This course is a ‘must attend’ for any practitioner who may need to give evidence as an expert witness on behalf of a local authority, the private sector or promoter of a development. Simulating the real life speed and pressure of an Inquiry or Appeal environment, the course provides all the key background knowledge and skills support to help delegates formulate and articulate their arguments both in written and spoken form, and also helping them to build on their existing professional experience to develop the core skills needed to demonstrate strong and persuasive arguments.

The course is built around a mock inquiry for a major urban extension with its core purpose to develop the skills required in preparing and delivering robust and precise proofs of evidence. As close as possible to the ‘real-life’ scenario, delegates will also gain experience of the additional pressures imposed by speaking in public and dealing with cross-examination, and not forgetting the importance of making arguments clear and simple to understand so that all those present at the inquiry are on an ‘equal footing’.

All those involved or potentially involved in the preparation and presentation of evidence at public inquires, hearings, commissions etc. Planning, highways, engineering and transport policy professionals Members of legal departments and chief executives’ offices

A unique part of this course is that each delegate will receive individual coaching and mentoring support during the course from our expert tutors, and will also receive a personal evaluation sheet and suggested development plan within one week of finishing the course, for them to reflect upon personally and to integrate into their professional development plan. Feedback from our last 2 courses, both delivered to Highways Agency staff, said that this feature of the training programme was extremely helpful and valuable.