The 2024 Freelancers' Awayday
​We are thankful to National Geographic Learning for being the main sponsor of the 2024 Freelancer's Awayday.
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We are also grateful to our other sponsors: Earn Learn Thrive, Creative Listening, Oxford University Press and Haremi.
The 2024 Awayday will take place on 12 and 13 September at the voco® Oxford Spires Hotel in Oxford, UK. The event has been held at this venue very successfully for a number of years.
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Who is the Freelancers' Awayday aimed at?
Our audience consists of freelancers and a growing number of representatives of publishing houses and other organisations in the English Language Teaching and Educational publishing sectors. This variety of roles within the industry naturally leads to opportunities for connecting, collaborating and furthering an understanding of each others' challenges and requirements. Indeed, the Awayday has become the sector's go-to networking event of the year.
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Haven't been to one of our Awaydays before?
Read about previous Awaydays and find out which organisations attended last year.
Note: the 'Walk & Talk' (free event), social drink (free event) and pre-conference dinner are separate events and can be attended on an individual basis if desired.​
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With the exception of 'Walk & talk' pre-conference networking event, ticket sales have now closed.
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Please join the waiting list if you would like to attend the event.
PROGRAMME FOR THURSDAY 12.09.24
At the voco® Oxford Spires Hotel
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Click on the underlined links to read more about each session and its presenter(s).
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5pm – Walk & Talk Networking (free event for all; ticketed)
Freelancers and Publishers are warmly invited to join us for a 'walk & talk' by the River Thames. All weathers; bring appropriate clothing.
Meet outside the hotel foyer. Free, but ticket needed.
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6pm Social drink (free event for all)
Everyone is welcome to join us in the hotel bar for a relaxed chat. Awayday newbies are particularly welcome – we'll be looking out for you and gently connecting you with like-minded colleagues.
Purchase your own drinks. No ticket necessary.
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19.00 – 22.00 Pre-conference dinner (ticketed)
This social dinner is a great opportunity for Freelancers and Publishers to mingle and meet before the conference. The evening includes a range of main course options (dietary requirements catered for), dessert, and opportunities for networking during the evening. Following dinner, Creative Listening will be running a team music quiz. The quiz is sure to be a lot of fun and is a great way to connect with new people. Not to be missed!
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PROGRAMME FOR FRIDAY 13.09.24
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09.00 – Arrival, registration, refreshments, networking
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09.30 – Welcome and introduction
09.45–10.15 – Presentation by our main sponsors – National Geographic Learning
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10.15–10.45 – AI and Accessibility – where are we now? by Avallain
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10.45–11.00 – Networking tips and tricks by Helen Holwill, FPP
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11.00 – Refreshments, networking, exhibition stands
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11.30–12.20 – Building a sustainable future through ELT educational publishing by Cecília Lemos Harmer, Cambridge University Press & Assessment
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12.15–12.50 – Lightning talks
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1 – Instructional design by Miranda Hamilton
2 – Strengths-based teaching: the what, the why and the how
by Jasmin Silver
12.50 – Hot & cold buffet lunch (Restaurant & Cardinal Suite)
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14.00–14.30 – Lightning talks
3 – English with Science: the two-syllabus authoring challenge of STEM + ELT materials by Digital Learning Associates
4 – Decolonising the curriculum by Dr Amina Douidi
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14.30–14.40 – The 2024 Survey of Freelancers' Experience of Working with Packagers/Outsourced Service Providers (OSPs): summary of findings by Karen Spiller, FPP
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14.40–15.30 – Panel discussion: publishers and outsource service providers working in collaboration
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15.30 – Refreshments, networking, exhibition stands
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16.00 – Creating and customising your own suite of AI bots for specific purposes by Paulo Dantas, Troika
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17.00 – End of day & farewells
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Everyone is welcome to join us for a drink in the hotel bar before heading home.
This event is sponsored and led by Rachael Roberts of Earn Learn Thrive Ltd.
This session is kindly sponsored by Haremi.
The lightning talks are sponsored by Oxford University Press.
The pre-conference dinner is kindly sponsored by Creative Listening.
The following organisations have reserved exhibition stands:
Avallain (all-in-one ed tech & learning solutions)
Cambridge University Press & Assessment (publisher)
Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (‘CIEP’)
Creative Listening (educational media production)
Haremi (educational publishing services)
Lottie Galpin (DEI specialist)
Peter J Fullagar (DEI specialist)
National Geographic Learning (publisher)
Oxford University Press (publisher)
York Press (publisher)
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The following organisations will have one or more representatives present on the day – they are keen to meet you, so do seek them out and introduce yourself:
Digital Learning Associates (educational video production)
Earn Learn Thrive (ELT business & mindset coach)
ELT Teacher 2 Writer (developing ELT writing skills)
EMC Design (design agency; educational publishing services)​
Garnet Education (publisher)
Hyphen SA (educational publishing services)
IO Publishing (educational publishing services)
Just Content (educational publishing services)
Macmillan Education (publisher)
Newgen Publishing UK (educational publishing services)
Oriel Square (educational publishing services)
Richmond (publisher)
Sounds Like Mike (audio production)
Troika (educational publishing services)
Weblink Software (transformation of print-based content for online delivery)
Westchester Education (educational publishing services)
Venue: The voco® Oxford Spires Hotel
The Oxford Spires Hotel is just over a mile from Oxford train station. This recently refurbished venue offers:​
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high quality seated buffet lunch, and refreshments during breaks
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excellent conference facilities
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terrace alongside the main conference room
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free parking (you must register your car at the reception desk)
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free superfast wi-fi
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overnight accommodation at a reduced rate to delegates (call 01865 324649 9am to 5pm and quote the Freelancers' Awayday with code 'G6T') which includes access to the gym, pool, sauna and steam room.
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Accommodation is not included in the Awayday ticket prices and must be booked separately. Find out about travel and accommodation.
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1-2-1 FREE pre-bookable sessions with Rachael Roberts of Earn Learn Thrive Ltd
Rachael Roberts is offering a limited number of free 30-minute consultations, which will take place during the Awayday. Suggested topics to discuss include: your personal branding, your LinkedIn profile and how to improve it, setting up a side hustle or completely new business, and pricing and negotiation. The slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and details of how to book will be included in your ticket confirmation email.
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I.T. supplies, advice and while-you-wait laptop service
Robert Stokes of Rascom I.T. will be returning to this year’s Awayday selling a large selection of computer accessories such as USB memory sticks, networking hardware, storage devices, input devices, etc. He is also offering a discounted while-you-wait laptop check-up and clean-up service. Only a handful of slots will be available and these went very quickly last year so book your appointment as soon as possible. Email Rob directly for more information, to make a booking or for any other queries that he may be able to assist with on the day.
This event is organised with reference to the Sustainability guidelines for conference organisers document, sourced from ELT Footprint. Find out more about the measures we actively take to reduce our environmental impact.
