Teachers and Advisors Conference 2025

About the conference

The conference will be a great opportunity to gather more information to help you support your students through the university application process. You will hear from colleagues across both universities, current students, and also guest speakers including UCAS, Student Finance England and UniTasterDays.

Date: Friday 27 June 2025
Time: 9am to 3.30pm
Location: The Wave
Directions: Google Maps / Apple Maps

Book your place

Please note that bookings will close at 5pm on Friday 23rd May.

Programme

Our conference programme is focused on supporting you to support your students, while also helping you to learn more about both institutions and the fantastic city of Sheffield. You will hear key sector updates from our fantastic guest speakers, and have the chance to chat to current students, faculty colleagues and student recruitment teams.

Our breakout sessions will allow you to tailor your conference experience and select topics most appropriate to you.

We will be in contact prior to the conference for you to select your preferred breakout sessions. 

Please note that the programme is subject to change.

Schedule

9.00 to 9.30am
Arrival and refreshments

9.30 to 10am
Welcome talk

10am to 10.30am

Keynote from Samantha Sykes, Lead for Schools and Colleges at UCAS

Key insights from the latest application cycle, along with essential updates for 2026, including changes to Personal Statements and what to expect during Confirmation and Clearing.

10.45am to 11.15am

Breakout session one

Option 1 - Studying at the Russell Group: Research

Delivered by Dr Adam Hodgson, Senior Lecturer of Genetics and Founding Director of The Julia Garnham Centre

Find out more about how studying at a research intensive university can benefit your students. This presentation will explore how improving the student experience by fine tuning the balance between autonomy, competence and integration has helped us to scale up the opportunities we can provide to our students, which in turn has bolstered and broadened our impact in genomic healthcare. 

Find out more about Dr Adam's research. 

Option 2 - A Problem Shared... Access at the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University

Delivered by Damon Ghasemi, Access Officer and Jenny Lawton-Hunt, Senior Student Access Officer

In this quick-fire session, you'll gain an understanding of current progression rates and discuss with peers the challenges your students face, and that we face as a sector. You will come away with tangible ideas of how to help, and the reminder that we are stronger together. 

This session will be facilitated by both universities’ Access teams

Option 3 - How your students can explore universities with limited budget

Delivered by Simon Fairbanks, Head of Community Engagement (UniTasterDays)

This session will offer resources (and reassurance) to help your students research universities on a limited budget. We'll look at cost-effective ways to visit a university in person, including where to find fully-funded travel scholarships. You'll also discover a treasure trove of online tools to allow your students to explore universities from the comfort of their own home, without spending a penny.

Option 4 - Enterprise Education and its value in a fast-moving world

Delivered by Asif Majid, Associate Head, Sheffield Business School (Sheffield Hallam University)

This session will explore the value of Enterprise Education and how to embed enterprise education at your school or college.  It will discuss how adopting this approach can help to develop and entrepreneurial mindset and develop a learner’s entrepreneurial skills, whilst also building confidence and identifying talents for business leaders of tomorrow.

11.30am to 12.15pm

Panel Q&A 

An opportunity to put your questions to our expert panel of colleagues across both institutions around the current landscape and future of HE.

The panel will be hosted by Chris Stead, Student Recruitment Officer for Yorkshire and Humber at the University of Sheffield, and feature contributions from: 

• Jon Coe, Head of Student Recruitment and Events (University of Sheffield)
• Nicola Marsden, Associate Director of Student Recruitment and Access (Sheffield Hallam University)
• David Broomby, Head of Undergraduate Admissions (University of Sheffield)
• Heather Macleod Jones, Head of Access (University of Sheffield)
• Dr Phil Bloor, Associate Director of Admissions (Sheffield Hallam University)

12.15pm to 1.30pm 

Lunch and Marketplace

During our lunchtime marketplace you will have the opportunity to speak to a wide range of colleagues from the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, including our Access and Student Support teams. You can also speak to representatives from external organisations, including: UniTasterDays, Higher Education Progression Partnership (HEPP), Student Finance England, The Elephant Group. There will also be an opportunity to catch some fresh air outside on a walk around Weston Park. 

1.30pm to 2pm 

Keynote from Charmaine Valente, Funding Information Manager at the Student Loans Company

An overview of government changes and announcements. Providing a presentation resource that can be used with your students and parents, and end by covering data on student applications.

2.15pm to 2.45pm

Breakout session two

Option 1 - Studying at the Russell Group: Research

Delivered by Dr Adam Hodgson, Senior Lecturer of Genetics and Founding Director of The Julia Garnham Centre

Deploying the theory of self determination to join higher education and healthcare in Sheffield at the Julia Garnham Centre has created a sustainable model for workforce development, societal and educational impact.  This presentation will explore how improving the student experience by fine tuning the balance between autonomy, competence and integration has helped us to scale up the opportunities we can provide to our students, which in turn has bolstered and broadened our impact in genomic healthcare. 

Find out more about Dr Adam's research. 

Option 2 - A Problem Shared... Access at the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University

Delivered by Damon Ghasemi, Access Officer and Jenny Lawton-Hunt, Senior Student Access Officer

In this quick-fire session, you'll gain an understanding of current progression rates and discuss with peers the challenges your students face, and that we face as a sector. You will come away with tangible ideas of how to help, and the reminder that we are stronger together. 

This session will be facilitated by both universities’ Access teams.

Option 3 - Using Super-Curriculars to Strengthen Personal Statements

Delivered by Jayne Taylor, CEO (The Elephant Group)

Discover how to support students in selecting and reflecting on super-curricular activities to enhance the new personal statements format, demonstrating subject engagement and readiness for university study.
 

Option 4 - Apprenticeship or full-time study? Helping students and influencers navigate the options

Delivered by James Barraclough, Head of Student Recruitment Engagement and Clair Fellows, Student Recruitment Engagement Manager  (Sheffield Hallam University)

The growth and popularity of higher apprenticeships has seen many learners choose this route as their preferred post L3 option.  However, with demand often exceeding supply, this session will explore the difference between the two routes and how to support students and their families make informed decisions about their next steps.

3pm to 3.30pm

Faculty focus

Take the opportunity to chat to University of Sheffield faculty colleagues as well as the Sheffield Hallam University student recruitment team. There will be University of Sheffield colleagues available to represent Arts & Humanities, Engineering, Science, Social Sciences and Health, as well as the collaborative 'Health in Sheffield' from both institutions.

3.30pm

Close and optional campus and/or city tour

As the conference comes to a close, we will take the opportunity to showcase future opportunities to engage with both institutions so that you and your students can stay connected with us. You may then take an optional campus tour around the University of Sheffield, or take part in a Sheffield City walking tour back to the train station, led by our fantastic student ambassadors. 

Travel Bursary

We aim to make our conference as accessible as possible, and therefore will be offering an optional travel bursary to support you attending the conference. Please indicate on the sign-up form if you require travel bursary support and travel time, and we will be in touch with further information.

Book your place

To confirm your place, please complete our booking form. 

Please note that bookings will close at 5pm on Friday 23rd May.