Return of Learn: The low down of Learnfest 2024.
Blog written by Hannah Williams, Marketing Graduate on the 2024 cohort of the Together Academy.
Every day’s a school day, and when you’re working at Together life isn’t any different.
Learnfest at Together lets colleagues take control of their development, and get excited about education by bringing the workplace together throughout a week-long learning and development programme. Are you someone who likes to lead your own learning? Here’s a recap of Learnfest 2024…
The what and why of Learnfest
Learnfest is a time for employees to grow their skills. It encourages learning and development, with access to bite-sized, extra-curricular training opportunities all week. From personal to professional growth, Learnfest offers a chance to spend time away from desks and get stuck in to a whole host of engaging activities; such as lectures, workshops, how to sessions and webinars.
Working on technical skills, personal development, wellbeing and growing your network within the workplace, Learnfest touches everyone working at Together. Graduates and apprentices rub shoulders with heads of departments and the Exec Team, and everyone is invited across the whole business – so, no matter where you are (or where you want to be) on the career ladder, Learnfest is an immersive experience celebrating and building on the community started here 50 years ago.
Session snippets
With 1,173 hours dedicated to learning across the week, here’s a little round up of just some of the events that took place.
- How to cope with imposter syndrome: Getting the week underway, this session invited everyone to face the very real experience of imposter syndrome that many come across at some point in their career. The session got participants to see their inner saboteur for what it really is (spoiler alert: it’s a liar). Host, Cathe Watson, equipped attendees with strategies to divert the mind’s path into more positive thought processes, therefore enabling you to reach your full career potential.
- In conversation with our Chair: Mike McTighe: A Teams meeting connected over the pond for a conversation with Mike McTighe, who has been Together’s Chair for fourteen years. A question and answer session provided insights into his career path, the challenges he has overcome on his journey and how his relationship with Together began. The candid conversation compared the positives and negatives of his commitment to working, and how work/life balance looks different for everyone.
- Lean In Learnfest with Service Modernisation: Along with the graduate and apprentice academy, Together provides the Lean Academy. The Together Lean Service Modernisation team, hosted an interactive session, for beginners intrigued about Lean – a framework to simplify processes for business change which, at first, sounds intimidating. But, using a step by step approach, the team explained their operations using Percy Pigs and catapults. The Lean team gave an introduction into their department and sparked interest for further learning and accreditation.
- Empowered to win: Inspiring teams and achieving success with Club President Steve Bellis, Director of Football Simon Wilson, and player Kyle Knoyle from Stockport County FC: Having the courage to continue, Stockport County Football Club rose from National League North all the way to League One. As guest speakers and a partner of Together, they shared their story of inspiring teams and achieving success. Despite the inspiring journey so far, the club has not stopped pushing forward, kicking down the barriers and striving to achieve their ambitions. The talk gave insight into transferable skills from pitch to office.
The value of Learnfest
Learnfest holds importance to everyone at Together. It brings a unique buzz, and, as one of the many benefits Together offers, colleagues from all corners of the business feel the value. With, Chief Commercial Officer, Ryan Etchells, saying:
“I think Learnfest is a demonstration of the business’ commitment to development and growth. The fact we put a week aside and encourage colleagues to get involved in as much learning as possible is something I’ve not come across in other organisations. But it has to be the centrepiece to a wider culture of learning and development.
The business has set a strategic priority to invest in its people and I think we have the plans in place to achieve this, with Learnfest being a demonstration of those plans in action. I’m hopeful that we can demonstrate this commitment to learning and development throughout the year as the business is truly only as successful as the people that work within it.”
Fouzia Shami, a software engineering graduate currently in her first year of the Together academy, offered her thoughts about Learnfest too.
“Learnfest has been an invaluable experience for me as a graduate software engineer. The variety of sessions, from building credit scores to overcoming imposter syndrome, really highlights the company’s commitment to holistic employee development. It’s not just about the technical skills, but about empowering individuals to grow personally and professionally.
This focus on development has helped make settling into the company very smooth, and I appreciate how Learnfest brings people from different roles together to learn, collaborate and thrive. I believe events like this play a key role in fostering a culture where everyone feels supported and encouraged to achieve their best.”
Check out what it’s like here on our working at Together page, and see how our benefits and culture help to promote a workplace that’s inclusive, respectful, and fun.
See what we offerEducation here might look different to the traditional exams, chalk boards and text books. Together is teaching the exciting skills and knowledge to grow careers. With Learnfest offering a helping hand.
Do you want to join us at the next Learnfest? To find out more about what Together has to offer and what it’s like working within our community, read more about us.
