19/02/2026
Last week, the IEP hosted its inaugural Fellows Day at RSA House, London, a landmark occasion bringing together Fellowship community members for a day of inspiration, reflection, and connection. The event marked the first major Fellowship gathering of the year, combining the annual Fellows Lecture, a ‘Looking Ahead’ session, and the year’s opening Fellows Networking Dinner at Browns, Covent Garden.
An Inspiring Keynote from Dr Kenny Imafidon MBE
The centrepiece of the afternoon was the Fellows Lecture, generously sponsored by Fedcap and Get Set UK, held in the magnificent Great Room at RSA House. This year’s guest lecturer was Dr Kenny Imafidon MBE, who is an entrepreneur, author, social commentator, and co-founder and Managing Director of Clearview Research, an agency specialising in research, strategy and engagement with diverse and under-represented communities.
Dr Kenny shared a deeply personal and powerful story: as a teenager, he was falsely charged with murder, spent six months in prison, and was ultimately exonerated before the end of his trial. His account was both moving and thought-provoking, offering Fellows a candid insight into his experience within the justice system, and the resilience required to overcome it.
Central to his lecture was a challenge to the room: what does talent really look like? He encouraged Employability leaders to look beyond the obvious to recognise that talent can present itself in many different ways.
Heather Ette FIEP, Head of Marketing, Communications and Brand at IEP, said Dr Kenny Imafidon MBE delivered a genuinely inspiring Fellows Lecture: “I was particularly struck by his perspective on recognising talent and potential,” Heather said. “That it’s about more than what is visible, and that resilience, lived experience, and overcoming challenges are all part of what people bring. His insights strongly reflected the values at the heart of the Employability profession.”
Lorenzo Hall FIEP, Managing Director at Transform & Achieve, echoed this sentiment: “His powerful story was both moving and deeply insightful. Kenny challenged us to rethink the question: ‘What does talent look like?’ encouraging educators, employers, and recruiters to recognise grit, resilience, and character, especially when considering individuals with lived experience of offending.”
The lecture was hosted by Brian Bell FIEP, Chief Executive Officer of Fedcap, with an insightful Q&A session with Fellows in the room. Watch Kenny’s powerful presentation below.
Looking Ahead: Shaping the Fellowship in 2026
Following the lecture, Fellows gathered for the ‘Looking Ahead’ session, an exclusive opportunity to hear about the IEP’s plans for the year ahead. Fellows heard about new initiatives, events, and activities in development, and were encouraged to explore ways to get more involved in shaping the profession. A hosted drinks reception, courtesy of Palladium, rounded off the afternoon sessions in style.
Ruth Hanson FIEP, Head of Growth at the IEP, reflected warmly on the day: “What an inspirational day listening to our guest speaker and the exciting events and projects planned for the year ahead. All topped off with catching up with old colleagues and friends and making new connections… the passion that exists in this sector cannot be beaten.”
Fellows Networking Dinner at Browns, Covent Garden
The day concluded with the year’s opening Fellows Networking Dinner, sponsored by Clarion Futures, held in the Old Judges Chamber at Browns, Covent Garden, a venue that – as more than one attendee noted – felt particularly apt following Dr Kenny’s story, given the building’s history as the former Westminster County Court.
The sold-out dinner brought together Fellows from across the Employability sector, including representatives from the DWP, further education, local authorities, housing associations, and sector leadership, alongside aspiring Fellows joining for the evening.
David Steeds, Group Partnership Manager for London at the Department for Work and Pensions, said: “What a great evening of connecting with like-minded people with a similar passion to support all things employability. Many worthwhile conversations had and connections made with some remarkable allies, in such a beautiful setting.”
Emma Cook FIEP, Managing Director at Cognisoft, added: “As always it’s lovely to catch up with colleagues and friends from the sector, and have the opportunity to reflect and discuss the key issues affecting the sector today. Thanks to Angela Ramage AIEP for her tireless organisation, creating a brilliant day and for looking after everyone so well.”
Monique Smith FIEP, Operations Manager at Standguide Group, summed up the feeling of many in attendance: “It was good to hear all of the great work and events the IEP have coming up. It made me think I need to do more!”
A Day to Remember
Our thanks go to all who attended, and to our generous sponsors: Fedcap and Get Set UK for the Fellows Lecture, Palladium for the drinks reception, and Clarion Futures for the Fellows Dinner.
We look forward to seeing you at the next Fellowship event — and to everything the year ahead holds.
If you missed the lecture, or would like to watch it again, the recording will be available shortly. To request access, please email events@iemployability.org
For upcoming IEP events view our schedule here
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