Course Description

We have all experienced the hard-done-by customer, and have no doubt felt their wrath as emotion overrides rationality – often they feel an urge to have a go at the first staff member they meet, regardless of whether they can help or not. This course will enable you to deal better with anger and aggression when it’s directed towards you.

Next available dates

17^th Oct 25^th Jan

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Course Description

For your customers, the people they encounter and the service they receive from them defines your business. In these days of fierce competition and narrow margins, it is the quality of your product or service and customer experience that is going to set you apart, build loyalty and keep your competitors at bay.

Next available dates

16^th Nov 8^th Feb

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Course Description

As the first point of contact, you create a first impression of your organisation that is hard to shake. This course is crammed with useful tips for creating that great first impression, controlling the situation, choosing the best words, using your best voice and staying calm under pressure. You’ll learn the most effective ways to screen, transfer and block calls, as well as how to take messages and handle enquiries. Often this is seen as a junior role, but it’s an essential part of your customers’ experience and could be what marks you out from competitors.

Next available dates

21^st Sep 31^st Jan

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Course Description

Branding is much more than just a cool logo and Chris will show you how to make the most of it!

There are currently no available dates for this course

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Course Description

Maximise the reach of your marketing campaigns both online and off and aquire new customers.

There are currently no available dates for this course

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Course Description

A marketing brief lays out the framework of a marketing initiative so that a creative team, either internal or external to your business, can carry out the plan.

Next available dates

12^th Sep

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Course Description

To influence others and persuade them to your way of thinking, you need to communicate confidently, build a relationship and remain assertive - even when under pressure. The core focus of this course is about one-to-one interactions and general principles. You’ll also learn about tools to help assess your values and figure out what drives you and those you work with.

Next available dates

17^th Nov 16^th Feb

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Course Description

All managers should have an appreciation of marketing, mainly because it centres on understanding customers’ wants, needs and expectations. This course introduces first-line managers to a basic understanding of marketing in business. We'll introduce you to the ‘7Ps’ marketing mix, market segmentation, planning, advertising and promotion.

Next available dates

19^th Oct 18^th Jan

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Course Description

Forget ‘BLUE SKY THINKING’ - this is the real deal. We take it for granted that creative people think differently to the rest of us but you, too, can master the process of lateral thinking to help you overcome problems and aid in creativity and innovation within your business.

There are currently no available dates for this course

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Course Description

Giving a presentation can be a daunting task for most people, but it is a skill that can be taught and practised. Attendance on this course will enable you to plan and prepare systematically for presentations and enable you to put yourself across clearly and enthusiastically, creating an effective business and personal image.

Next available dates

25^th Sep 8^th Dec 23^rd Mar

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Course Description

If you’re thinking “I wasn’t recruited to sell!” we can take that worry away. We will teach you how to sell without appearing too pushy or false, and to look at sales from a completely different point of view. You’ll be shown how to take a proactive approach and how to seek out any additional needs of your customer, rather than bombard them with ‘sales pitches’.

Next available dates

20^th Oct

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Course Description

Are you aiming to build your business reputation through social media and want to build new business relationships? We’ll show you why social media must be included in your marketing strategy, and how it can be a fantastic place to promote your business. The course will provide an overview of the various platforms available to you in the Business to Business (B2B) marketplace, and you will be able to plan a social media strategy for your business.

Next available dates

23^rd Aug 29^th Nov 21^st Feb

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Course Description

Are you struggling to see how social media will help you market your business? We’ll show you why social media must be included in your marketing strategy, and how it can be a fantastic place to promote your business. The course will provide an overview of the various platforms available to you in the Business to Consumer (B2C) marketplace, and you will be able to plan a social media strategy for your business.

Next available dates

1^st Nov 14^th Feb

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Course Description

As your position in the organisation rises, so too must your appreciation of the finances. You will need to be able to read financial documents and statements, draw conclusions from them and recommend actions. Through sound knowledge and understanding of finances, you'll be fully confident using financial performance indicators as the basis of decision making. This course will show you how!

Next available dates

21^st Sep 14^th Dec 22^nd Mar

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Course Description

All good supervisors, managers and senior managers should understand their business's finances to do their job well. You don't have to be accountancy-trained, but having confidence around the "numbers of the business" stands you in good stead, regardless of your role. This course provides the solid foundation on which you can build.​

Next available dates

24^th Aug 20^th Nov 22^nd Feb

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Course Description

This course is for Managers, Supervisors and HR staff who have responsibility within a performance review scheme. Our course is designed to provide guidance on the part appraisals play in the running of a business, what they are for and how they can be used to motivate staff.

Next available dates

13^th Sep 11^th Dec 21^st Mar

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Course Description

Joking aside, good relationships at work are vital if you want to develop high-performing teams. We lose far too much time and nervous energy when ‘managing around’ people, which we could spend more productively. Some will change their behaviour as soon as they become aware - while those who know they are being difficult are more of a challenge!

Next available dates

18^th Oct 24^th Jan

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Course Description

Most managers (and employees) have some awareness of what constitutes a disciplinary offence. But while terms like “gross misconduct”, “breach of trust and confidence” are often heard, are you confident enough to tackle either a disciplinary or grievance issue and stay the right side of the law? This course is designed as a practical guide to help you navigate your way through these processes to a successful outcome. Getting it wrong can be a costly affair but the procedure and legal framework is not necessarily difficult once you know how.

Next available dates

22^nd Sep 22^nd Feb

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Course Description

Getting the best out of your staff isn’t as easy as it sounds - often the fear of getting it wrong holds managers back. On this course not only will you gain greater insight into performance management tools, including setting SMART objectives, you’ll also learn how to monitor and give feedback to improve and sustain good performance. We’ll also look at motivational theory to understand what motivates people, and how you can use this to enhance your management style.

Next available dates

9^th Oct 19^th Jan

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Course Description

Jim Collins says 'we need to get the right people on the bus, then we can drive it anywhere', highlighting the crucial role that the recruitment process plays. In just 1-day, we will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to recruit, interview and select your new staff, as well as create suitable induction programme to get them up to speed quickly.

Next available dates

3^rd Nov

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Course Description

Some conflict at work is inevitable, whether it occurs between fellow team members, supervisors, managers, customers or suppliers.  What's really important is how you deal with it, and this course offers simple techniques you can use quickly and easily.

Next available dates

18^th Sep 7^th Feb

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Course Description

This course is one of our most popular and it’s easy to see why. Effective interaction at work is underpinned by an ability to communicate clearly, honestly, openly and confidently - in other words, assertively. You’ll learn to reduce relationship conflict both in and out of the workplace, and develop confidence in yourself.

Next available dates

7^th Sep 7^th Dec 8^th Mar

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Course Description

Communication is essential for any business, and a lack of it can cost a company a great deal – in money, time and bruised egos. On this course you’ll learn why we communicate, the hidden agendas behind what people say, the best communication method to fit the message and the person, and how to choose the best language for the situation so your meaning is clear and understood.

Next available dates

21^st Nov 30^th Jan 20^th Mar

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Course Description

Accurate and effective minutes not only provide a record of a meeting but can also make a significant contribution to its effectiveness. Minute taking is often an under-rated skill but is a valuable one to master.

Next available dates

22^nd Nov 21^st Feb

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Course Description

You may look upon retirement as an ending, but these days it's more often just the beginning of the next adventure. This course will help you to prepare and plan for the future to get as much out of it as possible.

Next available dates

29^th Sep 15^th Mar

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Course Description

All managers are likely to have targets relevant to their organisation and planning, monitoring and effective resourcing is vital to ensure successful results. Equally important is how to involve and support all team members in an activity. This course will help with a wider understanding of improving performance of the team, effective communication and recording outputs and variances in performance.

Next available dates

4^th Oct 14^th Feb

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Course Description

Do you feel like there’s not enough time in the day? Are you successfully monitoring your busy workload? We can’t give you more time – but we can show you the best way to use what you’re given. Be in control of your work, not the other way around, and ensure you are working in the most effective & efficient way.

Next available dates

28^th Sep 14^th Nov 26^th Jan 29^th Mar

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Course Description

This is a fascinating and interactive course covering the essentials needed to become a credible, interesting, effective and professional trainer. It combines learning theory with practical tips and plenty of exercises and opportunities to have a go and get feedback from the tutor and group.  

Next available dates

5^th Sep 13^th Dec 26^th Mar

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Course Description

Whether you have no experience with business correspondence or would like to refine your skills, on this course our highly-motivating trainer will teach you the essentials and more. Letters and emails to customers and suppliers form a lasting impression of your company, so it’s such an important skill to get right. Create a consistent image for your business and get the desired result more efficiently, saving time and money.

Next available dates

5^th Dec

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Course Description

This course will give you confidence in writing, helping you produce clear, concise and effective reports in good English. You will identify the barriers to communication, understand the objective of the report and getting the brief right, and the advantage of a systematic approach – as well as focusing on the purpose of the report, from planning and preparation to selection and arrangement of material.

Next available dates

28^th Sep 30^th Jan

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Course Description

Coaching is an excellent management tool for driving up performance in the workplace. Those who can routinely develop others as part of their management responsibilities will prove most effective. In just one day, packed with practical, 'use the next day' tools and techniques, we will turn you into a confident and competent workplace coach.

Next available dates

8^th Sep 19^th Jan

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Course Description

We can all spin plates and some more than others, but there’s only so much you can do before the standard of your work suffers, your health takes a similar pathway and your relationships with colleagues and customers becomes strained. This is a truism for everyone, not just you! Become more effective by attending this course!

Next available dates

18^th Sep 14^th Nov 23^rd Jan 13^th Mar

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Course Description

Attending this 2-day course will give you a clear overview of your role and responsibilities as a manager. You will learn about different organisational structures, ways of managing people, tasks, information and resources, as well as skills/techniques to use in difficult situations. You will also benefit from learning with and from managers from other sectors, and build confidence in your own ability to adapt your style to the situation in hand.

Next available dates

11^th Oct & 18^th Oct 24^th Jan & 29^th Jan

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Course Description

This is an essential course for anyone in a supervisory role. You’ll learn about the multiple demands placed upon you and how to keep calm when all around is frantic. And you’ll discover when to lead, when to manage, how to plan, organise and delegate, deal with challenges, find solutions and make things happen.

Next available dates

16^th Oct 22^nd Jan

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Course Description

There are numerous definitions of leadership, each one usually accompanied by a shopping list of personal competencies. But leadership is essentially about good people, and task and resources management. So to discover your leadership style, identify ways to improve and get the best out of your team, come and join us on our Foundation in Team Leading course.

Next available dates

8^th Sep 1^st Nov 15^th Jan 2^nd Mar

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Course Description

Multi-dimensional leaders understand the need for innovation and change within organisations. They recognise the importance of being innovative and its impact on organisational performance. In this short course you’ll learn a range of techniques for finding innovative options for improvements, and how to focus on managing those innovations to bring workable solutions.

Next available dates

13^th Sep & 20^th Sep 5^th Dec & 12^th Dec 7^th Mar & 14^th Mar

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Course Description

Maintaining efficiency and reducing waste is a key responsibility of middle managers. Understanding how to use lean production and improvement methods to measure and analyse service problems will ensure success. This 2-day course will teach you how to develop a service improvement project using lean production methods.

Next available dates

6^th Sep & 13^th Sep 29^th Nov & 6^th Dec

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Course Description

While the topic of change management applies equally to everyone, implementing change is the role of managers. Change is inevitable and change management entails thoughtful planning and sensitive implementation, and above all, consultation with, and involvement of, the people affected by the changes. If you force change on people normally problems arise.

Next available dates

26^th Sep 17^th Jan 28^th Mar

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Course Description

All managers are responsible for quality, regardless of their job title, role or span of control. It's their responsibility to ensure consistency of service or product, to seek continuous improvement ahead of reactive problem solving, and to embed a culture of quality within their organisation/department. This is no quick fix - it's about having a firm foundation in the principles of quality planning, quality assurance, quality control and quality audit.

Next available dates

8^th Nov & 15^th Nov 5^th Feb & 12^th Feb

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Course Description

Good leadership demands good people-motivation skills and the use of inspirational techniques. Motivational methods are wide-ranging, from inspirational quotes and poems, to team building games and activities, as ice-breakers, warm-ups and exercises for conferences, workshops, meetings and events, which in themselves can often be helpful for staff motivation too. And motivated people perform much better!

Next available dates

11^th Sep 7^th Nov 16^th Jan 6^th Mar

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Course Description

This course will introduce you to the discipline required to manage projects to successful completion.  It will develop your planning and organising abilities and help you develop effective control measures. You will learn how to set up projects, initiate them, monitor them and keep them (and your staff) on track.

Next available dates

15^th Nov 15^th Feb

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Course Description

Middle managers need a thorough understanding of how to manage workplace risks. You need to be able to evaluate relevant legislation relating to risk management, while understanding how risks can be identified and continuously monitored and reviewed according to the organisation's internal policies.

Next available dates

20^th Sep 7^th Dec

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Course Description

Multi-dimensional leaders understand that great leadership requires a range of competencies and skills, including becoming more self-aware and emotionally intelligent. From crafting a vision, building alignment and championing execution, to utilising a range of leadership and communications styles, this short course is unashamedly all about you. It gives you a chance to explore the concept of leadership in detail, your responsibilities and, most importantly, where you need to focus to improve.

Next available dates

5^th Oct & 12^th Oct 18^th Jan & 25^th Jan

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Course Description

This course is ideal if you are self-taught or lacking in confidence about how to use the features of Excel. Perhaps you want to learn how to create spreadsheets efficiently and begin to understand the tools, features and formula that Excel offers but don't know where to start.

Next available dates

3^rd Oct 16^th Jan

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Course Description

Do you wish to develop your spreadsheet skills and learn about Excel beyond the basics? Our trainer will guide you through the workings of MS Excel, with plenty of time for queries and questions. Attendance on GEL's introductory course is an advantage, but is not essential.

Next available dates

24^th Oct 30^th Jan 6^th Mar

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Course Description

Building on the regular user’s skills, this course will demonstrate use of macros, merging of data with existing databases, complex questioning styles and data mapping. Designed for the high level user who wants to design custom interfaces and act as an administrator for other colleagues, this course will release the enormous potential of Excel.

Next available dates

22^nd Aug 21^st Nov 20^th Mar

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Course Description

Macros offer amazing opportunities to save time by automating repetitive tasks. This course is designed for those who have been introduced to macros on the Excel Advanced course and want to go further.​

Next available dates

12^th Dec

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Course Description

The most graphical of the MS Office suite members, PowerPoint has rapidly become popular for creating presentations, slide shows and electronic animated displays using project outlines, backdrops and graphic files. This course will demonstrate the fundamentals of presentation creation and show how the introduction of pictures, backdrops, transparencies and font styles can transform a presentation into an experience.

Next available dates

14^th Nov

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Course Description

Project is a powerful management tool for controlling resources, time, personnel or skill against a set project deadline. The capabilities to accept milestones, task information and of course task deadlines, means modern companies can allow project management to be processed electronically. The generation of critical paths, task lists, resource charts and many other reports puts MS Project 2010 next in line to the Office suite as essential modern business software.

Next available dates

5^th Dec

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Course Description

WordPress is one of the most widely-used website content management systems, with millions of sites using this free technology. A powerful web publishing platform designed to make your experience as a publisher on the Internet as easy, pleasant and appealing as possible, WordPress provides the backbone for everything from blogs to fully-fledged e-commerce sites.

Next available dates

17^th Oct 8^th Feb

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Course Description

The majority of us use Word almost daily – are you really getting the most from it? This course is designed for anyone who needs a basic grounding in this popular software, and is guaranteed to make you feel more confident in using its many functions.

Next available dates

12^th Sep

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Course Description

This intermediate course will extend basic skills allowing you to integrate graphics, use better design in documents and use mail mergeing to generate distribution lists. Those attending should be able to operate Word at a basic level, understanding how to enter text, format fonts, paragraphs and pages.  Our trainer will guide you through the workings of Word, with plenty of time for questions.

Next available dates

10^th Oct 13^th Mar

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Course Description

Virtually everyone suffers from stress at some point in their working lives. The modern workplace is full of high-pressure situations and demands, so managers (and their staff) need to know how to deal with it to stop pressure turning into stress. This short course will show you how to identify, manage and cope with stress in yourself and others.

Next available dates

23^rd Oct

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Course Description

This course is for anyone who would benefit from being more effective in their leadership, communications, negotiations, relations and team building skills. It is designed to help you discover more about yourself and the people around you, and, as a result, help you become more effective in your role.

Next available dates

16^th Oct

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Course Description

Perhaps you've had to learn a complicated new software system. You may have taken on new team members, or a new role. Or you might have gone through a merger or an acquisition. Change is routine in today's workplace. And, no matter what you do, you probably can't – or shouldn't – try to stop it. However, you can choose how you react to it.

Next available dates

13^th Oct

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Course Description

An increasing number of businesses are recognising the benefits of embracing CSR. You might be tendering for local government or large company contracts where they demand to know what you are doing in relation to CSR. Or you might want to appeal to the growing proportion of consumers who assess a firms’ CSR credentials before making a purchase decision.

Next available dates

16^th Oct

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Course Description

We probably also know people who are masters at managing their emotions. They don't get angry in stressful situations. Instead, they have the ability to look at a problem and calmly find a solution. They're excellent decision makers, and they know when to trust their intuition. Regardless of their strengths, however, they're usually willing to look at themselves honestly. They take criticism well, and they know when to use it to improve their performance. People like this have a high degree of emotional intelligence, or EI. Would you like to be more like this?

Next available dates

13^th Oct

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Course Description

Paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you – can improve your mental wellbeing. Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help us enjoy life more and understand ourselves better. You can take steps to develop it in your own life.

Next available dates

19^th Oct

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Course Description

Personal development is about investing in yourself so that you can manage yourself effectively regardless of what life might bring your way. Personal development allows you to be proactive. Rather than wait for good things to happen, you get out there and make them happen. You may not always achieve your objective, but you will experience a richer and more rewarding life when you commit to pursuing your own objectives.

Next available dates

30^th Oct

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Course Description

​There is now a growing body of evidence that shows the benefits organisations can derive from a successful approach to their employee’s wellbeing. It has become a hot topic of late and it is not always easy to pick your way through the ideas and approaches that might suit your organisation. Businesses often know they want to do something, but are just not sure where to start.

Next available dates

6^th Oct

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Course Description

We all spend a lot of time in meetings - often they’re the most effective means of communication. If you run meetings or participate in them regularly, you need to know how to maximise their chance of success. An organised and well-run meeting can save time, generate ideas, solve problems and increase motivation – but poorly-run meetings are often a major cause of frustration and dissatisfaction. This course will give you the skills, know-how, and a range of tools and techniques to make meetings more effective and to achieve results.

Next available dates

19^th Oct

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Course Description

If you manage a team whose members are at various locations, you’ll need to support them in a different way to give technical assistance, ensure their health & safety and to overcome any feelings of isolation, to name just a few responsibilities. This course will help you understand the nature of remote working and show you how to become a more effective leader.

Next available dates

23^rd Oct

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Course Description

Managing and supporting employees when they are "off sick" can be difficult and time-consuming. Sometimes there is uncertainty about when an employee might return ... and what are your obligations when they do come back to work?

Next available dates

6^th Oct

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Course Description

A diverse workforce is one that is made up of individuals with a wide range of characteristics and experiences. Your company benefits from a diverse employee workforce when each employee or staff member contributes ideas based on their experiences and background. This encourages learning and creativity; important skills in company development. Inclusion is a recognition that everyone comes from different backgrounds, and committing to working as a team.

Next available dates

30^th Oct

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Course Description

Over 200 people are killed each year in accidents at work and over 1 million people are injured. Over 2 million suffer illnesses caused by, or made worse by, their work. Providing health and safety information and training helps you to ensure your employees are not injured, promotes a positive culture of safety at work and helps you meet your legal obligation.

Next available dates

2^nd Nov 7^th Feb

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Course Description

As part of managing the health and safety of your business, you must control the risks in your workplace. To do this you need to think about what might cause harm to people and decide whether you are taking reasonable steps to prevent that harm.

Next available dates

20^th Oct

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Course Description

Because every manager needs an understanding of their safety and health responsibilities. Managing Safely is unlike any other safety and health course. Why? Because it delivers practical step-by-step guidance with a sharp business focus that’s hands-on and jargon-free. The innovative format and content is engaging and inspiring – critical to embedding safety and health throughout your entire organisation.

Next available dates

4^th Sep & 5^th Sep & 6^th Sep & 7^th Sep 16^th Jan & 17^th Jan & 18^th Jan & 19^th Jan

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Course Description

Ideal for those working or looking to work in Health and Safety and for Managers with significant safety responsibilities as part of their job. The NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is a globally recognised health and safety qualification held by more than 175,000 people in the UK and worldwide.

Next available dates

6^th Nov & 7^th Nov & 8^th Nov & 9^th Nov & 10^th Nov & 20^th Nov & 21^st Nov & 22^nd Nov & 23^rd Nov & 24^th Nov & 4^th Dec & 6^th Dec

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Course Description

This 2-day course is for people who are imminently starting their own business and need to understand all the technical issues of running a business together with the day-to-day practicalities and to consider the approach for successful sales & marketing. We can support you through this exciting time to provide practical help, tools and resources to ensure you get off to a flying start.

Next available dates

21^st Aug & 23^rd Aug 27^th Sep & 29^th Sep 23^rd Oct & 25^th Oct 27^th Nov & 29^th Nov

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Course Description

Deciding to start your own enterprise needs careful consideration and a “reality” check with an impartial adviser Anyone thinking of starting a business is invited to attend any of our Enterprise Clubs FREE of charge to enable you to assess whether you have “got what it takes” and to decide if starting a business is “right for you”.

Next available dates

14^th Sep 12^th Oct 9^th Nov 7^th Dec

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Course Description

Escalating Enterprise is a series of FREE monthly networking events to help support new and young businesses. For many, networking is a daunting prospect, but your feedback tells us that you really value sharing hints and tips with each other at our business training events.

Next available dates

22^nd Aug 19^th Sep 24^th Oct 28^th Nov

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