This virtual training course is designed to help delegates improve their management and leadership skills. You'll learn how to influence and motivate others to achieve exceptional performance and increased productivity. You may be new to the role or perhaps have had some practical experience of leadership and management but, would like to gain new skills, knowledge and attitudes required to move onto the next level.

We have developed this four-hour virtual training course, with a break in between, for a maximum of 10 delegates. You can either book to join one of our 'open' courses, where individuals, from different organisations can attend, or you can book an 'in-house' course for your own organisational group.

Giving a presentation fills most of us with dread. Even the thought of standing up in front of a few colleagues (or, these days, sitting down in front of a webcam) can turn our legs to jelly. So, the prospect of speaking to an audience of hundreds can render normally calm and coherent individuals into gibbering, nervous wrecks. It doesn't need to be this way. Say hello to your nerves. Embrace them and turn the energy they bring into something productive rather than destructive. Let that energy stir your creative juices and make your next presentation – online or offline - extraordinary instead of ordinary. Memorable instead of forgettable. Enjoyable instead of tolerable (for you and the audience). But, most important of all, effective instead of ineffective.

A hugely practical and highly effective online workshop where, with no more than three other delegates, you'll learn how to: stay in control of media interviews; discover techniques to focus on your key messages instead of worrying too much about the questions you're asked; and find ways to deliver those messages in a clear, concise and compelling manner.  All without sounding like a slippery politician!

This practical and effective one-day course is aimed at those who are managing awkward or dysfunctional teams [and unfortunately, it only takes one disruptive or difficult person to create dysfunction in a team]. It can simply take one difficult team member, or someone who displays challenging behaviour, for a team to stop performing and lead to low productivity. If you are managing a difficult team, which will ultimately reflect badly on you, then this course is an ideal way in which to learn how to turn things around.

Read our newly-launched difficult people blog for insight and offers on workplace conflict including articles about managing difficult teams.

This virtual training course is aimed at those who, more often than not, find themselves ‘saying yes’ when they really should say ‘no’? But, they do so, because they don’t want to offend others – at the expense of their own needs! And, to those who listen with respect and dignity to others, but, who don’t receive the same courtesy in return. It’s also aimed at delegates who feel uncomfortable giving constructive criticism to people who are being unreasonable, disrespectful, unhelpful or unfair [to name just a few dominant behaviours] and who also find themselves apologising when no apology is warranted? In short, this course is aimed at helping delegates become more assertive, to manage expectations and to feel comfortable giving feedback and constructive criticism to others, without fear of the consequences.

We have developed this four-hour virtual training course, with a break in between, for a maximum of 10 delegates. You can either book to join one of our 'open' courses, where individuals, from different organisations can attend, or you can book an 'in-house' course for your own organisational group.

For press and PR people, heads of departments/services and senior managers who already have a good understanding of the interview process – in particular the importance of identifying key messages and “selling” those messages through techniques such as repetition. The workshop will build on existing skills and benefit anybody who may have to represent their organisation in times of emergency and/or crisis. Participants are likely to have been interviewed many times before on radio and by the print media but perhaps have less experience in front of camera.

For those who've already been on our (or other) presentation skills course or have reached an intermediate skill level through experience and want to lift their presentations to the next level. Delegates will, in particular, get to explore the use of storytelling (narrative) as a way of engaging their audience in a powerful and compelling way.

You tell us what you want and we'll build you a bespoke workshop.

There's never been a better time to start a blog. Professionally blogging can boost your business. Personally it can promote you. In both cases it can be fun. Or at least it should be! In this one day workshop you'll learn how to tackle the twin challenges facing bloggers: the technical and the editorial.

Hour-long interview sessions via Zoom aimed at those who've already attended our (or other companies) broadcast media training and want to develop their broadcast skills further. Can be booked as a one-off session, perhaps as a dress rehearsal in advance of a significant real life interview or as a series of sessions over a period of weeks or months.

This course is aimed at individuals and organisations who may have to deal with the media during a crisis, whether that event is externally triggered – for example, by a so-called “act of God” – or internally by some kind of error, omission or malpractice. Participants are likely to be experienced in media and communications or hold senior management positions. During a crisis their roles may be public-facing or behind-the-scenes. Attendance is strongly recommended for staff from organisations such as local authorities, health trusts and housing associations that have a renewed imperative to plan and prepare for emergencies under the Civil Contingencies Act and in the wake of the terrible fire at Grenfell Tower.

Listening, like all skills, can be mastered through guidance, practice and persistence. This one-day, practical and cost-effective course is designed around numerous examples of good and bad listening techniques so delegates can see clearly which methods work and which do not. All sessions include exercises to allow delegates to practice the listening skills discussed. Delegates will explore listener personalities, types of listening, bad listening habits, toxic words, questioning skills to encourage constructive conversations and much more.

Organisations have an obligation to plan for emergencies and civil contingencies and to warn and inform their clients, staff and public. This workshop is designed to give participants the practical skills required to cope with inquiries that are often emotionally charged and come in high volumes. It's aimed at anyone who has to handle telephone calls during emergencies - typically staff or volunteers who don't necessarily have much experience of dealing with calls from the public, the media or partner organisations as part of their normal day job.

With thousands of team members still working remotely for the foreseeable future, line managers face a period of unparalleled stress, uncertainty and tough decision-making, where they also need to continually adjust themselves to the management of their remote teams. In order to support you during these challenging days, we have developed this four-hour virtual training course, with a break in between, for a maximum of 10 delegates. You can either book to join one of our 'open' courses, where individuals, from different organisations can attend, or you can book an 'in-house' course for your own group of managers.

How can you use Facebook to help you achieve your organisational aims and objectives? Can you Tweet for profit (or however else you measure success in your business)? Does blogging actually work and if so how should you go about it? Should I start a YouTube channel? What about pictures to Instagram? And isn't LinkedIn just a place for job seekers? If you've been grappling with these sorts of questions then this workshop is for you.

Too much business writing is still formulaic, flowery or, worse still, both. It uses words nobody understands - least of all the writer. And lacks clarity and creativity. It doesn't have to be this way. If you want to write right this course is a must.

We don’t read like we used to. In a linear fashion. Line by line. Page by page. Chapter by chapter. These days words are viewed more on screens than they are on paper. The web has turned us into skimmers and dippers - skimming online content until we see something interesting and only then dipping deeper. Which presents writers with a huge challenge. Because reading differently means writing differently.

A well written press release can get you, your product or service in the editorial media for free. But how you actually write that news release can make the difference between success and failure.

Zoom has rapidly become the go-to platform for home workers everywhere. But few are using it and other services like Microsoft Teams to their full potential. So this two hour online workshop will help you make the most of the Zoom boom by guiding you through the technical, editorial and presentational barriers to effective communication.