Promotion and dissemination

Why we do it

Our promotion and dissemination work allows us to reach key audiences directly and through intermediaries. Through events, training, conferences and publications we work to engage with and improve practice across the field. Our campaigns effectively engage with intermediaries and learners to highlight opportunities and raise awareness of the benefitsof learning. Working with partners enables us to reach new audiences, develop new ways of working and supports our advocacy work with complementary messages.

What we do

Our broad range of promotion and dissemination activities are a crucial element in raising awareness of and securing impact for all of NIACE’s work. We engage with a wide and varied audience with the aim of increasing participation in learning, particularly in under-represented groups. We help to improve the quality of practice in the sector through our campaigning, publishing, conferences, events and training programmes. Working with key strategic partners enhances our advocacy and development work, helps us to reach wider audiences and deliver key messages to decision-makers and influences.

Our achievements in 2011-12

• During Adult Learners’ Week we secured Ministerial attendance at the National Awards ceremony, with the Secretary of State delivering a keynote address and presenting awards to three project winners and the young adult learner of the year. Following the ceremony, John Hayes, then Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, hosted a reception for a selection of winners in his offce at the House of Commons.
• We published 75 products for the funded projects carried out by NIACE or for commercial sale. 78,000 copies of our publications were sold to customers in 52 countries worldwide.
• Our conferences, events and training team organised 145 events that engaged with 4537 participants directly. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, opened the NIACE conference on Young Care Leavers on 9 February 2012 in London. The conference examined the impact and effectiveness of measures put in place to support young care leavers into work and learning with youth unemployment having exceeding one million.
• Working in partnership with the Open University, our annual Policy Conference during Adult Learners’ Week focused on widening participation. The conference featured contributions from John Hayes, Gordon Marsden (Shadow Minister for Further Education, Skills and Regional Growth), and Baroness Sharp of Guildford along with insights into experiences of widening participation from BT, Hammerson plc, the Workers’ Educational Association and a successful graduate of the Open University.

Our key objectives for 2012-13

• Deliver high-quality campaigns to engage learners and intermediaries and support the delivery of NIACE’s strategic priorities and themes.
• Develop a learner ambassador scheme to support our advocacy work, alongside the development of the relationship with NIACE’s Senior Research Fellows and Senior Associates.
• Deliver a new commercial publications plan, developing new products, reaching new customers and markets, and increasing income and impact for NIACE.
• Develop partnerships to support NIACE’s strategic priorities and themes, diversify income streams and better disseminate key messages to new and more diverse audiences.
• Develop a conference, events and training programme to support the strategic goals of the organisation and increase the size and breadth of our audience.