Wednesday 5th November 2025 saw over 120 delegates and staff gather at the Mercure Brands Hatch Hotel for our much-anticipated Autumn Breakfast Briefing. The event brought together education professionals, school business leaders and sector specialists for a morning of networking, updates, and expert-led discussions.
We were delighted to be joined by our sister brands within Commercial Services Group, including Schools Financial Services from TEP, KCS, Laser Energy, EIS, Procurement Services, and Invicta Law. Their presence in our marketplace provided delegates with the opportunity to explore a wide range of support services available to schools across Kent and beyond — all under one roof.
Event Highlights and Customer Feedback
Our customers really appreciated each presentation, finding the Briefing extremely useful. The engagement and interaction during the event underscored the importance of these gatherings. Below are some feedback stats and comments from our attendees, accompanied by pictures capturing the essence of the morning.
Customer Comments:
Key stats from the Event
Pictures from the Event
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This year, delegates were invited to stay for a choice of four optional afternoon workshops, which were attended by more than 50 participants in total. The sessions offered practical insights and takeaways across a range of crucial areas for school leadership and compliance:
Safe Staff, Safe School – Robust School Recruitment
Exploring safer recruitment practices and how to ensure a secure and compliant hiring process.
Ensuring Your School is Financially Well Managed: The Key Points (Delivered by Schools Financial Services)
A focused session from our sister brand, offering guidance on effective financial management and maintaining strong oversight of school budgets.
Managing Risk, Safeguarding and Disciplinary Practice in Schools
A practical look at how schools can confidently manage complex staff issues while maintaining safeguarding best practice.
Workforce Compliance: Right to Work, Sponsorship and Regulatory Essentials
Covering vital HR and legal requirements to help schools remain compliant in an evolving regulatory landscape.
Our delegates found the afternoon sessions very insightful and 100% say they would attend our workshop sessions again.
Customer comments from the workshops
The Autumn Breakfast Briefing continues to be a highlight in our calendar, offering a valuable opportunity for colleagues across education to come together, share expertise, and strengthen partnerships.
A Big Thank You to Our Team
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our presenters, helpers, and organisers. A heartfelt thank you to:
Jess Orgill-Barnes | Lisa Bugh | Elliot Masters | Ross Miller | Hayley Titchner | Sarah Wyllie | Vickie Dryden | Becky Blackmore | Jak Nye | Abbie Ambrose | Tom Ashlee | Jon Raeside | Olivia Exon | Sarah Jones | Sam Delany | Ashleigh Briggs | Danyelle Powell | Matt Southern | Charlotte Hutchins | Natalie Skingley | Jasmine Whiteaker | Debbie Hough | Karen McElligott | Lorraine Fulbrook
Register now for our Spring Breakfast Briefing - spaces are limited!
With the positive feedback and success of this latest Briefing, we are excited to start to share that we have confirmed our Spring Breakfast Briefing. Join us on Wednesday 11th March at the Darwin Suite, University of Kent, Canterbury. Register now >>
We look forward to seeing even more of our customers at our next HR Connect Breakfast Briefing!