Good writing is a reflection of good thinking
When it comes to producing speeches that stand out from the crowd, human creativity still has the edge over AI… but only just! If you want to stay one step ahead of AI, the best way to do it is to take your speechwriting, writing, and thinking skills, to the next level. Our in-person, low-tech speechwriting workshop will help you do just that.
For many years we have run versions of our 2-day speechwriting workshop for a wide variety of clients, from international bodies and government departments to major companies, trade unions, SMEs and charities, both large and small. Up to now these have always been commissioned by clients and held in-house. But people often ask if we could run it as an open workshop, so we've found a lovely venue, very close to Brighton Station, and hope we can tempt you to join us for a couple of days beside the sea, for some shared speechwriting in a supportive and stimulating environment.
Is it for me?
This course is for you if…
• you write speeches for yourself or other people
• you are an experienced speechwriter looking to refresh and develop your skills
• you are new to speechwriting and want to learn more about it
• you have a leadership role, or are about to step up to one
• your role involves influencing and persuading others.
What can I expect?
A practical, interactive course led by two speechwriting experts, in which you will be challenged to apply what you learn to your own speechwriting, and reap the benefits of working with a mutually supportive group (maximum of eight).
Learning by doing – you'll work on a short speech of your own over the two days and deliver it to the rest of the group towards the end of the second day. Understanding what’s involved in delivering a speech is incredibly useful for all speechwriters, and professional communicators, whether or not they usually deliver speeches themselves. And seeing what general principles look like when applied to your own writing is invaluable.
Learning from others – a great benefit of an in-person small group workshop (maximum of eight participants) is the opportunity it offers to learn from each other’s responses as well as your own. You’ll have a ready-made audience to work with, as well as a friendly group of like-minded people to challenge and support you.
Learning from experts – the course is based on the process we have used and developed over more than two decades, helping a wide variety of people to write and deliver their own speeches. Our method is simple and powerful, we know it works, and we want to share it with you so that you can help others get their ideas and messages across with impact.
Course leaders – Martha Leyton and Martin Shovel co-facilitate the workshop. With more than two decades of experience writing speeches for leaders and coaching speakers, they also run in-house speechwriting courses for a variety of clients, as well as for the European Speechwriter Network and the UK Speechwriters' Guild.
When will it take place? September 18th & 19th 2025
Location: Central Brighton – at a venue close to Brighton Station
Duration: 2 days, 9.30 – 4.30 each day.
Price: £1,100 includes refreshments and lunch on both days. We do not charge VAT.
How do I book a place?
Get in touch via the contact form on this website. We will contact you to arrange a no-obligation call to answer any questions you may have, and to make sure it's right for you. You can then book a provisional place on the workshop by phone or email. Your booking will be confirmed on receipt of full payment by bank transfer. Following confirmation, we will send you detailed information about the workshop by email.
If you have any further questions please get in touch via the contact form on this website.
Please scroll to the bottom of this page for our Terms and Conditions
"I very much enjoyed the workshop. The overall format was excellent and the content was exactly what I hoped for. One element I found very useful was the exploration of the relationship between words and the senses. This has brought a whole new aspect to my work, which makes me feel more like a professional wine-taster than a speechwriter! I’ve still got a long way to go, but I certainly feel a lot more creative!"
"The workshop was fascinating. I would definitely recommend it to other speechwriters, as a way of understanding – and improving – your own (often subconscious) writing style."
"Your speechwriting workshop was a great fit for me. I found the content relevant and accessible and the examples apt. Your passion for language and communication, and the counterpoint between you, made the session a delight to participate in."
"Your workshop was great: I enjoyed the intellectual depth that you included, and I appreciated the way you didn’t try and teach us off-the-shelf speechwriting tricks, but rather tried to sensitise us to words and meanings. I’d also add that you both gave the impression that you love what you do and are still learning – both of which, for me, are key characteristics of someone I want to learn from."
"I very much enjoyed the workshop and would certainly recommend it to other speechwriters. It made me consider the power of individual words to make or break a point, a clever image, or indeed a whole speech. In particular, it gave me a new way to think about framing and my approach to achieving effective persuasion."
"I'm not a full time speechwriter but I do find myself getting asked to write speeches and presentation scripts. Your workshop offered the perfect blend of inspiration, theory and practical tips. Thank you!"
"The trainers were absolutely fantastic. I've taken a lot of training over the years but they really were some of the best. Authoritative and knowledgeable whilst also being incredibly approachable and friendly. It felt like a good space where you could ask questions, make mistakes and learn, and just have fun as well. "
Terms and conditions
Payment: the cost of a single workshop place is free of VAT. A booking cannot be confirmed until full payment is received. Payments are processed by bank transfer (BACS).
Refund policy
Cancellation more than 6 weeks before the event: full refund minus 10% admin fee
Cancellation 6–4 weeks before the event: 50% refund
Cancellation less than 4 weeks before the event: no refund.
For the workshop on September 18/19th 2025, these dates are:
If you cancel your place on or before August 7th, you will receive a full refund minus an administration fee of £110.
If you cancel between 8th and 21st August, you will receive a £50% refund
If you cancel after 21st August we will be unable to give you a refund.
If you need to cancel, please contact us by email or via the contact form on this website.
If we are forced to cancel the workshop, you will of course receive a full refund.
Liability and Disclaimer – IMPORTANT, please read this:
Our sole liability in relation to any cancellation, postponement or change of venue shall be limited to the price paid by you for such workshop and we shall not be liable under any circumstances for any consequential losses.
Whilst every reasonable precaution is taken by us to ensure security and safety at the workshop, we shall not in any way be liable for any loss or damage suffered by you whatsoever in relation to the workshop.
Governing law
These Terms shall be governed by English Law and you hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.