9/09/2025
Building on its triumph at the 2024 Association Success Awards, where it claimed the title of Best New Event, IEP Basecamp is set to return on 2nd October 2025 at The Lowry in Salford Quays, Manchester. Basecamp continues to stand as the only event of its kind for the UK Employability sector, created for frontline employability professionals.
IEP Basecamp 2025 promises to be more than just another event. It’s a space where the employability community comes together to connect, share ideas and build skills. With actionable insights, real-world tools, and cutting-edge thinking at its core, Basecamp is designed to help practitioners deliver better outcomes for the people they support.
Compére Extraordinaire
We are delighted that Dan Howard FIEP, Partnership Development Director at Lifetime Training and a multi-award-winning senior leader in the post-16 education, skills, and Employability sector will be returning as our host for the day. With his distinguished career spanning from Employability programmes supporting the long-term unemployed to his current role with England’s largest apprenticeship education provider, Dan brings a wealth of experience and passion for social mobility to the event and not to mention more than a little pzazz.
As a Fellow of the IEP and holder of key positions across multiple professional organisations, Dan’s commitment to staying at the forefront of sector developments makes him the perfect guide for this year’s proceedings.
Practical Seminars for Real-World Impact
The seminar programme has been carefully crafted to address the most pressing challenges facing employability professionals:
‘Barrier Busters: Tackling Complex Needs with Confidence’ returns by popular demand, offering an interactive ‘gameshow-style’ session that puts practitioners in the hot seat to explore complex participant needs through live quizzes and expert panels.
‘Leading Through Coaching: Skills to Influence, Support and Grow’ introduces coaching as a core tool for influence, whether you’re guiding participants or leading a team, with hands-on demonstrations and practical tips.
‘Global Perspectives, Local Impact: What the World Can Teach Us’ draws inspiration from the IEP’s international network, showcasing how frontline teams worldwide are using data, innovation, and inclusive practice to improve job matching and deliver results.
‘Employer Engagement in Action: Building Bridges to Work’ focuses on building confidence, credibility, and connections when working with employers, covering what matters most to hiring managers and how to communicate participant needs professionally.
Throughout the day we’ll be weaving in insights on AI in employability, exploring its impact and opportunities, with contributions from our Fellow of the Year and AI development partner, Earlybird AI’s Claudine Adeyemi-Adams FIEP.
Strong Industry Support
The continued support from headline sponsor Ingeus, now in its third year, demonstrates the sector’s commitment to professional development. As Julie Graham FIEP, CEO of Employment Services for Ingeus, said: “IEP Basecamp offers a unique platform for frontline practitioners and first line managers to stay informed on the latest trends, tools, and techniques in the sector.”
Additional support comes from Human Fuel sponsor The Digital College and Drinks Reception sponsor Whitehead Ross, reflecting the broad industry backing for this vital professional development opportunity.
IEP Learning Awards
A highlight of IEP Basecamp 2025 will be the IEP Learning Awards, celebrating outstanding practitioners and organisations that have demonstrated excellence in learning and development across the employability sector. We are grateful to our sponsors – CogniSoft, Serco, Ingeus, and Whitehead Ross Education — for their generous support in making these awards possible. As we await the announcement of the finalists for both the Learning Awards and the prestigious Member of the Year Award, we look forward to revealing and celebrating the winners on the day.