Understand the purpose and principles
Learn what sits behind Action Learning and why it works as a coaching and problem-solving approach.
Learn a clear facilitation process
Understand the Action Learning process and how to apply it confidently in different settings.
Build your facilitator toolkit
Develop the skills, knowledge and approach needed to become an Action Learning Facilitator.
Practise with real-time feedback
Facilitate live Action Learning sessions, get peer feedback, and build confidence through supported practice.
About the workshop
This training is for people who want to add a powerful coaching and facilitation skill to their strengths: Action Learning facilitation. Action Learning is a structured process where individuals bring real challenges, issues or opportunities and use open questioning from peers to unlock ways forward that feel meaningful and achievable. It helps shift conversations from advice-giving to coaching, creating space to think clearly, reflect, and make better decisions together.
The programme is practical and immersive. It’s designed to increase your confidence, build on your existing facilitation skills and give you a safe space to put your learning into practice. Across the eight sessions, you’ll have multiple opportunities to practise facilitating Action Learning in real time, and to receive supportive feedback to develop your approach.
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the purpose and principles that underpin Action Learning
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the Action Learning process and how to apply it
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the skills, knowledge and approach required to become an Action Learning Facilitator
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additional peer coaching methods for supporting participants who may struggle with, or be resistant to, the Action Learning process
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how to develop your facilitation practice through real-time sessions and feedback
Action Learning is designed to help individuals and teams:
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build problem-solving and decision-making skills
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develop coaching conversations instead of advice giving
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create space to process, reflect and think creatively
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strengthen collaborative working
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increase awareness of how beliefs, behaviours and assumptions shape decisions
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reflect on individual and group learning
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feel empowered to problem-solve together and create immediate, meaningful improvements
This is a highly practical online programme. You’ll learn through a blend of input from the facilitator and real-time Action Learning practice with peers. Across the sessions, you’ll take part in Action Learning as a participant and practise facilitating, receiving supportive feedback to build your confidence and develop your style. The programme also introduces peer coaching methods to help you support participants who may find the process challenging.
All the sessions are delivered via Zoom.
Participants receive the SSE Action Learning Facilitators’ Handbook, covering all aspects of the course. You’ll also get access to the course online resources folder, which includes session slides and a video demonstration of an Action Learning session. During the programme, you’ll receive Facilitator Observation Notes from peers for each of your two facilitation practice rounds, and you’ll provide observation notes for others in your group.
The regular course takes place over 8 live online sessions. Intensive courses cover the same content and number of sessions, condensed into a shorter time period. Sessions run 09:30–13:00.
Course beginning 2 June 2026
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Tues 2 June
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Thurs 4 June
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Fri 5 June
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Tues 9 June
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Thurs 11 June
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Fri 12 June
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Tues 16 June
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Fri 19 June
Course beginning 15 September 2026
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Tues 15 Sept
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Wed 16 Sept
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Thurs 17 Sept
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Tues 22 Sept
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Wed 23 Sept
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Tues 29 Sept
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Wed 30 Sept
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Thurs 1 Oct
This training is for people who want to develop a strong coaching and facilitation skill, and who want to facilitate Action Learning with individuals, teams or groups. It’s especially useful if you already facilitate in some capacity and want a structured, practice-based approach to deepen your skills and confidence.
About the trainer
Sally Jones is a Learning Manager at SSE and has been designing and facilitating SSE programmes since 2013. She trained as an Action Learning Set facilitator with the Action Learning Centre in 2017/18 and currently facilitates Action Learning as part of SSE’s Peer Coaching provision across a range of SSE programmes. Sally is a qualified coach (ILM3) and manages SSE’s internal Action Learning facilitator process.
Impact skills for anyone
Our workshops are designed for people looking to create impact, but anyone, anywhere can join.
15% off for Early Birds
A limited number of Early Bird tickets are available at a discount of 15% off.
Expert-led course
This course is delivered by Sally Jones who delivers hundreds of hours of Action Learning sessions per year to the impact sector.
Essential skills within a couple of weeks
Strengthen yourself and your work in 8 sessions. Take part in discussions and exercises. Come away with practical actions.
Feedback about SSE workshops
87 %
of people score 8/10 or above for quality of facilitation
84 %
of people score 7/10 or above for usefulness
758
Workshop places booked in 2025
FAQ
If you have any questions that are not answered here, please feel free to contact us.
Yes, we can offer any of our workshops or completely bespoke training on request. Please contact us to discuss the options.
You are very welcome to book for multiple people but each individual joining the workshop must be booked on to join, even if sharing a computer. You can select your number of tickets when you make your booking.
If you are booking for 3 or more people, feel free to contact us to enquire about a group discount.
Cancellations or booking changes can be made up until 7 days before the workshop. You may change the name of the person attending at any time but only one person can join the course per booking.
If you wish to make a change or cancellation please contact us and state the name of the workshop and email address used to make the booking.
This workshop takes place online via Zoom. Once you have booked your place you will receive joining instructions in your confirmation email and in reminders closer to the time of the workshop.
All currently available dates are listed in the Book now section. We run most of our workshops repeatedly throughout the year, so if you cannot see further dates, they may not have yet been scheduled. Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of the page to be kept up to date.
We do not record all our workshops as they are interactive workshops and watching back a recording does not provide the value of taking part live. It also allows people to speak more freely when taking part in discussions within the workshop.
Please see our section on Prices.
At the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE), we back people with purpose. With practical learning that makes sense in the real world. With funding that grows as you grow. With mentors, peers and people who’ve been there and done it. We don’t care where you started. We care about where you’re going and the difference you want to make in your life, in your community, and in the world.
Find out more about SSE here.
You can see the times under the dates in the Book Now section. All the workshops are on London, UK time.
If you have a question that is not answered on this page, please feel free to contact us.
Prices
Select a date in the Book Now section to see prices. Please note:
- The price is based on your organisation’s total annual income, regardless of profit.
- Our pricing is designed to be as accessible as possible for people wanting to create impact at any scale.
- The prices you can see are already heavily discounted, particularly for smaller organisations.
- There are no additional discounts for not-for-profits or government organisations.
Early bird tickets
A limited number of Early Bird tickets are available at a discount of 15% off.
Group bookings
If you would like to make a booking for 3 or more places please contact us to get a price for a group discount.
Bespoke training and support
We have a range of options for delivering impactful training to your organisation or organisations you support. Get in touch to find out more.
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