Sparks Development

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Sparks Development Sparks Development is an independent consultancy focused on building capacity & capability. Sparks Development is focused on building capacity & capability.

Looking to support and empower individuals and groups through a range of learning and professional development initiatives. A freelance consultancy business with Sandy Sparks as the Director.

A successful week of networking, new knowledge & L&D activity. * Great discussion with commissioning organisation re: fu...
09/10/2026

A successful week of networking, new knowledge & L&D activity.
* Great discussion with commissioning organisation re: full day in-person workshop & then the draft prep of the materials
* RLE meeting & learning from colleagues useful & feel energized for my two RLE projects & funding/proposals
* Met with one of the people I mentor.
* Attended one of the 'new' boards (that I have joined) meeting - nice to meet the other Trustees
* Prepared for next week's British Council's Researcher Connect delivery
* Fitted in the two 'walk & talks'
Feel ready for next week & to enjoy the weekend

Off to facilitate a full-day in-person workshop on ‘leading teams through change’ Have a good day
21/09/2026

Off to facilitate a full-day in-person workshop on ‘leading teams through change’
Have a good day

Excited to be having a summer break & going home. It’s always special to spend quality time with family & friends, makin...
13/08/2026

Excited to be having a summer break & going home. It’s always special to spend quality time with family & friends, making new memories.
It is also a time to rest, reflect, re-charge & plan the next year.
Responses may be delayed or slower.

World Elephant Day - 12 Aug asks you to help conserve and protect elephants from the numerous threats they face. Looking...
12/08/2026

World Elephant Day - 12 Aug asks you to help conserve and protect elephants from the numerous threats they face.
Looking forward to seeing the elephants soon.

Useful Tool for research active staff & research students Recently I co-facilitated a session on Generative AI with Seun...
22/07/2026

Useful Tool for research active staff & research students

Recently I co-facilitated a session on Generative AI with Seun Kolade. A resource that was introduced & explored by research active staff was Amoye (https://www.amoye.org/)

Many people are concerned about AI, be it concern about cognitive offloading, lack of intellectual ownership, hallucination references, loss of IP, impact of data safety & storage or on the converse, using some AI tools/resources that may assist to free up time to focus on adding value, creative space, intellectual rigour, originality, significance & impact, etc.

For researchers/research active staff and research students in my network, you may wish to investigate https://www.amoye.org/



The value of AMOYE is not in the specific tasks it can support (many AI tools can also help with that), but the insights it enables and generates across otherwise scattered and previously disparate pieces of work- include those gathering dusts on the shelf.

Interview preparation session & developmental coaching - wow such talent & clarity. In the current challenging HE job ma...
07/07/2026

Interview preparation session & developmental coaching - wow such talent & clarity. In the current challenging HE job market wonderful to see an incredible candidate. Best of luck

Generative AI (a copy of what I shared on LinkedIn earlier this week)After co-facilitating a module on Generative AI in ...
02/07/2026

Generative AI (a copy of what I shared on LinkedIn earlier this week)

After co-facilitating a module on Generative AI in Research. Some of what the module included:
- Bias, risks & ethical implications
- Capabilities & limitations
- Prompt engineering models etc
- Different tools discussed
o General purpose tools eg for text, code & support eg Claude, Gemini, Copilot, ChatGPT open
o Creativity tool for design, audio & visual eg Canva, DALL-E, Runway. ElevenLabs
o Research specific tools eg Scite, Paperpal, WriteFull, Research Rabbitt
o Task specific tools eg Akkio, Jasper AI, Notion AI, FirefliesAI

We also discussed
- The difficulty of keeping up-to-date as it changes so quickly
- How to use AI responsibly & how important it is to maintain the responsibility of checking what has been written & using your critical thinking.
What Gen AI tools are you using & for what purpose?

A great day in Birmingham today for the 2026 Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership celebration event The ...
02/07/2026

A great day in Birmingham today for the 2026 Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership celebration event The UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy. I enjoyed meeting so many of the participants in-person, seeing your incredible ALS posters & hearing about how you have used your learning from my confidence, empowerment & imposter syndrome workshop session. Examples 'I used your tips & advice in a recent job interview', some highlights from that workshop session in the posters 'FAIL = first attempt in learning,' 'evidence your achievements' etc

Off to Birmingham today for the Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership celebration event. Looking forward ...
02/07/2026

Off to Birmingham today for the Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership celebration event. Looking forward to meeting the participants

I came across Siegel’s “Window of Tolerance” again while preparing a programme for a client. In a recent CPD session I a...
11/06/2026

I came across Siegel’s “Window of Tolerance” again while preparing a programme for a client. In a recent CPD session I attended, we focussed on building confidence in uncertainty.

Dr. Daniel Siegel in 1999, coined the term “Window of Tolerance”. It describes the optimal zone where individuals can function effectively. Within this window, people are able to handle stress, process information, and respond to the demands of daily life in a balanced way. When within this window, individuals are calm, focused, and capable of engaging in social interactions and learning. By understanding and managing these arousal states people can better cope with stress, enhance their resilience, and create a more conducive environment for learning and growth. When we are calm, connected, can access both reason & emotion.

Some strategies may include:
- Mindfulness journalling or breathing techniques,
- Finding or creating calm / safe spaces
- Peer support initiatives
- Being intentional
- Taking breaks etc

What are some of the strategies you use as a leader & for yourself to operate / be in the “Window of Tolerance”?

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+447790584277

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