Empowering Civic Engagement

Enriching Communities

14 & 15 October 2025

Where ideas meet impact

Join us at CiviCon2025 on 14 & 15 October 2025 in Sheffield for a transformative event that fosters collaboration, innovation and impact in civic practice within and beyond the higher education sector.

Join professionals, academics, and senior leaders from higher education institutions and civic partners to explore exemplary initiatives and gain practical tools for civic engagement. This event is ideal for higher education institutions, including academics, researchers, professional services staff, and civic teams, as well as external partners such as Combined Authorities, NHS Trusts, Civil Service, and community stakeholders.

Our goal is to highlight exemplary civic initiatives and provide institutions with practical tools to develop and expand their civic impact. Our vision is to foster a collaborative community around civic practice in HEIs, promoting learning, sharing, and networking to drive meaningful civic partnerships.

CiviCon25 Themes

Civic in Action: Learning from the Past, Building the Present

This theme focuses on showcasing tools, resources, and practices that have been used effectively, as well as what is happening in the civic space right now. It emphasises action learning, lived experiences, and practical applications.

Civic Futures: Leveraging Change

This theme explores how to leverage change, navigate policy challenges, and reimagine civic engagement with limited resources. It looks toward the future, focusing on sustainability, strategy and broadening impact

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Experience the Best of Sheffield: a Sneak Peek at our Conference Venue

CiviCon25 will be hosted at the iconic The Mowbray and newly opened The Victoria, two of Sheffield's most unique and inspiring event spaces.

 

The Mowbray
The Victoria

Join the Waitlist

CiviCon25 is at full capacity and registration is closed. However, places may become available!

Register for the waitlist and we'll contact you if a spot opens up.

Delegate Rate

£32900if a ticket becomes available
  • 14 & 15 October
  • Full access to all sessions
  • Conference dinner included
  • Lunch & refreshments included
Join Waitlist

 

CiviCon25 has officially sold out! If you’d like to be part of our dynamic gathering of civic university leaders and trailblazers, join our first-come-first-served waitlist.

We’ll notify you as soon as a place becomes available. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to connect, learn, and innovate!

What took place last year?

At CiviCon24, we showcased incredible stories of civic impact, practical insights from university leaders and spaces to share and network.

CiviCon brought together inspiring keynote speakers, engaging workshops, and valuable networking opportunities, fostering a collaborative environment where delegates gained insights and developed strategies to enhance their own civic engagement.

  • Inspiring Keynote Speakers: Renowned speakers shared their expertise and insights.
  • Engaging Workshops: Participants took part in interactive workshops designed to enhance their skills and knowledge.
  • Networking Opportunities: Delegates connected with like-minded professionals, forging new partnerships, and expanding their professional network.
  • A memorable event: Two half days of insightful sessions and networking opportunities at the modern Institute of Education at Sheffield Hallam University, plus an engaging conference dinner in the iconic Cutler's Hall, Sheffield with high-profile speakers.

What last year's delegates said:

CiviCon24 Rating:

94%

of delegates were satisfied or very satisfied with CiviCon24

97%

of delegates would consider recommending CiviCon to a friend or colleague

97%

of delegates would consider attending a future CiviCon event

How delegates described CiviCon24:

Source: CiviCon24 Delegate Evaluation. Word Cloud includes words used to describe CiviCon by at least 3 delegates. Size of word is indicative of the number of times used (i.e. "inspiring" mentioned by <13 delegates). 

Get Involved

Closed Call For Submissions

Thank you for your interest in CiviCon25. Our call for submissions is now closed.

We're delighted to have received over 70 proposals and are grateful to everyone who took the time to share their ideas. Our Panels are now carefully reviewing each submission. We'll be in touch with all applicants as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

We're inviting contributions in a range of formats – from in-depth workshops to quick-fire storytelling sessions. While our 1-hour sessions are always popular, we especially encourage you to consider our shorter, 15-minute formats – they're focused, fun, and a fantastic way to get people talking.

Contribution Formats:

1-Hour Breakout Sessions

  • Interactive Workshops – Practical and participatory.
  • Panels or Debates – Explore civic themes from diverse perspectives.
  • Wildcard Ideas – Got a different format in mind? We're all ears.

15-Minute Interactive Encounters

  • Storytelling Showcase – A 7-minute narrative, followed by a short Q&A.
  • Practice Encounter – Bring a civic tool, project, or approach to life.
  • Knowledge Conversations – Host a peer-to-peer conversation in our "human library" space.

Showcase Exhibits (Self-Guided)

  • Civic Cinema – Submit a short film about your community impact for our quiet viewing space
  • Objects of Impact: Bring Your Practice to Life – Share your vision for presenting your work at the Civic Gallery, whether through objects, images, portfolios, or digital displays. Our team is here to help you create an engaging and memorable experience for all.

Your proposal will be reviewed by the CiviCon25 planning committee, with input from our community advisory panel. We'll be looking for:

  • A clear articulation of the challenge being addressed or the potential being realised, and a defined audience
  • Strong alignment with the conference themes or the Civic Impact Framework
  • A format that suits the content and audience
  • Relevance and appeal to civic professionals in HE
  • Consideration of diversity, inclusion, and community involvement
  • Content that's accessible, practical, and engaging

We want to build a programme that reflects a broad range of voices, experiences, and approaches – across disciplines, regions, and lived experience.

We are committed to making the event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility requirements, let us know when submitting the form so we can ensure you are fully supported and able to participate.

  • Submissions close: Monday 9th June 2025
  • You can submit up to two proposals (one form per idea)
  • We'll respond to all submissions after Monday 14th July 2025

Let's create something meaningful, bold, and collaborative. Whether you're sharing insights, sparking discussion, or showcasing your civic work – we'd love to hear from you.

If your submission is accepted, you will receive two free full conference tickets, and will be able to purchase additional tickets with a £50 discount.

If you have already purchased a ticket and your submission is successful, please contact the team at NCIA@shu.ac.uk to arrange a refund.

Please note that our bursary scheme, which supports travel, accommodation, and attendance costs for community partners and delegates who would otherwise find participation prohibitive, has now been fully allocated. We regret that we are unable to support any further requests at this time.

Don't miss out on updates:

Stay in the loop with all things CiviCon25. Register now, or sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates on the call for contributions, event details, and more. Be the first to know how you can get involved in shaping the future of civic impact.