Public Speaking Courses in Bristol
A two day course for people who don’t like public speaking
with my different approach to public speaking, you can build confidence from the inside out…
Would you like to speak in front of an audience with confidence and ease? And if that was possible, what would you do with your life?
“I recently attended John's excellent 2 day public speaking course. I highly recommend attending, especially for those who lack confidence presenting or speaking in front of groups of people. The approach John teaches is simple yet extremely effective. I took away many great skills not just for public speaking but for improving confidence in a vast array of settings. Thanks again John!”
Chris Durham who attended a Bristol Course.
Since 2000
26 years
Over 8500
people helped
6-10 people
small group size
No quibble
guarantee
Just one
trainer
Dates for my Bristol public speaking course - Taking your place in the world
Solo rate if you are paying for yourself • Standard rate if your organisation is funding you or reimbursing you
Basic course info for my Bristol public speaking course - Taking your place in the world
Bristol Venue
Engineers’ House, The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NB
More information about the Bristol Venue and area below. Scroll down or use this linkCourse Times
Day 1, 9am - 5pm
Day 2, 9am - 4pm
Course numbers: 6 people min - 10 people maxDress code: smart casual
Access: My usual training room is on the first floor, if you have access issues, let me know and I can move rooms to a more accessible one
The trainer: I’m John Dawson with 26 years’ experience of running public speaking classes since I started in 2000 in Bristol. It’s just me who teaches.
For more on my experience click hereTravel
Train: Bristol Temple Meads is the main station, about three miles away. (Please don’t get confused with Bristol Parkway)
Bus: number 8 bus runs every 15 minutes from the station through the city centre and stops directly outside Engineers' House.
Taxi: A taxi from Temple Meads costs around £10-£16.
By car: Sat nav postcode: BS8 3NB. The venue has parking on site but it fills up early. If you arrive later, Engineers' House can provide a day permit for parking on the road - there's a £25 deposit to ensure the permit is returned.
Bikes: Bike racks are located at the front of the buildingLunch
Snacks, drinks and Lunch are provided. It’s the only venue where we get lunch provided (don’t tell Manchester and London). They cater for many diets and participants seem to enjoy the food.
Other Cities
I also run this same course in London and Manchester
Early Bird
Book early and you get early bird discount on both the standard and solo rates.
Invoicing
Often organisations book via credit card for a single booking and that’s the simplest way. And I’m also very happy to invoice organisations, just let me know the dates you want and the people coming etc. Please note - I’ve learnt to have no more than two people coming from the same organisation. Email me, John Dawson
Two rates to choose from
Solo rate - a reduced rate if you're paying for yourself.
Standard rate - if your employer or organisation is paying, in full or in part, including if they reimburse you afterwards.Money Back Guarantee
All my public speaking courses come with a simple no quibble guarantee.
Full details hereCancellation policy
You can cancel up to 14 days and get your money back. Details here
Still not sure?
If you want to talk to me, John Dawson for free for 10 minutes, to see if it’s right for you.
Book here
What they say - Bristol people talking about the course
The perfect course for people who want to start to understand and reduce their anxiety in relation to public speaking. It provides tools that are applicable to many situations in life. John is an excellent trainer who treats everyone with understanding and compassion which creates a safe space. Jonathan Crowe
I attended John’s public speaking course and it was a brilliant experience. It was fun, interesting, challenging and inspiring. It is much more than a “public speaking” course so if you are interested in exploring how you relate to others, the World around you and yourself then go for it. John strikes the right balance between holding a safe space and gently encouraging you to step outside of your comfort zone. I learnt so much and am taking away countless valuable insights from the experience.
Zara Jordan
John's empathy for the associated feelings we build up around public speaking was displayed through his understanding of human nature and how unkind we can be to ourselves and where this negatively leads our thought patterns.
I loved the safe environment that John created on this course, it enables you to gently but quickly build a positive experience around public speaking and see both the practice of speaking and yourself in a new light. I can't recommend this course highly enough
Rachel Jane
This course is by far the best public speaking course I have attended. John's facilitation is spot-on and has obviously been perfected over many years. He immediately put us at ease and gently giuded us into the course, building the knowledge and skills in a really well planned framework. The 2 days took us on a journey of discovery and by the end we had totally changed our perceptions of public speaking (as well as being the centre of attention in general) and we had developed a fundamental confidence to take forward. James Wakefield
John is a fantastic coach, and I had a wonderful experience. It’s not just a public speaking course. It’s a whole approach to help manage anxiety and confidence.
Andy Cocking
Completely unexpected and so much more than I could have imagined. The support from John and the group was amazing and I'd recommend for anyone who wants to feel comfortable public speaking and also dealing with any social anxieties. grossoli
Who comes on the course and why?
Everyone who comes dislikes public speaking or presenting in some way. In 26 years, they've come from all walks of life.
People come for all sorts of reasons: a presentation at work, father of the bride, best man, not speaking up in meetings, a book tour, a conference coming up, starting a PhD, people with social anxiety. And some come because they're scared their job is on the line if they don't start presenting.
Ages run from 22 upwards, the oldest have been 85 and 82, though most people are 25 to 55. The jobs are the widest range you can imagine: judges, foresters, students, professors, preachers, tech CEOs, parkour champions, new recruits, retired people, only one cage fighter. The very full list of jobs people have come from is here. I’ve just added saturation diver to the list!
You might recognise some of this.
Not much liking being the centre of attention.
Going blank halfway through.
Avoiding it for years, turning things down, hoping nobody notices. And avoiding isn’t helping in the long run.
A sniff of impostor syndrome, or a big dollop of it. That’s most people who come.
Trying hard to control the anxiety and finding it doesn't work or even makes it worse.
Roughly 60% of people who come see themselves as perfectionists or in that ballpark. We often put way too much pressure on ourselves. The more pressure, the less bandwidth we have for doing the actual task.
Thinking everyone else has it sorted when it comes to public speaking. You have a special form of anxiety (or that’s how it feels).
Dreading it for weeks beforehand, then replaying it critically afterwards. Not just once but over and over.
Wanting your brain back when all eyes are on you. Or just to somehow magically disappear…
It's NOT just you who feels this way.
We humans share a lot, we are really good at threat and overthinking. And because it's shared, you will find that we're all working on very similar things on the course. Take a look at what other anxious speakers thought about before they came here
And read Janet’s feedback
I attended one of your courses in February, but have waited until now to provide feedback. That's because I knew when I attended in February that I would, today, have to present a strategy session to a room of partners at work.
At the point at which I chose to attend your course, I had developed such an intense fear of public speaking that I could barely introduce myself in a meeting. I'd dodged anything resembling public speaking for many years.
With this unavoidable presentation, to a senior audience, lying ahead of me, attending your course was a last ditch attempt at becoming 'ok' with public speaking. The alternative was going to involve quitting my job and leaving my industry altogether. Having delivered the presentation today, feeling calm, confident and in control, I can now report that attending your course has changed my life. I feel as though a door has opened. There are all sorts of opportunities that I can now pursue in my professional life.
Janet who came to a Bristol course
More? look at the full course reviews here
What's different with this public speaking course?
Public being
This Bristol public speaking workshop is for you whether you are a beginner or have been speaking for a long time. Despite what you often hear, practice doesn't always help. Sometimes all you are practising is being anxious, which is miserable. I had a guy say to me "John I've been practising for 25 years and I'm still bleeping scared!"
I had another man on a Bristol course who deliberately got himself sunburnt the day before a presentation, so he had an excuse for going red when he presented. And that, folks, is not a tip!
We need to find a gentler approach and learn different skills. The problem rarely starts with the speaking itself. My course is about changing how we see public speaking and presenting. It's about the psychology not powerpoint. I call my approach public being. Part of it is learning to dethreat (my coinage) many of the things that make public speaking feel threatening, such as audiences, pauses and being the centre of attention.
Notice that it's NOT the standard presentation skills course. It's not about how to structure a presentation or how to stand.
So what do I actually teach?
As well as thinking about the psychology of public speaking, the core of the course is learning the real fundamentals of public speaking. Not tips. Not tricks. Not techniques for looking confident.
Before we do public speaking, we need to learn to be in public. That's the public being part, and it's often the missing stage.
The things that genuinely make someone good to listen to - and, rather usefully, help you get your brain back when you're speaking in front of people:
Being present, rather than somewhere else in your own head
Slowing down
Being comfortable with pauses
Being authentic, rather than putting on a version of yourself
Being comfortable as the centre of attention
Getting out of your own way
Connecting naturally with an audience
Speaking, rather than performing
If you're reading this list thinking those are precisely the things you can't do, that's the point.
Nobody arrives able to do them.
They're built in very small steps, over two days, and that's the work we do together.
It's about learning how to be you in front of other people.
"The exercises around being looked at were uncomfortable at first, but they ended up being some of the most helpful parts. I really valued the supportive, safe atmosphere you created; it made it much easier to try things that would normally feel daunting."
Tom, Bristol
Learn more about public being
What actually happens…
It's a two day course with 6 to 10 people.
Nothing on the course is compulsory.
We start slowly, laying out the ground and creating strong ground rules, so the group feels safe to be in.
First we look at audiences and how we might see them differently, partly by exploring what you yourself are doing when you're sitting in an audience. Then we build on that: the pressures we put on ourselves, the problematic thinking (how on earth does our brain know what other people are thinking? But we're often sure it does), and why being the centre of attention bothers us so much. We explore the core things that are problematic around speaking and confidence.
“My main takeaway is that to be at ease at public speaking, you need to be at ease at being you.”
Helene, a course participant
The rest of the course works in a cycle: an exercise, time to reflect on what you noticed, then putting it into practice. Lots of small steps, developed over years and adapted from evidence-based science.
Each step makes the next one possible. You build confidence in small chunks and learn new ways of seeing. Then perhaps you can also let go of the things that get in the way.
“I really enjoyed the structure of the course. It feels like a journey where you work on various small steps, growing from one to the next almost without noticing. John organizes it all very well and with great sense. The course allows you to build confidence and courage as the hours go by.”
José came all the way from Spain to a Bristol course
I've taught this for 26 years, ten people at a time, to over 8,500 speakers. It's an approach and a job that I love, and I still love learning how to do it better.
For more about my experience and background see about John on this page
What you'll be able to do - four shifts most people notice on the course and beyond
Quieten the harsh inner voice that catastrophises.
Deal with the problematic thoughts that surface while preparing a talk and during your presentation.
You’ll have a very different relationship with the audience, away from the harsh, judging version to a friendlier, easier one.
Develop a confidence practice in the everyday world that builds confidence for public speaking.
still feeling unsure…
All exercises are optional. Nobody is made to do anything, and you're always in control.
Everyone who comes is in the same boat, disliking public speaking and being the centre of attention. It becomes a very supportive course as we start to understand that this is very human and not just you
You'll get individual attention throughout, and questions are welcome any time, including in the breaks.
Coaching is available before or after the course if you want extra support.
If you are anxious about coming I’ve written a page just for you which answers questions about What if it's too much? What if everyone else is MORE confident? in words from previous participants who were scared of coming.
If you want a fuller sense of what it's actually like, I've published long-form feedback going back five years from people who probably hated public speaking before they came on the course. Read the feedback
Bristol area and the venue
Engineers’ House, The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol, BS8 3NB
Engineers' House is a Grade II* listed neoclassical building on The Promenade in Clifton. John Betjeman called Clifton "one of the most elegant and beautiful places in England." Mostly you will see a training room of course but if you have time after the course, it’s a pleasant place to be. And yes I need a better photo!
The house was built in 1831 for Charles Pinney, who was elected Mayor of Bristol that same year - and found himself in office during the Reform Bill riots, when crowds took to the streets demanding parliamentary reform. He reportedly had metal shutters fitted to the upstairs windows. The house survived. In the 1890s it became a high-class finishing school for girls. It has been a conference and training centre since 1957, when it was acquired by the Engineering and Allied Employers' Association - which is where the name comes from. And now, it’s a great space, with friendly people.
The Area
The world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge is about 15 minutes walk. Brunel designed it, Bristol built it, and it has been crossing the Avon Gorge since 1864. If you have never been to Bristol before, it’s an absolutely essential visit. Seriously, do not miss it unless you are scared of heights.
Bristol has long been a city with a particular kind of independent spirit. It's home to Sustrans, the Soil Association, and Triodos Bank - organisations that quietly changed how Britain thinks about cycling, food, and money. It's where the BBC Natural History Unit makes its world-famous nature series (they have to go on location to find the animals!). It's where Aardman Animations makes Wallace and Gromit. And it's where Banksy put his work on walls before the rest of the world caught on. That combination of values, creativity and stubbornness feels very Bristol. And we reflected that in The Spark magazine, the alternative guide to Bristol Bath and beyond.
The Downs, Bristol's great open commons, are right on the doorstep of Engineers' House, sitting alongside the gorge. In Bristol, you go up to the Downs! The word comes from the Old English 'dun', meaning hill.
It's consistently voted one of the most desirable cities in Britain to live in. Bristol is a city worth exploring but it takes a little getting to know - your fellow course participants are often a good source of tips.
The official visitor site at visitbristol.co.uk is also worth a look before you come.
what3words
shakes.riots.soon (the course is calmer!)
https://www.makevenues.co.uk/engineers-house-bristol
Hotels
Several people on the course have stayed at the Rodney Hoteland recommended it. It's close to the venue and well placed for Clifton.
Other options nearby: the Avon Gorge Hotel has great views over the gorge. 9 Princes Buildings is a B&B close to the Suspension Bridge. 3 Berkeley Square is a little further into town and gets good reviews.
I don't stay in Bristol myself so these are recommendations from others.
Bristol and me
Bristol is where the speaking courses began and also where The Spark Magazine was based. My relationship to the city is explored below
The course guarantee
your money back if you don’t get what you want from the course
I want you to be really clear about my commitment to you and your learning.
Your money back if you don't get what you wanted from the course.
No arguments. A no quibble course guarantee.
I've given course money back 11 times in 26 years, and over 8,500 people have been on the course.
I'm putting my word into this. I stand by it. Because I know it’s not the easiest course to come on.
There are a couple of rules, of course, but they're simple.
You need to take part and be on the course for both days. You can't use it if you just don't turn up. Full details here
About John
The course is run by me, John Dawson. In 1988 I messed up a national radio interview and then avoided public speaking for eight years. Eventually I went on the course I now teach. It has changed a lot since then.
At the time I was the founding editor of The Spark, a magazine I started in Bristol and edited for 15 years. Alongside the deadlines and the distribution I trained, and began running courses for people who didn't like public speaking. In 2009 I left the magazine and chose the public speaking path, and it has been full time ever since.
I've also trained in groupwork and in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and I've spent years taking what clinical psychology research says about anxiety and translating it into something that works in an ordinary training room. I also co-lead a European peer supervision group for other trainers working this way as part of Relational Presence Network.
There are too many people living quieter lives than they need to, too many careers shaped by anxiety. That's what still gets me into the room. And what I didn't expect when I started is that confidence learned for public speaking doesn't just stay there. It turns up in the rest of your life. Which I think is so neat - a sneaky benefit of the work.
I see confidence as a practice and I’m still practising. Amongst other things, I've probably started 600 conversations with strangers on trains. The train journey from Bristol to Bath is only 15 minutes but I’ve often had good chats especially when the train is late. One of them was with a 23 year old ballet dancer from Ukraine who was invited by the Royal Ballet to dance with them when the war started. She’s studying psychology at Kiev University to help other ballerinas get over stage fright. We were both doing the same jobs (no ballet dress for me though) and it was a wonderful but brief conversation.
Bristol and me
As a young man I moved from University to Bristol with a girlfriend of 8 weeks and she eventually went, and I stayed. My first job in Bristol was a bus conductor - that’s how old I am! Bristol is where both of my main careers started. It’s also where I met my wife through a postcard in the general store in Montpelier (ask me if you want to know!). We were both born in the same hospital in Huddersfield, a few years apart, of course.
I still want to say I’m a Bristolian, even though I’ve lived in Bath for 15 years. The city will always have part of my heart.
My e-mail is john@speaking-infront.co.uk or ring or WhatsApp me on 07730 550842
Talk first? Free chat and coaching
If you are nervous about booking the course, let’s chat first.
You can talk to me for 10 minutes for free. It’s a great way to explore if the course is right for you and if you have any questions. And of course see whether you want to work with me.
Book here or use the booking panel right here on the page.
Or if you want longer I have an initial hour of coaching for £45 (normally £95)
Book here
Frequently asked questions about the Bristol course
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Engineers’ House, The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol, BS8 3NB
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Prices start from £475 including VAT for self-funded places, with a separate rate for organisation-funded places and an early-bird discount for booking ahead.
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It's a two-day course, 9am to 5pm on day one and 9am to 4pm on day two.
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In 2026 every month. In 2027 the courses will run every 6 weeks.
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Yes. They're designed for people who are anxious around public speaking and being the centre of attention. Every exercise is optional and the groups are small and supportive.
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Small groups of 6 to 10, so everyone gets individual attention.
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Yes. The approach works whether you currently avoid speaking altogether or already speak but want to feel more at ease.
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Yes, a simple no-quibble guarantee, plus free cancellation up to 14 days before the course.
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Yes. There's a standard rate for organisation-funded places, and invoicing is available for single or multiple bookings.
Early Bird 5th September • Early Bird Solo £475 (usually £561.50 ) • Early Bird Standard £648 (usually £750)