Appreciative Inquiry training

Appreciative Inquiry is a versatile approach, which can be used in a number of different OD areas – our AI training programme is most often delivered in house to support organisational development. It’s ideal for training staff who deal with the public or manage other staff, in supporting a new work-based culture and in learning new skills, especially for management.

It fosters and develops emotional intelligence and leaves behind a legacy of learning and social capital, equipping staff and management for culture change.

Appreciating People is recognised as the UK leader in Appreciative Inquiry, especially in the public and community/ voluntary sectors. We have delivered training both across the UK and further afield, and have developed a range of materials to support and reinforce our sessions.

  • Since its inception, we have worked on the Big Local programme, supporting and advising on creating the partnership, programme development and delivery of projects in Halton, Knowsley, Leigh, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham and Sefton. We’ve also provided support and advice on social investment for a number of north west Big Local areas.
  • We design and deliver community planning projects like Skerton, Lancaster; Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland; Imagine Anfield in Liverpool and Page Moss, Knowsley. This work has led to the creation of an AI-based community planning approach which includes AI training, community-wide conversations and community events.

  • We facilitate strength-based strategic planning for small community organisations
  • We’ve delivered team building and large events bringing together a number of different community organisations, like the Somali Umbrella Group and the Toxteth BME Forum in Liverpool.
  • We help community organisations identify their strengths and successes and co-design the future plans. Examples include the Gower Heritage project, where we brought the partners together to collaborate more effectively; and Citizen Engagement CIC, where we co-created future business development, using the Open Table process to identify core principles as the organisation grew
  • We often use visual minuting (or graphic recording) to record meetings in words and pictures on large visual displays. Visual minutes use a mixture of pictures, graphics and text which, when used together, are more quickly and easily absorbed and understood than words alone.


Our approach

Experience has indicated the best approach is:

  • To deliver AI training in house for organisations – this provides the maximum opportunity to embed the approach and foster a supportive AI community of practice;
  • To provide levels of AI training to deepen knowledge and experience.

Courses available

AI intensive – a short one-day introduction to Appreciative Inquiry for organisations looking for a basic overview of AI

Taste of AI – a practical two-day AI course covering the principles and AI tools. This is our most popular programme and provides a practical understanding of AI. This course includes post-training assignments, including journaling and a small-scale AI intervention

AI advanced – a three-day course for AI practitioners wishing to deepen their practice, this course is accessible to those who have completed the Taste of AI programme or equivalent, and done a further nine months of AI practical experience. Completion of the AI advanced programme provides access to apprenticing the Taste of AI training.

All participants in the courses listed above receive the corresponding resources from our AI essentials products range. You can see them here.

Thinking partner support

This provides individual advice and coaching for AI practitioners at all levels. Often provided following Taste of AI and advanced programmes. Can be conducted via Skype or phone

Certification and partnerships

We provide in-house standard courses or tailored Appreciative Inquiry training programmes to suit your requirements. Courses have been delivered to a range of public and community/voluntary organisations in UK and internationally, including NWAS (NW Ambulance Service), AQuA, MerseyCare NHS Trust, the Methodist and United Reformed Churches, some regional Academic Health Science Networks (AHSN), Barnardos, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Blackpool Council, and Salford University.

Between January 2016 and March 2017 we delivered 35 AI courses across the UK. Appreciating People can provide CPD certification on all the courses we provide.

How do I find out more?

We can take our AI training courses anywhere in the world, and provide follow-on action learning and thinking sessions to support practical applications of AI. All of our courses include the AI essentials publications, which you can also purchase via the link on the right of the page. Contact

Indicative costs

Below is some guidance on costs. All of our courses can be adapted to client needs, so the first step is to contact or for a conversation.

  • One-day intensive AI workshop for up to 12 people
    £1,000* plus VAT and £25 per person for resources.
    A 12-person course – including trainer and resources (+VAT) – would be £1,488, which works out at £124 per person including VAT.

  • Taste of AI two-day course for up to 14 people
    £1,950 plus VAT + £27 for resources per person. Total costs would be £2,328 (+ VAT and trainer’s travel/accommodation). Approx. price per participant is £180 + VAT.

  • Three-day advanced course – for people who have completed either the Taste of AI programme or done some practical application. Contact for costs and details

Extra costs include accommodation and travel for the trainer. There are reduced training cost prices for community organisations and groups booking multiple courses.

Thinking partner sessions are available at £70 plus VAT per session and are either conducted via Skype, by phone or at your premises.


