Welcoming words

In welcoming delegates on the eve of the conference to a reception at the House of Commons, hosted by Dari Taylor, MP, Baroness Blackstone praised the work of the LCN and its many achievements. She also commented on the timeliness of the conference given that the Learning and Skills Bill was currently before Parliament.

From the buzz of animated conversation emanating from the Commons terrace, it didn't take long for delegates to get down to the serious business of networking - perhaps the greatest benefit of these events.

Baroness Blackstone

Some 200 delegates reconvened on the following morning at Lord's Cricket Ground, the conference venue. Duncan Sones, Chief Executive of the National Training Organisation, METIER, had the 'honourable' task of chairing the day's events. In his opening address, he made it clear that this was not going to be a conference of talking from the platform and nodding heads, but one that would mobilise the participants and set the agenda for the future.

Hilary Whaley, Chair of the Learning City Network, gave an overview of the conference and reflected on how, in the short space of five years, the LCN has grown from six affiliates to 33 and is still growing by the month. She explained that the organisation's aim was to represent its affiliates on the ground in a practical way, and that its priorities would always be to promote lifelong learning, regeneration and the exchange of best practice between cities, towns and communities. She hoped that the conference workshops would provide an opportunity for delegates to share experiences and gain an insight into what was happening nationally. For the future, the LCN would continue to build strategic links with Learning Partnerships and the DfEE.

LCN Directors and staff
(Left to Right) Martin Yarnit, Co-Director, David McNulty, Deputy Chair, Karen Shepperson, Secretariat, Kim Harrington, Co-Director, and Hilary Whaley, Chair.