Workshops

Governance: getting the basics right

This workshop is facilitated by Tesse Akpeki and will enable participants to:

• Gain a practical understanding of the regulator environment
• Increase awareness of the role, duties, liabilities of trustees
• Explore how to make the most of the board and to enhance board effectiveness

Objectives

As a result of this workshop you will:

• Have an overview of governance and link this with the Code of Good Governance
• Be able to apply good governance principles to your organisation
• Know where to source the support and information you need

Knowledge and understanding:

• The basic duties of trustees
• A range of models of governance
• The concepts of good governance
• Relationship management: the links between the board, your mission , strategy and management

Skills:

• Strategies for establishing and improving board structure
• Approaches to enhance board performance

Behaviours:

• Developing good habits for running board meetings
• Managing the Chief Executive/Chair relationship

Learning outcomes intended:

• Understand basic duties of trustees
• Knowing the content of the Code of Good Governance
• Exploring ways to create and revitalise the board
• Managing strategies to develop the board - including induction, recruitment and on-going support
• Enhancing board confidence, capability and competence

Outcome for your organisation:

• A realistic approach to improving governance
• More robust governance and improved reputation with commissioners, funders, other key stakeholders and communities of interest
• More effective trustee boards and trustees

Setting Direction

Maintaining a Strategic Perspective in Uncertain Times

At times of significant change, seeing the bigger picture can be, at the very least, challenging. But if you are to successfully ride the immediate storm you have to be able to step back and look longer term.

This one day workshop is packed with frameworks and approaches to help you maintain this strategic perspective. Facilitated by Stella Smith, it has been developed for chief executives, senior managers and team leaders needing to focus the energies of staff and volunteers in times of change.

The day will be highly interactive and focus on issues of current concern to participants but will in particular consider:

• Who or what is going to impact on your organisation's success in the coming years
• How to identify the decisions you need to make and the discussions you need to have to position your organisation for success
• How to develop objectives which are right for your organisation
• How to keep your strategic or business plan refreshed and relevant in times of change
• How to manage the tension between planning strategically and responding to immediate issues
• How to motivate staff and volunteers to engage in the new strategic direction when they are struggling with the effects of major change
• How to enable focused, constructive and useful strategic conversations at work

Finance for non-finance managers

This course, facilitated by Jacqueline Williams, introduces non-finance managers to basic financial concepts and how they are applied in financial management. Using practical work, the course will cover key elements of financial management including an overview of effective financial management; the charity finance frame work; financial planning and control; and looking at financial performance against set objectives.

Objectives

The learning aims for the Finance for Non Finance Managers course are:

Knowledge and understanding:

• Develop an understanding of the key elements of financial management
• Appreciate the context of Third Sector financial management.

Skills:

• Identifying sources of income and how to treat these in financial terms
• Preparing and reviewing financial information
• Analysing financial performance.

Behaviour:

• Prepare and present with confidence reports on financial performance
• Make informed decisions based on financial performance.

The learning outcomes will be:

As a result of participating in this programme, you will be able to:

• Manage key elements of financial management at strategic levels
• Review financial information
• Understand the budgeting cycle
• Plan and control using budgets
• Interpret financial information.

The outcomes for your organisation will be:

• A robust approach to financial management
• An ability to inspire confidence from other stakeholders in your organisation

Getting it right - managing people

This workshop, facilitated by Fiona Ash, is designed for those who are responsible for, or oversee, the people management of their organization but who have no formal HR qualifications. It will cover some practical aspects of people management as well as providing an opportunity to explore frequently encountered challenges often encountered (and neglected) by managers.

Objectives

The learning aims for the Managing People workshop are:
Knowledge and understanding

• What it is to be a manager of people and what activities need to be prioritized?
• How to adopt an "integrated" approach to managing people
• Develop the ability to recognize key activities that will help to ensure you have the right people in place, doing the right work.

Skills

• How to manage performance (when you are so busy yourself)   
• Identify ways to develop your team when you have a limited or no budget
• Recognise key skills needed to ensure your team is working as effectively as possible and contributing to the achievement of your organisation's goals 

Behaviour

• Deal with frequently encountered 'people issues' with confidence and make informed decisions

The learning outcomes will be:
 As a result of participating in this workshop, you will be able to:

• Appreciate the effectiveness of using an integrated approach to managing people
• Understand what activities are essential and need to be prioritized
• Recognise key skills needed to manage and motivate people
• Identify cost effective learning and development activities
• Be able to address frequently encountered people management challenges with increased confidence

Outcomes for your organisation:

• A more integrated and confident approach to managing people.

Operations - Project Management

This course, facilitated by Atul Patel, is aimed at managers involved in designing or leading a fixed-term project. The course will cover key areas of project management including people, processes and project variables. It will introduce a range of project management tools and techniques for use from concept to completion and will highlight the key factors that need managing to make the best of a project. The course will include: Defining project outcomes brief and scope; Project planning techniques; Risk management; Allocating resources; The role of the project manager/leader; Project monitoring and evaluation; Project completion.

Objectives

As a result of attending the course you will:

Knowledge and understanding:

• Explore project management principles, processes, tools and techniques
• Recognise the advantages of taking a project management approach to planning services.

Skills:

• Develop skills that will enable you to maintain a synergy between project outcomes, people involved in the project and the resources used.

Behaviour:

• Negotiate with confidence project scope and definition with all critical parties
• Demonstrate leadership by creating a common sense of purpose for people involved in the project.

The learning outcomes will be:
As a result of participating in this programme, you will be able to:

• Clearly define project aims and objectives and outcomes
• Develop project plans that translate to practical effective action
• Negotiate clarity of purpose of the project with all relevant parties
• Plan for contingencies
• Prepare yourself for deviations from the project plan through effective monitoring and evaluation
• Bring about effective closure to projects.

Outcomes for your organisation:

• A planned approach to developing projects
• Appropriate costing and allocation of joint overheads between projects and core business
• Increased chances of success for project funding.

Marketing - Influencing others to achieve your mission

This one day workshop, facilitated by Julia Lever, focuses on the strategic planning and approaches, practical skills and tools, which will help you and your organisation to influence the behaviour of those whose support is crucial to your mission. The principal focus will be on positioning and promoting your organisation as groundwork for effective and sustainable income generation. However, the work is equally relevant to extend your reach and voice, where there is a need to contact hard to access groups, potential partners or policy influencers.

It is intended for those leaders who are not experienced marketing professionals, Trustees, Chief Executives and Senior Managers.

Objectives

From taking part in the workshop participants will:

• understand how to develop a focussed, targeted strategy and plan designed to position and promote their work to secure and retain committed support
• have had the chance to practise some tools and approaches relevant to their challenges
• have identified what further capacity and capability they may need personally and organisationally
• be clear about next steps.

Outcomes

The programme will be a mix of knowledge, learning and sharing through group participative work from which participants will:

• be more able to lead their organisations in developing a marketing orientation, with appropriate attitudes and behaviours
• be learn to be proactive in developing a marketing strategy and plan to support their work
• be clearer about what needs to be done to give their work a bigger reach and voice.

Booking form and course outline