Training

With nearly three years experience of providing training to UK think tanks we have now developed a comprehensive, think tank-centric, series of courses. These are specifically designed to improve your professional skills in the core competencies you will need as you progress through your think tank career. 

Each of our six main training courses include both theoretical and practical activities designed to guide you through the key elements of each topic. You will leave each course more confident, with a greater understanding of how to apply these skills to your day-to-day work. You will also have been given a chance to practise these skills with your peers on the course itself. 

Upcoming training

22 April 2025

Media training for think tankers (150 CPD points)

9.30am - 4.30pm

Effective media skills are one of the most important skills to develop when working in think tank research or communications. 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 is designed to help you do that.

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22 May 2025

People management for think tankers (150 CPD points)

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. Suitable for those who are new to management, looking ahead to the day they become a manager or have been a manager in a think tank for a while but have never had the chance to develop their skills with formal training.

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Core topics

These topics form our new Level 1 training programme. Our 6 core topics have been 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. By undertaking these 6 training courses attendees will have an excellent grounding in the essential skills necessary for working in a think tank. 

Every training session includes some theory followed by lots of practical and interactive exercises. Attendees will get a chance to put into practice what they have just learnt and take back to their job at least 2 actionable things they could now use in their current role.

Media training

Effective media skills are one of the most important skills to develop when working in think tank research or communications. 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. We don’t just tell you what you need to know but we give you the opportunity to practise in real time, so you are ready to go for the real thing! We cover everything from explainer videos to broadcast, radio and TV interviews as well as podcasts.

Public speaking training

A practical session where attendees build on skills and confidence throughout the day with multiple chances to practise. We delve into speaking confidently, controlling your nerves and look in detail at how to construct a speech or presentation. We round off the day with the final block looking specifically at speaking on a panel and handling Q&As.

Writing for impact

A detailed session that takes a deep dive into the mechanics of writing and style, followed by a look at how to incorporate data effectively and then a longer look at planning, drafting and editing your work. The day covers both report writing as well as looking at op-eds, blogs and press releases. You will be editing your own writing during the session ensuring that the course content is useful and relevant to your everyday work.

People management

For those new to management, aiming to become a manager or those who are already a manager but have not had any formal training. Looking closely at managing small teams and people quite early on in their careers we look at some of the fundamentals of what makes a good manager, including making the transition up into management. We then focus on the three core skills you need to build - delegation, giving feedback and performance management and having difficult conversations.

Fundraising fundamentals

Covering the essentials of think tank fundraising - who funds them, why do they fund, what do they fund; this session also develops practical skills for anyone in a think tank expected to raise money. Activities include how to develop your pitch, what documents you need and how to make the all-important ask. We cover all types of donors; individuals, trust and foundations and corporate donors.

Project management

This training session is a useful mixture of theory and practical application for the many different elements of a think tank project. We cover all the essentials including building your timeline, managing stakeholders and the project cycle plus look at building out a budget and staying on track. Using some of the best practice from other industries, this course is tailored to help attendees execute well thought out and on time think tank projects.

Would highly recommend!

“The Smart Thinking media training was a great introduction on how to approach press, radio and TV interviews. Simon was very knowledgeable and attentive to each attendee’s ambitions for the session, and the small group size allowed plenty of opportunity for questions and feedback. I got a lot out of this training and would highly recommend it.”

Millie Mitchell
Researcher, Centre for London

Further details

The sessions

Each training session is made up of 5 skills blocks that take attendees from the theory to the practical application, building up those skills throughout the day. At each session attendees will use examples or projects they are currently working on to give the training as practical an application as possible. 

Over lunch (provided by Smart Thinking) the networking and learning continues so that it is not just about developing the skills, but also getting to know your peers across the UK think tank sector. 

The trainers

Our core team of Smart Thinking trainers are faces you will see again and again, helping build trust and great working relationships. Selected for their experience and energy our new team of Smart Thinking trainers all have current experience in both the topics they are teaching and in making learning dynamic and accessible.

Got a suggestion?

It is important to us that the training we offer is what our members and think tanks would find most beneficial so if you have a suggestion on topics you would like to see covered then please get in touch!