Welcome to the 5th edition of the Pentland Training newsletter.
As the year draws to a close are you pondering as to what skills you need to brush up on in 2012?
Well in this edition we are looking at a skill that I feel all of us could maybe do with some help with (me included). That being the art of effective Business Writing. In a world of emailing and text messaging, are we losing the art of good writing? I visited Andrea Case at global giant Siemens to review how Pentland Training helped her and her colleagues improve their skills.
Also in this Newsletter you can read my interview with our trainer Jane Emptage to find out what she gets up to in and out of the classroom!
So I wish you all a peaceful end to the year, and hope that 2012 brings you new dreams and skills!
Jamie Squires, Managing Director
An Experts View
Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say ‘infinitely’ when you mean ‘very’; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)
Client's View - Siemens
One training course that we are seeing high interest in is that of effective Business Writing. Pentland training recently delivered a one day Business Writing training course for Siemens.
Pentland Training worked with Andrea Case at Siemens to deliver a training course that would help her to improve her Business Writing skills along with three of her colleagues. Jamie Squires of Pentland Training caught up with Andrea after the course to review the training’s effectiveness. Here is the conversation:
Jamie: What lead you to look for a training course in Business Writing?
Andrea: In my new role I am writing Business Cases and Reports as well as the usual day to day emails. My Manager and I recognised that a training course would assist me to aid my written communication.
Our Business Writing Course
Are you are looking to improve the business writing skills of you and your colleagues? If so then please call me Jamie Squires at Pentland Training on 0800 328 2766, for a no obligation chat about how we can deliver a tailored course at your own premises.
Here is a detailed outline of what you can cover in our course :
1-day Business Writing Skills
Background
We all write, but not necessarily as well as we could. Although writing is an important part of working life, we rarely receive help with documents or writing guidance. Many people admit that they feel insecure about their grammar and writing. However being able to write with skill can give us a real advantage in business when we need to get people to sit up and take notice.
Using a plain English style is much easier to write and immediately creates a more helpful impression of the writer and their organisation.
Course Overview
By the end of this one day course delegates will be able to:
- produce natural and fluent text quickly and easily
- use reader friendly words and phrases
- write in a way that creates a positive impression
- select the appropriate style and tone for the topic and reader
- avoid common mistakes to produce accurate, clear documents.
Tutor Spotlight
Jane Emptage in the hot seat...
How long have you been a trainer for?
I have been involved in training for over 25 years. This has included IT, Project Management and personal development & management courses. Hang on, that’s just made me realise that this means when I started training we were using DOS and Floppy Drives!
What’s the biggest change that’s happened in the training world in that time?
The Internet and Computer Based Training . It has transformed so many areas of the training environment and is used by some companies as a ‘total solution’ for all their training needs. However I still strongly believe that there is no replacement for ‘hands-on’ training delivered by an individual who can bring the experience and understanding to each course that makes it unique.
