We’re excited to invite you to the next session in our ongoing series of peer-led networking events for HR and L&D professionals across Essex. These regular meetups are designed to foster meaningful connections, spark insightful conversations, and provide practical takeaways for your day-to-day work.

Each session is co-hosted by a local employment lawyer and a talent recruiter, ensuring a blend of legal expertise and talent strategy.

This month, our employment law expert will be delivering a talk on the **Employment Rights Bill**—a topic that’s both timely and highly relevant for people professionals.   

We will be hosting at The Chelmsford Club, timings to start for 08:30 am and end at 10:30 am.

Closest parking will be Moulsham Street Pay and Display car park: <https://share.google/lW5UfN7117JWYhiLg>

Whether you’re would like to become a regular attendee or drop in for the first time, we’d love to welcome you for breakfast, conversation, and community.

**Spaces are limited—reserve your spot today and be part of Essex’s growing HR & L&D peer network.**

OppWorks - HR & L&D Peer Group Networking Breakfast – Essex Series

HR & L&D Peer Group Networking Breakfast – Essex Series

Catherine Culham

Great Peer Group Networking Breakfast.  Alex Elliott gave a great overview of current and future Employment Legislation

We’re excited to invite you to the next session in our ongoing series of peer-led networking events for HR and L&D professionals across Essex. These regular ...

This one-day training course is designed for Executive Assistants (EAs) who are keen to harness the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance their productivity and effectiveness.

Through a combination of theoretical insights and practical exercises, participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of AI, including how to integrate AI tools into their daily workflows, manage data privacy, and leverage AI for better communication and collaboration.

Participants should have a basic understanding of digital tools and a keen interest in adopting new technologies. No prior knowledge of AI is required.

**LEARNING OBJECTIVES**

By taking this seminar you will learn how to:

- Understand the basics of AI, GPT, and automation technologies.
- Identify tasks that can be optimised withAI.
- Use AI tools for scheduling, email management, document creation, and data analysis. This includes exploring CoPilot for Microsoft.
- Understand the ethical considerations and data privacy concerns associated with AI.
- Be equipped with strategies for continuous learning and adaptation to new technologies.

**PROGRAMME OVERVIEW**

**Introduction to Artificial Intelligence**

- Overview of AI, GPT, and automation.
- Role evolution in the age of AI.
- AI capabilities and limitations.

**AI Tools for Administrative Efficiency**

- Automating scheduling and calendars.
- Efficient email management with AI.
- Leveraging GPT for document creation.

**Enhancing Productivity with Data Analysis and Visualisation**

- Basics of AI-driven data analysis.
- Generating insights and visualizing data.

**AI for Improved Communication and Collaboration**

- AI-powered translation tools
- Virtual assistants for team managementand project tracking.

**Overcoming Challenges and Best Practices**

- Addressing data privacy and security in AI.
- Navigating the technology learning curve
- Best practices for implementing AI tools

**Preparing for the Future: Continuous Learning and Ethical Considerations**

- Ethical considerations and responsible use
- Creating a personal action plan for integrating AI into daily workflows.

AI for Executive Assistants

Michelle Cato

Alice was an excellent trainer and super engaging. Really enjoyed this.

Explore Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it can help you to increase your productivity and efficiency in your career.

This course – designed to help you understand the principles of business accountancy - will provide managers and professionals with the ability to confidently read and interrogate financial statements.

Comprising five lessons, our business accounts training is designed to help you understand balance sheets, profit and loss (P&L) accounts including stock-taking, depreciation, capital and revenue expenditure. You will also learn about accruals and the role of capital and reserves.

The final lesson considers profit margins, analysing a profit and loss account and how to make comparisons on financial statements.

Understanding Business Accounts

Elizabeth C

The workshops with Alice are always super engaging and honestly gave me the boost I needed with my studies. The sessions were really well run, with a great mix of practical tips and open discussion. I came away feeling more motivated and focused, which I really needed.

Nigel M

The workshop was excellent, very informative. Tutor explained everything in a simple and easy to understand.

This workshop is ideal for those who wish to start their own business, those looking for work as well as current employees. 

The onboarding session is designed to equip you with the key information and tools you’ll need to start your programme 

- An introduction to your programme

- Seminar dates for live learning 

- How to access your learning materials

- Key next steps to make the most of your studies, including effective study habits.

- Planning your learning hours and first check in date 

- Programme completion, graduation and career progression

We can’t wait to meet you and help you get started on your journey!

OppWorks - Onboarding for EA students 

The onboarding session is designed to equip you with the key information and tools you’ll need to start your programme 

- An introduction to your programme
...

Onboarding for EA students 

The AI+ Foundation certification offers a foundational knowledge of artificial intelligence, encompassing ethical implications,  prompt engineering, and practical applications. Through use-cases, discussions, and case studies, participants will gain essential AI knowledge and insights intoresponsible AI utilisation.

This course covers five key learning topics:

**Introduction to AI & Its Impact: I**ntroduces AI fundamentals, history, applications,and presence in daily life. Explains key machine learning concepts (supervised/unsupervised) with uses. Practical use-cases illustrate AI's transformative power.

**Prompt Engineering - Interacting with AI :** Learn about prompt engineering and its importance in optimising AI interactions for better responses. This session covers techniques for crafting precise prompts and explores GPT advancements with updated models. Explore Use-cases across sectors to demonstrate prompting, and hands-on exercises focus on writing effective prompts in business and healthcare. 

**AI in Business & Industry Applications**: This session explores AI strategy development for business innovation, introducing key tools like automation and predictive analytics. How Generative AI works and its differentiation. Plus how to create a successful AI adoption strategy.

 **AI Ethics & Bias:** Overviews ethical considerations in AI (fairness, accountability), exploring data collection consequences regarding bias. We’ll explore bias impact on AI-driven decisions across industries, AI's job impact and the balance of automation with human roles. 

**The Future of AI & Career Opportunities :** This session explores AI's potential in addressing global challenges like climate change and its reshaping of industries/work. We’ll explore AI's dual impact on job displacement and job creation, as well as identify essential skills for the AI-driven future.

Pitman Training London - Generative AI for Business

This course is designed to demystify generative AI for business professionals, as well as to trace its power to actionable, real-world business goals. 

AI Foundation

Whether you're a seasoned HR professional seeking to sharpen your skills or an aspiring newcomer eager to grasp the fundamentals, this workshop provides a comprehensive overview of key topics such as:

1.  Introduction to HR
2. Recruitment
3. Onboarding and Data Management
4. Employee Compensation
5. Absence, Discipline and Termination
6. Optimising Employee Performance

Through interactive sessions and real-world case studies, participants will gain practical insights and strategies to navigate the dynamic landscape of HR, empowering them to contribute effectively to organisational success while fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

Join us as we embark on a journey to unlock the essential tools and knowledge essential for HR excellence.

HR Essentials

Ben C

Very helpful and inciteful training day. Alice was great, highly recommend to anyone thinking about signing up.

Michael Ochwa

The training was amazing. The course material and delivery was perfect. I feel empowered and equipped to do my work with the support system we have in place at the moment. The trainer, Alice is very knowleable, warm and made the course very interesting.

Equip HR professionals with indispensable skills and strategies to navigate the dynamic landscape of human resources at our HR Essentials Workshop.

This workshop will provide you with the knowledge and skills to manage the life cycle of a project in terms of defining what it is, planning each aspect, implementation, completion, and evaluation.

**ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP**
Good project management skills are always highly valued within a business as they ensure deadlines are met, costs are controlled, and the deliverables meet the organisation’s needs. With this project management course, your skills will be in demand in the workplace.

The course takes you through the full life cycle of a project in terms of defining what it is, planning every aspect to ensure you deliver on quality, timescales and budget, before finally completing and implementing the project.

You’ll learn how to manage complex technical processes with many different resources within a business. What’s more, project management skills are highly transferable, enabling you to work within a variety of industries.

**COURSE CONTENT**

- Project Selection and Initiation
- Scope, Schedule, and Cost Planning
- Resource and Risk Planning
- Communication, Changes, and Documentation
- Controlling Project Work and Closing
- Planning and Controlling the Project Schedule
- Project Management Practical Exercises
- Quality and Procurement Planning
- Project Planning Documents
- Project Documents and Terminology

Project Management Fundamentals

Anne Scholz

Fantastic course just what I needed and was looking for. Instructor Alice was very professional and did answer all of my questions. 

Gain essential project management skills and strategies to successfully plan, execute, and deliver projects on time and within budget.

This is a tutor-led workshop designed to help you learn how to touch type both
efficiently and accurately. The aim of this seminar is not only to increase your touch typing speed, but also to increase your productivity in the workplace.

**ABOUT THIS COURSE**
Touch-typing is a skill in high demand, but choosing the right touch typing training is vital. Ours is the very best - and the Pitman Training name on your CV is worth its weight in gold.

This intensive touch typing workshop is perfect if you're short of time and need to learn how to type efficiently and correctly.

The experienced tutors at Pitman Training will take you through a range of exercises to ensure you can type as fast and as accurately as possible, without looking at your fingers or the keyboard.

Throughout the course, as well as learning how to type properly, you'll also cover key touch-typing skills such as learning the correct fingers to use for each letter of the alphabet, the strategies needed to build up your typing speed, how to sit properly when typing to help avoid RSI and back pain, how to get rid of your existing bad habits and how to practice once you return to your place of work or at home.

There are three key Aims and Objectives of this seminar.

- Firstly, that you notice an increased productivity thanks to your new touch typing skills.
- Secondly, you'll learn how to type without looking at your fingers or the keyboard.
- Finally, that this workshop will help you develop into a confident touch typist.



The Touch Typing Workshop is designed to enhance your typing speed and accuracy through structured lessons and practice exercises. 

Touch Typing Intensive 

Our Marketing Essentials course has been developed to give an insight to those new to marketing, an understanding of the concepts and processes involved in how a company effectively places itself and its products in the marketplace.

In today’s market, driving business forward is a tough and highly competitive game. Beating competitors and increasing profit is at the forefront of many business development plans – pushing marketing forward as a fundamental sales channel.

**Lesson One**

- Company case studies
- Marketing plan
- Getting to know the product
- The competition
-  Getting to know the customer
- Customer profiles

**Lesson Two**

- How websites are designed to market the company and the product 
- Working with search engines 
- Using social networks as a marketing tool 
- Different ways to advertise online 
- Email marketing 
- Monitoring the effectiveness of search, website and social media marketing  
- Convergent technology 

**Lesson Three**

- Understand the AIDA formula for effective advertising 
- Recognise the use of colour, images and text in advertising 
- Understand ways in which advertising encourages the customer to take the next step 
- Understand why and when companies use news releases 
- Identify the key elements of an effective news release 
- Know how news feeds work in social networking 

**Lesson Four**

- Understand the four Ps of marketing products 
- Understand the lifecycle of a product 
- Know about product placement and pricing strategies 
- Recognise how companies promote the brand 
- Understand the importance of brand loyalty 



Gain important knowledge on the processes involved in marketing for your business.

Marketing Essentials

Microsoft Excel Level 2 is a one-day seminar that will increase your skills in using Excel to improve your ability to analyse and present data.

It has been created for anyone with a working knowledge of Excel who would like to gain an understanding of the more advanced facilities offered in this area.

Throughout the course of this one-day seminar we will focus on:

- Advanced formula creation
- Creating and modifying tables
- Data presentation using charts
- Analysing data with PivotTables
- Working with graphic objects
- Customising the Excel environment

Excel Level 2 - Data Analysis and Presentation

Richard P

Excellent. Alice was a brilliant teacher who managed to stay calm and cool despite the heat. 

Orla O'Brien

Alice Mullinger was an exceptional trainer! She answered all my questions with clarity and made even the most complicated concepts easy to understand. Her ability to explain things in simple, straightforward language made the entire training experience enjoyable and stress-free. Highly recommend her!

kerthika J

I have definitely learnt a lot from the Excel Level 2 session and I would recommend it. This session was very useful and Alice made sure the session was engaging and interactive. Thank you once again Alice, you were a really good trainer!

Dive deeper into Excel's advanced functionalities and elevate your spreadsheet proficiency with our Level 2 Excel workshop.

The Pitman Training ‘Dashboard in a Day’ workshop is designed to help users effectively engage with your audience using Power BI to share data with impact.

**IS THIS FOR YOU?**

The aim of this course is to learn how to communicate key business data using dashboards within Power BI.

**ABOUT THIS COURSE**

Dashboard in a Day is a one-day, hands-on workshop for business analysts, covering the breadth of Power BI capabilities.

At the end of the day, attendees will better understand how to:

- Connect and transform data from a variety of data sources.
- Define business rules and KPIs.
- Explore data with powerful interactive visuals.
- Build stunning reports.
- Share their dashboards with their teams

**AIMS AND OBJECTIVES**
This course has been created for business analysts to help them communicate business data with colleagues and clients.

**PRE-REQUISITES**
Prior to the course it would be preferable if you had some familiarity with using Power BI as a business analysis tool.

The Pitman Training ‘Dashboard in a Day’ workshop is designed to help users effectively engage with your audience using Power BI to share data with impact.

Microsoft Power BI - Dashboard in a Day

Audio Transcription is a valuable skill to gain, with applications in many industry sectors. This two-day intensive course will help you learn how to operate audio transcribing equipment and become proficient in document transcription.

**IS THIS FOR YOU?**

If your role involves having to transcribe documentation from a Dictaphone, this course will help you get to grips with the practicalities involved in this. It is also a great course if you’re looking to bolt-on additional skills to your skillset to appeal to prospective employers.

**ABOUT THIS COURSE**

Audio Transcription is an invaluable skill to gain, with applications in many sectors of the workplace. Although there are many audio typing courses on offer, this one from Pitman Training is the very best. 

Work at your own flexible pace, get one-on-one help from course advisors and choose your own hours. 

This course is split into 5 lessons. Starting at the basics of transcribing straight forward paragraphs, moving on to more complicated formatting requirements, commonly mis-spelt words, different business document formats etc. this course aims to gradually increase your speeds using audio transcription equipment to confidently and accurately produce business documentation.

**AIMS AND OBJECTIVES**

In Audio Transcription Level 1, you’ll learn how to operate audio transcribing equipment; how to transcribe sentences, paragraphs, business memos, correspondence and reports; how to use invaluable, time-saving keyboard shortcuts to format your work; and how to handle mis-spellings and sound-alike words. 



This two-day intensive course will help you learn how to operate audio transcribing equipment and become proficient in document transcription.

Audio Transcription - Intensive

This workshop is designed to provide new managers with a range of tools and techniques that enable them to effectively communicate, delegate, motivate and inspire their teams.

We will address how to overcome negative attitudes and behaviours in order to create a positive work environment and high performing teams.

You will learn in a small group of like-minded professionals to maximise interaction during the workshop and the practical nature of your learning.

Managing People Effectively

Samantha W

I very much enjoyed the 'Managing People Effectively' course last week. I found Tasha to be clear in her communication and very easy going, keeping a good pace for the learning throughout the day. I left the day feeling more confident in my abilities, and keen to test out the new mindset skills we covered, both at work and at home.

Gain foundational management skills and strategies for effective leadership in our Introduction to Management workshop.

Using Social Media for business brings new challenges and requires a considered approach. There are many do’s and don’ts to be aware of and this workshop looks at how to get the best from the various social media tools and create an effective, successful social media campaign from a business perspective.

Once you’ve seen how you can use it to build connections, network online, promote your company and research your industry, there’ll be no stopping you!

**WORKSHOP CONTENT**

- Module 1: What is social media and what are the benefits? Why use social media? What worries you and excites you? Taking a strategic approach.

- Module 2: A review of how social media marketing fits in to current marketing activities.

- Module 3: The reasons for using social media. Identifying social media audience groups. Understanding keywords.

- Module 4: You will look at a range of social media channels including blogs, newsletters, niche tools, LinkedIn, Twitter, facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, videos, podcasts, images, forums, social bookmarking, mobile and other content.

- Module 5: You will think about what you are going to say on social media – the content, choosing content or relationship marketing, content ideas, creating a content plan, re-using content.

- Module 6: Look at what resources are needed to carry out the social media? A social media policy, the risks of social media and crisis management.

Social Media Strategy for Business

Crina M

I recently completed 3 different courses and each day was very interactive. Alice is fantastic and her knowledge is brilliant as she give real example to help understand your needs.All examples given are put in practice which helps visualise the strategy for your business. Thank you Alice!

This will help anyone who wants to take on the responsibilities of Social Media for a business.

**IS THIS FOR YOU?**

This 2-day workshop is most appropriate for Personal Assistants, senior secretaries, management assistants and executive assistants who are looking to develop their role.The aims are to improve your insights and gain up to date techniques and tactics in line with the higher level responsibilities and the changing expectations of the PA/EA role.

**ABOUT THIS SEMINAR**

By the end of the course you will be able to:

- Redefine your role as an Executive PA and understand others’ expectations
- Apply new techniques to build a more successful working relationship with your manager
- Practise the principles of assertive behaviour and communicate confidently and credibly
- Plan and monitor ongoing tasks and projects successfully
- Contribute effectively within meetings
- Manage your time more effectively
- Develop tips and techniques for analysing problems and making decisions
- Develop your role and take accountability

Executive PA 2-day Masterclass

Mei  Y

The course was very well-structured and informative, as well as engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed the course.

Charlene Dias

Really enjoyed this masterclass, learnt a lot, feel empowered and Alice is a great teacher.

Andrea Le Clair

Excellent well-run course, with the additional benefit of peer discussion and support. It gave me the chance for internal reflection as well as picking up new ideas and refreshing previously learnt skills.

Jane B

Loved this course, very helpful and Alice was amazing and very engaging, thank you.

Jordon M

I took part in the 2 day Executive PA masterclass. This was a brilliant course, filled with so much useful information. The course was led by Alice who was fantastic and super engaging. Highly recommend.

Annabel F

Very Informative and Helpful session, I learnt a lot about the role of a Personal Assistant and loved how in-depth the information was.

Jack S

Course was diverse and informative. Trainer was engaging and very knowledgeable

Elevate your skills in just two days with our intensive Executive PA Masterclass, designed to enhance efficiency, organisation and professional effectiveness.

Executive PA Masterclass

**Is this for you?**

The ability to identify and respond to changing trends is a hallmark of a successful business.  Whether those trends are related to customers and sales or to regulatory and industry standards, businesses are wise to keep track of the variables that can affect the bottom line. In today's business landscape, data comes from numerous sources and in diverse forms.  By leveraging data science concepts and technologies, businesses can mould that raw data into information that facilitates decisions to improve and expand the success of the business.

**Who Should Attend?**

This course is primarily designed for business professionals and leaders who are interested in growing the business by leveraging the power of data science.  Other individuals who wish to explore basic data science concepts may also benefit from taking this course.

**What you’ll learn**

In this course, you will identify how data science supports informed business decisions. You will:

- Explain the fundamentals of data science.
- Identify functions of data science for business.
- Implement business requirements for data science.

**Course Outline**

**Data Science Fundamentals**

- What Is Data Science?
- Types of Data
- The Data Science Lifecycle
- Communication of Results

**Functions of Data Science in Business**

- Improve customer experience
- Improve marketing campaigns
- Optimise organisational & transactional security
- Enhance operational practices

**Implementing Business Requirements**

- Develop a data-centric organisation
- Develop an implementation strategy
- Identify impact of data science on business
- Identify governance measures

OppWorks - Data Science for Business Professionals

This course is primarily designed for business professionals and leaders who are interested in growing the business by leveraging the power of data science.

Data Science for Business Professionals

**IS THIS FOR YOU?**

This course is designed for individuals who are looking to learn the basics of Excel. Whether you work in construction, health and care, teaching, or any their industry, our Intro to Excel is here to help you take the next step in your career.

This course is delivered as a small-group activity using a range of practical approaches to learning:

- Interactive Lectures
- Hands-on Exercises and Practical Demonstrations
- Group Discussions and Case Study Analysis
- Q&A Sessions

**PROGRAMME OVERVIEW**

- The four operations
- BODMAS
- Intro to formulas and functions
- SUM
- COUNT
- MAX/MIN
- AVERAGE (MEAN)
- MEDIAN
- MODE

Multiply: Intro to Excel

Penny C

We are Secure ITAD Ltd in Halstead and we had the pleasure of Alice Mullinger coming to us for Intro to excel training on Monday 5th August . This is the feedback from my team : Penny: Alice was a really good trainer, made the class enjoyable, and I learnt some very useful short cuts and autofill’s that I didn’t know existed, Thanks Alice – Accounts Garry: Alice was an excellent trainer, the day was well spent, very engaging.- Group CEO Toni: Definitely feel a bit more confident regarding Excel. I would definitely like to learn more as Alice explained it well. - Compliance Tim: Alice was a great trainer really enjoyed the day very happy with what I learnt – ITAD Technician Keane : An excellent day’s training with Alice, who delivered the course content with knowledge, empathy and understanding. I feel much more familiar with MS Excel as a result and am looking forward to the pay rise that is sure to follow from the acquisition of a greater skill set. – ITAD Technician and chancer Stuart : =sum(knowledge+practice)=success – Our Excel Grand master (who didn’t attend ) Don’t forget PICNIC – Problem in Chair Not In Computer !!

Sue H

I have found the excel introduction very helpful. It was explained in a way I could understand and I feel confident to start using the functions and formulas

Gain Excel expertise from scratch in our hands-on workshop, perfect for beginners looking to excel in spreadsheet management and analysis.

Intro to Excel

Time management training increases your productivity and efficiency - and this is the perfect time management course for anyone who wants to get more done in less time.

**Programme Content**

*Understanding Time Management*
- Importance of time management in personal and professional life
- Common challenges and misconceptions about time management
- Benefits of effective time management

*Principles of Prioritisation and Organisation*
- Setting clear goals and objectives
- Identifying priorities and urgent tasks
- The Eisenhower Matrix: Urgency vs. Importance
- Time  blocking and scheduling techniques
- Delegation and outsourcing tasks

*Tools for Time Management*
- Introduction to Microsoft Outlook
- Overview of Outlook features for time management
      - Email organization and filtering
      - Calendar management and scheduling
      -Task and to-do list management
      - Reminder and notification features
- Tips and tricks for maximizing Outlook's time management capabilities

*Enhancing Productivity with Microsoft Outlook*
- Managing email effectively
     - Inbox organization and decluttering
     - Email filtering and automation
     - Using folders and rules
- Optimizing calendar usage
     - Creating and managing appointments and meetings
     - Setting reminders and notifications
     - Utilizing shared calendars and scheduling assistant
- Streamlining task management
     - Creating and categorizing tasks
     - Assigning due dates and reminder
     - Tracking and updating task progress

*Developing Time Management Strategies*
- Identifying personal time wasters and distractions
- Techniques for overcoming procrastination
- Time management tips and hacks
- Balancing work and personal life

*Implementing Effective Time Management Practices*
- Creating a personalized time management plan
- Goal setting and tracking progress
- Developing a routine and sticking to it
- Evaluating and adjusting strategies for continuous improvement


Time Management

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the seminar that Alice Mullinger taught, it was well done, interactive and thought provoking and I found it so helpful and engaging. When I start working I will be referring back to what you taught me today, thank you so much, looking forward to the next one  ☺️.

Gisela  Tavares

I recently attended the [Time Management Seminar Name], and it was an incredibly valuable experience. The seminar, led by Alice, offered practical techniques and strategies for managing time effectively, and I left feeling more equipped to organize my tasks and set priorities efficiently.

Heather C

Great tutors, lots of information. Really helped me to rethink how I look at time management and how to make it work for me. Great advice and I highly recommend it.

Take our time management training course to help increase your productivity and efficiency.

A single click can lead to a multi-million dollar breach in seconds, and the employee responsible may not even be aware of their mistake. Many end users aren’t aware of the dangers accompanying today’s most common cybersecurity threats, much less how to detect them.

CyberSAFE® helps ensure that end users within an organisation can identify the common risks associated with using conventional end-user technology, as well as how to safely protect themselves and their organisations from security risks in office or while working remotely.

This course is designed for all users of computers, mobile devices, networks, IT services and the Internet to ensure they can use technology safely to minimize security risks while protecting organisational assets.

**Part 1 - Compliance**

- Learn how to identify organisational security compliance requirements.
- Types of organizational compliance requirements (Passwords, Internet usage, Data protection, Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Personal Health Information (PHI), Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), Facility policies, Ramifications of non-compliance\_
- Identify legal compliance requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, NISD and the legal consequences of non-compliance
- Identify industry compliance requirements, such as PCI DSS, ISO 27001 and NIST
- Identify security and compliance resources

**Part 2 - Social Engineering**

- How to recognise social engineering attacks
- Understand different types of attack such as Phishing, Whaling, Spear fishing, Vishing, Smishing, Pharming, Baiting, Pretexting, Impersonation (CEO Fraud), Quid pro quo, Tailgating/piggybacking and Shoulder surfing
- How to defend against social engineerin attacks, defence resources and mitigation techniques

**Part 3 - Device and Data Protection**

- How to maintain the physical security of devices
- How to use secure authentication methods
- Adhere to data and sensitive data protection best practices
- Identify potential sources of malware and prevent infection
- Use wireless devices securely

**Part 4 - Online Security and Remote Access**

- Browse the web securely
- Use email securely
- Use social networks securely
- Use cloud storage services securely
- Working from remote locations securely

OppWorks - Cyber SAFE

This course is designed for all users of technology to ensure they can use technology safely to minimize security risks while protecting organisational assets.

Cyber SAFE ®

This workshop aims to equip you with the essential skills and strategies necessary to excel in diary management, particularly in complex and demanding environments.

Throughout the day, we will focus on enhancing your time management, communication, coordination, and problem-solving abilities.

By the end of this workshop, we aim for you to feel confident in efficiently managing the diaries of senior executives, ensuring smooth operations, and enabling them to focus on their core responsibilities.

This workshop will empower you with practical knowledge and tools that will enhance your effectiveness and contribute to the overall success of your organisation

Diary Management

Kristina Rochelle

Alice is a wonderful teacher, I have had the pleasure of working with her on many occasions and she is so knowledgeable, supportive and always brings such great energy to every class. Highly recommend!

Hannah James

Alice is a fantastic teacher - knowledgeable, attentive, and full of energy. I look forward to working with her again!

Master effective diary management techniques to optimise productivity and streamline your daily schedule.

This training course is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to write clear, concise, and impactful reports.

Through a series of interactive sessions, practical exercises, and real-world examples, participants will learn how to structure reports, use appropriate language and style, and tailor their writing to meet the needs of their audience.

This course is designed for professionals across various industries who are required to write reports as part of their job responsibilities. This includes managers, team leaders, project coordinators, and administrative staff.

**LEARNING OBJECTIVES**
By taking this seminar you will learn how to:

- Understand what a report is and how to clearly define its purpose and objectives.
- Be able to state the structure for effective business reports.
- Know the critical steps to prepare a report, including considering audience needs.
- Know how to set out written communications and how to write in a way to make your point clearly using appropriate language.
- Understand concise writing skills and how to effectively communicate key points.
- Be able to recognize different styles of reports and methods of presentation and ensure the layout and design increase the effectiveness.
- Know how to effectively proof-read, edit, and rewrite parts of a document.

**PROGRAMME OVERVIEW**

**Day 1: Foundations of Effective Report Writing**

Session 1: Introduction to Report Writing
• Definition and purpose of reports
• Different types of reports
• Aligning with business objectives

Session 2: Understanding Report Structure
• Key components of a report
• Purpose and function of each component
• Logical flow and organisation

Session 3: Research and Data Collection
• Identifying reliable sources
• Data collection and analysis methods
• Ethical considerations

Session 4: Writing Clear and Concise Reports
• Principles of clarity and conciseness
• Techniques for effective writing (active voice, simple language, avoiding jargon)
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid

Session 5: Drafting a Report Practical
• Participants draft a report based on a given scenario
• Group discussion and feedback

**Day 2: Advanced Techniques and Practical Application**

Session 6: Tailoring Reports to the Audience
• Identifying the target audience
• Customising content and style to meet audience needs
• Balancing technical detail with readability

Session 7: Visual Presentation of Data
• Importance of visual aids
• Best practices for designing and integrating visuals
• Tools and software for creating effective visuals

Session 8: Editing and Proofreading
• Strategies for thorough proofreading
• Common grammatical and stylistic errors
• Techniques for self-editing and peer review

Session 9: Revising and Refining Reports
• Participants revise their drafts based on feedback
• Peer review sessions for collaborative improvement

Session 10: Recognizing Different Styles of Reports
• Overview of various report styles (e.g., analytical, informational, research)
• Methods of presentation for each style
• Ensuring layout and design enhance effectiveness

Session 11: Finalizing and Presenting Reports
• Formatting and final touches
• Presenting reports to stakeholders
• Handling questions and feedback

Session 12: Course Review and Q&A
• Recap of key learning points
• Evaluation and feedback

This training course is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to write clear, concise, and impactful reports.

Through a ser...

Effective Report Writing

If you work in an adminstrative role, you will be dealing with business communications on a daily basis.  

This is the perfect workshop for anyone looking to work in these types of roles as employers will be confident in your ability to handle their business communications.

**About This Course**
Effective communication skills are essential to master as they’re often at the top of the list of qualities demanded by employers. 

This is a truly comprehensive communications training course, which can be studied flexibly either within one of our centres or online, at home or work.

**There are 5 lessons in this training course: -**

- Lesson One: You will look at the definition of business communication and the different methods of communicating in business.

- Lesson Two: You’ll focus on the appropriate use of tone and language in your communications.

- Lesson Three: Will look at planning your communication and the different forms of written business communications.

- Lesson Four: You will cover face-to-face and phone communications as well as focussing on listening skills, questioning skills, body language and personal networking.

- Lesson Five: This lesson focuses on presentation skills and will look at how to alleviate fears associated with delivering a presentation, preparing and structuring a presentation and more.

This course will ensure you produce the highest quality communications enabling you to portray a professional representation of the business you work for. 

Effective Business Communication

**Is this for you?**

The power of extracting value from data utilising Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Machine Learning exposes the learning differences between humans and machines. Humans can apply ethical principles throughout the decision-making process to avoid discrimination, societal harm, and marginalization to maintain and even enhance acceptable norms. Machines make decisions autonomously. 

*So how do we apply ethical principles to data driven technology?*

This course provides business professionals and consumers of technology core concepts of ethical principles, how they can be applied to emerging data driven technologies and the impact to an organisation which ignores ethical use of technology.

**Who Should Attend?**

This course is designed for business leaders and decision makers, including C-level executives, project and product managers, HR leaders, Marketing and Sales leaders and technical sales consultants, who have a vested interest in the representation of ethical values in technology solutions.

**Course Outline**

**Introduction to Data Ethics**

- Principles of Data Ethics
- The Case for Data Ethics
- Identifying Ethical Issues

**Ethical Principles**

- Ethical Frameworks
- Privacy, Fairness, and Safety Principles
- Algorithms and Human-Centered Values
- True and False Positives and Negatives
- Accuracy and Precision
- Correlation and Causation
- Transparency and Explainability
- Improving Ethical Data Practices

**Sources of Ethical Risk**

- Bias and Discrimination
- Data Surveillance
- Safety and Security

**Business Considerations**

- Data Legislation
- Manage the Effects of Data
- Embed Organisational Values
- Building a Data Ethics Culture/Code of Ethics

This course is designed for business leaders and decision makers who have a vested interest in the representation of ethical values in technology solutions.

Data Ethics for Business Users

**ABOUT THIS COURSE**

Help save wasted hours & make your mark in the office!

A core role in any office admin, secretarial or PA job is supporting your team, aiding productivity and efficiency in anotherwise manic world!

Time is precious and meetings can often be a thorn in our side.

Thousands of hours are wasted in the British workforcethrough ‘having meetings’ – but when used properly, productively and proficiently they can be very valuable forms of communication.

**LESSONS**

**Lesson One: **what minutes are, the cycle of a meeting, different types of meeting, the purposes and benefits of meetings, the roles of chair, attendee and minute taker, the tasks that a minute taker might undertake before the meeting, notice of the meeting, arranging the venue and refreshments, preparing the agenda, dealing with 
documents that may be needed for a meeting, distributing the agenda, last minute preparations.

**Lesson Two: **definition of the role of the minute taker, preparation for the start of the meeting, the four steps of listening, skills to speed up your note taking, what to note down in a meeting, the importance of the liaison between minute taker and chair, confidence, assertiveness.

**Lesson Three: **grammar, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary,  word processing skills, proofreading, typing up the minutes, distributing the minutes.

**Lesson Four:** Meetings and minutes practical learning, participate in a meeting, take minutes, type up your notes and compare with other delegates to quickly put your new skills into practice.

Successful Meetings and Minutes

Grace  Jordan

I really enjoyed my session with Pitman, Alice was so informative and helpful but also kept it light and relaxed. I would definitely recommend Pitman for anyone looking for training.  

Katherine Gough

Very good course, very informative. Really to the point and quite literally showed how to take successful minutes. 

Connie Hatcher

Chelsea Campbell

Very informative course. Alice is a great teacher & I look forward to attending more seminars with her. 

Rosalind Springer

It was a very good day, we had a small group and we were able to discuss our experiences. The trainer was very informative, approachable, and took her time to answer our questions. We learned about different types of meetings, the roles of the attendee and minute taker and the role of the chair etc. We did a note taking practice of listening to a recording and to see how much we could take down. As the trainer was a teacher, she was able to observe how we were writing and gave us tips on posture and how best to write and the type of pen and note taking books we should use.
We also learned that it's good to be assertive in a meeting to ask questions if we are not sure about something that was said, to help us take an accurate recording of the meeting.  Most of all we are the most important person at the meeting as we are taking a record of the meeting.

Elizabeth  Cox

I always hate attending these workshops in person and find them draining and a waste of time but Alice made it very enjoyable and done a great job in involving everyone. Glad I attended, thank you!

Jasmine Parker-McGee

Alice is an amazing trainer. It was my first attendance to a Pitman seminar, and she was so patient, explaining everything thoroughly and linking the material back to each persons own working circumstances. It was a very fulfilling session.

Nancy W

I attended another training session last week with Alice, and as always, it was both highly informative and enjoyable! Alice is incredible at what she does and brings so much knowledge to the table. I always leave her sessions feeling like I’ve gained so much.

Sherry G

Alice is a fantastic trainer keeps me engaged all day and I always learn new things

Shauna M

I attended the meetings and minutes seminar with trainer Tasha Thor- Straten. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and would highly recommend. The advice and information we received was very beneficial and I left feeling confident about myself.

Rachael H

I found the session enormously helpful. As a group we were all very much at different levels of experience with the subject matter. Alice managed to make the whole session feel very inclusive. It was a great balance between listening and participating. I also liked the fact that Alice managed to give us helpful information on how to progress outside of the session.

This course will help you increase your effectiveness and confidence with this important responsibility.

The Microsoft Excel Level 1 seminar is a one-day session that will introduce you to the basics of the Microsoft Excel program.

Suitable for beginners it is a highly practical seminar session where you’ll gain hands-on experience of working with this popular spreadsheet program.

It is not necessary for you to have prior experience of Microsoft Excel. You’ll learn how to work with this application from the very beginning.

We will focus on:
- Key terminology and concepts
- Creating a basic worksheet
- Introduction to formulas
- Moving and copy data
- Formatting worksheets and data
- Preparing for printing

Unlock the power of Excel with our hands-on Excel Essentials workshop,  made to build spreadsheet skills for increased productivity and data management.

Excel Level 1 - Excel Essentials

This Level 3 Excel Seminar is run over the course of one day. It is tutor-led but highly practical in nature.

Our Excel Level 3 seminar is designed for students needing to prepare for the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exam in Microsoft Office Excel and those who already have an intermediate level knowledge of Excel and wish to enhance their skills to a more enhanced level.

We will cover:
- Streamlining workflows
- Security and collaboration
- Auditing worksheets
- Advanced data analysis
- Working with multiple workbooks
- Importing and exporting data
- Intergrating Excel data with the web

Take your Excel skills further with Level 3, focusing on advanced functions and streamlining workflows to boost productivity.

Excel Level 3 - Workflows and Data Integration

This one-day, tutor-led seminar will help you learn how to navigate your way around the Microsoft PowerPoint programme so you can create an effective and engaging presentation.

Covering a range of practical topics, it's a great way to gain work-ready Microsoft skills that you can quickly put into practice in the workplace.

This seminar is useful for anyone who has to create presentations, whether for themselves or their colleagues.

In this session, we will focus on:
- Introduction to PowerPoint
- Creating a new presentation
- Creating a slide in different views
- Understanding drawing tools
- Modifying objects in a presentation
- Adding charts
- Output and presentation options

Discover the essentials of PowerPoint and create engaging presentations with our Level 1 workshop.

PowerPoint Level 1 - Presentation Essentials

This Level 2 seminar builds on the topics covered in Level 1 to enhance your PowerPoint presentation creation abilities to a higher level.

Our focus will be:
-  Creating and working with templates
- Inserting ClipArt and SmartArt
- Working with media: customising animations and inserting movies
- Collaborating on the web
- Exploring online meeting options and broadcasting presentations
- Building interactive presentations

With this practical session you’ll be able to confidently apply your new skills directly in the workplace and create highly engaging and interactive presentations.

Enhance your presentation prowess with advanced features and design techniques in our Level 2 PowerPoint workshop.

PowerPoint Level 2 - Enhancing Presentation Skills

This advanced Microsoft PowerPoint course is ideal for individuals proficient in basic and intermediate features, seeking to explore the software's full capabilities.

It's perfect for those aiming to master sophisticated design, multimedia integration, and dynamic data representation.

We will work on:
- Advanced design and multimedia
- Advanced animation and transition
- Advanced data representation
- Intergration with web services
- Creating dynamic presentations
- Presentation design and delivery

Elevate your presentations to professional levels with advanced animation, interactivity, and design skills in our Level 3 PowerPoint workshop.

PowerPoint Level 3 - Advanced Presentation Tools

This is a one-day, tutor-led seminar that will help you quickly get to grips with Microsoft Word, the world-renowned word-processing programme.

**PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

*Microsoft Word Basics*
- Basic Editing Skills
- Saving, Printing and Closing Documents

*Navigating in a Document*
- Scroll Bars and Keyboard Shortcuts
- Find and Replace Commands

*Character and Paragraph Formatting*
- Applying Font Styles and Sizes
- Paragraph Alignment and Spacing

*Working with Tables*
- Inserting Tables into a Document
- Formatting Tables

*Working with Lists*
- Creating Bulleted and Numbered Lists
- Customising List Styles

*Adding Images, Characters, and Symbols*
- Images, Special Characters, Symbols
- Text Wrapping around Images

*Editing Page Appearance*
- Setting Page Colours and Backgrounds
- Creating Headers and Footers

*Using Proofing Tools*
- Spell Checker and Grammar Checker
- Thesaurus and Word Count

Unlock the basics of Word processing and document formatting in our Level 1 Word workshop.

Word Level 1 - Word Essentials

Our Microsoft Word Level 2 Seminar is an intermediate level tutor-led, one-day session which will build on your existing knowledge of this popular Word Processing programme.

This seminar is appropriate for anyone with a basic understanding of Microsoft Word who would like to gain knowledge of the more advanced features of this programme.

Throughout this workshop we will focus on:

- Section breaks and columns
- Advanced table management
- Mail Merge
- Styles and themes
- Creating custom graphic elements
- Using templates
- Automating tasks with macros

Expand your Word proficiency with advanced formatting, collaboration, and document automation in our Level 2 Word workshop.

Word Level 2 - Intermediate Skills for Enhanced Document Management

This is an advanced Microsoft Word seminar that aims to take your knowledge to a more expert level. We are confident this one-day tutor-led course will leave you with a higher-level working knowledge of this populate Microsoft Office programme.

This Microsoft Word seminar is a one-day, tutor-led session that will take your existing Word knowledge to an expert level.

We will cover the following areas:
- Collaboration on documents
- Reference marks and notes
- Managing long documents
- Document security
- Working with forms



Master advanced features such as TOCs, creating forms and advanced document customisation in our Level 3 Word workshop.

Word Level 3 - Professional Document Management

Designed for professionals who wish to demonstrate their understanding of Artificial Intelligence Management Systems (AIMS), this certification attests to your proficiency in key concepts, principles, and compliance frameworks in alignment with ISO/IEC 42001 standards.

Establish yourself as a knowledgeable professional capable of contributing to the responsible management and ethical oversight of AI technologies, paving the way for trusted and effective AI implementation in your organisation.

This course is delivered as a one-day live online seminar supported by comprehensive learning materials and test preparation activities.

On completion of this course, you will be ready to sit the TRECCERT ISO42001 Practitioner exam.  Exam fees are included with this course.

Learning covers five core domains:

**Practical Understanding of AI Risks**

Gain the knowledge to identify, assess, and address AI-related risks, ensuring that AI deployment is responsible and aligned with organisational goals.

**Career Advancement in AI Governance**

Establish yourself as a credible professional in AI management, opening doors to roles that require foundational knowledge of AI oversight and compliance.

**Enhanced Compliance Capabilities**

Build competence in aligning AI systems with governance frameworks and regulatory standards to foster ethical AI practices.

**Contribution to Responsible AI Innovation**

Support organisations in fostering responsible AI development, promoting sustainable innovation, and minimising potential risks associated with AI technologies.

**Strong Foundation for Advanced Certifications**

Lay the groundwork for pursuing higher-level certifications and roles in artificial intelligence, positioning yourself for career growth in the field.

Pitman Training London - ISO42001 Practitioner

Validate your knowledge and expertise in artificial intelligence governance with the ISO/IEC 42001 Practitioner Certification.

ISO42001 Practitioner

**Master the Numbers Behind Your Business**\
Gain the practical skills and confidence to price your products or services for profitability. This essential seminar is perfect for business owners and managers who want to understand the real cost of doing business, avoid common pricing mistakes, and maximise their margins. Learn how to make informed decisions that drive growth and ensure long-term success.

OppWorks - Costing and Pricing for Business

**Master the Numbers Behind Your Business**\
Gain the practical skills and confidence to price your products or services for profitability. This essential se...

Costing and Pricing for Business

London

Ipswich

Chelmsford

High Wycombe

Live Online

Dubai

Muscat

The Chelmsford Club 

Mazars 

This course is ideal for aspiring and established professionals interested in preparing and maintaining financial statements, organising and analysing data, and creating a wide range of data-driven reports. The course is designed for those who wish to learn how to use this powerful spreadsheet program. You will learn the key concepts and techniques necessary to work with Excel’s most commonly used features and functions.

The course offers an exciting and innovative approach to Excel  training. It consists of 10 modules and includes media demonstrations, hands-on activities, and knowledge check questions. 

Microsoft Excel - Foundation Skills

In this course, you will learn how to use the core features of Microsoft Excel, such as how to create and format worksheets, use functions, and create formulas.

This course is ideal for aspiring and established professionals interested in developing a real command of the Microsoft Word application to be more effective and efficient when working with business documents.

The course is designed for those who wish to learn how to use the world’s most widely used word-processing software. You will learn the key concepts and techniques necessary to work with Word’s most used functions and features.


Microsoft Word - Foundation Skills

In this course, you will learn how to use the core features of Microsoft Word, such as how to create, format, and edit documents, work with styles and more.

The course is designed for those who wish to learn how to use the world’s most popular presentation software. You will learn the key concepts and techniques necessary to work with PowerPoint’s most used functions and features.

The course consists of 17 modules and includes media demonstrations, hands-on activities, and knowledge check questions. At the end of the course, you will complete a consolidation exercise, which will help you review what you have learned and assess your understanding.

Microsoft PowerPoint

This course is ideal for aspiring and established professionals alike who are interested in preparing and delivering powerful presentations.