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Upcoming Training Courses
Public Affairs
Writing Skills
VAT included. Contact me for bespoke training options for your organisation.
Beginner Public Affairs
2 October 2020 (online)
£249.00
An introductory public affairs course for those new to the discipline.
We'll look at everyday parliamentary procedure but - importantly - the focus will be on how you can influence it.
Small group - maximum six participants for an effective learning experience.
You'll learn:
- What public affairs is and what public affairs professionals actually do
- How to improve your political radar/build an information gathering routine
- How to monitor Government and Parliament
- About the policy making process
- What happens in Parliament, and quick and easy ways you can influence it, including Parliamentary Questions, All Party Parliamentary Groups, Debates and Early Day Motions.
It's suitable for:
- Those studying politics and/or interested in a political or public affairs career
- Those working in junior-level political roles, for example Parliamentary Researchers
- Public affairs professionals with up to one year's experience
- Communications, press or policy professionals looking to broaden their knowledge and skills
- Anyone interested in the UK political landscape and democratic process
Training methods used:
- Presentation, including audio/video
- Quiz
- Group discussion
- Individual exercises
- Small group exercises using breakout rooms
- There will also be the opportunity to book free, one-to-one 15-minute advice slots with the trainer
Please note:
- Price is inclusive of VAT.
- All courses are currently running on Zoom. Details will be provided following booking.
- Course runs 10am - 4pm with two refreshment breaks and a lunch break.
- Course requires a minimum of two participants. Maximum will be six participants.
- Materials will be provided by hard copy prior to the start of the course, or by email if booking within three days of the course.
Intermediate Public Affairs
9 October 2020 (online)
£249.00
An intermediate public affairs course. We'll delve into the more intense and long-term techniques to influence.
Small group - maximum six participants for an effective learning experience.
You'll learn:
- What happens in Parliament and how to influence it - legislation and Select Committees
- Public affairs strategy basics
This course is suitable for:
- Public affairs professionals with 1 year+ experience
- Anyone who has taken the Beginner's Public Affairs course
- Students of MA Public Affairs or Political Communication
Training methods used:
- Presentation, including audio/video
- Quiz
- Group discussion
- Individual exercises
- Small group exercises using breakout rooms
- There will also be the opportunity to book free, one-to-one 15-minute advice slots with the trainer
Please note:
- Price is inclusive of VAT.
- All courses are currently running on Zoom. Details will be provided following booking.
- Course runs 10am - 4pm with two refreshment breaks and a lunch break.
- Course requires a minimum of two participants. Maximum will be six participants.
- Materials will be provided by hard copy prior to the start of the course, or by email if booking within three days of the course.
Planning a Public Affairs Campaign
23 October 2020 (online)
£275.00
A comprehensive introduction to public affairs strategy and the elements that comprise a successful strategy. This course is suitable for anyone who wants to be more proactive, organised and reflective when it comes to doing public affairs.
You'll finish the day with a strong start to a public affairs strategy for your campaign, which can be further developed in your own time.
Small group - maximum six participants for an effective learning experience.
You'll learn:
- What makes good public affairs objectives and how to develop your own
- How to identify your audience
- How to shape your arguments
- How to craft and hone key messages
- How to choose the most effective tools, tactics and channels
- How to monitor and evaluate public affairs campaigns
Training methods used:
- Presentation, including audio/video
- Quiz
- Group discussion
- Individual exercises
- Small group exercises using breakout rooms
- There will also be the opportunity to book free, one-to-one 15-minute advice slots with the trainer
Please note:
- Price is inclusive of VAT
- All courses are currently running on Zoom. Details will be provided following booking.
- Course runs 10am - 4pm with two refreshment breaks and a lunch break.
- Course requires a minimum of two participants. Maximum will be six participants.
- Materials will be provided by hard copy prior to the start of the course, or by email if booking within three days of the course.
Preparing a Witness for Select Committee
16 October 2020 (online)
£275.00
This course is not designed for the Select Committee witness, it's designed for the public affairs/communications professional whose job it is to guide them. For this reason, it's the only training course of its kind in the UK.
Don't wait for your witness to be called before you begin to prepare; there's often not enough time! Take this course now so you can hit the ground running.
Small group - maximum six participants for an effective learning experience.
You'll learn:
- How to plan for a hearing
- What your briefing timetable should look like
- Building your witness' understanding and confidence
- Working with witnesses of all kinds - ensuring their engagement, communicating risks, building confidence, responding to complacency and over-ambition
- Preparing useful briefings, including key messages and Q&A documents
- Liaising with the Committee clerks
- Coaching body language and demeanour
- Conducting effective rehearsals, including replicating the Committee atmosphere, asking tough questions, dealing with sensitivities, pauses, curveballs and distractions
- Media-intense appearances
- What happens on the day
- Checklist
Training methods used:
- Presentation, including audio/video
- Quiz
- Group discussion
- Individual exercises
- Small group exercises using breakout rooms
- There will also be the opportunity to book free, one-to-one 15-minute advice slots with the trainer
Please note:
- Price is inclusive of VAT.
- All courses are currently running on Zoom. Details will be provided following booking.
- Course runs 10am - 4pm with two refreshment breaks and a lunch break.
- Course requires a minimum of two participants. Maximum will be six participants.
- Materials will be provided by hard copy prior to the start of the course, or by email if booking within three days of the course.
Better Writing In One Day
27 October 2020 (online)
£195.00
This course will substantially improve your written work in just one day - whether you write blogs, articles, reports, news, briefings, creative content, web copy - anything!
Small group - maximum six participants for an effective learning experience.
You'll learn:
- Why we need to write well
- How to identify your audience and how this impacts your writing
- How to identify your purpose and how this impacts your writing
- Steps to clear and simple writing, including:
- shortening
- simplifying
- removing padding
- identifying tautologies
- recognising passive voice and switching to active
- freeing smothered verbs
- Common accuracy problems
- Effective structure
- All about a free, can't-live-without online editing tool
Training methods used:
- Presentation
- Quiz
- Group discussion
- Individual exercises
- Small group exercises using breakout rooms
- There will also be the opportunity to book free, one-to-one 15-minute advice slots with the trainer
Please note:
- Price is inclusive of VAT.
- All courses are currently running on Zoom. Details will be provided following booking.
- Course runs 10am - 4pm with two refreshment breaks and a lunch break.
- Course requires a minimum of two participants. Maximum will be six participants.
- Materials will be provided by email prior to the start of the course.
Influential Communications
30 October 2020 (online)
£195.00
On this course we will workshop communicating persuasively, whether verbally or using written material. The basis for the learning will be Robert Cialdini's 7 'Principles of Persuasion'. We'll be assessing how and why these principles work, and testing them out on each other.
This course is suitable for anyone who needs to speak or write in a way that persuades, whether to one person or a crowd.
This is a informative course that will really change the way you communicate, and it's also a lot of fun!
Small group - maximum six participants for an effective learning experience.
Training methods used:
- Presentation
- Quiz
- Group discussion
- Individual exercises
- Small group exercises using breakout rooms
- There will also be the opportunity to book free, one-to-one 15-minute advice slots with the trainer
Please note:
- Price is inclusive of VAT.
- All courses are currently running on Zoom. Details will be provided following booking.
- Course runs 10am - 4pm with two refreshment breaks and a lunch break.
- Course requires a minimum of two participants. Maximum will be six participants.
- Hard copy materials will be provided by email prior to the start of the course.