3050 Courses

Selling in a Downturn - A one-day workshop for Sales Professionals dealing with the specific challenges of selling and staying motivated in an economic downturn.

If you want to bag-make with genuine leather but are nervous of trying it, this weekend is ideal for you. It will give you the confidence to make your own leather bags at home and you’ll make some fab friends along the way! VERY IMPORTANT! Before booking, please check that your machine can cope with sewing at least 6 layers of faux leather or vinyl. Flat sewing is fine – if the machine can do that, we can manage lumps and bumps! **This retreat is a little different from many others in that making a bag isn’t the point of the weekend, although you will indeed make one. The focus is on learning new transferable techniques and skills that you will be able to use on so many bags you make in the future. We have our own ‘Retreat Suite’ of rooms, including a spacious, light and airy sewing room which is equipped with a display screen so everyone can easily see demonstrations from a working viewpoint. We also have our own bathroom and kitchen facilities. If you wish, you are free to continue work after dinner and until as late (or early!) as you like. You will need to bring your own sewing machine, fabric scissors and any other favourite sewing tools, but everything else is provided. We’ll have a good selection of fabrics, vinyls and leather for you to browse and purchase if you wish, at retreat-only prices.  Come and join us in the exclusive Facebook group Bag Makers Retreat at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bagmakersretreat/ for all the latest retreat info, chat, gossip and more, plus a chance to meet other like-minded folks.  If you have dietary requirements, please tell me before you book, so I can be sure we can meet your needs. All meal main courses are included in the retreat fee, as are Saturday and Sunday lunches and breakfasts. Starters, desserts and drinks with meals are not included but the meals are so huge you probably won’t want starters and desserts anyway!! Tea and coffee is available whenever you need, but you do have to make it yourself!  If you’d like to stay an extra night or two, maybe to arrive on Thursday or leave on Monday if you have a long drive, let me know and I’ll check availability with our host. If you’d prefer to travel by train, we are happy to ferry you to and from the station, just ask. Please aim to arrive no later than 2pm as we have a lot of pattern cutting and fabric choosing to get through on Friday! Friday The fun starts here as you arrive at your weekend home-from-home – a beautifully refurbished, 4-star 18th century coaching inn with all the comforts you would expect. You’ll have time to settle into your own delightfully comfortable en-suite room which has all the anticipated little luxuries, before an introductory get-together with me and your companions in the sewing room at 2pm. You’ll be given your own copy of the bag pattern, which is very beginner- and strong domestic machine-friendly (see note in bold at the top of the page), but which will incorporate a lot of features and techniques that are also in much more complex designs, making this an excellent springboard to any leather or other bag you want to make. Then you can wallow in the plentiful stash of leathers and fabrics to choose from. All the leather, fabrics, interfacing, stabiliser, threads and bag hardware you need are supplied. As soon as you’re ready, you can start preparing and cutting out your pattern and some of the bag pieces so we can hit the ground running in the morning. After a superbly-cooked and substantial evening meal at around 6pm or so, you are welcome to continue working in the sewing room or to simply relax and chat there before bed. Saturday After an excellent breakfast, we can really start work learning some new skills and beginning work on construction. You’ll work at your own pace from around 9am with no pressure – I want your weekend to be fun and not stressful! We will walk through the techniques together and I will be there the whole time to answer questions and troubleshoot any tricky bits. You’ll also have the chance to try sewing with faux leather , if you haven’t already, and we’ll explore ways and techniques to use and apply rivets.  Refreshments are freely available all day and you can take a break whenever you wish. A light lunch (with homemade cake!!) is also provided and we’ll have a short break in the middle of the day. The rest of the day will be similar to Friday – sewing, dinner at 6ish and more sewing if you wish to before bed. Do feel free to have a walk or just sit outside for a breather if the weather is kind. Sunday How can it be Sunday already?? Breakfast over, we’ll get back to work. You will need to allow a few minutes to pack and check out of your room, as it has to be made ready for Monday’s guests. Apart from that, it’s uninterrupted sewing (with refreshments and lunch breaks!) until your bag is finished. We’ll be heading off for a lightish lunch at 12.30pm or so. We have the sewing room for the rest of the day. If you don’t quite get done, there’s absolutely no need to worry as you’ll easily be able to complete your bag at home. If you finish earlier feel free to head home whenever you’re ready. Amongst loads of other hints and tips, you’ll learn – Choosing and handling leather How to make professional quality rolled handles Creating and applying custom bag feet How to create a zipped pocket the pro way How to use edge paint and get a professional finish with it Sewing the bag together and topstitching Reducing bulk with leather A sneaky way of getting your bag right-sides-out without ugly seams! An easy way to add a zipper pull without tools Working with different types of rivet machine and loads more. You’ll have an exclusive pattern, created just for the Retreats, which includes comprehensive mini-tutorials and full instructions. And I hope you have a lot of fun and make new friends while you learn!!  I never abandon my students at the end of the course so if you get stuck on anything at home, you are welcome to give me a shout on Messenger and we’ll sort out your problem together. The not-so-small print Book your place using the simple booking system below – just click on your choice of dates and go from there. The full price is £465.00. The deposit of £65 is non-refundable if you cancel but can, however, be credited towards a future retreat booked within the next 6 months. It is completely refundable if I or the venue cancel. The booking page only shows the Friday, but the course is running until Sunday. The balance of £400.00 is payable by approx 6 weeks before the retreat date and payment instructions will be sent to you in good time. Cancellations 4 weeks or less before the retreat date can only be refunded if someone on the waiting list can come instead. If you book, pay and attend without pre-checking that your machine can sew the required thicknesses, as detailed in the note at the top of the page, I’m afraid no refunds will be given if it proves that your machine can’t cope during the Retreat. I may have a machine available to lend, but can’t promise one. *Don’t worry that your booking confirmation may be headed Unicorn Studios – it’s just the site that I’ve run my booking system from for years… it’s not a scam!! *

Understanding how to plan for capacity, be able to forecast and manage budgets is a critical skill in today's leadership and management environment. This programme will not only support your understanding but will also help you to practically put the learning into practice.

Awareness of first aid for mental health: What will you learn? You’ll be surprised by how much you enjoy the 4-hour session. I always make sure the learning process is engaging, interactive and stimulating — so you won’t be bored. Most importantly, it’s a fascinating insight into a subject that’s often brushed under the carpet. It’s a flexible course, and I’m always happy to tailor the content. If there’s an aspect of mental health or addiction you’d like to know more about, please just ask. Here’s the 4-hour course content: Defining mental health, and understanding the stigma surrounding it Factors which affect mental health Roles and responsibilities of a first aider Outline of advice — What to say (and not to say) to someone with a suspected mental health condition Listening without judgement Knowing when to contact the emergency services Identifying signs of stress, and how stress can be managed How to implement a positive mental health culture in the workplace Identifying signs and symptoms of depression, suicide, psychosis, anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders Do bear in mind, this course can’t teach you how to diagnose and treat a mental health condition. That’s the responsibility of a healthcare professional. However, you’ll know where to signpost an individual who needs professional help. You’ll leave with the knowledge and confidence to approach, reassure and support someone when they need it most.

Build confidence, overcome shyness and social anxiety to improve your career prospects. Breakthrough is a powerful course which will enable you to break out of your shell – no matter how inhibited or stuck you feel you are and to build an effortless self-confidence. The Breakthrough Course is based on Claire Schrader's experiences of being an introvert and what really worked in getting her out of her shell so she could express herself powerfully in the world. As a result, she has achieved things in her personal and professional life, she never would have dreamed possible. Claire has helped many thousand quiet, shy and introverted people transform their lives through her unique confidence-building system, the Sunflower Effect, since 1997.

The WSET Level 2 Wine award course is suitable for anybody who has a serious interest in wine and wishes to broaden their knowledge in a structured way.  The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines has full accreditation from OfQual as a Level 2 Vocational Qualification. Through a combination of tasting and theory you will explore the factors that impact the style and quality of wine and learn how to describe wines with confidence. What the course covers Wine Tasting: Taste and describe wines using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting Food and Wine Matching: You will learn about the key considerations when matching food and wine successfully Wine Service and Storage: Learn the correct way to store and serve wine and recognise common faults found in wines Labelling: Learn how to decode and understand labels Factors influencing the Style of Wine: Study the factors influencing the style, quality and price of wine in the vineyard and winery Grape Varieties: You'll learn about the styles of wines produced by the key international red and white grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah/Shiraz) as well as the styles of wines made with 22 regionally important grape varieties grown in 70 wine regions (GI's) around the world Sparkling and Fortified wines: You will be taught how grape varieties and winemaking processes influence the style of wines in these two key wine categories Key Wine-Producing regions of the World: Learn about the main styles of wines from the key wine-producing regions. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, USA, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa Examination: The 1 hour, 50 multiple-choice question exam is taken in the afternoon of the final day of the course and the exam fee is included in the course cost. A mark of 55% required to pass. Certification: All students who pass will be issued with a certificate suitable for framing and a lapel pin. N.B. In addition to classroom teaching, students are expected to complete around 12 hours of private study in their own time. No prior wine knowledge is required however the course builds upon the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines course. It is not essential to complete Level 1 to join the Level 2 course but if you are a complete beginner you may wish to consider this option. We recommend you read the course specification document HERE for full details of the content, structure and assessment criteria. Any questions please get in touch. The course fee includes All WSET course materials including; Looking Behind the Label course manual, Study Guide, Specification book, and SAT ® Tasting Card Approx 40 delicious wines to taste including Champagne & Port The use of professional ISO tasting glasses 3 days of professional WSET tuition by a WSET Certified tutor Teaching of the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine (SAT) ® which will enable you to analyse wines objectively and consistently Registration with WSET and all examination fees Internationally-recognised certificate and pin badge upon successful completion Practice multiple choice questions provided FREE OF CHARGE Comprehensive student support outside of class time should you have any questions before, during and after the course VAT at 20% (VAT receipt can be provided on request) Special Educational Needs Please make us aware if you have a condition that may mean you qualify for additional help during the exam such as dyslexia. Funding Funding for this course is available:  DEVELOP is the educational programme of The Drinks Trust, the drinks and hospitality industry charity. DEVELOP offers fully funded training and skills courses, delivered by industry-leading providers for people already working, or with an ambition to work, in the drinks and hospitality industry. Manchester Wine School has partnered with The Drinks Trust to bring courses free of charge to eligible students. All of the WSET courses are available for funding with DEVELOP. To learn more please visit the Drinks Trust website HERE Criteria of eligibility for DEVELOP funding: must be 18 or over, eligible to work in the UK, have a National Insurance Number, and be earning less than £26k/pa

Time Management and Productivity (In-Person) Effective time management reduces stress and helps you better adhere to commitments. This course is designed to help you identify personal and organizational priorities and gain better control of where you focus your attention. You will explore the importance of planning and organizing, and you will practice sorting through and setting priorities. You will also learn how to set better time boundaries and manage the demands of others. Working with a time management framework, you will use a set of practical techniques to organize and manage your work to better deliver on your commitments. Techniques for overcoming procrastination will be addressed, as well as strategies for dealing with information overload. What You Will Learn You'll learn how to: Plan and prioritize each day's activities in a more efficient, productive manner Establish strategies to execute priorities and overcome procrastination Understand how to make trade-offs when faced with fire drills How to set and communicate boundary conditions Getting Started Introductions Course orientation Participants' expectations Foundation Concepts Exercise: A day in your life Resources to implement change o Mind-set o Tool-set o Skill-set What is your time really worth? The dynamics of procrastination The myth of multi-tasking Brain Rules - how to optimize your efficiency Organization and Prioritization Time management best practices Goal setting Exercise: Identifying your priorities The importance of organization Time management framework Prioritizing time Time Management Techniques Tips for managing time Nine ways to overcome procrastination The STING technique Managing your time o Handling unplanned urgencies o Dealing with information overload Delegation and managing others' time Creating your personal action plan

Time Management and Productivity Effective time management reduces stress and helps you better adhere to commitments. This course is designed to help you identify personal and organizational priorities and gain better control of where you focus your attention. You will explore the importance of planning and organizing, and you will practice sorting through and setting priorities. You will also learn how to set better time boundaries and manage the demands of others. Working with a time management framework, you will use a set of practical techniques to organize and manage your work to better deliver on your commitments. Techniques for overcoming procrastination will be addressed, as well as strategies for dealing with information overload. What you Will Learn Plan and prioritize each day's activities in a more efficient, productive manner Establish strategies to execute priorities and overcome procrastination Understand how to make trade-offs when faced with fire drills How to set and communicate boundary conditions Getting Started Introductions Course orientation Participants' expectations Foundation Concepts Exercise: A day in your life Resources to implement change Mind-set Tool-set Skill-set What is your time really worth? The dynamics of procrastination The myth of multi-tasking Brain Rules - how to optimize your efficiency Organization and Prioritization Time management best practices Goal setting Exercise: Identifying your priorities The importance of organization Time management framework Prioritizing time Time Management Techniques Tips for managing time Nine ways to overcome procrastination The STING technique Managing your time o Handling unplanned urgencies o Dealing with information overload Delegation and managing others' time Creating your personal action plan Summary Course summary and next steps Applying what you have learned

The Art of Delegation and High-Impact Feedback Whether you are a project manager, an executive, or simply someone involved in leading or helping others, a critical part of your work must involve delegating and giving feedback. These two skills, however, are not as simple as they seem. How do you know what to Partcipant? What kinds of feedback should you give? Knowing this and practicing this are two different things. Ultimately, delegating and giving feedback are skills that must be done mindfully, strategically, and meaningfully. They must be done in ways that not only positively impact performance, but also inspire growth, engagement, and motivation. When done poorly, they can create significant problems. But when done well, they can generate value for everyone and benefit future endeavors. In this course, you will learn to think more deeply about the importance of delegating and discover how to give better feedback. You will have opportunities to apply best practices and methodologies that you can use in the real world, ultimately paying off for you and for others. What you Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Explain why common excuses for NOT delegating are short-sighted Identify what needs delegating by using a proven methodology Utilize best practices in real world scenarios, delegating in a way that benefits you and the individual to whom you Partcipant Summarize key lessons learned in brain science which enhance the feedback-giving process Recognize the critical connection between feedback and performance Apply a proven model to deliver feedback that inspires growth, engagement, and motivation Getting Started What is delegation? What makes delegation hard? What do I Partcipant and why? How to Partcipant effectively Feedback Exploring the feedback process Why feedback is hard to give...and receive Why giving feedback effectively is important Feedback models

Writing Clear Business Communication (In-Person) Effective writing seldom, if ever, 'magically materializes' on the spot. In reality, it is most often the product of planning, writing, and rewriting. This is why writing is called a process; it must go through a series of steps before it is clear and complete. This program is about learning about the writing process and covers the full spectrum of documents used when corresponding in the workplace. The ability to write effectively comes naturally to some people, but for the vast majority, it is a task often approached with a mixture of trepidation and dread. However, the ability to communicate in the written word, for whatever purpose, is an important part of our working and personal lives and can have a direct impact on our ability to persuade, gain commitment or agreement and enhance understanding. Good writing sounds like talking on paper, which is why this program is focused on getting the message across and achieving the desired results using the 'keep it simple and direct' approach. What You Will Learn You'll learn how to: Plan and prioritize each day's activities in a more efficient, productive manner Establish strategies to execute priorities and overcome procrastination Understand how to make trade-offs when faced with fire drills How to set and communicate boundary conditions Getting Started Introductions Course orientation Participants' expectations Foundation Concepts Exercise: A day in your life Resources to implement change o Mind-set o Tool-set o Skill-set What is your time really worth? The dynamics of procrastination The myth of multi-tasking Brain Rules - how to optimize your efficiency Organization and Prioritization Time management best practices Goal setting Exercise: Identifying your priorities The importance of organization Time management framework Prioritizing time Time Management Techniques Tips for managing time Nine ways to overcome procrastination The STING technique Managing your time o Handling unplanned urgencies o Dealing with information overload Delegation and managing others' time Creating your personal action plan