​The Summer Skills summit is centred around one of the most common challenges on placement — how to stay focused, productive and resilient when the demands on your time and energy are at their highest.

​Across the day, you'll take part in a mix of practical and personal effectiveness sessions, all designed to give you tools and strategies you can use immediately. That includes a hands-on workshop on leveraging AI to streamline your workload, a session on prioritisation and productivity habits that actually work in a fast-paced environment, and a fireside chat with leaders and alumni sharing how they've learned to perform at their best when the pressure is on.

​We'll kick things off with breakfast and networking with plenty of opportunity to reconnect with your cohort, meet others across different placements, and build your network within La Fosse.

​The day is designed to be flexible, you don't need to attend every session, and there will be space available if you need to step out and work during the day.

​​What the day looks like

• ​08:30 – 9:50 | Arrivals, Breakfast & Networking

• ​10:00 - 10:10 | Welcome

• ​10:10 – 11:00 | Fireside chat with Josh McCarter, Senior SDET, Dunelm
  Josh McCarter is a technology leader at Dunelm, known for combining a strong technical foundation with a real focus on improving how teams and systems work day to day.  At Dunelm, he’s been focused on driving a quality-first approach, identifying and implementing tools and processes that make a tangible difference to both teams and customers. He brings a grounded, honest perspective on what it takes to grow a career in tech, especially for those coming through alternative routes like apprenticeships.

• ​11:00 - 12:00 | Options as follows:

​AI in Practice: Hype, Reality, and the Future of Technical Work with Manish Gadhvi, Technical Trainer at La Fosse Academy, Simon Clemson, Head of Training at La Fosse Academy & Eugene Shkoda, Senior Project Manager/Delivery Lead at Legatics

​This panel explores how AI is actually being used within technical teams, cutting through the hype to examine real-world applications, limitations, and trade-offs. Through a mix of perspectives, from hands-on implementation to critical viewpoints, the discussion will unpack how AI is shaping products, workflows, and decision-making. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what AI truly is, where it adds value, and how to form their own informed perspective on its role in their work

​Working well under pressure with Jaz Marfo, Career Coach

​When workload ramps up, it is easy to slip into reactive working. Everything feels urgent, priorities blur, and performance starts to dip. This session is for people who still want to grow, but are starting to question what ambition is supposed to feel like. We will explore what sustainable, grounded ambition actually looks like in practice, and how to stay effective without running yourself into the ground. You will leave with practical ways to prioritise, manage pressure, and keep performing when things get busy.

• ​12:00 – 13:30 | Networking Lunch

• ​13:00 - 13:30 | Apprenticeship Q&A (feel free to bring your lunch)

• ​13:30 – 15:30 | Options as follows:

​The Secrets of AI: Extended Edition with Josh McCarter, Senior SDET, Dunelm
A hands-on workshop testing your ability to control, direct, and understand AI behaviour across three practical challenges. Act as a GCHQ (Generatively Creepy Headquarters) intelligence operative engineering a precise system prompt to decrypt a three-part cipher, compete in teams to write system instructions that enable a MacBook Pro to drive an autonomous AI race car, and interact with state-of-the-art AI models in a safety exercise involving dark personas, comic relief, and unpredictable mature content. Attendee discretion is advised. Join us for a competitive workshop that uncovers the true secrets and capabilities of multimodal AI.

​Hackathon with Manish Gadhvi, Technical Trainer at La Fosse Academy and Simon Clemson, Head of Training at La Fosse Academy

​Description to follow

​"An EM, a PM, and a Stakeholder walk into an AI Bar" starring Marioara Rus, Product Manager at M&S, Serhii Yakovenko, Engineering Manager at M&S and Matthew Magee, Head of Software Engineering at M&S

​Exploring the complex dynamics of product, engineering, and the business. How you fit in. How to spot the pitfalls.

• ​15:30 – 16:00 | Wrap-Up

• ​From 16:00 | Company Meeting

​FAQ

​What is the event focused on? This Summit is centred around how to work well under pressure, especially during busy periods on placement. Sessions will explore areas such as:

• ​Productivity and prioritisation

• ​Using AI to support your workload

• ​Performing well in fast-paced environments

• ​Learning from leaders and alumni who have navigated these challenges themselves

​Do I need to attend the full day? No. The day is designed to be flexible, so you do not need to attend every session. You are welcome to join the parts of the day that feel most useful to you, and there will be space available if you need to step out and work during the day.

​I'm the line manager/colleague of an Associate, which ticket should I select? The "Friends of La Fosse" ticket is for you. Remember to add the name of the Associate who invited you on your registration form.

Do I need to choose my sessions in advance? Yes, you'll be contacted beforehand to confirm. Sessions will be on a first come first serve basis as our rooms have specific capacity.

​Is food provided? Yes. Breakfast will be available on arrival, we'll also share some recommendations for local places for lunch.

​Is the venue accessible? Will there be quiet spaces? Yes. The building has standard accessibility features, including step-free access. If you have specific requirements, please let us know in advance. There will also be quiet spaces available throughout the day if you need time away from sessions to rest, focus or decompress.

​Will there be networking opportunities? Yes. Networking is built into the day, particularly during breakfast and lunch, and there will be opportunities to connect with others across different placements throughout the event.

​What should I bring? You may want to bring your laptop (especially for the technical sessions and hackathon) and a notebook if you like taking notes by hand

​Is there space to work during the day? Yes. Space will be available if you need to step out and work during the day.

​Why should I attend? The Summer Skills Summit is a chance to step back, learn practical strategies, hear from experienced speakers, and connect with others who are navigating similar challenges on placement. Whether you join for a single session or the full day, the aim is for you to leave with useful ideas, greater confidence and tools you can put into practice immediately.

If you have any questions that aren't answered, reach out to [email protected].