Getting the Message Across Clearly - Developing People and Organisations. King Associates specialise in the softer skills of business rather than technical training. Our aim is to provide a participative and fun environment to foster learning on the premise that people learn by doing. We also create a ‘safe’ environment in which people can make mistakes ‘off the job’ where it does not matter and where confidentiality is guaranteed unless delegates specifically request us to feed back information to management on their behalf. Obviously, tact and diplomacy is required on our part to do this constructively. Such requests have happened a number of times and our feedback has allowed management in different organisations to improve their communication channels with their staff to the benefit of all concerned. As with any work undertaken by King Associates, complete confidentiality is guaranteed, concerning any information learned about your organisation, your staff or your clients, during the course of working with you in designing or running training courses. All assignments and client relationships are personally supervised by our Managing Consultant - Gill King FCIPD FIMC CMC FIoD. In addition to Gill’s experience and input, we can call upon our team of carefully vetted Associates who bring additional expertise and knowledge to the Consultancy and enable us to meet clients’ particular training needs including Investors in People. Based on the Consultancy’s generalist HR experience we are particularly strong on HR related training such as: Performance Review and Appraisal training (including 360° Feedback systems) Interview training for recruitment Handling performance issues Conducting disciplinary hearings and grievance interviews Employment law updates. We specialise in customising training courses to meet clients’ specific needs, for example a half day session on TUPE and what it meant for staff about to undergo this process was commissioned by a small Urban Regeneration organisation to put at ease the minds of its staff. Specialist courses are also available on Networking (as part of a general skills programme) and Job Search when employees are going through the redundancy process. These are described separately. Training Needs Analyses No training should take place in isolation for its own sake nor should it just be something to put on an appraisal form. To be of any value training needs should be identified and followed through in clear correlation with the needs of the business. Ideally this should start with Induction and with a clear training plan being developed for each individual. Training Courses All training courses are customised to meet a Client’s identified training needs and can be part of another consultancy project such as introducing a new Appraisal/Performance Review system (training Managers and Staff) or providing in-house skills training for example, interviewing skills techniques. Training courses can be half-day; whole day or short modules to fit in with your operational needs. Individual Coaching can also be provided if more appropriate than training courses. Comments from Training Evaluation Forms from an insurance company’s Computer Services staff. The following are quotes from Evaluation Forms completed at the end of a series of specially developed ‘Estimating Skills Courses.’ “It was a useful course for the whole department to do in terms of emphasising the value of planning and allowing us to talk with managers and it was good fun and held my interest”. “Very entertaining way of learning some important things about estimating. I enjoyed the course”. “Gill was very clear and gave good examples which I could relate to”. “Looking forward to the follow-up course”. Comments from Evaluation Forms on Appraisal Training from another client What aspects of the programme did you find most helpful? “Programme presented in an easy to understand fashion”. “Explanation of various technical phrases and usages which, previously, were grey areas. The advice and helpful discussions”. “Programme Leader and presentation. Binder and Handout material”. “The freedom to ask about and discuss each aspect of the Training”. “Everything was covered extremely well and very well explained”. FEES: Because our courses are developed specifically to meet your needs and are not just ‘off the shelf’ formats which can be delivered at a moment’s notice, fees are quoted on a course by course basis and will usually include an element of development time which includes meeting with you to take the brief and identify your training needs agenda.