38 Brain courses in Glasgow

This intensive one-day training programme has been developed to help those involved in producing specifications create high quality documents in an organised and effective way. The programme explains the primary purpose of specifications and the importance of understanding the context in which they are used. It focuses particularly on how to develop and structure content and write requirements that are clear and concise. The methods and techniques presented will provide a practical foundation course for those new to the topic whilst offering new insights to those with more experience. The objectives of the workshop are to: * Review and discuss the role and purpose of specifications * Present a structured approach for organising and producing specifications * Explain each of the key steps involved in creating effective specifications * Review some methods for assisting in defining requirements * Explain how to define the scope and develop the structure for a specification * Present methods to assist the writing and editing of specifications * Review how specifications should be issued and controlled 1 INTRODUCTION * Course objectives * Review of participants' needs and objectives 2 SPECIFICATIONS IN PERSPECTIVE * The role and purpose of specifications * The impact of specifications on commercial performance * The qualities of an effective specification * The five key steps of 'POWER' writing: prepare-organise-write-edit-release 3 STEP 1: PREPARING TO WRITE * Defining the purpose the specification; integrating the specification and contract * Deciding how to specify: when to specify in functional and technical terms * Getting the right people involved at the right time; engaging stakeholders * Applying procedures for writing, issuing and controlling specifications 4 STEP 2: ORGANISING THE SPECIFICATION CONTENT * Scoping the document: scope maps, check lists, structured brainstorming * Clarifying requirements; separating needs and desires * Dealing with requirements that are difficult to quantify * Useful techniques: cost benefit analysis, Pareto analysis * Deciding what goes where; typical contents and layout for a specification * Creating and using model forms: typical sections and sub sections 5 STEP 3: WRITING THE SPECIFICATION * Identifying and understanding the readers needs * Choosing and using the right words; dealing with jargon * Important words; will, shall, must; building a glossary * Using sentence structure and punctuation to best effect * Understanding the impact of style, format and appearance * Avoiding common causes of ambiguity; being concise and ensuring clarity 6 STEP 4: EDITING THE SPECIFICATION * Why editing is difficult; how to develop a personal editing strategy * Key areas to review: structure, content, accuracy, clarity, style and grammar * Editing tools and techniques 7 STEP 5: RELEASING AND CONTROLLING THE SPECIFICATION * Key requirements for document issue and control * Final formatting and publication issues; document approval * Requirements management: managing revisions and changes 8 COURSE REVIEW AND ACTION PLANNING * What actions should be implemented to improve specifications? * Conclusion

Many organisations find that project teams struggle to create and maintain effective plans. Estimates are often overly optimistic and risks go unmanaged until the inevitable happens. Resource managers also find it hard to forecast the likely loading on their departments and requests for support are not provided in a consistent format. This programme has been developed to address these needs in a very practical, hands-on format. Case study work can be based on simulations or on the organisation's current projects for maximum benefit to participants. The aim of this training is to develop and enhance participants' planning and risk management skills in order to maximise the success of project work undertaken by the organisation. The principal training objectives for this programme are to: * Provide a structured, integrated approach to planning and risk management * Demonstrate practical tools and techniques for each stage of planning * Show how to organise and involve relevant people in the planning process * Explain how to use the plan for forecasting and pro-active project control * Identify ways to improve planning, both individually and corporately The course will emphasise the importance of participative planning techniques that improve the quality of plans whilst reducing overall time and cost of planning. The course will encourage discussion of internal procedures and practices and may be customised to include them if required. DAY ONE 1 INTRODUCTION (COURSE SPONSOR) * Why this programme has been developed * Review of participants' needs and objectives 2 PROJECTS AND PLANNING * Why plan? The benefits of good planning / penalties of poor planning * Planning in the project lifecycle; the need for a 'living' plan * The interaction between target setting and the planning process * Team exercise: planning the project 3 PLANNING THE PLAN * Defining the application and structure of the plan * Impact of planning decisions during the project lifecycle * Using available time to create an effective plan 4 DEFINING DELIVERABLES * Assessing the context; reviewing the goals and stakeholders * Developing the scope and defining deliverables; scope mapping * Understanding customer priorities; delivering value for money * Case study: defining the project deliverables 5 CREATING THE WORK BREAKDOWN * Building the work breakdown structure * Detailing the tasks and sub-tasks; structured brainstorming * Defining task ownership; the task responsibility matrix 6 CREATING AND USING A LOGICAL NETWORK * Developing the logical network; task boarding * Determining the critical path and calculating float * Accelerating the plan; concurrent programming and risk * Individual and group exercises DAY TWO 7 DEVELOPING RESOURCE SCHEDULES * Deriving the Gantt chart from the network * Developing the detailed resource schedules * Calculating the expenditure profile ('S' curve) 8 ESTIMATING TASK DURATIONS AND COSTS * Understanding estimates: effort, availability and duration * Estimating tools and techniques * Application of estimating techniques during the project lifecycle 9 CASE STUDY * Developing the project plan * Refining the project plan * Team presentations and discussion 10 MANAGING RISKS AND REFINING THE PLAN * Awareness of contractual issues associated with risk * Identifying and evaluating risks; deciding ownership * Managing risks: determining levels of provision and contingency * Controlling risks: maintaining an up-to date risk register 11 PLANNING FOR PRO-ACTIVE CONTROL * The earned value analysis (EVA) concept and its predictive value * Deriving the measures needed for cost and delivery performance * Practical issues associated with implementing EVA 12 USING AND MAINTAINING THE PLAN * Tracking progress and updating the plan * Publishing and controlling the plan 13 COURSE REVIEW AND TRANSFER PLANNING (COURSE SPONSOR PRESENT) * Identify ways of implementing the techniques learnt * Sponsor-led review and discussion of proposals * Conclusion

High quality specifications are of paramount importance in achieving the right technical performance and value for money. This long-established training programme has been developed to help those involved in producing specifications to create high quality documents in an organised and effective way. It provides a sound foundation for those new to the topic whilst at the same time offering new insights to those with more experience. The programme emphasises the need for a clear definition of requirements combined with the ability to communicate those requirements effectively to third parties. A structured method of preparing specifications is provided, and a range of practical techniques is presented, to enable participants to put the principles into practice. The commercial and contractual role of specifications is also addressed. The objectives of the workshop are to: * Provide a clear understanding of the role and purpose of specifications * Present a framework for organising and producing specifications * Define the key steps involved in creating effective specifications * Demonstrate methods for assisting in defining requirements * Provide tools and techniques for scoping and structuring specifications * Show the role of specifications in managing variations and changes to scope * Present methods to assist the writing and editing of specifications * Review how specifications should be issued and controlled DAY ONE 1 INTRODUCTION * Review of course objectives * Review of participants' needs and objectives 2 CREATING EFFECTIVE SPECIFICATIONS * The role of specifications in communicating requirements * The costs, benefits and qualities of effective specifications * Understanding the differences between verbal and written communication * The five key steps of 'POWER' writing: prepare-organise-write-edit-release * Exercise: qualities of an effective specification 3 STEP 1: PREPARING TO WRITE - DEFINING READERSHIP AND PURPOSE; THE SPECIFICATION AND THE CONTRACT * Designing the specifications required; applying BS 7373 * Defining the purpose, readership and title of each document * Effective procedures for writing, issuing and controlling specifications * The roles and responsibilities of the key players * Understanding contracts; the contractual role of the specification * Integrating and balancing the technical and commercial requirements * Writing specifications to achieve the appropriate contract risk strategy * Deciding how to specify: when to use functional and technical specifications * The role of specifications in managing variations and changes to scope 4 CASE STUDY 1 * Teams review a typical project scenario and identify the implications for the specification * Feedback and discussion 5 STEP 2: ORGANISING THE SPECIFICATION CONTENT * Defining the need and establishing user requirements * Deciding what issues the specification should cover * Scoping techniques: scope maps, check lists, structured brainstorming * Clarifying priorities: separating needs and desires * Dealing with requirements that are difficult to quantify * Useful techniques: cost benefit analysis, QFD, Pareto analysis 6 CASE STUDY 2 * Teams apply the scoping techniques to develop the outline contents for a specification * Feedback and discussion DAY TWO 7 STEP 2: ORGANISING THE SPECIFICATION CONTENT (CONT) * Deciding what goes where; typical contents and layout for a specification * The three main segments: introductory, key and supporting * Creating and using model forms: the sections and sub-sections * Detailed contents of each sub-section * Tools and techniques for outlining and structuring specifications 8 CASE STUDY 3 * Teams develop the detailed specification contents using a model form * Feedback and discussion 9 STEP 3: WRITING THE SPECIFICATION * The challenges of written communication * Identifying and understanding the readers needs * Choosing and using the right words; dealing with jargon * Problem words; will, shall, must, etc; building a glossary * Using sentence structure and punctuation to best effect * Understanding the impact of style, format and appearance * Avoiding common causes of ambiguity * Being concise and ensuring clarity * Choosing and using graphics to best effect * Exercises and examples 10 STEP 4: EDITING THE SPECIFICATION * Why editing is difficult; how to develop a personal editing strategy * Key areas to review: structure, content, accuracy, clarity, style and grammar * Editing tools and techniques 11 STEP 5: RELEASING AND CONTROLLING THE SPECIFICATION * Key requirements for document issue and control * Final formatting and publication issues; document approval * Requirements management: managing revisions and changes 12 COURSE REVIEW AND ACTION PLANNING * What actions should be implemented to improve specifications? * Conclusion

The aim of this programme is to help attendees create better quality technical documents in an organised and efficient manner. It will give those new to the topic an appreciation of how to approach the task professionally whilst those with more experience will be able to refresh and refine their skills. The programme comprises three complementary one-day modules: The programme presents a structured methodology for creating technical documents and provides a range of practical techniques that help delegates put principles into practice. Although not essential, it is strongly advised that delegates for modules 2 and 3 have already attended module 1, or another equivalent course. Note: the content of each module as shown here is purely indicative and can be adapted to suit your particular requirements. This course will: * Explain the qualities and benefits of well written technical documents * Present a structured approach for producing technical documents * Review the essential skills of effective technical writing * Demonstrate practical methods to help create better documents * Provide tools and techniques for specification and report writing * Review how technical documents should be issued and controlled Note: the content of each module as shown here is purely indicative and can be adapted to suit your particular requirements. Module 1: Essential skills for technical writers 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAMME * Aims and objectives of the module * Introductions and interests of participants 2 CREATING EFFECTIVE TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS * What is technical writing? how does it differ from other writing? * Key qualities of an effective technical document * Communication essentials and the challenges faced by technical writers * The lessons of experience: how the best writers write * The five key steps : prepare - organise - write - edit - release (POWER) 3 PREPARING TO WRITE * Defining the document aims and objectives; choosing the title * Understanding technical readers and their needs * Getting organised; planning and managing the process * Integrating technical and commercial elements * The role of intellectual property rights (IPR), eg, copyright 4 ORGANISING THE CONTENT * The vital role of structure in technical documents * Deciding what to include and how to organise the information * Categorising information: introductory, key and supporting * Tools and techniques for scoping and structuring the document * Creating and using document templates - pro's and con's 5 WRITING THE DOCUMENT * Avoiding 'blinding them with science': the qualities of clear writing * Problem words and words that confuse; building and using a glossary * Using sentence structure and punctuation to best effect * Understanding the impact of style, format and appearance * Avoiding common causes of ambiguity; being concise and ensuring clarity * Using diagrams and other graphics; avoiding potential pitfalls 6 EDITING AND RELEASING THE DOCUMENT * Why editing is difficult; developing a personal editing strategy * Some useful editing tools and techniques * Key requirements for document issue and control Module 2: Creating better specifications 1 INTRODUCTION * Aims and objectives of the day * Introductions and interests of participants * The 'POWER' writing process for specifications 2 CREATING BETTER SPECIFICATIONS * The role and characteristics of an effective specification * Specifications and contracts; the legal role of specifications * Deciding how to specify; understanding functional and design requirements * Developing the specification design; applying the principles of BS 7373 * Getting organised: the key stages in compiling an effective specification 3 PREPARING TO WRITE A SPECIFICATION * Defining the scope of the specification; deciding what to include and what not * Scoping techniques: scope maps, check lists, structured brainstorming * The why/what/how pyramid; establishing and understanding requirements * Clarifying priorities; separating needs and desires: the MoSCoW method * Useful quantitative techniques: cost benefit analysis, QFD, Pareto analysis * Dealing with requirements that are difficult to quantify 4 ORGANISING THE CONTENT * The role of structure in specifications * Typical contents and layout for a specification * What goes where: introductory, key and supporting sections * Creating and using model forms: the sections and sub sections * Detailed contents of each sub-section * Exercise: applying the tools and techniques 5 WRITING THE SPECIFICATION * Identifying and understanding the specification reader * Key words: will, shall, must; building and using a glossary * Writing performance targets that are clear and unambiguous * Choosing and using graphics * Exercise: writing a specification 6 EDITING AND RELEASING THE DOCUMENT * Key editing issues for specifications * Issue and control of specifications Module 3: Writing better reports 1 INTRODUCTION * Aims and objectives of the day * Introductions and interests of participants * The 'POWER' technical writing process for technical reports 2 CREATING BETTER REPORTS * What is a technical report? types and formats of report * The role and characteristics of an effective technical report * Understanding technical report readers and their needs * The commercial role and impact of technical reports * Getting organised: the key stages in compiling a technical report 3 PREPARING TO WRITE REPORTS * Agreeing the terms of reference; defining aims and objectives * Being clear about constraints; defining what is not to be included * Legal aspects and intellectual property rights (IPR) for reports * Preparing the ground; gathering information and reference documents * Keeping track of information: note making, cataloguing and cross referencing * Tools and techniques for developing a valid and convincing argument 4 ORGANISING THE CONTENT * The role of structure reviewed; some typical report structures * Who needs what: identifying the varied needs of the readership * What goes where: introductory, key and supporting sections * Creating and using model forms: the sections and sub sections * Detailed contents of each sub-section * Exercise: applying the tools and techniques 5 WRITING THE REPORT * Planning the storyline: the report as a journey in understanding * Recognising assumptions about the reader; what they do and don't know * Converting complex concepts into understandable statements * Presenting technical data and its analysis; the role of graphics * Presenting the case simply whilst maintaining technical integrity * Exercise: writing a technical report 6 EDITING AND RELEASING THE REPORT * Key editing issues for technical reports * Issue and control of technical reports

Masterclasses? Refreshers? Introductions? It depends what you're looking for and where you want to pitch them, but here are six tried-and-tested highly focused sessions that organisations can take individually or as a series, to help develop their teams' project management capabilities one topic at a time. Objectives for each individual session are set out below, as part of the session outlines. Taken together, as a series, however, these modules are an ideal opportunity to develop your team's levels of project management capability maturity, whether that's by introducing them to the basic principles, refreshing them on best practice, or giving them the opportunity to really drill down into a specific area of challenge in your particular operating environment. SESSION OUTLINES 1 Stakeholder management SESSION OBJECTIVES This session will help participants: * Understand why stakeholders matter to projects * Be able to identify and engage stakeholders * Be able to categorise stakeholders by their significance 1 KEY PRINCIPLES * What does 'stakeholder' mean - in theory? * What does this mean in practice? * Why stakeholders matter * Consequences of missing stakeholders * The stakeholder management process: * Identify * Assess * Plan * Engage 2 IDENTIFYING STAKEHOLDERS * Rapid listing * CPIG analysis * PESTLE analysis * Drawing on the knowledge and experience of others * Other ways to identify stakeholders 3 ASSESSING STAKEHOLDERS * Which stakeholders are significant? * Stakeholder radar * Power-interest maps * Power-attitude maps 4 PLANNING * The adoption curve * Dealing with obstacles * Who should engage which stakeholder? * How should the project's organisation be structured? * How will communication happen? 5 ENGAGING * Seven principles of stakeholder engagement 2 Requirements and prioritisation SESSION OBJECTIVES This session will help participants: * Understand how clarity of requirements contributes to project success * Use different techniques for prioritising requirements * Agree requirements with stakeholders * Manage changes to requirements 1 UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING STAKEHOLDER NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS * What are 'requirements'? * What is 'requirements management'? * Sources of requirements - and the role of stakeholders * Are stakeholders sufficiently expert to specify their needs? * Do they understand the detail of what they want, or do they need help to tease that out? * What do stakeholders want to achieve? * Working within constraints * Prioritising requirements - three techniques 2 MOSCOW PRIORITISATION * 'Must have', should have', 'could have, 'won't have this time' * When to use MoSCoW 3 THE KANO MODEL * Customer satisfaction - 'attractive' and 'must-be' qualities * When to use Kano 4 VALUE-BASED PRIORITISATION * Understanding risk v value * Using risk v value to prioritise features and schedules 5 AGREEING REQUIREMENTS * Perfect v 'good enough' * Establishing acceptance criteria * Requirements traceability * Agreeing project scope 6 CHANGING REQUIREMENTS * Why requirements change * Why change control matters * Impact on projects * A formal change control process * Paying for change - managing change for different types of project 3 Estimating SESSION OBJECTIVES This session will help participants: * Understand the different purposes estimates satisfy * Be able to use different estimating techniques * Understand how to achieve different levels of accuracy 1 KEY PRINCIPLES * What's an estimate? Informed guesswork * What needs to be estimated? Costs, resources, effort, duration * Tolerances * Precision v accuracy 2 ESTIMATING THROUGH THE LIFECYCLE * Start * Plan * Do 3 EARLY ESTIMATES * Comparative ('analogous') estimating * Parametric estimating * Using multiple estimating techniques 4 BOTTOM-UP ESTIMATING * Bottom-up ('analytical') estimating * Pros * Cons 5 THREE-POINT ESTIMATING * Three-point ('PERT': Programme Evaluation and Review Technique) estimating * Uncertainty and the range of estimates * Calculating a weighted average * Three-point with bottom-up 4 Scheduling SESSION OBJECTIVES This session will help participants: * Understand how to create a viable schedule * Be able to use different forms of schedule * Understand the concept of the critical path 1 KEY PRINCIPLES * The planning horizon * Rolling wave planning * Release planning 2 VIABLE SCHEDULING * Creating a viable schedule * Define the scope * Sequence the work * Identify the risks and build in mitigations * Identify the resources * Estimate the effort and durations * Check resource availability * Refine until a workable schedule is produced 3 CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS * The critical path * Network diagrams * Sequence logic * Practical application: * Network diagram with estimated durations * The 'forward pass' * The 'backward pass' * Calculating total float * Identifying the critical path * Calculating free float * Gantt charts 5 Risk and issue management SESSION OBJECTIVES This session will help participants: * Understand the difference between risks and issues * Be able to identify and assess risks * Understand ways of mitigating risks * Manage issues 1 KEY PRINCIPLES * Understanding risk * Threats and opportunities * The risk management process * Preparation - proactive risk management * The process - identify, assess, plan, implement * Stakeholder communication * Roles and responsibilities * Risk management strategy * The risk register * Risk appetite 2 RISK IDENTIFICATION * Brainstorming * Interviews * Assumption analysis * Checklists 3 RISK ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISATION * Probability, impact and proximity * Triggers * Qualitative risk assessment * Qualitative impact assessment * Qualitative probability assessment * Probability / impact grid * Bubble charts * Risk tolerance 4 PLANNING COUNTERMEASURES * To mitigate or not to mitigate? * Categories of risk response * Avoid and exploit * Reduce and enhance * Transfer * Share * Accept * Contingency * Secondary risks 5 ISSUE MANAGEMENT * What is an issue? * Tolerances * Issues and tolerances * The PRINCE2 view of issues * Ownership of issues * An issue management process * Issue register 6 Budgeting and cost control SESSION OBJECTIVES This session will help participants: * Understand what to include in a budget - and why * Choose - and use - the appropriate estimating technique * Align the budget with the schedule * Understand how to monitor spend and control costs * Trouble-shoot effectively to get projects back within budget SESSION FORMAT Flexible. The session can be tailored to the participants' average level of project management maturity - a 60-minute session (delivered virtually) is an effective introduction. A 90-minute session allows for more in-depth treatment. A half-day session (face-to-face or virtual) gives time for a more challenging workshop, particularly to discuss specific cost control issues with any of the participants' current projects. 1 WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM? * Can we pay from revenue? Do we need to borrow? How long will the project take to pay back? * The lifecycle of the budget * Through-life costs * Stakeholder involvement 2 ESTIMATING COSTS * Reminder: the relationship between estimates * Reminder: possible estimating techniques * What do we need to estimate? * People * Equipment * Materials * Facilities and operating costs * Work package estimate * Estimated project costs * Estimating agile projects 3 ALIGNING BUDGET AND SCHEDULE * Scheduling and financial periods * Spreading the budget 4 RESERVES AND AGREEING THE BUDGET * Contingency reserve * Management reserve * Agreeing the budget 5 COST CONTROL * Planned spend over time * Actual spend over time * Work completed over time * Evaluating different scenarios: delivery v spend 6 TROUBLE-SHOOTING * Why are we where we are? * What has caused the project to spend at the rate it is? * Why is it delivering at the rate it is? * What are the root causes? * What can we do about it?

A flexible, modular-based, programme to heighten participants' awareness of ways in which their operations can affect the environment, the principles of environmental management and the practical steps they need to take as individuals and as an organisation to improve environmental performance. Depending on the course modules selected, this programme will give participants: * Increased awareness of relevant environmental issues * A greater understanding of, and commitment to, the organisation's environmental management programme * Preparation for any responsibilities they may have under an Environmental Management System * Further benefits according to options chosen 1 ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS * Definition of 'the environment' * Key environmental issues * Global warming * Ozone depletion * Acid rain * Air quality * Water pollution * Contaminated land * Land take and green belt shrinkage * Resource usage * Habitat destruction and species extinctions. * Option: This module can be used to explain the key environmental issues related to the activities of your own organisation. Diagrams, photos, pictures, examples and statistics relevant to your own organisation are used where possible to illustrate the points being made. 2 ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION * Key elements of environmental legislation affecting the activities of your organisation - including international, European and UK legislation. * Legislation of particular relevance to your organisation - how it affects the operations of your organisation * Option: Legislation can be dealt with according to which aspect of the environment it protects (eg, air, water, waste) or which part of your organisation's activities it affects * Consequences of breaching legislation 3 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS * Overview of what an environmental management system is * How is an Environmental Management System (EMS) designed and put together? * Key elements (emphasising Plan - Do - Check - Review cycle) * The need to continually improve * Pros and cons * Reasons for having an EMS * Benefits of an EMS * Consequences of not managing the environment * Costs of installing an EMS * Explanation of ISO 14001 and EMAS standards and guidance as applicable to the EMSs of your organisation * Overview of your organisation's EMS * How it was set up / is being developed / operates * Who is responsible for it * Key parts of system (eg, environmental policy, objectives and targets) identified and discussed * EMS documentation - what and where it is. * Workshop option: Brainstorm 'Pros and cons' with the participants, come up with all their ideas for good and bad things about EMS and demonstrate that the 'good' list is longer than the 'bad' 4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES * Define what an environmental impact is and discuss how they are determined, with reference to the EMS * Identify why we want to determine the environmental consequences of operations and activities; how they are used in the EMS for planning, and reducing the impact on the environment * Establish key environmental consequences of construction and operational activities on the site; discuss significance ranking and the control measures in place in your organisation. * Workshop option: In small groups, participants are asked to identify the impact on the environment of your organisation's activities or a part of their activities. They are then asked to rank these impacts in terms of their significance, using guidelines provided to help them be aware of the contributing factors (eg, frequency, severity). For a selected number of the impacts, the participants are asked to identify what control measures there are and which of these they play a part in. All stages can be discussed with trainers as a whole group at various stages during the workshop. 5 PROTECTED SPECIES, NATURE CONSERVATION AND INVASIVE WEEDS * Nature conservation, landscape and visual issues in the planning process - overview of key nature UK wildlife legislation, EIA, appropriate timing of surveys, Hedgerow regulations and landscape and visual impact issues * Ecological issues - ecological legislation, significant species, hedgerows * Archaeology in the development process - why archaeology is important, organisation in the UK, legislation and planning guidance * Construction phase issues and consents - major environmental issues during construction, including water resources and land drainage consents, discharges to land or water, water abstraction, public rights of way, tree protection, waste management, Special waste, noise, good practice pollution control and Environmental Audits * Identification and management of invasive weeds - including legal position regarding management 6 CHEMICALS AND FUELS HANDLING AND STORAGE * How health and safety management is closely linked to environmental management of materials * Planning - what mechanisms are in place for planning materials use; legislation, guidance and policies which define how to manage materials * Materials storage - what are the considerations for storing materials, covering: * Labels: what are the different types and what do they tell us? * Storage facilities: what are the requirements for safe storage of materials (eg, signs, secondary containment, access, segregation, lids/covers) * Handling: safe handling for protecting the environment, organisational procedures, high risk situations (eg, decanting, deliveries), how to reduce the risks (eg, use of funnels, proper supervision, training) * COSHH and MSDS: brief explanation of legislation and its role in environmental control of hazardous materials, how to use the information provided by COSHH assessments * Option: These sessions can be illustrated with photographs/pictures and examples of good and bad storage and handling practices * Workshop Options: Labelling Quiz - quick-fire quiz on what different labels tell us; Build a Storage Facility - participants are asked to consider all the environmental requirements for building a safe storage facility for their organisation 7 ON-SITE CONTROL MEASURES * Overview of the legislation associated with nuisance issues on site and mitigating problems when they arise * Examples of bad practice, including fuel storage tanks and mobile equipment - costs involved with prosecution of fuel spills, remediation costs, management costs, legal fees, bad PR coverage * Identification and management of contaminated land and relevant legislation * Workshop option: Participants are provided with a site plan containing information on site features, environmental conditions and indications of potential issues 8 WASTE MANAGEMENT * Why worry about waste? - a look at how waste disposal can impact on the environment, illustrated by examples of waste-related incidents, statistics on waste production on national, industry-wide and organisational levels, landfill site space, etc * Legislation - overview of the relevant legislation, what the main requirements of the regulations are, what penalties there are, and the associated documentation (waste transfer notes) * Waste classification - a more in-depth look at how waste is classified under legislation according to hazardous properties, referring to Environment Agency guidance * Handling and storage requirements - what are the requirements of the applicable waste legislation and how are they covered by organisational procedures? Examples of good and bad environmental practice associated with handling and storing waste. * Workshop option: 'Brown bag' exercise - participants pass round a bag containing tags each with a different waste printed on. They are asked to pick out a tag and identify the classification and the handling, storage and disposal requirements for the waste they select * Waste minimisation - overview of the waste minimisation 'ladder' and its different options (elimination, reduction, reuse and recycling), benefits of waste minimisation, examples of waste minimisation techniques * Workshop option: Participants are asked to identify opportunities that actually exist within the organisation for minimising production of waste that are not currently being taken advantage of 9 AUDITING * Requirements for environmental auditing of operations * Auditing the EMS * Types of internal and external audits * Requirements EMS standards (ISO 14001 and EMAS) * Carrying out internal audits and being prepared for external audits * Workshop options: * Mock audit 'Brown Bag' - can be used either for trainers to test participants as if they were in an audit situation, or for the participants to test each other and practice their auditing technique. The bag contains tags each with a different topic printed on (eg, waste skips); participants pass the bag round and select a tag; they are then questioned by the trainer or another participant about that topic as if they were in an audit situation. If the participants are auditing each other, they will be provided with a set of guidelines to keep in mind during the workshop. * Virtual auditing - a more practical workshop where participants review photographs of situations/activities relevant to the organisation's operations. They are asked to identify all the good and bad environmental practices that are occurring in the situations. 10 INCIDENT RESPONSE * What should you do when an incident does happen? * What should be in a spill kit? * When should you call in the experts? * When should you inform the Environment Agency or Environmental Health Officer? * Workshop option: The participants are provided with some incident scenarios and asked to develop a response to the incident 11 MONITORING AND REPORTING * Environmental monitoring programmes and procedures * Monitoring and reporting as control measures for environmental consequences * Monitoring and environmental 'STOP' card systems - personal and behavioural monitoring and reporting

This course is very much a discussion, so be prepared to present and critically analyse your own and class mates work. You will also need to bring a few examples of work you have done in the past. Learning and applying best practice visualisation principles will improve effective discussions amongst decision makers throughout your organisation. As a result more end-users of your dashboards will be able to make better decisions, more quickly. This 2 Day training course is aimed at analysts with good working knowledge of BI tools (we use Tableau to present, but attendees can use their own software such as Power BI or Qlik Sense). It is a great preparation for taking advanced certifications, such as Tableau Certified Professional. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact us to discuss the Visual Analytics Best Practice course Email us if you are interested in an on-site course, or would be interested in different dates and locations -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Tableau Desktop training intermediate course is designed for the professional who has a solid foundation with Tableau and is looking to take it to the next level. Attendees should have a good understanding of the fundamental concepts of building Tableau worksheets and dashboards typically achieved from having attended our Tableau Desktop Foundation Course. At the end of this course you will be able to communicate insights more effectively, enabling your organisation to make better decisions, quickly. The Tableau Desktop Analyst training course is aimed at people who are used to working with MS Excel or other Business Intelligence tools and who have preferably been using Tableau already for basic reporting. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE COURSE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: WHAT IS VISUAL ANALYSIS? * Visual Analytics * Visual Analytics Process * Advantages of Visual Analysis * Exercise: Interpreting Visualisations HOW DO WE PROCESS VISUAL INFORMATION? * Memory and Processing Types * Exercise: Identifying Types of Processing * Cognitive Load * Exercise: Analysing Cognitive Load * Focus and Guide the Viewer * Remove Visual Distractions * Organise Information into Chunks * Design for Proximity * Exercise: Reducing Cognitive Load SENSORY MEMORY * Pre-attentive Attributes * Quantitatively-Perceived Attributes * Categorically-Perceived Attributes * Exercise: Analysing Pre-attentive Attributes * Form & Attributes * Exercise: Using Form Effectively * Colour & Attributes * Exercise: Using Colour Effectively * Position & Attributes * Exercise: Using Position Effectively ENSURING VISUAL INTEGRITY * Informing without Misleading * Gestalt Principles * Visual Area * Axis & Scale * Colour * Detail * Exercise: Informing without Misleading CHOOSING THE RIGHT VISUALISATION * Comparing and Ranking Categories * Comparing Measures * Comparing Parts to Whole * Viewing Data Over Time * Charts Types for Mapping * Viewing Correlation * Viewing Distributions * Viewing Specific Values DASHBOARDS AND STORIES * Exercise: Picking the Chart Type * Exercise: Brainstorming Visual Best Practice * Development Process for Dashboards and Stories * Plan the Visualisation * Create the Visualisation * Test the Visualisation * Exercise: Designing Dashboards and Stories -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This training course includes over 20 hands-on exercises to help participants “learn by doing” and to assist group discussions around real-life use cases. Each attendee receives an extensive training manual which covers the theory, practical applications and use cases, exercises and solutions together with a USB with all the materials required for the training. The course starts at 09:30 on the first day and ends at 17:00. On the second day the course starts at 09:00 and ends at 17:00. Students must bring their own laptop with an active version of Tableau Desktop 10.5 (or later) pre-installed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS COURSE "Steve was willing to address questions arising from his content in a full and understandable way" Lisa L. "Really enjoyed the course and feel the subject and the way it was taught was very close to my needs" James G. "The course tutor Steve was incredibly helpful and taught the information very well while making the two days very enjoyable." Bradd P. "The host and his courses will give you the tools and confidence that you need to be comfortable with Tableau." Jack S. "Steve was fantastic with his knowledge and knowhow about the product. Where possible he made sure you could put demonstrations in to working practice, to give the audience a clear understanding." Tim H. "This was a very interesting and helpful course, which will definitely help me produce smarter, cleaner visualisations that will deliver more data-driven insights within our business." Richard A. "Steve is very open to questions and will go out of his way to answer any query. Thank you" Wasif N. "Steve was willing to address questions arising from his content in a full and understandable way" Lisa L. "Really enjoyed the course and feel the subject and the way it was taught was very close to my needs" James G.

The 3-hour Baby & Child First Aid class covers CPR, Choking, Bumps, Burns, Breaks, Bleeding, Febrile Seizures and Meningitis & Sepsis Awareness and will give everyone who attends the peace of mind they deserve.