The 2025 Freelancers' Awayday
We are delighted to announce that Westchester Education will be the main sponsor of the 2025 Freelancer's Awayday.
The 2025 Awayday will take place on 2 and 3 October at the voco® Oxford Spires Hotel in Oxford, UK. The event has been held at this venue very successfully for a number of years.
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. The Awayday has become the sector's go-to networking event of the year.
Click here to read about previous Awaydays.
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.
Not yet a FPP member?
Find out more and join now for £69 to save up to £55 on your Awayday tickets.
Ticket sales have now closed for the pre-conference dinner and quiz and main day registration. We do sometimes have cancelled tickets that can be reallocated. Please use the button below to join the waiting list.
PROGRAMME FOR THURSDAY 02.10.25
At the voco® Oxford Spires Hotel
17.00 – 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. The walk will be led by James Styring, who is an experienced ELT author. All weathers; bring appropriate clothing.
Meet outside the hotel foyer. Free, but ticket required.
18.00 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.
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, Paulo Dantas will be running a team quiz. The quiz 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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CONFIRMED PROGRAMME FOR FRIDAY 03.10.25
Click on each title to view session and speaker details.
09.00 – Arrival, registration, refreshments, networking
09.30 – Welcome and introduction
09.45 – On the same page: better collaboration with vendors and publishers by Rebecca Durose-Croft and Emma Hudson
This talk is given by Westchester Education, the main sponsor of the 2025 Freelancers' Awayday.
10.10 – Tech with purpose: making it work for learning by Joanna Szoke
10.35 – Smart briefing: elevating our expertise with AI by Paulo Dantas
11.00 – Refreshments, networking, exhibition stands
11.30 – Lightning talks
1 – Current trends in ELT coursebooks for Primary learners by Emily Kopieczek
2 – Accessible learning: D/deaf-friendly materials by Sam Grey
3 – The impact of AI in the role of the materials writer by Edward Alden
4 – Getting the best out of authors by Carol Usher
5 – The Compass: the ultimate collaboration exercise by Leonora Child
12.50 – Hot & cold buffet lunch (Restaurant & Cardinal Suite)
14.00 – Connect and collaborate: speed networking by Helen Holwill, FPP
15.20 – Refreshments, networking, exhibition stands
17.00 – End of day & farewells
Everyone is welcome to join us for a drink in the hotel bar before heading home.
The lightning talks are kindly sponsored by EMC Design.
The panel session is kindly sponsored by ITN Education.
The dinner and quiz are kindly sponsored by Troika.
The speed networking is kindly sponsored by National Geographic Learning.
The following organisations will have representatives present on the day (this list will be regularly updated in the run-up to the event):
Avallain (all-in-one ed tech & learning solutions)
Composure (educational publishing services)
Digital Learning Associates (educational video production)
ELi Publishing (publisher)
ELT Teacher 2 Writer (developing ELT writing skills)
EMC Design (design agency; educational publishing services)
Hachette Learning (publisher)
Haremi (educational publishing services)
Hyphen SA (educational publishing services)
International Baccalaureate (global education foundation)
ITN Education (video production)
Just Content (educational publishing services)
Macmillan Education (publisher)
MSM Studio (digital educational publishing services)
National Geographic Learning (publisher)
Newgen Publishing UK (educational publishing services)
Oriel Square (educational publishing services)
Oxford University Press (publisher)
Richmond Publishing (publisher)
Troika (educational publishing services)
Westchester Education (educational publishing services)
York Press (publisher)
Haven't been to one of our Awaydays before?
The Awayday is known for its relaxed, welcoming, supportive atmosphere. We know it can be a little daunting stepping into a new environment, so some of our friendliest and most experienced Awayday attendees act as 'newbie hosts'. They'll greet you and introduce you to other like-minded delegates and you'll soon be making new connections. We also have a designated quiet room, where you are able to take a break as needed.
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 'ELT') which includes access to the gym, pool, sauna and steam room.
Accommodation is not included in the Awayday ticket prices and must be booked separately. Find out about local travel and accommodation options.
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.
