specialises in facilitation practice and works in it, not only teaches it. The named trainer for each date is shown on the course calendar and confirmed in your joining instructions the week before. You can put live problems to them on the day and expect a straight answer.

Bring this workshop in-house for your whole team

The same course, reworked around the consultations your team is running.

Book this course → Enquire about bespoke
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