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Mediation in Business launches training division

November 30, 2011 in Bristol, Tips, Training with Comments Off

Mediation in Business (MiB) [1] recently celebrated its first birthday in September and is excited to add a training division to its portfolio, which will focus on the fundamental cornerstones of mediation training.

MiB is a joint venture between Business West [2] and ADR Group [3] and provides a complete resolution package to help businesses resolve disputes with a specialised hybrid panel of expert mediators. These are highly qualified professionals with expert knowledge in many aspects of business.

MiB has tailored ADR Group’s highly successful training courses, which have developed some of the most experienced legal negotiators’ skill sets over 21 years, for the work place environment and business management.

James Monk, Director, Business West and MiB said: “Mediation in Business has helped businesses in the south west through mediation for over a year now. It was always our ambition to provide the necessary skills and tools for those businesses to manage differences independently – that’s why the launch of our training is so important. We have sought to provide the best level of training for our business community at an achievable rate and I’m very proud that this is now being delivered.”

Ben Wheale, Mediation in Business said “Our trainers, like our mediators, have firsthand experience in handling difficult situations and resolving disputes. They have trained some of the country’s most senior legal and non-legal business people. They now deliver the same standard of training to the local business community with a commitment to excellent value.”

The first course to be launched is ‘Handling Difficult Conversations’ which will be delivered on 18 January 2012 at Leigh Court, Bristol.  This course builds up a skill base which can be used by junior and senior management to avoid negative and difficult situations getting out of hand.

Top Ten Social Media Tips

October 1, 2010 in Tips, Training with Comments Off

GWE Business West has launched a new Digital Marketing & Social Media Training Programme, which offers attendees a custom-made suite of webinars (live online web based seminars that you can enjoy from your computer in the office or at home), interactive and hands-on workshops in three locations (Bristol, Midsomer Norton and Swindon) and importantly, ongoing 1-2-1 mentoring by way of an online support service.

The programme is run on behalf of GWE Business West by Neil Wilkins, who said, “I’m so pleased we have this exciting programme up and running. We’ve had so much interest from companies across the region both large and small. Because the programme has a ‘pick and mix’ approach from strategic and planning to the hands-on, how-to style of the workshops, there’s something great for everyone.”

Neil added, “With the increasing number of social media tools, media hype and customer digital feeding frenzy, it has become essential to prove the return on your investment in time, resource and money into digital marketing and social media. This is a key focus of the programme to help attendees focus, prioritise and ultimately make more profit.”

Neil’s Top Ten Digital Marketing & Social Media Tips:-

1. Do your research – Understand where your customers are talking online and go and join the conversation. Watch your competition and learn from their mistakes and build upon what they are doing well.

2. Think strategically – Create a simple but essential plan that includes your research, business objectives, strategic goals, tactical goals, actions you need to take and the elements you’ll measure to prove success or help identify necessary changes.

3. Know your business goals – Ensure everything you do and spend on links back to your goals and thereby helps to add value and profit to your business.

4. Diarise some time – Give digital marketing and social media the attention and focus it deserves. Put aside set times of the day or week to concentrate on it as appropriate.

5. Remember to signpost – It’s not all about you, your products and your services. Remember when social networking to share good things that you see in your travels and when browsing. If it interests you then it’ll interest others.

6. Invite comment – Successful digital marketing is about a conversation and not a one-way monologue. When you post messages or news, invite comment and thoughts. Listen and respond.

7. Duplicate, duplicate, duplicate – Relevant information and content can be used time and again in blogs, case studies, news, social media, e-newsletters and more. Think about all the relevant marketing channels and duplicate everywhere.

8. Watch the competition – You are not alone. Learn from their mistakes and watch how other companies and individuals in other industries are doing digital marketing effectively. www.mashable.com is a great resource for ideas.

9. Monitor results and tune your message – Recognise you won’t get this right first time so when you have your plan each time you measure something, think about what you have learned and then feed it back through your strategy and tactics.

10. Remember the Rule of Thirds – The best digital activity and social media is a balance of talking one third about you, one third signposting interesting things outside your company and outside your industry and then one third the overt sell of your products and services.

To view the full programme and individual webinar and workshop course details go to: http://www.gwebusinesswest.co.uk/training/digital_marketing_programme.aspx

Or simply phone 01275 370761 or email training@gwebusinesswest.co.uk

Launching new Digital Marketing & Social Media Training Programme

September 20, 2010 in Training with Comments Off

GWE Business West Training and Development launch a brand new modular Digital Marketing & Social Media training programme. With online lunchtime webinars, workshops in Swindon, Bristol and Midsomer Norton, 1-2-1 mentoring and support, this new programme provides a mix of strategic planning and hands-on practical sessions for those seeking to gain maximum return on investment from social networking and digital marketing.

The aim of the workshops and webinars are to help attendees build confidence in using the exciting array of digital marketing and social media tools from Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to websites, blogs and e-newsletters to help improve their marketing, customer relationship management and lead generation. Attendees can use the techniques and their learning for themselves right away, at the same time as building this knowledge into their campaigns and longer term business plans. The programme is designed for those in a PR, marketing, sales, business development or communications role and for everyone who wishes to maximise the effectiveness of the internet and social media in their marketing activities.

The training workshop sessions are based on a combination of interactive activities individual exercises and discussions.  Participants will benefit from facilitative style discussions with the trainer and participants will be encouraged to get involved and learn by doing things themselves. Completion of a personal action plan will ensure that attendees understand how and what they can do from the moment they return to their work. If possible, attendees should bring a laptop computer to the workshops for the hands-on sessions.

Webinars are web seminars designed to give attendees a taster of each training workshop from the comfort of their own office or home. They are useful preparation for the respective workshop as well as helpful refreshers for those who have already attended previous sessions, updating their knowledge with new opportunities and the latest thinking. Full login details and instructions are provided on booking.

Digital Marketing Training Programme attendees receive web-based mentoring and follow-up support through a dedicated website, to ensure they are kept abreast of developments in technology, strategy and new services.

Attendees will be able to use what they learn to create highly effective marketing activity to support:

- new business lead generation for growth
- enhancement of customer relationships
- improved research and market intelligence
- awareness and response to competitor activity

Trainer, Neil Wilkins, is a Marketing Consultant with experience in a range of industries including financial services, telecoms, public sector, IT, consumer retail products and manufacturing. He specialises in the development and delivery of strategic and tactical marketing training courses which benefit from his knowledge and background as well as drawing from a broad base of current business models and case studies.

As an experienced Marketing Consultant, Neil now advises commercial and public sector organisations in marketing strategy as well as providing a full design service and the creation and management of tactical campaigns.

Neil is an enthusiastic and dedicated trainer and his personable and welcoming style allows individuals and groups to settle quickly into team tasks and helps them to absorb knowledge.

Programme course topics include:-

Introduction to Digital Marketing

Introduction to Social Networking

Getting the best from Twitter

Getting the best from LinkedIn

Getting the best from Facebook

Effective Websites

Effective Blogging and eMail Marketing

For full details visit: http://www.gwebusinesswest.co.uk/training/digital_marketing_programme.aspx

To book onto any of these courses please view GWE Business West online training / events calendar for forthcoming dates via www.gwebusinesswest.co.uk, call the training team on 01275 370 761 or email training@gwebusinesswest.co.uk for latest information.

Recognising Excellence Merges with GWE Business West

August 6, 2010 in Training with Comments Off

Recognising Excellence Limited is pleased to announce that a merger has been agreed between itself and GWE Business West Ltd. This will create a larger and stronger organisation offering an enhanced range of business services across the South West.

Established in 1993, Gloucester based Recognising Excellence is a leading advice and assessment centre offering a range of quality standards, such as Investors in People, ISO, Lexcel, SFEDI and Committed to Equality. The company started investigating merger opportunities early in the New Year and saw GWE Business West as a natural choice that would provide opportunities, flexibility and operational freedom.

The merger was approved by both Boards of Directors with the Recognising Excellence Managing Director, David Tew, remaining in position.

“This merger puts Recognising Excellence in a winning position by enabling us to offer even greater value to our clients and partners,” said David. “Both companies will benefit from a greater and a more varied service portfolio, shared talents and resources, and a wider customer base – it’s a win-win situation! We recognise the strong synergies between our skills, experience, values and ambitions, and the benefits of combining these.”

Phil Smith, Managing Director of GWE Business West said, “It was a natural fit. Both organisations have a high profile in the South West and work closely with key partners. Our brands are well-known and trusted, and we are both committed to delivering added-value and excellent customer service. The merger will make it easier for businesses to access a broader range of quality services. We welcome Recognising Excellence to the GWE Business West family!”

Over the last few weeks the Boards of both companies have been working through the technical and legal aspects of the merger which are now completed. Recognising Excellence and GWE Business West will continue to operate as usual.

Prepare for the new right to request time to train

February 4, 2010 in Policy, Legislation, Training with 1 Comment

The Government has recently published guidance to inform employers about the new right for employees to request time for training. The guide is available through the DirectGov website.

Commenting on the guidance, Skills Minister, Kevin Brennan, said: “Now, more than ever, we need learning and training opportunities in place that empower people to gain the skills and training they need to get on.

“Many businesses are really good at training their staff and already recognise the benefits of having a highly skilled and motivated workforce. While two-thirds of businesses do train their staff, we need to encourage employers and employees who do not to speak about training opportunities.”

The right to request time to train was included in the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act. Phased in from April, it will initially be available to employees in organisations with 250+ employees. It will then be extended to all employees from April 2011, allowing more time for smaller businesses to prepare for the introduction of the new right.

Amanda Davey, Head of GWE Business West Training and Development said, “One of the most effective ways to meet your organisation’s learning objectives is through bespoke training.

Commissioning a training programme, tailored to your company’s needs, can offer a business more flexibility and save valuable time.”

GWE Business West Training and Development provide bespoke solutions that offer high impact training with cost effective delivery. After a free consultation, bespoke training can be delivered in three ways, to match the individual needs of a business and its employees:-

  1. Scheduled – select a course from the standard Open Training Programme and run it in-house.
  2. Tailored – customise a standard Open Training Course and refine modules to your own requirements.
  3. Bespoke – devise an entirely new training course from scratch. Subject not on the standard programme? Want to consider a different approach to its delivery?

With over twenty years training delivery experience, GWE Business West is well placed to help businesses take advantage of this new guidance, understanding the challenges that businesses face and what makes a difference when it comes to learning and development.

Working with specialist trainers, the quality of training is high, attributable to the extensive knowledge gained in working closely with different business sectors. Bespoke programmes are designed to be interactive and thought provoking, encouraging delegates to take part and maximise their learning experience.

Bespoke training services include tailored courses, available under a wide range of themes including personal effectiveness, leadership & management, business essentials, sales & marketing, communications, finance, effective administration and many more. As well as consultancy, executive coaching, mentoring, facilitated learning, in-house IT, Investors in People, and advice on and delivery of Government Funded Initiatives.

Businesses can also access an extensive open training programme, with scheduled business courses held in first class facilities providing an ideal environment to learn.

To find out how GWE Business West can support your business learning objectives, call 01275 370 847 or visit www.trainingforbusinesspeople.co.uk

Investment in training & skills is key to business survival

March 22, 2009 in Training with 3 Comments

trainingContinued investment in training and skills is key to business survival in the current economic climate.

It may be tempting to cut training budgets in the short term, but maintaining a highly skilled workforce is essential to productivity and being in a strong position to capitalise on business opportunities when the economy starts to recover.

There are a number of different ways businesses can continue to develop their staff, such as coaching, mentoring and attendance at learning seminars, as well as traditional training courses.

GWE Business West Training & Development have recently launched their 09/10 prospectus, specifically designed as an essential planning tool, which is packed with a comprehensive range of courses, together with different approaches to learning and helpful hints & tips. 

It also offers details of discounts to full members of GWE Business West Chambers of Commerce members and information about government grants and funding opportunities, and doubles as a nifty desk calendar!

Training courses are open to all businesses in the West of England in the UK,  available in Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and Swindon.

Download a copy here