The Launch Hangout from 13.00–13.30 (BST) on 18 July features David Kelly, Senior Vice President and Executive Director at the Elearning Guild; Donald H. Taylor, Chairman of the Learning & Performance Institute and the Learning & Skills Group; Nicola Appel, International Community Manager at Articulate; and Con Sotidis, Learning and Performance Consultant at LearnKotch Consulting.

The panel, representing the UK, Europe, America and Asia-Pacific, will examine the global differences in the eLearning industry and the speakers will share their thoughts on what Britain’s referendum decision to leave the EU could mean for corporate L&D.

Louise Pasterfield, Managing Director, Sponge UK said, "We have 24 of the biggest names in learning from across the world taking part in The Big Sponge Hangout, so we’ll be taking the opportunity to get their insight on Brexit and its implications for our industry. The whole event is a chance to get to the heart of the latest thinking on learning technologies. You’ll see lots of examples of best practice and get some great ideas on how to use them to boost your own workplace programmes."

A recent poll by Sponge UK asked 386 respondents about the impact of Brexit. When asked if they would change their spending plans in L&D over the next 12 months, 52% said no and 42% said yes.

The Big Sponge Hangout runs across three topics: innovate, inspire and integrate. The programme includes a live question and answers session each day, plus a series of video presentations.

Sessions including transformation through innovation with Royal Mail; challenging assumptions on serious games with Professor Karl M. Kapp; how to engage employees in a new business strategy with United Biscuits; global online induction with Specsavers; and what social means for L&D with experts, Julian Stodd and Jo Cook.