As part of the programme, students benefit from a variety of concentrated, day-long sessions focused on the vital skills they will need to excel as outstanding policy professionals.
Each session is hosted by a professional expert, which in past years has included former politicians, speechwriters and contributors to elite business and management programmes.
Offered in addition to our academic teaching, each session is designed to bridge the gap between sophisticated theory and effective practice and give students the opportunity to develop the skills required of highly capable public policy professionals.
Previous sessions have included those on professional leadership, decision making, negotiation and persuasive communication and have been hosted by experts such as Phillip Collins, author and former speechwriter to a British Prime Minister, and Sir Vince Cable, author and former leader of the UK Liberal Democrats.
Students also have the opportunity to enrol to achieve a Professional Skills Accelerator Certificate. This involves writing a short reflective essay, attendance at four skills sessions and providing in-depth feedback to the Director of the Professional Skills Accelerator.
The SPP Professional Skills Accelerator cohort 2022
Sir Vince Cable delivering a session on 'How to be a politician'.