8/12/2025
The IEP Annual General Meeting (AGM), held online on Thursday 4 December and kindly sponsored by Palladium (Make it Possible), brought together our members, partners, Fellows, and practitioners from across the employability sector for what many described as our most inspiring and celebratory AGM to date.
Presented by our host Henry Rosewall from CHAOS Digital, the AGM captured the essence of what the IEP community does best: learning together, championing excellence, and celebrating the people who make our profession stronger every year.
This spirit of community and progress is also at the heart of the IEP 2025 Impact Report, which highlights “one of the most significant periods of growth, innovation and global impact in the history of the IEP.” From record-breaking Basecamp attendance to global Centres of Excellence, strengthened career pathways and expanded learning, the AGM brought these achievements to life, with the members who powered them at the centre of it all.
Scott Parkin’s Year in Review
Opening the event, Scott Parkin FIEP, Group CEO at IEP, presented the Year in Review, sharing highlights from a truly defining year for the profession, with strengthened learning pathways, expanded CPD, UK-wide and international events, and continued work across the UK, Australia, Sweden, Canada and the Gulf.
AGM attendees also heard from Caroline Bostock FIEP, Director of Employability and Community Services at Palladium, who shared insights into the organisation’s employability work, and their Refugee programme which you can find out more about in this report.
Giving 100 Percent Every Day: Recognising Member Achievements
One of the standout parts of the event was a celebration of members’ achievements across learning, mentoring, Basecamp and the IEP Learning Awards, featuring contributions from:
- Jessie De Burgh Hemming MIEP, Strategic Engagement Manager at G4S Employment Support Services – Employer Solutions Learner of the Year
- Tiffany Bennett MAIEP, Talent Acquisition Manager at Trigon Recruitment – Member Ambassador of the Year
- Khatera Ahmad MIEP, Employment Advisor at Belina Consulting Ltd – Member of the Year
These inspiring practitioners were also recognised by colleagues on LinkedIn. Craig Doyle FIEP, Trigon Recruitment, praised Tiffany Bennett’s passion:
“Tiff gives 100 percent every day… always happy to go the extra mile… The IEP helps standardise and professionalise the sector and Tiff’s passion was evident for all to see.”
Robert Howe MAIEP, also from Trigon Recruitment, added:
“Particularly proud of our resident Member Ambassador of the Year… your genuine passion for our sector spoke for itself!”
A big thank you also goes to Jacob Hill from Offploy and Matt Gurr MAIEP, from Elevate Employment Services for their wonderful video contributions sharing what the IEP means to them and the importance of professional development to them personally and professionally.
Mentoring partnerships and the IEP Learning Academy showcase
The AGM highlighted the growth of the UK-wide mentoring programme, featuring Niki Freeman FIEP (mentor) and Joe McKenzie MIEP (mentee). This sits within a broader shift outlined in the Impact Report: clearer membership pathways, expanded recognition, and stronger support for practitioners at every stage of their careers.
The IEP Learning Academy Showcase, led by Shelley Nelson FIEP and Candice Fanning FIEP, reinforced how learning continues to be a core strength of the Institute. Candice’s contribution to the AGM drew praise across the sector, including her own widely shared reflection:
“I am so passionate about the work we do… supporting people with complex needs to move forward, find confidence, and thrive… Every learner, every story, every breakthrough… it matters. And I absolutely love what I do.”
This deep commitment to practitioner excellence is mirrored throughout the Impact Report, with record engagement in CPD, redesigned qualifications, expanded eLearning, new IPS and trauma-informed learning, and a strengthened Quality Improvement Framework used globally.
‘These Two Sectors Share Far More Than They Differ’
Throughout the AGM, one theme echoed repeatedly: the strength of the IEP community.
On LinkedIn, Tina Lacey MIEP described the AGM as:
“Brilliant… Great insights, highlights and achievements… with music, Basecamp and award winners’ spotlights.”
Naomi Higby, Careers Advisor, shared a powerful reflection on the unity between employability and careers guidance, concluding:
“Attending the IEP AGM today reinforces what I’ve already come to appreciate… these two sectors share far more than they differ.”
This sense of belonging is central to the Impact Report’s message: the IEP is a professional home rooted in shared standards, collaboration and a global network united in helping people move into good work.
Patrick Hughes FIEP – Chair at Lewisham College, Events Content Director at IEP, and Director at Salientwork Ltd – said this was “One of the best AGMs I’ve been to over the years in different organisations.”
The Road to 2026: Summit, Basecamp, and expanded Learning
The AGM closed with Scott Parkin FIEP and Chair Pat Russell FIEP outlining an ambitious and exciting programme for 2026, aligned with the Forward Plan featured in the Impact Report. Members can expect:
- Expanded IEP Talks Online and IEP Talks Live
- New Fellows Dinners and leadership opportunities
- Broader international collaboration
- The launch of the Career & Capability Framework
- The IEP Summit 2026 and Basecamp 2026
- More CPD, more learning, more opportunities to connect
The event concluded with festive cheer and the announcement of the Christmas Hamper Prize Draw winner: Niki Freeman FIEP, Assistant Director of Employability and Justice at Acorn Training – Congratulations Niki!!
A well-deserved and joyful end to a celebratory afternoon.
A Final Word
The IEP AGM 2025 was more than a meeting – it was a celebration of the people who make our profession what it is. As the Impact Report reflects, this year has been transformative for the Institute, driven entirely by the commitment, dedication and passion of its members.
Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, shared reflections, supported colleagues, and helped make this our most community-centred AGM yet.
Your Institute. Your Voice. Your Future.
Watch the AGM & Explore the Impact Report
📺 Watch the full AGM livestream: https://vimeo.com/1143464180/6da44fbebd
📘 Read the full IEP Impact Report 2025: https://www.myiep.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMPACT_REPORT_NOVEMBER_2025.pdf