Staff Development Awards
The M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries offers Staff Development Awards each year for staff of member libraries.
We are committed to enhancing the experience of all those working within our member libraries, and these awards directly support this. People are at the heart of the Consortium and our member libraries. We recognise that supporting all staff to achieve their potential is key to the success for our members.
The M25 Staff Development Awards form part of the charitable work of the Consortium and are a fantastic opportunity for staff working in any role at any level in any of our diverse member libraries to attend training, a conference or other event, to enhance their professional development and to network with others.
Applications for Staff Development Awards 2026 now open!
There are eight Staff Development Awards available offering free places across M25 and cpd25 events and Conferences:
- Free attendance at the cpd25 SLA Annual Conference 2026 (in person in London, two awards available)
- Free attendance at the cpd25 Cataloguing with Confidence Training event 2026 (in person at British Library in London, two awards available)
- Free attendance at the M25 Consortium Annual Conference 2026 (online on Tuesday 9 June, two awards available). Please note all member libraries are allocated one free place at the conference; this award provides two further free places.
- Free attendance at a cpd25 event of the applicant’s choice taking place before 1 August 2027 (two awards available).
Terms and Conditions
Please read the terms and conditions for the Awards in 2026.
How to apply
Download and complete the application form, taking into account the terms and conditions. Applications are invited from any individual currently working at a member library. You are encouraged to join our mailing lists to be first to hear about upcoming opportunities.
The completed application form should be submitted to m25libadmin@london.ac.uk by Wednesday 11 March 2026.
Award recipients 2024-25
Warm congratulations to Janice Fernandes, Subject Librarian at the University of West London and Leah Gulley, Academic Liaison Librarian at Buckinghamshire New University. Their applications to this year’s M25 Staff Development Awards have been successful. The awards panel, drawn from our Steering Group, were impressed by both submissions.
Leah and Janice each receive a free place at this year’s Annual Conference, and we will share reports from them on their experiences via our website later this year.
Reports:
Report from M25 Consortium Conference 2025 recipient Leah Gulley, Buckinghamshire New University
Report from cpd25 award recipient, Alex Kither from the Institute of Historical Research.
Report from M25 Consortium Conference recipient, Cassie Bowman from London South Bank University