Increasing collaboration and
connection between think tanks

Smart Thinking's Membership Network hosts multiple training sessions, webinars and networking events throughout the year to help build the UK think tank community and enable knowledge sharing, pooling of resources and peer-to-peer support throughout the sector.

Are you a member? Log in

Upcoming training

Media training for think tankers

22 April 2025
9.30am - 4.30pm

Effective media skills are a crucial think tank skill to develop. Being able to tell a story, get your message out there and effectively represent your organisation are all skills that can and should be developed. This training will help you do that.

Members £250 (+VAT)
Non-members £450 (+VAT)

Book your place

People management for think tankers

22 May 2025
9.30am - 4.30pm

This training session takes you through what makes a good manager, the peculiarities of managing in a think tank, how to transition to manager as well as how to successfully delegate, give effective feedback and have difficult conversations.

Members £250 (+VAT)
Non-members £450 (+VAT)

Book your place

TAILORED TO THE THINK TANK SECTOR

Designed by think tanks for think tanks

Resources

Latest resources and information for think tanks

Learn More

Webinar archive

Take a look at some of our previously held webinars

Learn More

Member chat groups

Share knowledge, ideas and views with your fellow members

Apply to join

MEMBERS ONLY

Upcoming webinars

MEMBER ONLY

What, why and how to run a focus group – with Public

20 March 2025
11am - 12pm

Jonathan Simons, Partner at Public First, will talk us through how to construct focus groups, what to do, what to avoid and how to get the most from them.

Book your place

MEMBER ONLY

How researchers can more effectively engage with Parliament

12 May 2025
2pm - 3pm

Sarah Carter-Bell, from the Knowledge Exchange Unit in Parliament will discuss how Parliament draws on research and how think tanks can more effectively engage with it.

Book your place

Latest news

April's Think Tank CEO lunch

Smart Thinking kicked off April with our biannual Think Tank CEO - 18 CEOs in a room chatting through all that was affecting them as think tank leaders. We had a great range of think tanks represented, from very large organisations to teams of 5 but all with similar challenges. Lots of advice and information shared!

Latest Operation Network meeting

Our latest Operations Network was a great session which covered everything from how those managing think tank HR and operations are adapting their sexual harassment policies to in-office working to salary benchmarking to setting guidance for using AI.

New Level 1 training launched!

We have launched our new Level 1 core training! 6 topics chosen and designed to cover the broad range of skills those in the first few years of a think tank career will need to develop. Designed to be practical, relevant and actionable (and specifically tailored to those working in think tanks) we include a mix of theory and practical exercises, building up attendee’s skills throughout the day.