812 Courses

Serious about starting your own soap business? Set yourself up for success from the very beginning, in a private course with Paula Mateo, award winning founder of Old Bexley Soap & Candle Co.

The aim of this module is to enable delegates to support and care for others working in the industry by processing the knowledge, skills and attitude of Enhanced First Aid. Valid GWO BST Module First Aid certificate is a prerequisite for participation.

Learn the relaxing art of cross stitch and create a beautiful card! This beginner-friendly workshop is perfect for adults and children (8+). All materials provided. Discover the benefits of hand sewing while making a unique gift. No experience needed!

To help address this complex and yet commonplace experience, we’ve designed a one-day workshop to help professionals who experience passive-aggressive behaviour and toxic interpersonal communication in the workplace cope more effectively. Designed to be a decisive first step into gaining control over workplace toxicity, over the course of one day, attendees will be taught to recognise patterns of passive-aggressive behaviours and will learn how to respond appropriately to it. The workshop we will work through exercises to help demystify passive-aggressiveness so that it can be rendered increasingly more harmless to those who experience it routinely. Through specially designed exercises informed by the field of Emotion Psychology and Neuroscience you will also learn how to be less affected by it without resorting to repressing your emotions and shutting down.

Miles and Gary Wallis-Clarke will be joined by Professor Bruce Hood - the 'Professor of Happiness' at Bristol University. The one day conference will take place in the beautiful Great Hall of this boutique hotel - a wonderful environment to step back from the daily stresses of leadership and recharge, reflect and relax. Discounts are available for 'Early Bird' bookings (by 21st July 2023) and for existing Palladio clients.

A popular 3 day programme aimed at team supervisors and managers. Develop skills in managing yourself, your job and managing others.

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!! *

This is suitable for anyone managing teams or looking to manage teams in the future. Using the participants own experiences we will look at what drives team effectiveness and the traits of High Performing Teams.

This workshop is designed to give those who have to give bad news and broach difficult conversations increased confidence. Participants will leave the workshop with the tools and techniques to prepare for a difficult conversation and ensure that they are supporting patients and relatives through a stressful time in their lives.

Course Introduction for VTCT upgrade The VTCT qualification is recognised around the world and will allow you to be employed in a clinic, salon or allow you to set up your own business. The Federation of Holistic Therapists and the Association of Reflexology, two of the biggest Holistic Therapy organisations which both accept members with this qualification. Description Reflexology uses many techniques to manipulate reflex zones found in the feet, of which correspond to a specific body part. The zones have been mapped and this enables the Reflexologist to treat the whole body via these reflex zones on the feet. The treatment is primarily used for the stimulation of all bodily systems and aiding relaxation. Reflexology is performed frequently within the Health Service personnel and has a role in comforting and supporting terminally ill patients. This 5 day VTCT Course leads to practitioner status, focusing on providing you with knowledge of the principles of reflexology, competence in dealing with clients, correct use of consultation techniques and good use of planning treatments. You will also learn the benefits and techniques of reflexology and how to target certain key areas such as: Pregnancy or Hand Massage. Duration 5 days, 10.00am – 5.30pm. Practical elements are covered over 5 days attendance at our Academy. Theory elements are covered by homestudy. Qualification Structure T/501/9101 - Knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology for Complementary Therapies F/501/9117 - Provide Reflexology A/501/9116 - Reflective Practice for Reflexology Y/501/9253 - Principles and Practice of Complementary Therapies K/501/9256 - Health, Safety and Hygiene for Complementary Therapies H/501/9255 - Business Practice for Complementary Therapies D/501/9111 - Knowledge of Less Common Pathology for Complementary Therapies Course Contents Health, safety, hygiene and security with regard to the complementary therapy industry. Principles and practice of the complementary therapy industry. Knowledge and understanding of anatomy, physiology and common pathology of the human body. How to prepare for and provide an effective reflexology treatment and adapt to client requirements. Contra-indications and contra-actions, advice to be given to the client, record-keeping, evaluation of treatments and reflection on professional practice. Recognising Body Language Stress and Illness Analysis of Posture Legal Aspects, Code of Conduct and Ethics Advanced Techniques including the use of Meridian lines and Chakra's Home Study You can register your place and receive your lifetime membership. You can then make a start on some of the theory work sent to you by us here at the Academy. This includes your Anatomy and Physiology assignments that you can work on in the privacy of your own home. This allows you to have more time to focus on the practical when the class meets together. Approx. 5-10 hours per week need to total your home study time spent. The home work will need to meet the quality of National Standards. You will also be expected to complete 100 reflexology treatments from the start to the end of the course. You will also need to complete some assignments that will be required for your portfolio and a work-book will need to be completed. There are also 2 small exams that will be taken at the Academy in order to assess your understanding of Health and Safety and Anatomy and Physiology. These are multiple choice assessments and are nothing to worry about! Included in the Course Comprehensive course materials, handouts and work-book Online Resources: Virtual Learning Environment packed with extensive support materials, resources, help and advice Post-training support by phone, instant messaging or email (if desired) Assessment of practical/written work included (Must be sent Recorded Delivery) VTCT QCF Diploma in Reflexology Lots of fun and knowledge from Tutors with a whole wealth of skills and experience Light refreshments including tea, herbal tea, coffee and water Cost Training - £999