Our Impact page showcases not only your social contributions but also our commitment to sustainability, both environmental and organisational. While our commercial work keeps a roof over our heads, it also allows us to continue with our pro bono projects.
Since our company has roots in the voluntary sector and a strong international presence, here are some of our key sustainability attributes:
Social & Ethical Impact
We offer pro bono training to charities, as well as subsidised workshops for underserved communities, including refugees, asylum seekers, and low-income groups.
We have also trained a large proportion of Voluntary Action Islington’s staff on our public speaking courses and train the trainer courses. We continue to support other charities in the building.
In the early days of the College of Public Speaking, I successfully applied for European Social Fund grants for NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). These teenagers had ended their school days with little or no educational attainment. There were numerous reasons for this, which I will discuss elsewhere; however, primarily, society had left these young people behind.
So, I ran some creative projects for them. Their goal was to create a DVD featuring images they’d taken (I would provide the cameras), short videos (I would provide the video cameras), and I assisted them in creating the text and graphics. If they could tell a 15-minute story about themselves and their lives, we would celebrate it on the last day of a 3-day course when they’d present a showcase. The goal was for them to produce something of value, something they could take home and show their family and friends, and something they could be proud of.
This was one of my favourite projects. These teenagers came in on a low and left on a high. They had the technical skills to produce a quality DVD. Something that perhaps they thought was a distant dream or totally out of reach. It was a good feeling to make so many dreams come true.
We closely follow the NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations), and we're keen to see how the new Civil Society Covenant improves society. As always, we're eager to participate in focus groups and future conversations.
Environmental Sustainability
Carbon Footprint Reduction: We encourage remote training, hybrid events, and digital resources to minimise travel emissions. Like many larger companies, our goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Sustainable Office Practices
Our King’s Cross venue utilises renewable energy, employs recycling programs, and incorporates eco-friendly materials.
Paperless Operations
We provide digital workbooks, e-certificates, and online resources over printed materials. For each course we deliver, we use just one sheet of paper for an introductory activity in public speaking (and I’m exploring practical options to revamp it).
Ethical Partnerships
Over the years, we have delivered 3 x 1-week sessions in Bangladesh for the Asia Foundation, Save the Children, and BRAC (the world’s largest NGO). I have also volunteered at three Zajel Projects in the West Bank (2016-18), working at Nablus University on cultural and educational exchanges. In the UK, we have delivered sessions for Oxfam, Médecins Sans Frontières, Changing Faces, the Guide Dog charity, the Trussell Trust, St Mungo’s Recovery College and many others. We are associated with WaterAid, coaching members of their leadership team. For five years, I delivered keynote speeches at the Nutrition Society's annual conferences. In October 2024, I joined the Trainers’ Forum. I was invited to provide a session at their Barcelona Conference, and in May 2025, I had the privilege of working with the DEI Conference in Wroclaw.
Meaningful Associations
The College of Public Speaking partners with The Institute of Learning and Management (part of City & Guilds), the UK's most prodigious supporter of Adult Quality Standards. We are also affiliated with CIMA (The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) and offer accredited Train the Trainer courses and public speaking courses.
Empowering Marginalised Voices
Our voluntary work in Bangladesh, Romania, and the Middle East has helped women, minorities, and disadvantaged groups gain confidence, skills and find their voice.
Economic Sustainability
Local Job Creation – all trainers associated with the College of Public Speaking live close to London. This reduces travel distances, travel times, and carbon emissions.
Fair Pay & Ethical Business Model
We ensure fair wages for trainers and staff, reinvesting our revenues in social initiatives, such as our venue at VAI (Voluntary Action Islington), which serves as the hub for voluntary organisations in Islington.
Long-Term Educational Impact
I have collaborated with numerous individuals and institutions, building training capacity and developing the skills of trainers.
Scalable Learning Models
We partner with YouthLead, a voluntary organisation in India, at the suggestion of a former student. They run educational and guidance sessions for teenagers approaching working age.
That collaboration recently allowed me to recommend my former student for an Ivy League university course.
Global Reach, Local Adaptation, Cultural Sensitivity
Our programs are tailored to different regions (e.g., adapting communication styles for UK, European, Middle Eastern, and Asian audiences).
Thought Leadership in Sustainable Communication
We partner with organisations to improve their local communities. We offer session plans and training materials to help others help themselves in distant parts of the world.
Advocacy for Responsible Speaking
We train leaders to communicate on sustainability, social justice, and ethical leadership.
Future Goals
We aim to continue our voluntary work at home and overseas, supporting countries and communities with limited capacity/resources.
Our blog features sustainable business practices for Public Speaking Courses, Training the Trainer Courses, and broader communication courses.
Case studies and stories of interest
Our blog features reflections on numerous interesting and enjoyable experiences from recent years, including trips to Dhaka in Bangladesh, Erbil in Kurdistan, Utrecht in the Netherlands, Wroclaw in Poland, Shanghai in China, and Barcelona in Spain.
Vince Stevenson - Founder of the College of Public Speaking 2006 Ltd
It's been a long and interesting career, first in IT and then in personal development. Over the years, I have worked with some incredibly talented speakers and trainers. I have observed their methods, discarded some techniques and adopted others. I have successfully worked with 10,000 plus students, and my work and teachings have helped them move forward in their personal and professional lives.
I have written two books, The Fear Doctor Book and Anxiety Quick Wins Book 2020.
