08:00 - 10:40
Registration opens, Welcome & scene setting, Ministerial address, Stronger Together: Building a Collective Global Movement for Supported Employment
Conference agenda
16th European Supported Employment Conference
Liverpool 7-8 December 2026
Conference overview
Conference programme at a glance
Monday 7th December
Tuesday 8th December
- Day 1 - Setting the Direction
- 2026 BASE Supported Employment Awards [included in conference delegate ticket]
- Day 2 - From Insight to Action
Please note: Our conference agenda is subject to change as we work to bring you the best possible experience.
Day 1
Monday 7 December 2026
Day 1 - Setting the Direction
2026 BASE Supported Employment Awards [included in conference delegate ticket]
11:00 - 17:30
Refreshment Break, Break-out Sessions A-C, lunch, networking, Informal Learning Session on Accessible Tech with Hector Minto, Lived Experience Speaker
18:30 until late
Drinks Reception, Seated Two-Course Meal [ Main & Dessert], 2026 Awards Presentation, Dancing until late
Detailed agenda
Monday 7 December 2026
Day 1 - Setting the Direction
08:00 - 09:30
Registration opens
Teas & coffees available | Exhibition Area open
09:30 - 09:45
Welcome & scene setting,
09:45 - 10:00
Ministerial address
Andrew Western MP, Minister for Employment
10:00 - 10:40
Stronger Together: Building a Collective Global Movement for Supported Employment chaired by Jo Butler
A conversation uniting global leaders in supported employment to reflect on progress, align values and language, and build a collective movement that puts good careers within reach for everyone, no matter where they live.
10:40 - 11:00
Amazon, Principal Sponsor Address: Enabling the Art of the Possible
11:00 - 11:30
Refreshment Break within the Exhibition Area
11:35 - 12:35
Break-out Sessions A
- Bridging the Gap: A Modular Chain of Support for Vocational Integration of Vulnerable Youth and Adults (Austria)
- Introducing the self-employment pathway (UK)
- Beyond Inclusion: Creating Real Employment Opportunities for People with Autism (Austria)
- Connect to Work: The Journey So Far (UK)
- More than Providers: Harnessing Our Influence to Grow Disability-Led Businesses (UK)
- Transitions from education to work across Europe Side panel discussion / fireside chat (Europe)
12:35 - 13:55
Lunch
With an opportunity to network, visit the Exhibition Area or attend an informal Learning Session on Accessible Tech with Hector Minto
13:55 - 14:55
Break-out Sessions B
- How Supported Businesses and Social Enterprises can fit into the Wider Ecosystem (UK)
- Creating Opportunities through Reverse Marketing by Phone (UK)
- How to balance Quality with Performance within Supported Employment Delivery (UK)
- Leading teams through change from sheltered workshops to open employment (Norway)
- Investing in Our Greatest Asset: The Supported Employment Workforce (UK)
- Driving Quality across Europe (Panel Discussion) (Europe)
14:55 - 15:25
Refreshment Break within the exhibition area
which closes at 15:25 on Day 1
15:30 - 16:30
Break-out Sessions C
- People are being left behind.... include everyone with the use of Training in Systematic Instruction (UK)
- From Recruitment to Retention: How Employers can be supported (UK)
- Trying before applying! - The power of work tasters in Supported Employment (UK)
- The Business Engagement Odyssey; how to train your supported employment specialist in employer engagement (Belgium & Slovenia)
- How to build an employer engagement strategy across a system (UK)
- Shared understanding of supported employment (Side Panel) (International)
16:40 - 17:20
Lived Experience Speaker sponsored by Medequip
Noah Matthews:
Noah is an actor, campaigner and public speaker. He became Disney's first actor with Down syndrome at the age of 13 with his role of Slightly in Peter Pan And Wendy and has since gone on to be a keynote speaker in the UK and USA. Most recently he is the face of the global campaign ‘Just Evolve’ and has become an ambassador for the Down Syndrome Association.
17:20 - 17:30
Key reflections & close of Day 1.
Short, values led synthesis
2026 BASE Supported Employment Awards
[included in conference delegate ticket]
18:30 - 19:30
Drinks Reception
19:30 until late
Seated Two-Course Meal [ Main & Dessert]
2026 Awards Presentation
Dancing until late
Please note: Our conference agenda is subject to change as we work to bring you the best possible experience.
Day 2
Tuesday 8 December 2026
Day 2 - From Insight to Action
Please note: Our conference agenda is subject to change as we work to bring you the best possible experience.
08:00 - 10:35
Registration opens, Welcome back & framing the day, Responsible AI in Job coaching, Supported Employment without borders
11:05 - 15:10
Break-out Sessions D-E, Lunch, networking & exhibition area, Fireside chat with Strategic Insight partner, Informal Knowledge-Sharing Session
15:15 - 16:30
The art of the possible- aiming for high ambition, Turning two days of learning into commitments, system change and shared direction, Plenary and close.
Detailed agenda
Tuesday 8 December 2026
Day 2 - From Insight to Action
08:00 - 09:15
Registration opens
Teas & coffees available | Exhibition Area open
09:15 - 09:30
Welcome back & framing the day
09:30 - 10:15
Responsible AI in Job coaching
How AI can unlock capacity within Supported Employment, while protecting model fidelity.
Paulo De Oliveira and Ioana Tanase:
Paulo De Oliveira leads Microsoft’s Global Commercial Accessibility Programme (GCAP) in the UK, where he focuses on making accessibility a core part of how technology is designed, delivered, and experienced. Alongside this, he works as a Copilot Solution Engineer supporting UK public sector organisations to explore what’s possible with AI, bringing those accessibility principles to life through practical, inclusive solutions. Paulo is passionate about using Copilot and AI to remove barriers, support neurodiverse ways of working, and help organisations create more inclusive outcomes for everyone.
Ioana Tanase is an AI and Accessibility Program Manager, Microsoft. Ioana was 32 when she found out she is dyslexic. At that time, she didn’t understand dyslexia, but a lot of things were suddenly making sense – including why her typos are a bit of Schrodinger’s cat (she can’t spot them, but everyone else can). Ioana works at the intersection of AI and accessibility, making sure AI models are representative of people with disabilities.
10:15 - 10:35
Supported Employment without borders
10:35 - 11:00
Refreshment Break within the Exhibition Area
11:05 - 12:05
Break-out Sessions D
- Inclusive Education and Training at the University of Vermont (USA)
- Applying Gamification in Job Coaching Processes (Finland)
- Concrete tools for engaging employers (Sweden)
- European Supported Employment Guidelines (Europe)
- What Works, for Whom? Using Evidence to Deliver Personalised Youth Pathways (UK)
- What does quality look like from an employer's perspective across Europe : Panel discussion (Europe)
12:05 - 13:40
Lunch, networking & exhibition area
Fireside chat with Strategic Insight partner
Informal Knowledge-Sharing Session
13:40 - 14:40
Break-out Sessions E
- Coaching the coaches: Who is Supporting the Job Coaches (UK)
- A practical presentation of Hamburg's supported employment model, featuring specific support tools (job coaching, job carving, on-the-job training, and the Budget for Work) (Germany)
- How to make working interviews work (UK)
- Empowering People with Disabilities Through Digital Skills Training (Spain)
- Access to Work (Return on Investment) (UK)
- What Research across Europe tells us about supported employment and sustainable jobs: Panel Discussion (International)
14:40 - 15:10
Refreshment Break within the Exhibition Area
15:15 - 16:15
The art of the possible- aiming for high ambition
Turning two days of learning into commitments, system change and shared direction.
16:15 - 16:30
Plenary and close.
Please note: Our conference agenda is subject to change as we work to bring you the best possible experience.
Plan your visit
Ready to join us in Liverpool?
Use this agenda as your guide to the current conference programme and book your place for two days of insight, collaboration and celebration with the Supported Employment community.
- Liverpool
- 7-8 December 2026
- Agenda subject to change