TrainingZone is proud to partner with the World of Learning Exhibition & Conference, on 6 and 7 October 2026 at the NEC, Birmingham, bringing together leading experts, brands and professionals from across the L&D community.
Whether you’re making the most of the free Exhibition or joining the ticketed Conference, there are two days of learning, discovery and networking on offer.
The Exhibition gives every visitor free access to over 70 seminars, interactive features and a floor of more than 150 L&D suppliers.
Running alongside it, the ticketed Conference programme is built around case-study presentations, panel debates and interactive workshops, drawing on research and input from people working in L&D rather than theory alone.
The Exhibition: free to attend, packed with content
World of Learning’s free Exhibition runs alongside the ticketed Conference across both days, with its own full programme of seminars, live sessions and networking opportunities, plus the chance to meet over 150 leading L&D suppliers face to face.
Keynote: Alex Brooker
The Exhibition’s main stage keynote is a fireside chat with presenter and reporter Alex Brooker, best known for co-hosting Channel 4’s The Last Leg and its Paralympic sport coverage.
Alex will be in conversation with Helen Marshall, Academy Lead – Tech at Booking.com, on Wednesday 7 October, 14:15–15:00 on the Main Stage. It’s free to attend for all visitors. Arrive 10 minutes early to grab a seat.
More than 70 free seminars across four theatres
Across the two days, four seminar theatres run continuously with no booking required.
Highlights include Adam Stanbury (CIPD) and Dave Buglass (JPMorgan Chase) on AI, learning and organisational capability; Nick Gonios (TalentLMS) on orchestrating high-performance ecosystems in the age of AI; Dominic Ashley-Timms (Notion-STAR® Manager) on leadership transformation ROI; and Erica Farmer, author of AI for People Professionals, on how HR can reshape work for the AI era.
Day two brings sessions such as David James (360Learning) on how L&D leaders win in the age of AI, Arnaud Blachon (Rise up) on what comes after the LMS, and a live panel with HowNow as part of L&D Disrupt Live.
Sip & Learn Roundtables
Facilitated by HowNow in Theatre 5, these relaxed, interactive 30-minute sessions pair a glass of fizz with practical discussion.
Day one (Tuesday 6 October, 13:30–14:00) tackles building a learning strategy that actually works. Day two (Wednesday 7 October, 12:15–12:45) covers building a business case for L&D buy-in.
Learning Design Live
Facilitated by The Learning Network, these sessions mix practical workshops and presentations for anyone involved in learning tech design, with in-depth advice and idea-sharing among design specialists.
Mental Wellbeing Zone
Facilitated by the Jigsaw Discovery team, this zone gives visitors space to discuss mental health awareness and how to build healthier, more regenerative workplaces, through workshops or a one-to-one consultation.
Networking sessions
World of Learning Mentors will host free-to-attend drop-in Visitor Networking Sessions at 11:30 each day in the Business Networking Lounge.
A straightforward way to meet like-minded professionals and grow your network, particularly recommended for first-time visitors.
Over 150 Exhibitors
The exhibition floor brings together more than 150 L&D suppliers, from established names like 360Learning, Kallidus, Thrive, HowNow, Attensi, Frog, TalentLMS, Barefoot Coaching and Kaltura to specialist providers across coaching, learning design, LMS platforms and AI-enabled tools, all under one roof.
The Exhibition gives every visitor free access to over 70 seminars, interactive features and a floor of more than 150 L&D suppliers
The Conference line-up
Day one
The Conference kicks off with a huddle session open to all two-day Delegates led by Stacey Marshall, former Head of Group Learning Experience at Tesco, who explores the role L&D should play in business transformation.
This is followed by an address from Conference Chair Robin Hoyle and the highlight of day one: Keynote speaker best-selling author Matthew Syed on how we learn, adapt and succeed when the nature of work doesn’t stop shifting.
Three parallel sessions follow, and delegates pick one: AI implementation with inDrive’s Artem Ivanenko and Voyage Care’s Allison Pemberton; the accidental-manager problem with Rick Bradley (Change, Grow, Live) and Josie Bishop (IHS Towers), looking at what happens when people get promoted into leadership with no real support; or capability building in organisations that don’t have much capacity to spare, with Domino’s Pizza’s Emma Vargas Brock and the Cabinet Office’s Thembi Watt.
Afternoon highlights include a session on talent-led progression with Jo Sutcliffe (BAUWatch Group), Dani Saadu (Wireless Logic) and Pash Reddy (SP Global) and a session on why learning culture might be harder to build than most people think, with Coca-Cola’s Murray Furlong and Audible’s Jess Falconer.
Day one wraps up with a roundtable open to all Delegates from World of Learning and the co-located Workforce Solutions Conference (for HR professionals) coming together to discuss skills-based organisations, pulling together voices from FareShare, Skyscanner, the NHS, Skipton Building Society and more.
Day two
The second day’s Huddle session will be run by Julian Stodd of Sea Salt Learning discussing leading through disruption, followed by day two’s Keynote session by LSE’s Prithwiraj Choudhury to ask what happens to learning when the nature of work itself shifts.
From there, the morning splits three ways: adaptive leadership (Centre Parcs, Baringa); staying human in an AI-heavy workplace (Deloitte, Ericsson); or what’s actually working in apprenticeship retention, with two speakers from JD Sports.
All delegates then come together for a panel featuring Nationwide Building Society and UK Government Skills on where skills-based organisations go next.
Robin Hoyle closes the Conference with a session on AI, adoption and agency.
As well as a comprehensive two-day programme covering a broad range of topics relevant to today’s senior L&D professionals, the Conference also provides Delegates with enhanced networking opportunities, and dedicated spaces to reflect and access complimentary refreshments.
The ticketed Conference programme is built around case-study presentations, panel debates and interactive workshops
Two ways to attend
The Exhibition is free to attend. Register for entry, and you’re in for both days, including all seminars, theatres and zones above.
For those wanting the full experience, a Conference Delegate pass adds full-day access to the Conference programme, an invitation to the L&D drinks reception, complimentary breakfast, lunch and tea/coffee, full Exhibition access including the VIP lounge, and, for two-day delegates, an Anker wireless charging pad. Flexible Delegate options start from £634.95, with early booking discounts available until 4 September.
Register here.
World of Learning is co-located with the new Workforce Solutions Conference & event, a dedicated HR event exploring themes including AI and automation, flexible workforce strategies and human-centred workplaces, with speakers including Nebel Crowhurst (Conference Chair), Kevin Green (First Bus & First Group) and Claire Sherwin (Lloyds Banking Group).
Find out more here.
