The Group provides a professional network for staff developers representing Higher Education Institutions in the region, dealing with a wide range of topics, news and development themes and inclusive of all types of Developer. Since 2020 we have engaged with the AUA SW region and have held joint meetings with the (HE) South-West Employee Engagement Network (SWEEN).
The group has been meeting for over 30 years and was one of the first UK Staff Developers’ Groups to establish itself. Our region is the most geographically dispersed in the UK, stretching from Cornwall across to Portsmouth, up to Reading, back to Gloucester and on into South Wales.
We communicate via:
- an email group of over 45 members from 17 HEIs
- online meetings and seminars held throughout the year, with occasional in-person events where feasible
Our meetings provide opportunities to hear from speakers from within and beyond the sector, discuss shared challenges and priorities, exchange ideas and good practice, and build supportive connections.
The South Wales and West of England Staff Developers’ Group (SW&SWoE SDG) is a self-organising body. The Regional Chair attends the National Staff Development Forum Council meetings in an advisory capacity.
Regional Co-Chair: Victoria Davies, Senior Learning & Development Partner, University of Plymouth
Victoria Davies works for the University of Plymouth as a Senior Learning and Development Partner, where she leads the department with the support of an assistant L&D partner. She has 15 years of experience in HR, learning and development, and organisational development roles.
Victoria works across the entire university, partnering with academics, professional services staff, and technicians to support their development needs. She is passionate about helping employees maximise their career journeys and supporting people to be their best selves at work. Victoria holds a postgraduate degree in coaching and mentoring.
Having built her career in the private sector across tech and construction industries, Victoria joined the University of Plymouth in March 2024. This transition to higher education has provided an opportunity for her to learn about the HE sector while applying relevant perspectives from her private sector experience.
Member Institutions (December 2022)
- Bath Spa University
- Bristol University
- Bournemouth University
- Cardiff University
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
- Cranfield University
- Falmouth University
- University of Plymouth
- Portsmouth University
- Swansea University
- University of Bath
- University of Exeter
- University of Gloucestershire
- University of Reading
- University of the West of England (Bristol)