The Assembly

Latest Episodes:

Using Skill Sprints to Drive Individual-Lead Learning with Russell Woods Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

Using Skill Sprints to Drive Individual-Lead Learning with Russell Woods

In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with Russel Woods from Aster Group UK.

Russell is the Learning and Development Partner for Aster Group. He has taken his experience from leading and developing organisations in the sports and social housing sectors into L&D and is now designing and delivering learning journeys within his organisation.

In this episode, Russell programme designed by Russell design to help people upskill quicky and efficiently. Russel walks through a process he his testing at Aster Group called Skills Sprints, and how he is using them to help staff develop new skills at speed.

Russell covers:

Addressing skills gaps and adapting to fast-changing workplace needs.
Working Learning around time and budget constraints
What a Skills Sprint is and how they are using them as a way to develop new skills at Aster Group.

If you're looking for an innovative approach to skills development, this episode is a must-listen.

Connect with Russell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-woods-7470b655/

check out Aster Group UK: https://www.aster.co.uk/

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Mental Fitness Masterclass: The Power of Prevention with Aaron Ridley Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

This episode features former professional athlete and mental health coach Aaron Ridley of Tribox & OPTIEDGE. Aaron is a former professional athlete who has spent years learning, improving, and gaining qualifications to switch from the ring to developing businesses in the corporate mental health arena.

In this powerful Mental Fitness Masterclass, we go beyond stress management and the normal expectation of 'wellbeing'—our focus is prevention. You’ll learn how to strengthen your mind, sharpen your focus, and develop unshakable mental resilience through a proven framework and actionable tools. Aaron and Adam will cover:

The Mental Edge Formula – How Emotional Intelligence unlocks resilience & clarity
The Discipline Code – The key to consistency, motivation & focus
The Failure Advantage – How setbacks fuel personal & professional growth
Sustainable Mental Fitness – Daily strategies to prevent burnout & build lasting well-being

If you’re ready to upgrade your mental fitness and thrive under pressure, this masterclass is for you

Note: This episode is taken from a recorded webinar. You can watch the full webinar here: https://www.assembleyou.com/post/mental-fitness-masterclass

Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-ridley-b61b4a50/

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn

How to Build a High-Impact L&D Team at River Island with Tom Kirk Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

In this fantastic interview, Adam chats with Learning Manager at River Island Tom Kirk. Tom has nearly 15 years of experience in various learning formats, including sports and business coaching, and university lecturing, and is a qualified Science teacher and former Head of Year.

Since transitioning to Learning & Development post-COVID, he has trained thousands in leadership, skills development, and DEI.

Passionate about DEI, he is an accredited Inclusive Leadership facilitator and a D&I board member at River Island, using learning to drive inclusive change. Recognised in the 2024 Learning Technologies 30 Under 30, Tom is dedicated to elevating L&D’s impact and mentoring future leaders in this space.

In this episode, Tom talks Adam through his approach to building a new L&D team at River Island, specifically around hiring from within and the process he has recently gone through to build his team. He shares his thoughts on:

How to make every second count in L&D
Being Skills-focused when building a Team
Integrating into the business and building L&D from a holistic view

If you need some inspiration on how to build the L&D dream team, this episode is for you.

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-kirk-21980213b/

Check out River Island: https://www.riverisland.com/

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Creating a Hive Mindset Around Learning with Dr Kinga Petrovai Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

In this fantastic interview, Dr Kinga Petrovai chats with Adam about her unique approach to workplace learning, The Learning Hive.

Dr Kinga Petrovai is a workplace learning consultant and podcaster with a doctorate in learning technologies from Oxford University and an M.Ed. from Harvard University. With a background as an electrical engineer, Kinga works at the intersection of research and practice, developing, evaluating, advising, and designing learning solutions to improve skills in the workplace.

She has worked with a variety of organisations and universities, including the Government of Canada and the U.S. Department of State. On The Art & Science of Learning podcast, Kinga interviews global leaders in learning, with listeners in 100 countries.

In this episode, Kinga talks to Adam through the six key parts of the Learning Hive model, walking through examples that a typical organisation might face. Throughout this conversation, Kinga touches on:

How conversation builds long-lasting learning
Building a learning community within your organisation
The importance of the physical environment in learning
Tips and tricks on how to build deep focus while hosting a learning session

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in building a learning culture that is community-oriented and long-lasting.

Connect with Kinga on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kinga-petrovai-phd-30b7a539/

Learn more about the Learning Hive and Kinga’s consulting services: https://www.theartandscienceoflearning.com/

Check out the Art of Science and Learning Podcast: https://www.theartandscienceoflearning.com/e101-jan-present

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Building a Culture of Learning at Together Money through Learnfest with Tom Newman Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

In this fantastic interview, Adam chats with Tom Newman, the Group Head of Talent Development at Together Money. Tom is passionate about talent development and creating an environment for people to realise their full potential. He believes that talent development done well empowers others to define their own success and allows organisations to thrive by building an ongoing culture of learning.

In this episode, Tom and Adam discuss Together Money’s week-long L&D festival: Learnfest. Each year, employees at Together Money gather to grow their skills and engage in exciting talks and events.

While discussing Learnfest, Adam and Tom touch on:

How Learnfest delivers not-so-average learning interventions
How unique guest speakers help us find learning in unexpected places (such as the football pitch)
The basics of building a L&D programme from engagement to strategy to feedback
The value of qualitative feedback to ROI

If you’re looking for a way to boost engagement in learning this year, and help develop a culture of learner-led learning at your organisation, this may be the episode for you.

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-newman-a744a967/

Check out Together Money: togethermoney.com

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

The Role L&D Plays in Retaining Great People with Kelly Pirotte - Keys Group Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

In this excellent interview, Adam discusses the tips and tricks of retaining great employees with Kelly Pirotte. Kelly is the Group Head of Learning and Development for the Keys Group, a national multi-site business in the care sector. She holds an MSc in Management, which sparked her interest in Learning and Development and has completed the CIPD Advanced Diploma, earning Fellow status.

Kelly's passion for making a difference in people’s learning experiences shines through her work in L&D. Kelly shares her advice for empowering others through learning to build retention. Including:

The importance of homegrown management to build a strong learning environment
Using podcasts and other tools to do your learning on the go
Weaving learning throughout the day in creative ways

Looking to foster a long-lasting learning culture and staff? You won’t want to miss this episode.

Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-pirotte-fcipd-24717045/

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

How to Build Transferrable Skills that Stick with Clodagh Beatty Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

In this fantastic interview, Adam chats with head of talent management, learning and DEI at travel agency Love Holidays, Clodagh Beatty. Clodagh has spent over 20 years shaping Talent Management and Learning and Development across various industries worldwide, with a focus on financial services and tech scale-ups.

Throughout her career, Clodagh has supported elite athletes transitioning into new careers, developed global programs for early-career talent to senior executives, and driven cultural transformation initiatives. Known for building high-performance cultures with a focus on employee engagement and retention, she is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, a two-time award finalist, and a member of the International Coaching Federation.

In this episode, Clodagh gives Adam her top tips and best practices on how to develop skills that last. Some of her advice includes:

How to lean on your personal motivation to develop a skillset
The importance of proactive learning in talent management
How mentorship and career pathways can launch you further in your career

If you’re looking to take you and your team’s learning to the next level, this is the podcast episode for you.

Connect with Clodagh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clodagh-b-2403b7a/

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

The Six Essential Ways Ways to Take Control of Your Career in 2025 with Emma Ewing Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

This bonus episode features Emma Ewing With a leading trainer provider and founder of Big Fish Training, Emma chats with Adam on how individuals can make the most of life at work, grow in their careers, and build up their professional confidence and happiness.

Emma and Adam walk through the six ways to take control of your career: Building Your Career, Building Success, Building Relationships, Building Networks, Building Focus, and Building Confidence [CORRECT DEPENDING ON DISCUSSION]. Jump into your career in 2025 with these key steps and start building your career with confidence and purpose today.

Note: This episode is taken from a recorded webinar. You can watch the full webinar here: [Insert link to AY website with webinar on it]

Connect with Emma on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaewingtraining/

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn

Testing New Technology to Improve Learning at SJP with Nicki Finnigan Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

In this great episode of L&D Challenges, Adam chats with Nicki Finnigan, Director of Learning and Development at financial advisory company St. James Place, about SJP’s new learning experiences they’ve created recently.

Leading a number of transformative L&D projects, Nicki launched a new platform and app that delivers a learning programme to the SJP partnership and employees. Combining this with Virtual Reality and AI, Nicki and her team have taken L&D at SJP to new heights.

In this episode, Adam and Nicki discuss how they have rolled out these new initiatives as well as some of the early results and lessons learned. They also look at what has made their L&D initiatives successful among their employees. Including:

Accelerating soft skills with Virtual Reality and AI
Creating and maintaining a personalised app for learning
Revenue-based L&D versus cost-based L&D

If you’re interested in getting some new technology under your L&D belt or integrating a new learning platform in your learning experience, this is the episode for you.

Connect with Nicki on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickifinnigan/

Check out St. James’ Place’s podcast Every Day’s a School Day wherever you stream your podcasts

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication,

leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Trauma-Informed Training with Alison Armstrong Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

In this incredible episode, Alison Armstrong walks us through the importance of trauma-informed training and the essential skills of intervention when having conversations around challenging topic of suicide.

Alison is a best-selling author and training specialist with a wealth of experience in the areas of alcohol, drug and suicide prevention. She has developed training across these topics to various stakeholders, organisations, and businesses across the UK and internationally. An excellent trainer and public speaker - and a qualified celebrant - Alison has personally trained over 3,000 people in suicide intervention skills and believes that everyone should be trained to help reduce the stigma of suicide.

Alison talks Adam through the best practices for kind and compassionate trauma-informed training. Including:

How to intervene when someone is having thoughts of suicide
When NOT to use personal stories
Intentional language choices that reduce stigma

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in fostering a safe and welcoming learning environment no matter how challenging the subject.

Connect with Alison on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-armstrong-602850191/

If you are having thoughts of suicide, help is available right now if you need it. For support for yourself or someone else:

Samaritans – Call 116 123, Email jo@samaritans.org
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - Call 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight every day)
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK - Call 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day)
Papyrus - Call 0800 068 41 41, Text 07860 039967, Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
Shout - Text "SHOUT" to 85258
NHS - Call 111, select option 2
Call your GP and ask for an emergency appointment

If you have seriously harmed yourself or you feel that you may be about to harm yourself, call 999 for an ambulance.

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

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