The involvement of the FCA in the national Paraplanners Powwow shows what an influential event it has become, its founder says.
The third iteration of the teepee-based ‘unconference’ will take place in September, with FCA technical specialist Rory Percival taking top billing.

The Powwows have become increasingly popular since the first in 2013 and a whole series of new mini Powwows are also set to launch later this year in locations such as Belfast and Southampton or Portsmouth.

A revamp of the website has also launched this week, with various new features about to kick in.

{desktop}{/desktop}{mobile}{/mobile}

Powwow founder Richard Allum CFP^CM, an IFP board member, said: “The big news is that we have got the FCA’s guru Rory Pervical.

“It shows that they’ve become an influential event and that the FCA recognises the role of Paraplanners and they want to come along and connect.

“It has turned into a movement in its own right and it’s independent of any professional body, it’s showing people what we knew all the way along that Paraplanners are very resourceful people.”

He revealed that there are planned mini Powwows coming soon in Belfast, the north west, in Liverpool or Manchester, one in Southampton or Portsmouth and Bristol. A second in Scotland is also slated after the first took place in March. On Tuesday, a revamped version of the website was launched, with enhanced resources.

Mr Allum explained: “We’ve given the website a fresh lick of paint for the launch of the main Powwow and there’ll be more in the coming weeks.

“The site that is live today is a refreshed version of what’s been available for a while. We’ve got the big tent launching, which is an online Paraplanner forum, taking the forum from the Paraplanner.com and moving emphasis to the Powwow site.

“There is also the launch of the Howwows - a series of online Paraplanner focused development activities - with a dedicated ‘Powwowers’ section with information on everyone involved in organising them to see who they are and for others to set up their own Powwow.”

Mr Allum added: “I’m particularly excited about the Howwows.”

There will be live videos, written and recorded material, as well physical Howwows around the country, he said.

Mr Allum has been aided by colleague Claire Goodwin APP, the logistical organiser and Ian Thomas from New Tradition. He said there are 16 Paraplanners all around the country making the events happen.

He believes the quality of other Paraplanning events has “gone up dramatically” since the Powwow started and he said it was “the young kid on the block”.

The unconventional and relaxed style of the event, taking place in the countryside in tents, has made it “so different from any other event”, he said.

He said many guests had told him they have been implementing new ways of working in their daily lives after attending the events and listening to other Paraplanners.

Ticket information for the next national Powwow in Northamptonshire on 10 September is available on the official website.