The aim of this course is to expose the commercial context within which technical work is carried out. It is to allow technical staff to understand how they fit into a larger picture, why they may be asked to undertake tasks that may not appear to be technical and the impact their interactions have within the commercial context. The scope of the programme includes: The course emphasises the collaborative nature of delivery and the need to offer value to customers. The principal training objectives for this programme are to help participants: Understand why technical roles are broader than we might assume Appreciate the importance of, and the need to support, sales Value the idea of 'Good Enough' Recognise what can affect profitability Realise the future needs protecting 1 Introduction (Course sponsor) Why this programme has been developed Review of participants' needs and objectives 2 That's not my job! How we see our own role in work How other people see our role Stakeholders: who are they and why do they matter? The organisational backdrop What is my role really? 3 Sales and marketing Where does the money come from? Where do we find customers? The sales process One-off sales versus repeat business Customer/supplier relationships What something costs versus what the customer will pay The value chain 4 Estimating Purpose of estimates The problem with precision Five estimating techniques 5 Change control Can you just do this for me? When being helpful leads to bankruptcy How to deal with change requests 6 Risk management Risk in projects Risk in operations Categories of risk 7 The value of intellectual property Issues with sharing information Commercial in confidence Non-disclosure agreements 8 Course review and action planning (Course sponsor present) Identify actions to be implemented individually What actions should be implemented to improve working with non-technical people? Conclusion
LOOKING FOR: YA, ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Laura Williams is literary agent at the Greene and Heaton Literary Agency. She is seeking literary fiction, commercial fiction, psychological thrillers and high concept Young Adult. Laura is actively building a fiction list and a small non-fiction list. She is currently looking for literary fiction, edgy commercial fiction, psychological thrillers and high-concept contemporary young adult, as well as narrative non-fiction of all types. Her taste is quite dark, and she loves gothic, ghost stories, horror and anything sinister. She also loves books that make her cry, from big love stories to intense family dramas. She is open to historical or horror YA, but not magical or fantasy. Meditative or moving novels about modern life, appeal to Laura, sad stories with love and the importance of caring for each other shining through. She also loves stories about female friendships or conversely groups of women who don't get on, such as the hugely fun BAD SUMMER PEOPLE by Emma Rosenblum. She is always on the lookout for a big tragic love story to make her cry happy or sad tears. At the more commercial end of fiction, think funny novels with warmth and romantic comedies with a bit of depth – think Marian Keyes. Most of all Laura is looking for novels she hasn’t read before – something unusual structurally or thematically, something that shines a light on a subject the author is passionate about, something that’ll break her heart or raise her blood in an entirely new way. Laura is always looking to promote diverse voices from across the globe, and is particularly keen on LGBTQI+ stories. Laura would like you to submit a covering letter, a 1-2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Laura is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 6th January 2025
About this Training Course Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has provided intercontinental mobility to natural gas, which now provides about 25% of the global primary energy. Being the cleanest fossil fuel, natural gas/LNG consumption is forecasted to grow in all future scenarios. With the entry of various players, including Trading companies, the LNG value chain is becoming increasingly complex, and a solid understanding of its economics and management of its interfaces have become crucial to identify and assess investment opportunities and risks. Recent market disturbances caused by COVID-19, Oil & Gas price instabilities - coupled with the political (Ukraine/Russia) challenges - make a deep understanding of LNG Value Chain Logistics and Economics even more essential to ensure the security of energy supplies sustainably and profitably. This intermediate level 3 full-day course starts with a concise introduction to the LNG business. Thereafter, the elements of the LNG value chain are described, and their individual economics analysed. A Business Activity Model along the value chain will be developed and discussed in depth, covering the following key processes: 'Buy Gas - Transport Gas - Liquefy Gas - Sell LNG/Products - Ship LNG - Regasify LNG' The integrated chain economics will then be developed and quantified. A hands-on group workshop/exercise developing the economic case of a full-sized Liquefaction project will be carried out, considering the forecasted cash flows throughout the project life, the location of the plant, its markets, project sensitivities and profitability assessment. Participants will be provided with Excel based tools/models (LNG Liquefaction project development Net Present Value (NPV) analyses, Shipping Freight Calculations and Economics) to work through the exercises and also for their future personal use. Training Objectives After the completion of this course, participants will be able to: Understand how the LNG Value Chain operates, bound by the relevant Contracts and Agreements. Learn the basic economic parameters (operating, capital costs, financing, profitability) of each major element of the value chain. Appreciate the complexity of the value chain, and the associated opportunities and risks. Develop quantitative project evaluation skills. Explore options to maximise profitability in a given LNG value chain. Discuss best practices on how to manage, steer and govern these activities. Target Audience Technical, Operational, Shipping, Commercial, Project and Governance professionals who are already active in a specific section of the LNG Value Chain will directly benefit in developing a wider and deeper perspective on how the LNG Value Chain operations and can be optimised. Managers (Technical, Financial, Legal and Governance) less familiar with the specifics of the LNG Industry will also benefit from attending this VILT course, as they will obtain the required background to be able to set sharper targets, suitable performance indicators, and governance and performance assessment guidelines for units engaged in the chain. The course is most relevant for professionals engaged in the LNG industry at: National and International Oil & Gas/Energy Companies LNG Importers/Exporters/Traders/Shippers Government & Regulatory Agencies Finance Institutions It will also apply to the following audience: Business Development Managers Corporate Planning Professionals Project Developers Supply Planners & Scheduling Professionals Regulators Tax & Finance Advisors Compliance Officers Equity Analyst and Bankers Joint Venture Representatives, Board Directors Negotiators and Contracting Staff Trading Professionals Course Level Intermediate Trainer Your expert course leader is an Oil & Gas/LNG professional with more than 35 years of international experience, majority of which was gained at Shell International Joint Ventures engaged in Oil Refining, Supply / Trading, Gas Supply and LNG Businesses in the Netherlands, France, Thailand, Dominican Republic and Nigeria. Since 2004, he has had several roles in the management of the LNG Value Chain including the Commercial Operational Management of Nigeria LNG (NLNG). He played an active role in the start-up and integration of LNG trains 4, 5 and 6 with NLNG becoming the 3rd largest LNG producer in the world in 2007. Commercial operations spanned 4 Gas Supply, 11 LNG Sales & Purchase Agreements, ad-hoc LPG and Condensate Sales and LNG Ship Chartering contracts. Under his supervision, more than 2,000 LNG cargoes were exported. He was part of the organizational transformation of the company from a Project-based set-up to a Production / Commercial based structure and implemented an 'Integrated Planning and Scheduling Department' in which he optimized the value chain (Buy-Gas - Liquify Gas to LNG - Sell - Ship LNG). Staff competence management was one of his focus areas during this period. He was also the NLNG representative on JV Technical, Commercial, Shipping Committees where he interfaced with Government & Regulatory authorities. In 2014, he was appointed as Shell Shareholder representative to NLNG and became a Non-Executive Board member to NLNG companies, including Bonny Gas Transport (BGT) managing 24 LNG Ships. During this period, he was involved in the Economic and Technical steering of the Shipping Fleet and Liquefaction Plant Rejuvenation projects and a further capacity expansion of liquefaction plant which resulted in the achievement of NLNG train 7 project FID in 2019. Since 2016, he has been active as an independent consultant. He co-authored 2 patents and more than 30 published papers/presentations. He holds a PhD from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and a MSc and BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham, UK. POST TRAINING COACHING SUPPORT (OPTIONAL) To further optimise your learning experience from our courses, we also offer individualized 'One to One' coaching support for 2 hours post training. We can help improve your competence in your chosen area of interest, based on your learning needs and available hours. This is a great opportunity to improve your capability and confidence in a particular area of expertise. It will be delivered over a secure video conference call by one of our senior trainers. They will work with you to create a tailor-made coaching program that will help you achieve your goals faster. Request for further information post training support and fees applicable Accreditions And Affliations
Nowadays not only do we rely on our commercial and sales staff to hit that bottom line but we expect our engineers and project teams to play their part too - not only through their engineering and management skills but by behaving in a commercially minded way in their dealings with their counterparts in customer or supplier organisations. This means understanding, amongst other things, the issues surrounding the commencement of work ahead of contract, having a clear contract baseline, recognising the broader implications of contract change, the need for timeliness and the consequences of failing to meet the contracted timetable. This practical one-day programme has been designed specifically to give engineers, project staff and others just that understanding. The course is designed principally to provide engineers and project staff with an appreciation of contractual obligations, liabilities, rights and remedies so that they understand the implications of their actions. It is also suitable for business development staff who are negotiating contracts on behalf of the business. The main focus of the day is on creating an awareness of when a situation may have commercial implications that would harm an organisation's business interests if not recognised and handled appropriately and how taking a positive but more commercial approach to those situations can lead to a more positive outcome for the business. As well as providing an understanding of the commercial imperatives the day also focuses on specific areas affecting engineers and project staff, such as the recognition and management of change, the risks when working outside the contract and managing delays in contracts. The course identifies the different remedies that may apply according to the reasons for the delay and provides some thoughts on pushing back should such situations arise. On completion of this programme the participants will: appreciate the need for contractual controls and will have a better understanding of their relevance and how they can be applied, particularly the issues of starting work ahead of contract, implementing changes and inadvertently creating a binding contract by their behaviour; have gained an understanding of the terminology and procedural issues pertaining to contracting within a programme; and be more commercially aware and better equipped for their roles. 1 Basic contract law - bidding and contract formation Purpose of a contract Contract formation - the key elements required to create a legally binding agreement Completeness and enforceability Express and implied terms Conditions v warranties The use of, and issues arising from, standard forms of sale and purchase Use of 'subject to contract' Letters of intent Authority to commit 2 Change management Recognising changes to a contracted requirement Pricing change Implementation and management of change 3 Key contracting terms and conditions By the end of this module participants will be able to identify the key principles associated with: Pricing Getting paid and retaining payment Cashflow Delivery and acceptance Programme delaysExamining some reasons for non-performance...Customer failureContractor's failureNo fault delays ... and the consequences of non-performance: Damages claimsLiquidated damagesForce majeureContinued performance Waiver clauses and recent case law Use of best/reasonable endeavours Contract termination 4 Warranties, indemnities and liability Express and implied warranties Limiting liability 5 Protection of information Forms of intellectual property Background/foreground intellectual property Marking intellectual property Intellectual property rights Copyright Software Confidentiality agreements Internet
LOOKING FOR: PICTURE BOOKS, CHAPTER BOOKS, MG, YA Lil is an editor with over 15 years experience in the publishing industry. She’s currently freelancing and is in direct contact with many of the big publishing houses: Hachette, Bonnier Books, and book packager, Working Partners Ltd, among others. She also works with the Caroline Wakeman Literary Agency, assessing their authors’ work for commercial viability, as well as scouting for new talent. For twelve years, Lil was a Senior Commissioning Editor at Working Partners Ltd – the creatives behind massive commercial hits such as Beast Quest, Warriors and the Daisy Meadows series. There she created globally successful concepts for every age group and developed storylines so the books were unputdownable. Lil is also an author in her own right: she has written 6 books under her own name, and ghost written many others under various pseudonyms. In every age level, Lil would like to see originality - particularly in voice. A strong character with depth, venturing on a quest that's never been undertaken before will get her excited. The 'quest' doesn't have to be epic in scale, it could be as small as petting the next-door neighbour's dog, or getting the good looking new kid to notice you, it just has to be something a reader will want to invest in. She also loves humour and is happy to see anything quirky (perhaps even downright silly!). For picture books, Lil would like you to submit a covering letter, and 1 complete manuscript, double-spaced, with spreads marked out, in a single word or PDF doc. For chapter books, MG and YA, please send a covering letter, the first three chapters and a synopsis, double spaced, in a single Word or PDF doc. Please send EITHER picture books OR another genre, not both in one submission. By booking this session you agree to email your material to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline to agent121@iaminprint.co.uk. Please note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice given in your Agent121. The submission deadline is: Friday 10 January 2025
Overview Learn how to deal with conflict more effectively through one of our training courses and you can save people a lot of time, money, stress, and distraction. We offer a range of market-leading mediation training courses: from half-day to five-day programmes, covering all areas of mediation. This includes workplace mediation, neighbourhood and family conflict, bullying and harassment, and commercial disputes.
Overview EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) is a very challenging area and is very competitive as well. Companies dealing with large and complex EPC projects are more often get involved in mitigation by complex contract laws and management that lead to huge financial losses. It is very important to Know-how EPC contract laws, and their commercial and financial aspects to gain skills and the ability to deal with complex contract laws and reduces the risk.
About this Training Course This is a 2 full-day course that is aimed at providing professionals in the Oil & Gas business with a comprehensive set of core negotiating skills. Negotiations take place in many situations e.g. between peers, manager and subordinate, company and trade unions, company and government. The skills learnt on this course will be useful in all of these situations. However, this course puts a focus on the skills needed in commercial negotiations. A particular emphasis is placed on the relationship and negotiations typically carried out between client and contractor, vendor or the provider of services. A mixture of theory, examples and practical exercises are used so that the participants understand the principles and get an opportunity to try them out. The case studies used are real cases encountered in the Oil & Gas industry. Training Objectives Many technical experts find it difficult to move out of their expertise areas and deal with commercial matters. Negotiating to optimise business value is a step further from their comfort zones. All too often negotiations are then left to finance personnel. They bring many strengths to the table but an understanding of engineering trade-offs is not one of them. By the end of this course, the participants will add to their technical know-how a core competence in negotiation skills. They will thus become formidable negotiating opponents. Target Audience The course is intended for middle-managers and technical and other staff who are responsible for contracts, but with limited previous exposure to negotiations, and who will need these skills in the near future. Course Level Intermediate Trainer Your expert course leader is a consultant, manager and engineer with more than 30 years' experience in a broad range of positions. He spent 15 years with the Shell group and during this time, gained extensive negotiating experience with contractors, vendors, service agents, trade unions and purchasers of equipment and products. Over the last 15 years, he has worked with a broad range of multinational businesses across the globe in a wide range of negotiation related roles including: Developing negotiating capability and skillsets Advising on negotiation strategies Establishing Alliances, Joint Ventures and Partnerships, & Remediating Alliances, Joint Ventures and Partnerships He has many years of teaching experience to technical staff - both in a corporate setting, and in an academic setting - for Melbourne University in Melbourne, Australia. Several thousand people from around the world have benefited from his courses. He brings an engineer's practical perspective, and can readily empathize with technical staff making forays into the commercial world of negotiations. He is joint author (with Professor Danny Samson) of Patterns of Excellence ISBN 0273638769, published by Financial Times Management. This has been adopted by a number of blue chip companies as the core text for management development. Corporate Experience: 15 years with Shell in a broad range of international & domestic technical and managerial and change management roles. Consulting Experience: 5 Years with McKinsey Consulting Group 4 Years with Melbourne Business Schoo POST TRAINING COACHING SUPPORT (OPTIONAL) To further optimise your learning experience from our courses, we also offer individualized 'One to One' coaching support for 2 hours post training. We can help improve your competence in your chosen area of interest, based on your learning needs and available hours. This is a great opportunity to improve your capability and confidence in a particular area of expertise. It will be delivered over a secure video conference call by one of our senior trainers. They will work with you to create a tailor-made coaching program that will help you achieve your goals faster. Request for further information post training support and fees applicable Accreditions And Affliations
When managers have too many decisions to make, it can have a serious impact on the speed and efficiency of the organisation. When those decisions are commercial ones, the results can wreak havoc with the bottom line. Often the problem arises when those below them or in operational areas of the organisation aren't equipped or allowed to make a decision for themselves. Issues get passed back up and that wastes time. This programme provides a solution, giving your entire team the skills to: And most importantly, they'll be able to do this in line with the broader aims and commercial objectives of the business. By the end of the programme participants will be able to: Fully appreciate the importance of effective decision-making in business Use the five-step 'Stop, Think, Act!' decision-making process Stop leaping to conclusions Really understand the situations and decisions they are dealing with Identify good options Evaluate those options Make decisions and then put them into action Apply these tools and techniques to all their decisions in future 1 Understanding the business we work in What are the critical factors in our business? What is the SWOT analysis for our business? 2 Understanding what decision-making is 3 Background Culture of 'having to be doing' To change things we have to think about it! We are paid to make decisions! 4 Recognise the opportunity to make a decision 5 The 'Stop, Think, Act!' technique 6 STOP! Recognise the opportunity to make a decision Don't leap to conclusions Get ready to think Initial questions:Is this my decision? (Do I have the authority?)Who is this going to affect? (Do they need to be included?)When do I need to make the decision? (What's the timeline?) 7 THINK! The 3 Cs - making sure we understand the decisions we have to make What is the context of this decision?What is the overall situation?Why is this decision important?What do we need to achieve?What will success look like? Do I have clarity about the decision I need to make?Can I write it down?Can I express it clearly in two sentences? What are the criteria?What are the critical commercial factors that we will use to select our options?What will we use to measure the business success? 8 ACT! Identifying options What data do I need to collect?Issues with today's overloadIdentifying what will help you Select optionsHow many options?Must match your criteriaMust achieve success'Decision compass' exercise Analyse optionsTabular methodRisk analysis (likelihood v effect)Head, heart and gut (is there any organisational history/bias that we are up against?) Making your decision Taking it to actionFirst actionsPlanning how to make it happen
Overview This five-day workshop provides a detailed review of significant IFRS requirements for the upstream oil and gas sector, including regulatory reporting and the diverse accounting practices that arise from the many commercial and contracting arrangements which are unique to it. It includes coverage of IFRSs, hands-on case studies, examples, exercises, and benefits from the interactive participation of the attendees. The program includes the latest pronouncements, and participants are brought up-to-date on all topics. In addition, participants are provided with information to assist them in researching accounting issues and monitoring future changes.