2065 Courses in Cardiff

If you want to be better at making to-do lists or managing time better this is NOT for you! The time challenges we all face at work need to be addressed with a different approach. This 'bite-size' session takes a fresh approach to how we deal with time personally and challenges the belief that we don't always have enough time. The workshop will be participative, interactive, and will cover the personal relationship we have with time and how this impacts on dealing with challenges and ever-changing priorities on a daily basis at work. The workshop will give you some practical tools and ideas on dealing with your thieves of time from a different perspective, including interruptions and emails. To enable participants to organise and use their time effectively, using strategies to help with both 'thinking' and 'doing' that are fit for purpose. This workshop will enable you to: * Recognise the barriers to effective time management and set goals to overcome them and get things done * Understand how their mindset affects how they use time and use better ways to deal with the inbuilt patterns of behaviour this produces when at work * Plan for tasks and projects in a productive way * Use some new tools and techniques to tackle time thieves, including email and interruptions * Review and evaluate their learning and have an action plan to take back to work 1 WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS AND OBJECTIVES * Exploring your relationship with time and how you focus your mind on daily work pressures in relation to time * Past, present and future - where do you focus your energy at work? * Time thieves - exploring the results of the pre-workshop questionnaire and learning strategies to deal with the roots of your time thieves 2 PERSONAL STRATEGIES AND TOOLS: HAVING A NEW MINDSET * Emails, interruptions and curve balls * Review and evaluation of learning * Action-planning

This workshop will help you improve the impact, clarity, accuracy and effectiveness of your sales proposals. It takes bid and proposal teams right through the process, from start to finish - from forming the team and gathering the information, through to writing and reviewing the proposal document, and on to presenting it to the client. The learning points shared in the programme come from the trainer's extensive real-world experience with a wide variety of businesses. As a result of attending this programme, participants will be able to: * Write more clearly, more grammatically and more persuasively * Structure their written communications more effectively * Avoid the 'howlers' that can cost you business * Impress your clients * Win more business 1 BID STRATEGY * How to combine your knowledge of the market or customer, your products and services, and your competitors, to create a quality bid * New insights into your comparative advantages and competitive position in the marketplace * Understanding more about how your client views you and other suppliers * A plan of attack to build on your strengths and attack the weaknesses of your competition * Dealing with RFP/ITT situations 2 TEAMWORK * How a bid or proposal team needs to prioritise and manage preparation time * Co-ordinating input from team members * Agreeing responsibilities 3 THE IMPORTANCE AND ROLE OF A WELL-WRITTEN SALES PROPOSAL * Why bother? - the value of the sales proposal to you and to the customer * What the customer wants and needs to make a decision in your favour * Understanding and delivering on customer expectations * Review and discussion of different proposals - with real-life examples 4 THE BEST WAY TO STRUCTURE YOUR SALES PROPOSALS * A section-by-section, page-by-page review of best practice in structuring great sales proposals * How to improve the way you match your proposal to the customer's objectives and requirements * Plan your sales documents systematically - to make them easy to read and more persuasive * How to make your proposal look like the 'least risky' option 5 MAKING YOUR PROPOSAL A COMPELLING AND PERSUASIVE PROPOSITION * Choosing the right words that sell effectively * Selecting the right content and information for your document or proposal * Using an option matrix to summarise complex choices and increase final order value * How to write an executive summary 6 WELL-WRITTEN AND ERROR-FREE * Developing your writing style for maximum impact * Expressing the content (ie, selling points) clearly, concisely and correctly * Proof-reading and editing work effectively, using formal marks and techniques * Improving visual layout, format and appearance * Keeping it customer-focused 7 PRESENTING TO THE CLIENT - OVERVIEW * Presentation options * Understanding the client's objectives - as well as your own * The proposal review meeting - logistics * Managing to the next step * Designing and delivering a compelling presentation * Isolating objections and concerns * Follow-up and follow-through 8 POSITIONING YOUR FINAL PROPOSAL * Finalising your bid - presenting the right 'best few' USPs, features and benefits and making them relevant and real to the customer * Smart ways to position price and be a strong player - without being the cheapest * How to differentiate yourselves by how you present, as well as what you present * How to design and deliver a successful bid presentation 9 BID PRESENTATION PRACTICE SESSION WITH STRUCTURED FEEDBACK * Participants work in small groups or pairs to prepare and later present a sample section from a real life bid or proposal presentation * The trainer will provide assistance and input * During group review and discussions, input from others will be encouraged and many best practice ideas summarised 10 MANAGING THE END GAME * How best to draw-out, understand, isolate and answer customer objections, negotiate points and concerns * How to read the situation to plan the next step * Identifying negotiation tactics - and how to deal with them * Planning for a negotiation and how to get the customer feel they have the 'best deal' 11 WORKSHOP SUMMARY AND CLOSE

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

Who says what's right for you? How aware are you of how much you actually drink each week? Is it more than you want it to be? Does it take the edge off your performance? Or do you just think it's time to change? This session will challenge the way you think about drink. It's not about what someone else thinks you ought to drink - it's about your own attitude to it. Take away a completely fresh way of thinking about drinking. Get some insights into 'how come' you drink what you do. Find out what you can easily do to drink less. During the session you will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at: * Your drinking habits - casual/social drinking, habitual drinking, binge drinking * 'How come I do this'? * How we think about habits * 'How could I change my drinking'?

Many managers question the value of appraisal programmes and many line managers believe appraisals are unduly time-consuming and bureaucratic. Yet the appraisal is a vital starting point when it comes to managing performance effectively and it is vital that managers appreciate this. Handled well, the benefits of formal appraisals are enormous. This thoroughly practical workshop has been designed to give line managers the knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver a well-structured appraisal - even in the most challenging circumstances. This course will help participants: * Appreciate the benefits of the appraisal process * Assess standards of performance objectively * Plan and prepare for appraisals effectively * Conduct a well-structured appraisal meeting * Acquire the essential skills required for effective appraisals * Improve their ability to discuss difficult issues more confidently * Identify training and development requirements * Agree clear and measurable development objectives * Complete essential paperwork * Understand the need to facilitate continual informal dialogue between appraisals 1 INTRODUCTION AND COURSE OBJECTIVES 2 THE APPRAISAL PROCESS * The aim of the appraisal process * Understanding the bigger picture - the appraisal process as part of the employee development process * The benefits of the appraisal process * Common pitfalls * Five steps to an effective performance appraisal 3 STEP 1 - ASSESSMENT * Using job standards as the basis for objective assessment * Assessment of previous objectives 4 STEP 2 - PREPARATION * Documentation required * Data on each appraisee * Planning the meeting 5 STEP 3 - THE MEETING * The skills of appraisal interviewing * The structure of the appraisal interview * Dealing with poor performance and difficult situations * Taking notes and completing documentation 6 STEP 4 - PLANNING AHEAD AND OBJECTIVE SETTING * Identifying action to improve performance and enhance skills * Establishing relevant training needs * Agreeing SMART performance objectives * Formulating a personal development plan 7 STEP 5 - ACTION AFTER THE INTERVIEW * Essential paperwork * Follow-up and action required between appraisal interviews * Continuing informal dialogue 8 VIDEO CASE STUDY * Bullets 9 CONCLUSION * Course review / discussion * Preparation of action plans for building on the skills learnt * Close

It is important for Officers to understand the roles and responsibilities, processes and procedures involved when working with Elected Members. They also need to appreciate the significance of Elected Members as the decision-makers in local government. Officers have a responsibility to work and communicate with Elected Members effectively. This very successful course is designed to help Officers with this. Note: this is very much an indicative outline. The programme is tailored to the needs of each particular organisation. To provide managers with the knowledge and understanding they need to have productive working relationships with Elected Members and provide appropriate support. By the end of the course participants will: * Understand the roles, responsibilities, processes and procedures in place for working with Elected Members * Be able to identify the best way to approach potentially sensitive issues * Understand the skills and behaviours required for working effectively with Members * Be able to deploy their influencing skills more successfully * Review their learning and have an action plan to take back and implement at work Note: this is very much an indicative outline. The programme is tailored to the needs of each particular organisation. 1 INTRODUCTION * Welcome and introductions * Objectives and programme overview 2 WORKING IN A POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT * What is political awareness? * Contact and experience with Members * Importance of the role of Members 3 WHY BE AN ELECTED MEMBER? * Perceptions of what Elected Members are and do * Values of Members and their motivations for doing what they do 4 POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT * Current challenges and drivers affecting the organisation / the council * Roles and responsibilities of Officers and Members * Centrality of Members' strategic role 5 (OPTION) A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ELECTED MEMBER * An Elected Member gives a talk about what they do * 6 HAVING A BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OFFICERS AND MEMBERS 7 MEMBER / OFFICER COMMUNICATION * Discussion of the formal processes, service procedures, etc (whether enshrined in a protocol, Memorandum of Understanding, etc) * Response times and requirements * Procedures required by Heads of Service [if appropriate] 8 INFLUENCING STYLES AND STRATEGIES * Different forms of power and how they impact * Developing an appropriate 'influencing style' * Exploring strategies for improving communication and influencing at work 9 REVIEW AND EVALUATION * Review and evaluation of learning * Personal action plans

This one-day workshop will give you a better understanding of the components and operations of an Access database. It is designed to build on a user's existing skills and includes useful action queries to allow greater manipulation of a database. This workshop will help participants: * Ensure the integrity of their databases * Manage field properties * Use the query functions effectively * Save time with the query expression builder * Create different types of query more quickly * Design better forms * Link expressions in forms * Create better and more useful reports * Import and export tables more easily 1 TABLE RELATIONSHIP INTEGRITY * Identifying relationships * Identifying criteria for data integrity * Applying referential integrity * Managing relationship join types 2 TABLE FIELD PROPERTIES * Field properties overview * Using input mask field * Using default value fields * Using field validation rules 3 QUERY FUNCTIONS * Running aggregate function calculations * Running sum, average, count, max and min functions * Grouping calculated data 4 QUERY CALCULATIONS * Using query operators and expressions * Adding calculated fields to a query * Using the query expression builder 5 ACTION QUERIES * Creating make table queries * Creating append queries * Creating update queries * Creating delete queries 6 DESIGNING FORMS * Adding form controls * Aligning and arranging form controls * Adding pictures and labels to forms * Adding new fields to a form * Controlling tab order * Adding command buttons * Adding a combo box control * Formatting data using conditional formatting 7 FORM EXPRESSIONS (CALCULATIONS) * Using the form expression builder * Working with a property sheet within a form * Linking expressions within a form 8 WORKING WITH REPORTS * Creating reports with the report wizard * Inserting report fields * Formatting fields * Inserting report headers and footers * Working with a property sheet within a report 9 GROUPED REPORTS * Creating groups with the report wizard * Sorting grouped data * Grouping alphabetically * Grouping on date intervals * Creating sub reports * Adding calculations to groups 10 IMPORTING AND EXPORTING TABLES * Importing tables into Access * Exporting tables from Access * Importing and linking data in Access

A thorough account of the UK and European legal framework and its requirements as regards managing environmental performance. This course will help staff to understand: * The framework of UK and European legislation and its enforcement * The principal features of the legislation as they apply to your organisation's activity/product/service * The benefit of having an Environmental Management System such as ISO 14001 * How their own actions and decisions can either expose or protect the organisation in relation to its legal obligations 1 INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES 2 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND ENFORCEMENT * Sources of law (European and UK) * Structure and enforcement * Key legislation 3 INTEGRATED POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL (IPPC) AND LOCAL AIR POLLUTION AND CONTROL (LAPC) * Pollution and Prevention Control Act 1999 * EC Directives on PPC * The meaning of BAT * Transitional provisions * Fit and proper persons * Control of emissions to air * National Air Quality Strategy 4 PACKAGING AND PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITIES * Who, what and how * The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations * Obligations and exemptions * Registration * Recycling and recovery obligations * Records * Duties of the Environment Agency * Offences * Developments 5 WASTE MANAGEMENT * National Waste Strategy * Waste minimisation (re-use/recycling) * Waste definition * Disposal and recovery * Controlled waste management * Hazardous waste management 6 PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND EC DIRECTIVES * EU Commission's waste and resources strategies * Implementation of ELV (End of Life Vehicles) Directive * WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive transposition into UK legislation * Other producer responsibility initiatives * Other proposals from the EU 7 CONCLUSION * Open forum * Summary * Close

This 2-day workshop is offered with an internal and external focus. Day 1 will focus on building your internal network and relationships by focusing on your personal network, your brand, influencing skills and perceptions. Day 2 focuses on your external relationships with suppliers, patient groups etc. This will focus on assertiveness, outcome rather than relationship focus, and influencing and negotiating skills. DAY ONE 1 CAN YOU SUCCEED BY YOURSELF? 2 RELATIONSHIP AWARENESS THEORY 3 THE STRENGTHS DEPLOYMENT INVENTORY / YOUR FACET5 PROFILE 4 BUILDING RAPPORT 5 INFLUENCING POWER BASES 6 ACTIVE LISTENING 7 BUILDING YOUR PERSONAL INTERNAL NETWORK 8 PERCEPTIONS 9 YOUR BRAND DAY TWO 3 PREPARING FOR CONFLICT 2 THE NEGOTIATION CONVERSATION 1 YOUR STAKEHOLDERS AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM YOU 4 INFLUENCING OTHERS 5 YOUR COMMUNICATION APPROACHES FOR SUCCESS 6 EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 7 THE TRUST MODEL 8 KNOWING YOUR OUTCOMES

Meetings are a traditional and essential component of local government. For both elected members and officers, meetings serve as a forum for discussion and agreement, planning and monitoring, communication and leadership, and decision-making. Used appropriately, meetings can challenge, inspire, illuminate and inform. And while they are not the only meetings that elected members will be asked to attend, committee meetings, in particular, are a mainstay of the political management process. Effective chairing is important because it can provide clear leadership and direction, ensure that debates are focused and balanced, enable decisions to be reached and ensure that resources are used to best effect. This two-hour 'masterclass'-style workshop will help elected members to understand their role, offer some approaches and ideas that will help to tackle typical challenges, and help to generally improve their effectiveness as a chair. * To understand the skills and qualities of a good chair * To learn ideas and approaches for chairing a successful meeting that is on time and achieves its outcomes * To understand the protocols and boundaries for appropriate meeting etiquette and the chair's role in managing this effectively * To appreciate how to manage yourself and others appropriately * To take away personal actions to apply to your role 1 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS * Objectives * What's the challenge for you? 2 WE CAN'T GO ON MEETING LIKE THIS * Common meeting challenges for chairs and why they succeed or fail * Consequences and impact for the Council * What's the context? 3 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN EFFECTIVE CHAIR * Activities and input that explore the role, skills and qualities needed * Role of the chair: what is it and how to do it well 4 CHAIRING FOR SUCCESS - IDEAS AND APPROACHES TO MEET THE CHALLENGES * Managing time and boundaries * Preparation and planning * Creating the right environment * Self-management * Challenging personalities and good meeting behaviour 5 FINAL PLENARY SESSION * What's your plan? Take away actions