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14 - 19 and School Leavers - ICT, Computing and Business (Part-time)

These courses help you develop a wide range of useful skills which are in great demand and are suited for those planning a career, either in the computing industry itself, or using information technology in a commercial, public service or business environment.

The qualifications gained from these courses can  help you progress to higher education and university or move directly into employment where they are widely recognised by employers looking for people with proven ICT ability.

Name Description
Administration NVQ - Level 3 This course is for those who would like to achieve a qualification in administration and are employed in an autonomous position where initiative and development of services are important. A range of units is covered and may be tailored to your individual job role. The mandatory requirements cover:
  • Communication skills
  • Time management
  • Improving your own performance and organisational values
  • Sustainability and diversity
  • Risk assessment
This course is delivered in the workplace with workshops to support specific parts of the mandatory requirements.

*Flexible start dates
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Name Description
Administration NVQ - Level 2 This course is for those who would like to achieve a qualification in administration and are employed in an administrative position.

Optional units include:
  • Health and Safety
  • Working as part of a team
  • Using office equipment
  • Office skills
  • Self development
Successful completion could lead to further courses in accounting, business or management.
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Name Description
Appraisal Skills - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
An appraisal or performance review is an integral part of the manager?s and team leader?s role. It is a powerful tool for improving the performance of the team and encouraging personal development and is an essential process for supporting, motivating and developing employees.

This one-day workshop is designed to look at the skills of appraisal and performance review. It will help delegates develop the skills needed to implement an effective performance review process.

Who should attend?
This workshop is aimed at managers, supervisors and team leaders at all levels who are required to carry out performance reviews and/or appraisal interviews. It is also an ideal workshop for anyone developing their career towards a management position.

Course content
  • Essential elements of review
  • Setting objectives and measuring performance
  • Identifying training and development needs
  • The value of the review interview
  • The benefits of review
  • The paperwork and the process
  • Using questions
  • Setting objectives
  • Monitoring and evaluating
Delegates will benefit from sharing copies of their company Appraisal Procedure and associated documentation with the tutor prior to the programme. This will be requested prior to commencement of the workshop (usually with Joining Instructions) and will be treated confidentially.

By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Conduct a structured and motivational review with their team members
  • Understand the principles of giving and receiving constructive feedback
  • Use SMART objective-setting and action setting
  • Initiate and support the use of the personal development plan
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Assertiveness at Work - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
Thinking, feeling and behaving assertively is a guaranteed method of achieving constructive, long-term, effective outcomes. This workshop starts by defining assertiveness and learning how to distinguish between aggressive and submissive behaviour.

In this highly practical workshop, delegates will have the opportunity to practise assertiveness skills in a variety of situations and will recognise when to use these skills to achieve optimum results.

Who should attend?
This workshop is for anyone who wishes to improve their overall effectiveness by behaving in a more positive and confident manner.

Course content
  • The benefits of assertive behaviour
  • Understanding the difference between assertive, aggressive and submissive behaviour
  • How language and body language impact on assertiveness
  • How to give and receive feedback
  • How and when to be assertive
  • How to practise and use assertiveness techniques
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Be assertive in the right situations
  • Understand and identify the difference between different types of behaviour
  • Identify and read body language
  • Listen actively and express what they think and feel
  • Be specific, be relevant and achieve positive outcomes
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Award in First Line Management ILM Level 3 - Astral Centre For further details of this course please contact Business Development on 01502 525159.

The Introductory Certificate in First Line Management, awarded by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), is an internationally recognised qualification for all supervisors and first line managers. This qualification is for those people who are likely to become first line managers (team leaders or supervisors) or who are already in post but have had little or no formal training. There are no academic requirements for this programme.

To maximise the benefits from this course candidates will need to be working in or towards a management or supervisory role. On successful completion of the Award in First Line Management it is possible to progress on to the Level 3 Certificate in First Line Management.
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Name Description
Business Improvement Techniques - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
The overall aim of the workshop is to give people some tools and new thinking so that they can identify opportunities to improve both the people and the processes they work with. This workshop is an introductory session and no prior knowledge is required. Throughout the day delegates will be able to develop their skills through practical exercises and group discussion.

Who should attend?
This workshop is ideal for managers and supervisors who would like to make general improvements to their business.

Course Content:
  • Clear Contracting - setting up a safe environment for change
  • What is profit?- looking at the numbers to find ways of increasing profit
  • Increasing revenue - adding value to business products or services
  • Process improvement - reducing bottlenecks to increase output
  • Smart objectives - setting clear tasks and responsibilities
  • Seven wastes- identifying opportunities to remove wasted effort
  • Positive feedback - building a positive culture for change
  • Generating options - using mind maps and brainstorming
  • Action plan- identify what delegates will do differently after the workshop
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Identify areas of waste within their business
  • Generate business improvement options
  • Understand the basics of profit and cash flow
  • Engage people positively in the process of change
  • Improve the flow of product through their business
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Certificate in First Line Management ILM Level 3 - Astral Centre For further details of this course please contact Business Development on 01502 525159.

The Certificate in First Line Management, awarded by the Institute of Leadership and Management, is an internationally recognised qualification for all supervisors and first line managers.

It is suitable for anyone whose job involves being responsible for the work of others and who wants to develop their management skills, to become a better supervisor and improve their career opportunities.
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Name Description
Certificate in Team Leading (ILM) - Astral Centre For further details of this course please contact Business Development on 01502 525159.

This course is designed to equip candidates with the skills they need to lead a team effectively whether they are already a manager or supervisor or are aiming to become one in the future. This course helps develop the essential skills, knowledge and confidence needed to successfully lead a team and covers the following units:
  • Leading people in teams
  • Communicating with people
  • Team leading skills
  • Getting the work done
Candidates will be expected to attend college one afternoon a week for 23 weeks.
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Name Description
Coaching Skills - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
Coaching is an ideal way to help people think for themselves, solve problems and resolve difficult issues. However, to be effective a coaching session needs to have structure and should be conducted within a safe environment. This workshop is an introductory session, designed to give managers and team leaders a useful guide to the key coaching models and tools. No prior knowledge is required and delegates will be able to develop their skills through practical exercises and group discussion.

Who should attend?
This practical one day workshop is ideal for Managers and Team Leaders, no prior knowledge of coaching is required.

Content:
  • Building rapport - developing attending skills
  • Contracting - building a safe learning environment
  • Learning styles - how to develop useful insights
  • Roles and responsibilities - for both the coach and coachee
  • Coaching models - choose your own session format
  • Question types - develop awareness of which questions to use
  • Conflict handling - learning to work collaboratively
  • Johari window - a model of feedback and awareness
  • Coaching process - how to structure a coaching session
  • Coaching practice - have a go at peer group coaching
  • Action Plan - identify what delegates will do differently after the workshop
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Develop a coaching style of leadership
  • Understand how to contract for success
  • Understand how to structure a coaching session
  • Use practical coaching models
  • Explore issues by providing appropriate feedback
  • Ask useful questions
  • Choose a collaborative problem solving style
  • Use an appropriate coaching process
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Customer Services - NVQ Level 2 and 3 These qualifications are suitable for anyone whose job includes working in a customer services environment or working directly with customers. No previous qualifications or education is necessary; the sole requirement is relevant current work experience.

A range of units is offered and may be tailored to your individual job role. These courses are delivered in the workplace with workshops to support specific parts of the mandatory requirements.

*Flexible start dates.
  Request More Information

Name Description
First Steps into Business - Astral Centre Objectives
This programme, run by the Astral Centre, provides a first step for anyone who has considered starting their own business and would like to develop their ideas and put them into practice.

Content
  • Running your own business, could you do it?
  • Is there a market for my business
  • Making the right approach
  • Financial planning
  • Review and Guidance
On completion of the course you will be able to:
  • Review your ideas and decide whether they are practical or not
  • Assess your own skills and abilities against your plans
  • Understand more about marketing and finance
  • Present your ideas confidently and competently
  • Gain advice and support in moving on to the next stage
Prerequisites
There are no formal entry requirements. Practical workshops will help build confidence and develop ideas through to a business planning stage.

Maximum Numbers
15 delegates

Duration
1 evening a week for 12 weeks

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Introduction to Consumer Communications - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
In the current market place the brand is often more valuable than the business itself. Effectively communicating your brands? values to consumers is essential if your brand is to grow. This one day interactive workshop aims to help you to explore your brands? potential, understand the components needed to develop an effective creative strategy for the brand, to develop a creative brief, and to ensure that creative work is on course and meets that strategy.

Who should attend?
This one day workshop is ideal for anyone responsible for or involved in raising the profile of their brand to the consumer.

Content
  • What is Effective Consumer Communication?
  • Best Practice Principles of Advertising
  • Understanding the ?Lingo?
  • Consumer Insight
  • Developing a Creative Strategy
  • Constructing a Creative Brief
  • Creative Evaluation
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Understand the importance of effective consumer communication and be able to develop a creative strategy, construct a creative brief, and evaluate creative work objectively.
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
IT Short Courses - Astral Centre Objectives
The Astral Centre offers a wide range of 1 day IT courses providing essential skills for an efficient workplace.

Content
  • Advanced Microsoft Access
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel - Making the most of Macros
  • Advanced Microsoft Word
  • Advanced Microsoft Word - Professional Business Reports
  • Intermediate Microsoft Access
  • Intermediate Microsoft Excel
  • Intermediate Microsoft Word
  • Introduction to Microsoft Access
  • Introduction to Microsoft Excel
  • Introduction to Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Professional PowerPoint
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites, however, delegates should have a basic level of IT literacy.

Maximum Numbers
13 delegates

Duration
1 day (bespoke courses available to clients requests)

Fees
Please contact the The Astral Centre
  Request More Information

Name Description
Management Development Workshops - Astral Centre Objectives
The Astral Centre offers a wide range of 1 day IT courses providing essential skills for an efficient workplace.

Content
  • Appraisal Skills
  • Business Improvement Techniques
  • Coaching Skills
  • Customer Care
  • Effective communications for teams leaders/supervisors
  • Motivational techniques
  • Networking for business success
  • Professional telephone techniques
  • Recruitment and selection
  • Supervisory skills
  • Team building
  • Time management
  • Train the trainer
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites, however, it is beneficial if delegate's job scope includes the subject matter of the workshop.

Maximum Numbers
15 delegates

Duration
1 day (bespoke courses available to clients requests)

Fees
Please contact the The Astral Centre
  Request More Information

Name Description
Management NVQ 4 - Astral Centre This qualification formally recognises managers’ performance in the work place focusing on the key areas of management development, enhancing their skills and knowledge and increasing their contribution to the business. A range of units is offered and may be tailored to your individual job role.

These courses are delivered in the workplace with workshops to support specific parts of the mandatory requirements.

*Flexible start dates.
  Request More Information

Name Description
Marketing: An Introduction - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
Marketing is an inescapable fact of modern life. From the moment we wake up to the minute we go to bed we will be in continuous contact with the products developed by marketers the world over. This workshop aims to give you an understanding of the basic principles of marketing and identify how to use them within your organisation.

Who should attend?
This workshop is suitable for anyone new to the marketing role and/or wishing to gain an understanding of the basic principles of marketing.

Content:
  • What is marketing?
  • The marketing environment
  • Segmentation, targeting and positioning
  • The marketing mix
  • Product
  • Price
  • Place
  • Promotion
  • Ten marketing commandments
  • Seven deadly sins
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of marketing and how to use them within their organisation.
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Motivational Techniques - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
A successful Manager or Supervisor will motivate team members so that they enjoy their work, produce quality results and bring the greatest benefit to the organisation. In this highly practical workshop delegates will understand what motivates people at work and the importance of selecting the appropriate motivational technique for different team members. This workshop offers delegates a guide on what motivates and de-motivates and examines ways of maximising performance and achieving the best results from both individuals and teams.

Who should attend?
This workshop is designed for managers, team leaders and supervisors who wish to develop well-motivated teams.

Course Content

Motivation
  • Understanding people?s motivations at work
  • Looking at relevant and proven theories of motivation and how they apply in the workplace
  • Identify and deal with motivation levels holding back the team
  • How to practice and apply good motivational techniques
  • Understand how job satisfaction can influence motivation and what can be done to enhance it
  • How to motivate yourself
De-motivation
  • Recognising the signs of de-motivation
  • What de-motivates people?
  • How to handle these individuals
Leadership Styles
  • Applying different styles depending on the tasks, the team and the individuals
  • Tools and techniques
  • Handling ?difficult? behaviour
Communication Skills
  • Effective Feedback
  • Questioning and listening techniques
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Understand individual needs and recognise key motivators
  • Identify common de-motivators
  • Use different styles leadership
  • Deliver effective communication
  • Create an effective action plan to maximise motivation and performance
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Presentation Skills - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
This highly practical workshop will give delegates the tools to successfully plan, prepare and deliver a presentation that effectively achieves their business objectives. The importance of understanding the purpose of the presentation and relating to the target audience will be stressed. The importance of non-verbal communication and confidently handling questions will be a key part of the workshop and its outcomes.

Who should attend?
This workshop is ideal for anyone who has to speak in front of groups of people as well as anyone wishing to improve their confidence, communication and presentation skills.

Course content:
  • The importance of identifying clear objectives
  • Understanding your audience needs
  • How to structure your talk and make it interesting The importance of non-verbal communication for delivering your message
  • How to stand and walk during a presentation
  • The importance of breathing and using pauses
  • Pitfalls to avoid when handling questions
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Plan and structure an effective presentation that meets set objectives
  • Prepare and use visual aids to greater effect
  • Use their voices with clarity and variety
  • Successfully handle question-and-answer sessions
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Professional Telephone Techniques - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
The telephone is, for most organisations, the key method of communication with both customers and suppliers. Customers often judge the whole organisation on the quality of one call. This course is designed to help staff to handle calls and customers professionally. The practical nature of the course will increase the confidence of the delegates in their telephone techniques.

Who should attend?
This course is ideal for all staff, especially those dealing directly with the customer who need to improve their telephone communication skills.

Course content
  • The value of preparing to make a call
  • The golden rules for speaking on the telephone
  • Controlling the call and getting the facts
  • Listening and questioning effectively
  • Checking and understanding
  • Techniques for managing difficult situations
  • How to say no constructively
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Create a confident and personalised service on the phone
  • Identify the key stages of a call
  • Build a rapport on the phone
  • Guide and control the call
  • Handle difficult situations on the phone
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Successful Project Management - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
Modern business increasingly relies on the individual?s ability to manage different projects, often simultaneously. This form of management is replacing the more traditional structured company style in many different sectors. This one day seminar introduces delegates to the fundamental principles and best practice in project management.

Who Should Attend?
This one day seminar is ideal for those individuals with or likely to have Project Management responsibilities.

Content
The seminar delivers an easy to follow process for achieving desired project outcome. Vincent Hunt facilitates a day in which delegates can explore:
  • Roles of Project Management in an organisation
  • Stakeholders
  • Organisational Culture
  • Individual roles and responsibilities in a Prince 2 or similar typography
  • Key project documents
  • Risk management
  • Financial Evaluation of options
  • Project Planning
  • Board Operation
  • Closing the project.
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Supervisory Skills - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
Supervisors and team leaders are key people in any business, they can greatly affect productivity and therefore the success of the organisation. The way that supervisors lead their team will affect motivation and morale. Supervisors are the key link between management and the workforce, playing an important role linking the planning (by management) with the doing (by the workforce). In this practical and participative one day workshop key elements of the supervisory role are examined and delegates will learn a range of skills needed to develop a strong and effective team.

Who should attend?
This workshop is ideal for supervisors or team leaders who would like to review and update their skills as a manager.

Course Content

The supervisors role:
  • What does this role involve?
  • Where do you fit within the team?
  • What does your manager and team expect from you?
Qualities for success:
  • The skills, attitudes and knowledge required
  • Effective listening
  • Encouraging commitment and mutual respect
  • Understand how to motivate and develop team members and communicate clearly goals and objectives
  • Feel confident in the supervisory role
  • Action plan for future development
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Have a clear understanding of their role within the team
  • Understand how to motivate and develop team members
  • Communicate clearly goals and objectives
  • Measure team members performance
  • Feel confident in their role
  • Manage performance and develop the skills needed to meet future requirements
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Team Building - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
Teamwork is an essential part of any manager?s role and team building is a vital management skill. This practical one day workshop has been designed for managers, team leaders and supervisors and looks at those areas which are critical to effective team working and the manager?s role within that. Throughout the course, delegates will have the opportunity to relate tasks and techniques to their own teams performance back in the workplace.

Who should attend?
This workshop is ideal for those managers and team leaders who wish to develop their team leadership skills.

Course Content

Team working:
  • What makes a team effective?
  • Why do teams ?fail??
  • Understanding team dynamics and the stages groups move through before becoming a team.
Team leadership:
  • Your role as the leader
  • Your preferred style of leadership
  • Motivating team performance
Team development:
  • Performance management
  • Setting clear objectives
  • Delegation for peak performance
  • Managing team performance:
  • A structured approach to giving feedback
  • Dealing with performance difficulties
  • Communication
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Differentiate between a group of people and ?a team?
  • Define various team types and roles within teams
  • Understand the importance of team identity and goals
  • Measure team effectiveness
  • Assess leadership styles
  • Plan how to develop the performance of your team
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Time Management - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
Managers and staff in ever-changing roles are being asked to achieve higher levels of professional performance under increasing time pressures. This practical workshop is for anyone who needs an introduction to the basic principles and practises of effective time management. The course is designed to relate good time management to the achievement of business objectives, key tasks and jobs. Consideration is given to personal effectiveness and self-assessment and delegates will look at the tools, techniques and motivation to take greater control and responsibility for how they use their time. Emphasis is on practical exercises combined with delegates sharing experiences and learning from each other.

Who should attend?
This workshop assumes no prior specialist knowledge on the part of the delegates and is designed for anyone who needs an introduction to the principles and practices of effective time management.

Content
  • About Time - getting people to think about time.
  • Time SWOT - celebrate strengths and identify areas for development.
  • Time Management Styles - the four basic types which reveal how people use their time. This is a great way to help people understand why they act in the way they do, which helps them to make positive choices in the future.
  • Control and Influence - how to recognise the areas you have control over.
  • Important vs Urgent - a useful tool to help people prioritise tasks.
  • Planning - capacity, weekly plans, telephone calls, flexibility and thinking ahead.
  • A minute to Win It - taking just 60 seconds to get your point across.
  • Delegation Skills - spreading the work between all team members. Setting Objectives - how to use SMART goals to improve time management.
  • Managing Meetings - how to get the most from work place meetings.
  • Waste of Time - identifying where waste occurs in the work place and designing some improvements to help save time.
  • Tidy Up - five steps to tidy up workplace areas in order to save time.
  • Action Plan - Identify what delegates will do differently after the workshop.
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Appreciate the need to manage their time effectively.
  • Understand their style and what new choices they can make.
  • Plan and prioritise effectively.
  • Set realistic objectives.
  • Improve their time planning.
  • Improve the effectiveness of meetings.
  • Understand where time is wasted and be able to make basic improvements.
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

Name Description
Train the Trainer - Astral Centre This course is delivered at the Astral Centre

Overview
With business and organisational needs constantly changing, development of individuals within the company is now a top priority. It is therefore essential that managers and supervisors are properly trained in the techniques for developing and directing the staff under them. This course has been designed to develop confidence and ideas for trainers, allowing them to approach their training role in a more structured, organised and participative way. It is vitally important to ensure that effective communication has taken place and that this is carefully checked as part of the process. This course will provide delegates, in a practical way, with the ability to train staff in a more structured and informed way and ensure that the workplace is more efficient.

Who should attend?
This course is ideal for those managers or supervisors who needs to pass on instructions and/or training to employees in a more structured and informed way. It is also suitable for any individual in a company who is likely to take on the role of instructing new employees.

Course content
  • The importance of preparation
  • How to present information in a way which embraces all senses
  • The characteristics of an excellent trainer
  • Analysis of your own level of skills and abilities
  • Understanding learning styles and measuring the effectiveness of your delivery
  • Action plan for the future
By the end of the workshop delegates will be able to:
  • Identify how to work with people
  • Understand how people learn
  • Use visual aids effectively
  • Deliver a skill
  • Plan their training
  • Use different questioning techniques
  • Monitor the effectiveness of their delivery and ?ensure the learner has learned?
Duration
1 day

Fees
Please contact the college
  Request More Information

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