Testimonials

I absolutely loved this Programme - it truly transformed my fear of public speaking. The entire experience was so well thought out and perfectly tailored for a new civil servant like me. From the heartwarming stories shared by remarkably resilient guest speakers to the spirited discussions on controversial topics with fellow delegates, every moment was incredibly inspiring and enlightening.

The Young Ireland Programme was an exciting and collaborative experience. The activities that we all participated in were challenging and rewarding and got me out of my comfort zone. Over the course of the week, I developed professional skills in terms of public speaking, confidence and critical analysis. I also got the chance to make professional connections with colleagues across the Irish, Northern Irish and Scottish civil service.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to attend such an amazing Programme. I can honestly say it is one of the best things that I have done. It was an honour to be part of such a great, diverse group of people and I feel like I have learned so much.

The Young Local Authority of the Year event gave me the opportunity to discover some of the work that other people, who are also new to local authorities, carry out in their respective authority and a chance to represent my local authority within a friendly competition setting.

I was delighted to be able to participate in the Programme - it was really confidence-building, informative and fun. You do not need to be 'young' in age to apply and I would encourage anyone to go for it if they are interested.

It was a great experience being challenged to step outside your comfort zone. Everyone was in the same boat learning how to present themselves well individually and in groups. This Programme was very rewarding and we made great friends.

Thank you for delivering such an interesting and inspiring Programme.

Thanks again for the excellent course. I took a lot of value from it.

Attending the Young Scotland Programme has been one of the best decisions of my career. It offered a unique chance to connect with like-minded individuals and engage in activities I never imagined I'd have the confidence to pursue. The Programme left me feeling both inspired and empowered by the incredible people I met and the challenges I overcame. I have now gone on to gain promotion, which I believe is a testament to the valuable skills I learned at the time.

The Young Programme was a brilliant experience. I met wonderful people and learnt a lot about myself. My confidence improved greatly and I came away feeling stronger in public speaking and communicating ideas clearly. The skills I developed have been invaluable to my career since the Programme. I would recommend anyone to sign up if they have the opportunity.

I really enjoyed my experience participating in the Young Ireland Programme. I learned a huge amount from the other participants and I feel that my time in Scotland still benefits me in my work and personal life to this day.

The Programme was an amazing experience. I got the chance to learn so much about a wide range of topics relevant to the times we live in. I'm extremely grateful for your team's effort in organising and running the Programme.

An exciting and thought-provoking Programme, to develop your skills in confidence, communication and collaboration. I would highly recommend giving it a go!

Thanks so much for a fantastic Programme, I really enjoyed it! This Programme has enhanced my communication skills and will really help in my work here in the Housing Agency, particularly in relation to providing feedback and advice on housing policy, project managing the delivery of a variety of projects and delivering bespoke information and training sessions to our stakeholders.

I found the Young Programme to be an exciting and very rewarding experience. It enabled me to get out of my comfort zone and become much more confident when it comes to public speaking. I also met a lot of great people while in Scotland and still maintain contact with them today.

I really enjoyed the variety of the Programme, from participating in various challenges to listening to fascinating speakers. Both my public speaking and confidence improved greatly over the three days. It was a great opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone and network with others from across the public sector.

The organisers were fantastic - I had a wonderful and inspiring time. I think the Programme team is doing an amazing job bringing young people together to discuss burning issues that affect people and at the same time learn the art of communication.

The Young Scotland Programme is a fantastic opportunity for those at the start of their career looking to develop their engagement skills and confidence in speaking in front of groups. It's a fantastic networking opportunity and I felt instantly more capable following the course. I would strongly encourage others to do it!

I wanted to extend my thanks and express my gratitude for my involvement with the Programme. I'll never forget this experience and really want you all to know how much it has helped me both personally and professionally. For that I am eternally grateful.

This was one of the best residential events I have attended. The whole event was well planned and gave everyone an opportunity to participate throughout the three days. I’m grateful for the time I had at the Young England and Wales Programme and would highly recommend attending to my colleagues.

Attending the Young Ireland Programme was an amazing opportunity and definitely a highlight of my time in the civil service to date. It was great to exchange ideas and views with civil servants across different departments and across Ireland. It was a wonderful opportunity to make connections with colleagues from across the civil service - I would recommend applying wholeheartedly!

I am not exaggerating when I say that this was the highlight of my professional year and personally I do not think I have ever met so many amazing people in one place.