44 Wood courses in Kettering delivered Live Online

What important conversations are your team members avoiding? Side-stepping difficult conversations can trap a team in unresolved problems, strained relationships, and missed chances for growth, which blocks progress and cultivates a lack of trust. But many people avoid difficult conversations or handle them poorly because they’re afraid to address uncomfortable issues and feel unprepared to respond to the emotional reactions that inevitably arise. Navigating Difficult Conversations: Turn Tension Into Progress takes a targeted approach to helping people to manage emotional tension and conduct conversations in a way that enables all parties to stay engaged in collaborative dialogue. Participants will shift their mindset from fearing and avoiding difficult conversations to seeing them as the way to make progress on important issues. And they’ll develop the skills to build trust and respect in every relationship as they navigate sensitive topics. Who Should Attend? This programme is for anyone who finds the thought if having a challenging or difficult conversation, something to be very nervous of, even to the point of avoiding the issue. We recommend that participants have first attended our Aspire programmes, Management Essentials and Performance Coaching, as they provide a strong foundation to the topic, which this session then builds upon. In Navigating Difficult Conversations participants will discover how to balance Courage and Consideration throughout the conversation by: Sharing their Purpose—the issue they need to make progress on—and Positive Intent—how they want the other person to benefit from the conversation Responding to emotional reactions using the skills: Pause, Don’t Panic Observe, Don’t Judge Ask, Don’t Assume Outcomes This module will help participants: Create a strong foundation for difficult conversations by setting a clear and collaborative tone that balances their own and others’ needs. Understand that emotional reactions are a natural, human response—and notice them as a signal that the conversation needs an adjustment to stay on track. Practice a range of tactics to respond in the moment to help everyone stay engaged and make progress.

A standalone 10 week/session course that will introduce you to the basic materials, tools, equipment and techniques used in paper crafting and mixed media work and to Craft4Smiles C.I.C and our tutors. You will be sent all the materials and equipment needed to complete the course. At the end of each lesson you will have a crafted item to take away to keep or show family and friends. You will be told about the other courses you offer so that you can make an informed choice about further learning.

Success = Value + People + Process With innovation happening more than ever, the new agile project economy requires more and more people across organisations to manage projects successfully, leading to many of us quietly slipping into the role of the unofficial project manager! The problem is very few people receive formal training on how to do it. Stakeholders, scope creep, limited training, and a lack of process all combine to raise the probability of project failure costing organisations time, money, and employee morale Is it any wonder 65% of all projects fail* each year! The good news is—unofficial project managers can build confidence to lead high-value projects and engage teams in a way that inspires them to volunteer their best efforts. Source: *Nieto-Rodriguez, A. (2021). “The Project Economy Has Arrived.” Harvard Business Review; Nov/Dec 21. Outcomes Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager™ combines best practices from agile and waterfall project management to equip learners with the mindset, skillset, and toolset to engage and inspire team members. Success starts with the core agile principle of value—a project must deliver value to Noble! Once value is established, it is people who make projects successful through a consistent process. Project management isn’t just about managing logistics and hoping the project team is ready to play to win. The skills of “informal authority” are more important than ever before, so team members are inspired to contribute to project success! This course will help learners: Build strong informal authority that inspires project teams to consistently volunteer their best efforts. Utilise a consistent process to start and finish high-value projects on time and with quality. Influence and engage others to define a clear project scope, including clear deliverables and risk strategies. Model openness and agility to apply proactive change management and deliver high-value projects. Project Management Framework The Project Management Framework guides you through five distinct elements in the life of any project. Coupled with the foundational behaviours taught in the programme, this framework can help you deliver highly successful projects again and again. Who Should Attend? This programme is for anyone who finds themselves leading projects at work, regardless of whether or not their job title says, Project Manager! It is NOT a deep dive into project management processes, nor is it a qualification based programme. Whilst it would be helpful to either be involved in or to be leading a project, during the programme, this is clearly not essential. However, it is advisable that the participants have had some experience, whether as a project member or as the person who is leading the project (officially or not)! Project Management Institute (PMI) FranklinCovey is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) Authorised Training Partners (ATP) Programme and this course has been designed to satisfy the project management education requirement for PMI Certifications as well as Professional Development Education units (PDUs) needed by PMI credential holders.

Woodcarving courses

LOOKING FOR: YA/NA FANTASY, SFF, HORROR, ADULT FICTION John Baker (he/him) joined the Bell Lomax Moreton agency in 2019, cultivating a list shaped around his passion for science fiction, fantasy, and horror, though has lately also branched out into action/adventure fiction. John focuses on authors writing in the Adult, New Adult, and YA spaces. John leads the wider agency's film & TV desk, is the Secretary of the Association of Author’s Agents, and the co-chair of the AAA’s Bridge Committee. He also serves on the Kingston University MA Publishing Advisory Board. Under the umbrella of speculative fiction, John is looking for fantasy, science fiction, horror, romantasy, or literary speculative fiction. He has built a reputation as a champion of underrepresented voices and stories, be it from creators hailing from the global majority and their diasporas or neurodiverse authors, and naturally gravitates towards this kind of storytelling. In short, if he’s never read a story like yours before, he wants to see it. Adult fantasy: John loves beefy epic fantasy, especially non-Anglo Christian-inspired. Give him an immersive world, a fresh magical or mythic system, and an exciting cast of characters and he’ll be happy. He is a broad church in the genre so loves a political fantasy, swords and sorcery, courtly intrigue, monster hunting and dastardly villains. John is keen to find an urban fantasy that feels fresh and fun and he’s a sucker for a heroic quest narrative. He’s also very open to fantasy that isn’t easily categorised, but it is playing in that world. John is keenly hunting for more historical fantasy, especially inspired by modern history. He’s had fun with mythological retellings in the past, but as ever, let’s make sure it’s shining the spotlight on new stories. He would also love fantasy that centres on types of relationships less celebrated in fantasy, such as established and secure married couples, or siblings. NA/YA fantasy: In this genre, most importantly, John wants to have a good time, whether it’s swoon-worthy kisses in lush ball gowns, or gruesome gore and monsters, so send him pacy, plot-filled adventures. He’d love more books that teenage boys would love: Skullduggery Pleasant forever! Romantasy: The thriving new romantasy genre comes with its own set of challenges, so John wants to know what makes your romantasy different; what will set it out from the (very crowded!) market. Give it completely barmy stakes, cool and unique new settings, or a love story that will make your jaw drop. To be clear, he’s happily sorted for a human person meets a fae creature in the spooky woods. Also, cosmic romance is the genre of the future. Give him romantasy in space. Easy. Horror: John and horror are old friends. He loves horror inspired by myth and folklore, subversive weird horror that leaves your eyebrows in your hairline, historical horror that pulls from ghastly true stories, and anything that you’ll be reading with the light on. He also loves a gothic element and is particularly looking for horror with a strong romantic throughline, fun YA horror, and female & NB horror authors. Science fiction: SF is coming back! And John has been shouting about that. He loves to see an adventurous found-family romp through space or an epic, crunchy space opera. Speculative near-future is fun too, in the vein of Black Mirror’s more uplifting episodes, (e.g. San Junipero). He loves YA science fiction as well; the more creative the better. Literary: John is open to finding more rich magical realism or something character-led yet supernatural and would love a high-concept mystery, in the vein of Stuart Turton. He also loves spec fic that uses the speculative lightly as a way of confronting a deeper truth in society today. Weird stuff: John wants books that will blow people’s minds and defy categorisation. This is hard to describe, but think Gideon The Ninth, The Library At Mount Char, This Is How You Lose The Time War. John loves a pitch that leaves the editors baffled but intrigued. Action/Adventure, Historical Adventure, Espionage: John is branching out into non-speculative adventures, such as John Le Carré, Lee Child, Ian Flemming, and Mick Herron. More as his taste develops, but the hunt is on! Not looking for: military sci-fi or hard SF, or anything with biblical “character wakes up in purgatory/heaven/hell” narratives. The right comedic fantasy has yet to hit his inbox, but please don’t comp Douglas Adams or Sir Terry. John would like you to submit a covering letter, 1-2 page synopsis and the first three chapters (or 5,000 words whichever is longest) of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, John 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: Wednesday 12th March 2025

Want to make electric lamps, but not sure about the wiring, regulations and so on? If you can make the lamp base (in clay, wood, glass metal or whatever), then this course tells you how to do the rest.

Discover how to elevate your career as an executive assistant or personal assistant with our comprehensive EA Mastery Workshop. Gain new skills, strategies, and tools to maximize your impact and achieve success.

Immerse will enrich your understanding of the interplay of yin & yang, the elements that make up everything in the universe - water, wood, fire, earth, metal - and what it means to be a fully expressed human being. You are invited to look deep within and engage consciously without.

Why Choose V-Ray for Rhino Essentials Training? Master photorealistic rendering in Rhino with our intensive V-Ray training. Led by certified experts, learn lighting, material manipulation, rendering configurations, textures, and global illumination.  Check our Website Training Duration: 10 hours Approach: 1-on-1, in-Person and Live online and Customized Content.   Flexibility: 1-on-1 sessions scheduled at your convenience, from Mon to Sat between 9 am and 7 pm. Vray for Rhino Essentials - 10 Hours Course Session 1: Introduction to Vray and Rhino Integration Overview of Vray: Understanding its importance in architectural and product visualization. Setting up Vray in Rhino: Installation, basic configurations, and interface exploration. Understanding the Rhino-Vray workflow: Navigating between Rhino and Vray seamlessly. Session 2: Basic Lighting Techniques Exploring different light sources: Domes, spotlights, and area lights. Adjusting light intensity and color temperature for realistic ambiance. Creating natural lighting scenarios: Daylight, twilight, and night scenes. Session 3: Mastering Material Creation Introduction to Vray materials: Diffuse, reflection, refraction, and bump maps. Crafting realistic materials: Wood, glass, metal, and fabrics. Utilizing the material editor efficiently for precise adjustments. Session 4: Advanced Rendering Configurations Global Illumination: Understanding photon mapping and irradiance mapping. Fine-tuning render settings: Quality vs. speed, resolution, and anti-aliasing. Exploring Vray frame buffer: Post-processing and image enhancement. Session 5: Texture Manipulation and Mapping Understanding UV mapping: Unwrapping complex geometries for accurate textures. Applying textures in Vray: Diffuse, bump, displacement, and normal maps. Realistic texture manipulation: Scaling, rotation, and blending textures seamlessly. Session 6: Camera Settings and Scene Composition Camera configurations: Focal length, depth of field, and exposure settings. Composing visually appealing scenes: Rule of thirds, focal points, and balance. Rendering interior and exterior scenes: Managing lighting challenges and reflections. Session 7: Real-Time Feedback and Interactive Rendering Introduction to Vray interactive rendering: Real-time feedback for quick adjustments. Utilizing Vray's denoiser for noise reduction in interactive mode. Enhancing productivity with interactive rendering: Modifying materials and lighting on the fly. Session 8: Optimizing Render Times Efficient render optimization techniques: Reducing noise and enhancing quality. Distributed rendering: Utilizing multiple machines for faster rendering. Troubleshooting common rendering issues: Flickering, artifacts, and texture problems. Session 9: Post-Processing and Presentation Post-production in Photoshop: Enhancing renders, adding depth, and adjusting colors. Creating compelling visual narratives: Adding people, context, and atmosphere. Designing professional presentation boards: Layout, annotations, and graphic elements. Session 10: Final Project and Portfolio Review Participants showcase their final Vray-rendered projects. Instructor-led critique and feedback session. Tips for building a strong portfolio: Choosing the best renderings and presenting your work effectively. By the end of this 10-hour course, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of Vray for Rhino, enabling them to create photorealistic renderings and significantly enhance their design visualization skills. Upon completing the Vray for Rhino Essentials course, participants will: Master Lighting Techniques: Expertly utilize various light sources. Create realistic lighting scenarios for diverse scenes. Advanced Material Proficiency: Manipulate complex materials and textures for lifelike renders. Understand reflective surfaces and material interaction. Optimize Rendering Settings: Fine-tune render configurations for optimal quality and speed. Implement noise reduction techniques for cleaner renders. Texture Mapping Mastery: Perfect UV mapping methods for accurate texture application. Seamlessly blend textures for realistic surface mapping. Effective Camera Use and Composition: Configure camera settings, depth of field, and exposure. Compose visually appealing scenes for impactful renders. Real-Time Rendering Skills: Utilize interactive rendering for immediate feedback and adjustments. Enhance scenes in real time for efficient workflow. Post-Processing Expertise: Enhance renders in post-production using software tools. Add depth, adjust colors, and create visually compelling final images. Professional Presentation Techniques: Design layouts, annotations, and context to create impactful visual narratives. Curate a strong portfolio with the best-rendered projects. By honing these skills, participants will produce photorealistic renders and significantly enhance their architectural and product visualization capabilities. Skills You'll Gain: Master lighting techniques for realistic visualization. Learn material manipulation and texture enhancement in Vray. Understand advanced rendering configurations for high-quality results. Explore global illumination concepts for lifelike scenes. Career Opportunities: Upon completing Vray for Rhino Essentials, you'll be well-equipped for various roles in the design and visualization industry, including: Architectural Visualizer: Create stunning architectural visualizations for presentations and client approvals. Product Designer: Enhance product design by creating photorealistic prototypes and visualizations. Interior Designer: Craft immersive interior spaces with realistic lighting and material textures. 3D Visualization Artist: Work in animation studios, gaming companies, or marketing agencies, producing high-quality 3D visualizations. Freelance Rendering Specialist: Offer your skills on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, providing rendering services to clients worldwide. Course Highlights: Acquire fundamental skills in V-Ray for Rhino, covering lighting, materials, and rendering setups. Explore advanced techniques for lifelike textures, reflections, and global illumination effects. Master the workflow for crafting architectural renderings, both interior and exterior. Harness the power of V-Ray features like proxies, fur, and particle systems for dynamic visuals. Optimize render times and quality using efficient techniques and expert tips. Validate your expertise with a Certificate of Completion, showcasing your V-Ray proficiency. Access recorded lessons for future reference, enabling self-paced learning and continuous improvement. Professional Guidance: Learn from certified tutors and industry experts with extensive practical experience. Gain valuable insights and personalized feedback as you progress through the course, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of V-Ray for Rhino.

Own Your Success is delighted to bring you the 'Bitesize Masterclass' with Sophie Chapman. Not everyone has the flexibility to step away from the office for in-person events or dedicate extended periods from their packed schedules for full or half-day sessions. So we've put together our 'Bitesize Masterclasses' to help assistants develop and learn from professionals such as Sophie - shorter sessions, same big impact!   Bitesize Masterclass with Sophie Chapman Sophie Chapman EA to Steven Bartlett  Although Sophie initially aspired to be a talent agent, she swiftly realised that her career passions lay within the administrative/operational aspects of working life. Following her graduation in Entertainment Management from LIPA in 2008, she gained extensive work experience across renowned entities such as Sony BMG and Sky One, operating within the spheres of TV, music, radio, and the events industry. Her pivotal entry into a PA role came while supporting musician Eliza Doolittle. After five years, Sophie opted to move home to Liverpool and accept a contract supporting Sir Dave Brailsford of Team Sky. Once complete, Sophie received an offer for a position based in the US with an A-list musician. However, her journey led her to discover her "forever role", providing support to Steven Bartlett. Steven, the Founder and former Group CEO of Social Chain, is a multifaceted individual—a published author, podcaster, entrepreneur, and presently, the youngest-ever Dragon on BBC's Dragon's Den. Sophie has been instrumental as Steven's Executive Assistant, operating on a global scale, in both private and corporate realms for six years.  Kate Wood Masterclass Facilitator  Kate will aid the facilitation of this Bitesize Masterclass, ensuring that crucial topics are covered while prioritising an environment where every participant feels acknowledged, valued, and heard throughout the session. Kate is a business owner, qualified coach, consultant, facilitator, trainer, podcaster and public speaker with a background in learning & development, employee engagement strategy, continuous improvement, communications and marketing. After 25 years working across the board in blue-chip, non-profit and civil service organisations she now provides support to businesses looking to evolve and become great places for people to work in and with. Having worked with a wide variety of clients from school-age students to senior executives, she has been designing and running workshops, seminars and classes in person or via web events since she left long commutes and corporate roles behind in 2014 when she created her first two businesses. Her passion is improving working relationships between roles and functions and supporting people to discover their best selves at work. She does this in the automotive industry, financial services, medical teams, charities, global media, retail, education systems and the arts. When she’s not working, she and her classic car Monty Morgan can be found zipping around the English countryside. Session topics: How to establish your self-leadership position in your EA capacity Transition from a PA to EA Career development Boundary setting and wellbeing Q&A with the audience - Open-Book Q&A What is a Bitesize Masterclass? Short burst session. Keynote speakers discuss key themes/topics they are passionate about. Q&A with the audience attendees - ask the questions you don't usually get to ask! Run time of 90 minutes (max 2 hours) - we block out two hours in case we overspill on questions. 😊 Virtually delivered - attend from anywhere that's convenient for you! Packed with content, tips and tricks and from industry professionals who can share their experiences with you. Who will attend? PA's EA's Administrative roles --------------------------- At Own Your Success, we strongly believe in fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated and discrimination of any form is unwelcome. We welcome attendees from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, or any other characteristic. Discrimination has no place in our workshops, and we are committed to creating a respectful and supportive space for all participants to learn and grow together. ---------------------------