Horizon Scanning and Emerging Risk Management (BCCM-038) Training Course

Horizon Scanning and Emerging Risk Management

Many of the most damaging disruptions organisations face were visible as weak signals long before they arrived: emerging technologies, geopolitical tensions, climate…

5 daysClassroom or online

49Upcoming dates

12Cities

£2,250Fees from

Course overview

Introduction

Many of the most damaging disruptions organisations face were visible as weak signals long before they arrived: emerging technologies, geopolitical tensions, climate trends, social change and new forms of crime. Organisations that systematically scan the horizon can prepare earlier, adapt strategies and avoid being taken by surprise.

This Horizon Scanning and Emerging Risk Management training course teaches practical methods for detecting, assessing and responding to emerging risks and opportunities. Participants learn how to build a scanning process, use diverse information sources, recognise weak signals, apply futures techniques such as scenarios and trend analysis, assess emerging risks and communicate insights to decision makers.

The course helps risk, strategy and resilience professionals move from reactive risk registers to forward-looking intelligence that shapes decisions.

Course Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

Explain the purpose and value of horizon scanning
Distinguish emerging risks from established risks
Design a structured horizon scanning process
Identify and evaluate diverse information sources
Recognise weak signals and analyse trends and drivers
Apply scenario planning and other futures techniques
Assess emerging risks where data is limited
Communicate emerging risk insights to leadership

Target Audience

This training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals, including:

Risk managers and chief risk office staff
Strategy and planning professionals
Business continuity and resilience managers
Intelligence and research analysts
Innovation and foresight teams
Senior managers responsible for strategic risk

Training Methodology

The course is workshop-based and highly participative. Participants practise scanning exercises with real sources, cluster signals into themes, build trend maps, develop scenarios and assess emerging risks. Teams present emerging risk briefings as they would to an executive committee.

Target Competencies

Horizon scanning
Weak signal recognition
Trend and driver analysis
Scenario planning
Emerging risk assessment
Foresight communication

Course outline

1Day One: Foundations of Horizon Scanning

Why organisations are surprised by foreseeable events
Emerging risks, weak signals, trends and wild cards
Benefits of systematic horizon scanning
Horizon scanning in government and business
Cognitive biases that hide emerging risks
Linking scanning to risk, strategy and resilience
Exercise: identifying past surprises and missed signals

2Day Two: Designing a Scanning Process

Defining scope, time horizon and focus areas
Political, economic, social, technological and environmental lenses
Selecting diverse and reliable information sources
Engaging internal networks and external experts
Recording, tagging and managing scanning results
Tools and technology for scanning
Workshop: designing a scanning framework

3Day Three: Analysing Signals and Trends

Recognising and validating weak signals
Clustering signals into emerging themes
Analysing drivers and interconnections
Trend maps and impact and uncertainty matrices
Considering second and third order effects
Separating noise from meaningful change
Exercise: analysing a set of signals

4Day Four: Futures Techniques and Risk Assessment

Building plausible future scenarios
Using scenarios to test strategies and plans
Assessing emerging risks with limited data
Expert judgement and structured elicitation
Velocity, proximity and preparedness considerations
Adding emerging risks to the risk register
Workshop: developing and using scenarios

5Day Five: Communicating and Acting on Insight

Writing concise emerging risk briefings
Presenting foresight to boards and executives
Triggering preparedness and contingency actions
Monitoring emerging risks over time
Building a foresight culture in the organisation
Evaluating the value of the scanning programme
Team briefings and personal action plan

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Horizon Scanning and Emerging Risk Management course?

The course runs over 5 days of classroom training, usually Monday to Friday.

When is the next Horizon Scanning and Emerging Risk Management course?

The next public date is 7 - 11 Dec 2026 in Frankfurt. There are 49 upcoming dates in total.

Where is this course held?

Upcoming sessions run in Frankfurt, London, Barcelona, Cape Town, Dubai, Geneva, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Munich, Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam.

Can I take Horizon Scanning and Emerging Risk Management online?

Yes. Every date can also be joined live online in a virtual classroom with the trainer, for £1,280 per participant. Choose "Live online" in the dates table when you register.

How much does the course cost?

Fees start from £2,250 per delegate, depending on the city. Fees include tuition and course materials.

Do participants receive a certificate?

Yes. Delegates who complete the course receive a London Leadership Management Innovation certificate of completion.

Can this course be delivered in-house for our team?

Yes. LLMI can tailor and deliver this course privately for your organisation at your premises or in one of our training cities.

Course information last updated 14 November 2026.

Horizon Scanning and Emerging Risk Management

Course overview

Introduction

Course Objectives

Target Audience

Training Methodology

Target Competencies

Course outline

Dates and fees

Frequently asked questions

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