Month: February 2025

Advancing Your Professional Journey: Five Career Strategies for 2025

February 28, 2025 / / 0 Comments

In today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, standing still is moving backwards. As we navigate the complexities of 2025’s job market, the most successful professionals are those who actively invest in their growth. Whether you’re looking to climb the corporate ladder or pivot into a new field entirely, here are five strategies to help elevate your career this year.

1. Embrace Micro-Credentials and Specialised Learning

While traditional degrees clearly still hold value, 2025 has solidified the rise of micro-credentials as career accelerators. Focused learning experiences—such as our Leadership and Management and Project Management short courses—allow you to develop specific, in-demand skills without committing to years of study. Upon completion, you’ll receive LinkedIn digital badges that you can display on your professional profile, instantly signalling your expertise to employers, clients, and your professional network.

The most forward-thinking professionals are stacking these credentials strategically, building expertise in complementary areas that make them even more valuable. For instance, combining our Starting up in Business course with Project Management would create a powerful skill set for entrepreneurial ventures within larger organisations—with each achievement visibly showcased through your growing collection of digital badges.

2. Cultivate Cross-Functional Literacy

In 2025, the most promotable staff members are those who can understand and communicate effectively across different professional disciplines and departments. This doesn’t mean becoming an expert in everything, but rather developing sufficient literacy in adjacent areas to collaborate effectively.

Our Effective Communication and Interpersonal Skills course addresses this need directly, helping you bridge gaps between departments and specialisations. When technical experts can speak the language of marketing, or when HR professionals understand financial considerations, they become much more valuable to their organisations—able to translate complex concepts into business outcomes that leadership can understand and support.

3. Leverage AI as Your Career Multiplier

The AI revolution has moved beyond hype to practical implementation. In 2025, career advancement belongs to those who effectively harness AI tools as force multipliers for their expertise.

Our Introduction to Conversational and Generative AI course will give you a solid foundation from which to  navigate this technological shift. While our Introduction to Copywriting and Content Writing short courses both include how to work effectively with AI tools to enhance your content creation capabilities.

Rather than fearing automation, successful professionals are identifying repetitive aspects of their work that AI can enhance, freeing their time for higher-value contributions. Whether it’s using AI for research synthesis, data analysis, content creation, or workflow optimisation, becoming proficient with these tools demonstrates both adaptability and efficiency—qualities employers increasingly prioritise when making promotion decisions.

4. Master Impactful Presentation Skills

In an era of information overload, the ability to communicate ideas clearly and persuasively sets career-focused professionals apart. Our Presentation Skills course develops your capacity to influence decisions, secure buy-in for your initiatives, and establish yourself as a thought leader.

Whether you’re pitching to clients, presenting to executives, or leading team meetings, these skills create visibility and demonstrate your value across the organisation.

5. Cultivate Strategic Relationships Through Genuine Value Exchange

Networking in 2025 has evolved beyond transactional connections. One of the most effective career accelerators is meaningful professional relationships—a skill set developed through our Effective Communication and Interpersonal Skills course.

The course emphasises authentic relationship-building strategies based on genuine value exchange rather than extraction. You’ll learn to identify key relationships that could support your growth journey, and consider what unique perspective, skill, or opportunity you can offer in return.

As we navigate 2025’s dynamic workplace, remember that career advancement is rarely accidental. By deliberately implementing these strategies and investing in targeted skills development through continuous education and lifelong learning, you position yourself for sustainable growth rather than hoping to be noticed.

The most successful professionals don’t wait for opportunities to find them—they systematically build the skills, relationships and evidence that make them the obvious choice when doors open. Explore our full range of short courses today to discover how we can support your career journey. Or book a spot at our free online open evening on 2 April and try one of our taster sessions. As a bonus, we are offering a 10% discount on all our short courses for anyone who attends the open evening and enrols with us on the night. We look forward to seeing you there!

City Writes Spring Event 2025: 3rd in the ‘Behind the scenes with our featured tutors series’; Introducing Katy Darby

February 27, 2025 / / 0 Comments
by Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

The City Writes Spring Event on Wednesday 26th March at 6.30pm in Northampton Square is going to be a bumper evening of storytelling and creative writing insights. Alongside Goldsmiths’ Prize shortlisted author, Han Smith, there will be readings from four of City St. George’s Short Course tutors: Jem Bartholomew, Katy Darby, Caroline Green and Martin Ouvry. Joining them on stage will be this term’s competition winners, taken from students and alumni of City St. George’s short courses. You can find out more about the competition here.

In this blog, we are very excited about introducing Short Story Writing and Writers’ Workshop tutor, Katy Darby. As with the other tutors, I had three questions to ask Katy who, alongside her writing, is co-founder and Director of the brilliant live fiction event, Liars’ League. It will be a treat when Katy steps up to the microphone on the 26th March! She is also a much loved tutor, whose students have gone on to write some truly magical things—Han Smith is one of her former students, as is Imogen Hermes-Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock.

Author and Lecturer Katy Darby

I began by asking Katy to introduce us to her work: ‘I mostly write historical fiction, and my novel The Unpierced Heart, a Victorian Gothic tale of love and betrayal, is available in Penguin paperback. Some of my contemporary short stories appear in the anthology Five by Five from Arachne Press, or are linked from my website katydarby.co.uk. Most recently, I’ve had several new Sherlock Holmes stories published in anthologies from Belanger Books, mostly in the Year of Mystery series (covering the years 1881-1888 so far): there are three more forthcoming this year, including Into the Fire, edited by Margie Deck.’

With her clear passion for teaching, I was intrigued to find out what excited Katy most about teaching. ‘It’s the sheer variety and originality of the stories people tell: whether they are drawing on their own personal experience or just on pure imagination, I am always amazed by how you can give the same prompt to a class of 15 writers and get 15 completely unique and totally different responses to it. I also love introducing short stories I love (for example, Tobias Wolff’s “Bullet in the Brain”) to students who’ve never read them before and hearing their fresh takes on the characters, the writing and the meaning of the piece. Watching people encountering new possibilities in fiction, whether reading it or writing it, is a thrill that never gets old.’

Finally I asked Katy for that all important ‘one piece of advice’ she would offer to aspiring writers and her answer was an inspiring one. ‘OK, everyone will say “read widely” and of course that’s true—but I’d also say “write widely”. Don’t restrict the genres, styles or stories you explore in your writing any more than you do when it comes to reading books. If you’ve never read sci-fi before, pick it up—equally, if you have an idea for a sci-fi story, write it down! It may not be perfect (spoiler: no first draft is) but if the idea excites you and you have fun writing it, that’s an immense reward. Having fun and experimenting with voice, structure, subject, anything, should be the whole of the law when it comes to writers just setting out, especially short story writers.’

If that’s not encouragement enough to pick up your pen and give it a go, I don’t know what is. For more of this great advice and to hear Katy read from her work in person alongside the other tutors, Han Smith and the competition winners, don’t forget to book your seat for the The City Writes Spring Event on Wednesday 26th March at 6.30pm, Northampton Square. There will be refreshments, a chance to hear more about the short creative writing courses at City St George’s and a special 10% discount for all attendees who sign up for a creative writing course.

Keep an eye on this space for the fourth and final post in the ‘Behind the scenes’ series with our final tutor, Jem Bartholomew. Looking forward to seeing you at the The City Writes Spring Event on Wednesday 26th March at 6.30pm, Northampton Square.

 

 

City Writes Spring Event 2025: 2nd in the ‘Behind the scenes with our featured tutors series’; Introducing Caroline Green

February 21, 2025 / / 0 Comments
By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

As the days tick by towards the deadline for submitting to the City Writes Competition (the deadline is Friday 28th February!), we’re delighted to introduce you to another of our tutors reading at the City Writes Spring Event 2025, Wednesday, 26th March, 6.30pm in Northampton Square. Alongside, Goldsmiths’ Prize shortlisted author, Han Smith, there will be readings from four of City St. George’s Short Course tutors: Jem Bartholomew, Katy Darby, Caroline Green and Martin Ouvry. Joining them on stage will be the competition winners. Find out more about the competition here.

Having started this series looking at the work and advice of Martin Ouvry, we’re now turning to Crime and Thriller Writing tutor, Caroline Green. Caroline is a wonderfully prolific writer, charming and unnerving readers from children to adults, and teaching with a care and consideration that has nurtured a number of publications from her students. When I asked her to introduce her work, her enthusiasm was catching.

‘I’ve been lucky enough to write thirteen books (so far!) for both young people and adults. My latest book for 7-9 year olds is called There’s A Dog in My Brain, which is about a boy and a dog who swap bodies for the day. But I mainly write dark, gothic thrillers for adults under the names Cass Green and CS Green. My latest series as CS Green is about a branch of the Met Police that solves supernatural crime. I’ve loved writing them and you should be able to find them via the usual booksellers and libraries.’

Writing with such a range of readers in mind, and with a broad knowledge of thriller, crime and comedy, Caroline offers a wealth of experience to students. I asked her what excited her most about her teaching and her answer began with a love of the broad range of students taking her courses at City St. George’s. ‘I really love teaching writing to a broad range of experiences and ages too. It connects me with the aspects of the writing process that I find exciting, such as plotting and crafting a story, but also helps me “up my game” in the parts I find harder, like writing description. Seeing students have a breakthrough moment in their own work is always such a wonderful moment for me. I’ve now had quite a few students from various courses who have gone onto publication (two in the recent Observer Debuts of the Year list) and to have even played a tiny role in that is an absolute privilege.’

Finally I asked Caroline to offer one piece of advice to aspiring writers and her answer was a very delightful one for the bibliophiles among us. ‘My one piece of advice is one you hear a lot, but I think people tell themselves sometimes that it isn’t as important as it really is. You have to find time to read widely within the genre you are trying to write. I think some sort of osmosis can take place, where you absorb some of that good stuff along the way.’

For your chance to absorb some good stuff through listening to readings from Caroline Green, fellow tutors, alumna Han Smith and competition winners, don’t forget to book your tickets for the City Writes Spring Event 2025, Wednesday, 26th March, 6.30pm in Northampton Square. If you’d like to join these wonderful authors on stage, all current students and alumni of City St. George’s Short Creative Writing Courses can enter the City Writes Competition for which the submission details are here. Don’t forget to enter before the deadline of midnight on the 28th February!

 

Looking forward to seeing you at the event and reading your submissions and keep an eye out for the next in the series of posts about the tutors featured at the City Writes Spring Event in March.

City Writes Spring Event 2025: Behind the scenes with our featured tutors

February 12, 2025 / / 0 Comments

By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

This is the first in a series of blog posts looking into the writing and teaching lives of the tutors reading at the City Writes Spring Event 2025, Wednesday, 26th March, 6.30pm in Northampton Square. I’ll be asking each featured tutor the same three questions about their work and their teaching, hoping to entice you to sign up for the event and submit your own work to the City Writes Competition and be able to join them, Han Smith, and the other competition winners, on stage in March.

What a joy to start off this series promoting City Writes Spring Event 2025 by introducing Visiting Lecturer and writer, Martin Ouvry who teaches the Novel Writing and Longer Works course here at City St George’s. Not only do the course reviews rave about Martin’s teaching as ‘first rate’ and ‘excellent’, his answers to my questions reveal a teacher and practitioner firmly grounded in his practice as well as diligent and generous in his approach to his own and others’ work.

I began by asking Martin where readers could find his work and what they might expect to read. ‘Expect the unexpected,’ he replied. ‘My novels and short stories are psychological dramas with mysteries at their heart and, often, a touch of the surreal. I’m proud to have been published in a range of anthologies – e.g. New Writing (Picador) and A Little Nest of Pedagogues (British Council) – and magazines including the globally-renowned Esquire and the world’s oldest literary journal, The London Magazine. My article ‘How creative writing courses benefit a writer’ first appeared in the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2023 and has been reprinted in the 2024 and 2025 editions. My novel The Cost of Loving was completed with the support of a grant from those lovely, lovely people at Arts Council England. More information, and audio extracts, can be found on the Writing page of my website.’

City Novel Writing tutor and author, Martin Ouvry

I went on to ask Martin what excited him most about teaching. ‘I love the sheer diversity of both new and practising writers who beat a path to my door at City St George’s, and the range of their projects, whether already begun when they come to me or existing – at that stage – purely in the realm of ideas. I love witnessing twelve individuals coming together as a group. I’m also excited by the ever growing number of success stories – with agents and publishers, or in writing competitions – from those who have come to Novel Writing and Longer Works – although I’m equally moved by the successes of those who have simply made strong progress and feel proud of the work they have produced.’

Having gleaned Martin’s inclusive approach to the rigours of the writing life, my final question sought one piece of advice he thought most important for aspiring writers. His response was invaluable: ‘Learn from others but be yourself. Individual talent is a precious and often delicate thing. Every writer, whatever their level of experience, has the opportunity to bring something different and valuable into the world.’

For your chance to hear Martin read a passage of his work and engage in debate about writing with the other tutors and Han Smith, do sign up for City Writes Spring Event, 6.30pm on Wednesday 26th March, 2025. This term the event will be in person for the first time in many years and promises to be a bumper celebration of City St George’s literary talent. Book your tickets here.

You can also enter the competition to share the stage with Martin and others. The competition is open to all current students and alumni of City St George’s short creative writing courses. You need only send your best 1,000 words of creative fiction or non-fiction to rebekah.lattin-rawstrone.1@city.ac.uk with details of your name and the short course you took, or are taking, by Friday 28th February. Full details and submission guidelines are here. Whilst we accept YA, we don’t currently accept children’s fiction, poetry or scripts. There will be five competition winning slots available and we can’t wait to read your submissions.

Book tickets here, check out the City Writes Competition submission guidelines here, and watch this space for the next in the series of ‘City Writes Spring Event 2025: Behind the scenes with our featured tutors’.

 

Take Your Professional Development to the Next Level with Digital Badges

February 7, 2025 / / 0 Comments

We’re excited to introduce LinkedIn digital badges for all City St George’s short course participants. These badges are available to anyone who completed a course with us in the past year, as well as future course participants.

Digital badges serve as powerful credentials on your professional profile, signalling to employers your commitment to continuous learning and skills development. They provide instant verification of your course completion and showcase your expertise in our five subject areas: Business, Computing, Creative Industries, Creative Writing, and Languages.

In the coming weeks, we will be sending out badges to anyone who took a short course and gained their certificate with us in the past year, as well as to future short course participants. When you get your badge, why not share it with us on our Linkedin page. We’d love to champion your learning journey!

For more information about our upcoming courses and badge eligibility, visit our learning hub or contact our team directly on shortcourses@city.ac.uk.

Categories

© 2025 City St George's Short Courses

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑

Skip to toolbar