Open courses

An exciting location and a range of dates for open courses have already been organised in the first half of 2006. More ...

Customised training

Any of the standard courses below can be tailored to meet specific customer needs. If you wish to discuss this click on the Enquiries button or call Julie Butler on 01323 899159.

Top of page | Business English | Writing Business Letters | Report Writing | Taking and Writing Minutes | Efficient Reading | Finance as a Foreign Language | Finance for Non-Financial Managers

BUSINESS ENGLISH

'I hate hypocrites like you I find them detestable.'

Misplace a comma and lose a friend - don't let this happen to you or your business.

Business English will help you to:

• grapple with grammar
• polish up your punctuation
• communicate clearly and concisely

Course outline

Purpose:

To teach delegates to write clearly and concisely with correct grammar, punctuation and spelling, and using an appropriate style and tone.

Objectives:

To enable delegates to:

• avoid common mistakes in grammar
• use punctuation effectively to help their readers
• avoid common spelling mistakes
• improve the clarity of their writing
• identify and write at the appropriate 'fog index'
• differentiate between 'style' and 'tone'
• write using the appropriate style and tone
• set clear objectives for a piece of writing
• adjust their writing style for different readers
• use mind maps to help plan and structure content

Target audience:

All those who need to improve their use of Business English

Training methods:

This course uses a mixture of tutor input, group discussion and individual exercises.

Duration:

One day

Pre-course work:

Delegates should bring a sample of their business writing containing at least 100 words.

Top of page | Business English | Writing Business Letters | Report Writing | Taking and Writing Minutes | Efficient Reading | Finance as a Foreign Language | Finance for Non-Financial Managers

WRITING BUSINESS LETTERS

Course outline

Purpose:

To teach delegates to write business letters and e-mails that get results.

Objectives:

To enable delegates to:

• identify the purpose and objectives for their letter or e-mail
• use an appropriate layout
• consider the needs of their readers
• structure the content for greatest effect
• choose a style that is appropriate to both the subject and the reader(s)
• proof and edit sample letters
• complete an 'in-tray' exercise

Target audience:

All staff who need to improve their letter-writing skills.

Training methods:

This is an intensive course, which requires delegates to complete several exercises.

Duration:

One day

Note:

Although identifying errors in grammar and punctuation will be included in the proofing and editing session, there will not be a lot of time spent on this. If anyone would like to 'Brush up on The Basics', the one-day course 'Business English', which includes grammar, punctuation, spelling and clear writing would be useful.

Top of page | Business English | Writing Business Letters | Report Writing | Taking and Writing Minutes | Efficient Reading | Finance as a Foreign Language | Finance for Non-Financial Managers

REPORT WRITING

Course outline

Purpose:

To teach delegates to write clear and effective reports that managers and colleagues WANT to read.

Objectives:

To enable delegates to:

• identify the purpose and objectives for their report
• choose a suitable structure
• organise the material within the sections of the report
• present numerical information
• use 'persuasive writing' techniques
• choose a style that is appropriate to both the subject and the reader(s)
• proof and edit a sample report
• write an effective executive summary

Target audience:

All staff who need to improve their report-writing skills. A good standard of Business English is assumed for this course. If delegates need to brush up on the basics, they should also consider attending the one-day course Business English.

Training methods:

This is an intensive course, which requires delegates to complete several exercises.

Duration:

One day

Top of page | Business English | Writing Business Letters | Report Writing | Taking and Writing Minutes | Efficient Reading | Finance as a Foreign Language | Finance for Non-Financial Managers

TAKING AND WRITING MINUTES

Course outline

Purpose:

To teach delegates to record the proceedings of meetings in the form of minutes.

Objectives:

To enable delegates to:

• prepare effectively for taking notes at meetings and for writing minutes
• choose an appropriate method of taking notes
• take useful notes during meetings
• use a recognised 'standard' format for writing up minutes
• produce an appropriate document(s) summarising the meeting

Target audience:

All staff who are required to take notes at meetings or produce minutes.

Training methods:

The course is interactive and uses a mixture of tutor input, group discussion and practical exercises. This ensures that delegates are able to participate fully and to practise each stage of the process before moving on to the next.

By the end of the course, delegates will have taken notes from a video of a 'real-life' business meeting and produced a set of minutes.

Duration:

One day

Top of page | Business English | Writing Business Letters | Report Writing | Taking and Writing Minutes | Efficient Reading | Finance as a Foreign Language | Finance for Non-Financial Managers

EFFICIENT READING

Do you have a mountain of paperwork that you really must read?

Do you find it hard to remember what you have read?

Efficient Reading will help you to:

• read more quickly
• identify key points
• remember what you have read

Course outline

Purpose:

To teach delegates to read more efficiently, increasing both speed and retention.

Objectives:

To enable delegates to:

• distinguish between reading efficiently and reading quickly
• identify their 'normal' reading efficiency
• increase their reading speed
• avoid common habits which slow down their reading
• use a variety of techniques including
  • scanning
  • skimming
• select the most appropriate technique for the reading task
• remember more of what they have read
• improve their study skills
• identify what time of day is their best reading time

Target audience:

Anyone who needs to improve their reading efficiency and is prepared to work hard to achieve it.

Training methods:

This is a very intensive course and there are numerous exercises for delegates to undertake throughout the day.

Duration:

One day

Top of page | Business English | Writing Business Letters | Report Writing | Taking and Writing Minutes | Efficient Reading | Finance as a Foreign Language | Finance for Non-Financial Managers

FINANCE AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Sometimes it seems as though accountants speak a foreign language.

Find out why accruals are so important, how to carry out a variance analysis and why year ends matter.

Finance as a Foreign Language will help you to:

• understand financial jargon
• prepare and monitor budgets
• understand basic accounts

Course outline

Purpose:

To demystify accounting so that delegates can understand basic business accounting terms and activities.

Objectives:

To enable delegates to:

• define the Accounting Concepts
• define the Accounting Conventions
• describe the functions of the '3 Ledgers'
• explain the 'jargon' commonly used by accountants
• explain the purpose of a balance sheet
• classify balance sheet items as assets or liabilities
• explain the purpose of a profit and loss account
• draw up a simple profit and loss account
• draw up a simple cash flow forecast
• classify costs as fixed, variable or semi-variable
• describe the budget cycle
• explain the purpose of variance analysis

Target audience:

Non-financial staff who need to understand basic finance.

Training methods:

There will be a mixture of tutor input, individual and group exercises and discussions.

Duration:

One day

Top of page | Business English | Writing Business Letters | Report Writing | Taking and Writing Minutes | Efficient Reading | Finance as a Foreign Language | Finance for Non-Financial Managers

FINANCE FOR NON-FINANCIAL MANAGERS

Course outline

Purpose:

To demystify accounting and finance so that delegates can understand basic business accounts and carry out activities such as budgeting, financial appraisals and cash flow forecasting.

Objectives:

To enable delegates to:

• define the Accounting Concepts
• define the Accounting Conventions
• describe the functions of the '3 Ledgers'
• explain the 'jargon' commonly used by accountants
• prepare a balance sheet
• prepare a profit and loss account
• use key accounting ratios to identify trends
• prepare a cash flow forecast
• explain the importance of managing cash flow
• explain the difference between cash and profit
• explain the difference between fixed and variable costs
• calculate break-even point
• calculate contribution and explain its importance
• perform a simple project appraisal using payback and net present value
• explain the fundamentals of VAT

Target audience:

This course can be tailored for many different groups of people, from junior staff joining an accounts department to managers with responsibility for a department's budget.

Duration:

Two days

Top of page | Business English | Writing Business Letters | Report Writing | Taking and Writing Minutes | Efficient Reading | Finance as a Foreign Language | Finance for Non-Financial Managers