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It’s 2012, a new year, and we’ve predicted what will happen in the world of search and tech. Our job will be to try and keep ahead of the trends and offer you the best and most up to date training available. What are your plans for 2012? How about starting a business? It may be the year the world is predicted to come to an end and we may be in the middle of a recession but that does not mean it isn’t a great time to start a business! In this guest post the author tells us how starting a business in the face of recession can be a good idea, and how to start the process. Starting your own business can be a daunting process, especially if you have no managerial experience. A great way to start would be to come on some of our courses and learn some new skills. It may not seem obvious but when starting your own business it is often better to have all the skills – Web Design, SEO and Management - rather than have to rely on hiring a freelancer or consultant. The more of your business you can do yourself, the more it will belong to you and follow your vision.
People often think that hard economic times are the wrong time to start a business, but many of the largest companies today got their start during the worst economic time in modern history: the Great Depression. During hard economic times, business patterns shift. People stop making their traditional purchases and look for something different. Companies that don’t adjust to this go out of business, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs with a clear vision for the future. Launching a business that succeeds during these times takes quite a bit of preparation but for those willing to put in the work, the rewards can be rich.
The first thing to do is clearly identify the product or service you’ll offer, the target audience, and your plan for success. Typically this is contained in a comprehensive business plan. A successful business plan considers every aspect of your proposed business, including products or services offered, projected prices, costs of operation, location, marketing, what need you’re filling (and the research to prove the need actually exists), business insurance, and more. If you’ll need a loan to start the business, a bank will require a copy of your business plan to evaluate your ability to repay the loan.
Just as the first three rules of buying a home are location, location, location, considering the placement of your business is critical. What other businesses are in the area? If you plan to open a cake decorating business, are there already two bakeries and another cake decorator in the area? What are the demographics of the area, including the income levels? What are the traffic patterns? Where does the public transport system run? All this and more should be considered when placing your new business, and the results of these findings should also be incorporated into your business plan. Read the rest of "Starting Small Business: Important Steps"
Posted by Guest Author in Business Skills, Management & Leadership, News, Personal Development on January 2nd, 2012| No Comments »
The App Development market is taking the world by storm and there is an app for everything. In fact there is so much demand for App Developers we have launched a complete range of Mobile Development courses including an exciting new Android App Training workshop, and an iPhone App Training workshop. Every developer should be familiar with Web App design too so we also run a Mobile Web Design Course. All businesses should be looking into design mobile friendly sites at the very least, and all new media business need to up-skill to take advantage of this explosive market if they want to survive. Not everyone wants to learn to build these treasures though, some people just want to use them to make life easier. Here our guest author Denis makes his recommendations for the best apps for the entrepreneur:
Some people want to use their iPhone or iPad to do more than play video games. Some actually use them to remotely control their work computer. Take a closer look at some of the iOS apps that an entrepreneur can use to make their life easier here in this article.
Your iProduct Can Connect To Other Computers
TeamViewer for Remote Control
The iPhone or iPad can be used just like any other computer but thanks to their mobility they are much more convenient. For those with the entrepreneurial spirit, mobility is important, and some apps are targeted just for them. The first is called “TeamViewer for Remote Control“. This is an app that connects to your other computers so that you can use them while you are are on the run. It is billed as secure and fast, working with Linux, Mac and Windows systems. It is already being used with 100 million computers in the world. It works with more than just an iPhone or iPad. The iPod Touch can also control another computer remotely. It comes in a free version and professional version which will cost $99 that’s £63.34 GBP. If you feel like jumping ship it also comes with an Android version as well.
Read the rest of "iPhone and iPad Apps for Entrepreneurs"
Posted by Guest Author in Android Training, Business Skills, Google Analytics, iPhone Training, Management & Leadership, Mobile App Development on December 9th, 2011| No Comments »
There is a lot to learn on the road to successful management. Management Training is important for managers to develop new skills including leadership and communication but you can also pick up useful tips from management blogs such as ours. This guest post from Tony Smith looks at body language and its uses in the workplace.
What Your Body Language Says About You
People rarely realise that what they do is just as important as what they say. Body language is a nonverbal means of communication. Your posture, eye movements, facial expressions, and other types of body language all play a part in the message you convey to people. Sometimes people unintentionally give the wrong message because they’re not aware of how what they’re doing appears to other people.
Correct Posture
Do you remember as a child your parents or teachers telling you to sit up straight? The reason they tried to instill this lesson in your mind at an early age is because posture says a lot about you. If you tend to slouch when you’re sitting, you look lazy or bored.
If you’re talking to someone and you’re standing slumped, they may thing you’re not interested in what they’re saying to you. Sitting and standing up straight means that you’re attentive and focused on what you’re doing. Read the rest of "Management Training Tips – Body Language"
Posted by Guest Author in Business Skills, Management & Leadership on November 2nd, 2011| No Comments »
Steve Jobs’ recent death has brought up a huge amount of discussion. His innovation for great products and financial success at Apple has deemed him a genius – giving him a Godlike status. It is without question that from 1997 onward, Jobs saved Apple from failure and has revolutionised the computing industry while making a lot of money in the process.
However, he did this with a very unorthodox management style. In fact he flew in the face of the management technique of other Silicon Valley companies.
While Google and Microsoft promote openness and strive to make their employees happy, Apple is incredibly secretive and most employees lived in fear of Jobs: but it worked. So how did Steve Jobs achieve such success while ignoring all traditional notions of business management? Read the rest of "Management the Steve Jobs way – learning from Steve Jobs’ management style"
Posted by Craig Charley in Human Resources, Management & Leadership, News on October 17th, 2011| 3 Comments »
Did you watch Rupert and James Murdoch giving evidence to the Select Committee last week?
I did; I found it riveting, and that was long before the shaving foam appeared. It started me thinking about the line between the “organisation” and the staff, and who’s responsible when things go wrong.
We also looked at some of the legal aspects of the accountability of businesses in our tips for preparing for the UK Bribery Act 2011
Actually, UK law does recognise the concept of holding the “organisation” to account (especially for safety), and directors of companies and trustees of charities are legally accountable individually and jointly. This means they can be sued for something an employee did. They have to make sure there are proper systems and procedures, and that staff know and understand them, and they have to monitor that the systems and procedures work and that staff comply with them.
Getting back to Messrs Murdoch, their main message was “We knew nothing”.
Imagine a similar scene: you’re discussing with one of your staff some major disaster that’s happened in their department, and they say “I had no idea what was going on.”
My guess is you might reach one (or several) of the following unattractive conclusions:
- They’re clearly remote / out of touch and not making an effort to find out what goes on
- Their staff are clearly too scared of them to tell them honestly what was going on.
- Their management is so lax they don’t notice anything and their staff can get away with murder.
- They did know what was going on but they didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.
- They did know what was going on but they’ve been “selectively” ignoring it or they didn’t care as long as staff got results.
- They did know what was going on but bottled out of dealing with it.
Now imagine you have to sit in front of a judge or your most important customer and explain what happened and why. Scary!
Management and Leadership Tips – What Can We Learn?
So what can we learn from all this for our own organisations? I think there are some common-sense do’s and don’ts.
If you don’t already – you might want to make sure that your organisation is doing the following:
Read the rest of "Management Lessons from the News International Crisis"
Posted by Guest Blogger in Business Skills, Management & Leadership, News on July 26th, 2011| No Comments »
IOSH Accredited Managing Safely Training Course Now Available
Health and Safety Training Courses
According to the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) every year on average:
- 220 people are killed
- 30,000 people injured
- 33 million working days are lost to injuries or ill health
- 25,000 people leave the workplace permanently because of harm suffered at work
The combined cost to British businesses for all of the above is somewhere in the region of £20 billion
Many of these costly work related injuries and absences can be avoided if managers receive proper Health and Safety Training.
We are pleased to announce that Silicon Beach Training is now offering accredited IOSH Managing Safely training here in Brighton, Sussex.
Attending an accredited health and safety course can not only reduce your organisation’s insurance premium costs, but can also enhance your business reputation, and increase productivity and profitability considerably.
Our 4-day Managing Safely course is priced at just £695 + vat, which includes assessment and certification.
Our first courses are coming up on:
- 12 – 15 September 2011
- 15 – 18 November 2011
Call us now on 01273 622272 or e-mail info@siliconbeactraining.co.uk for more information and bookings.
Posted by Andy Trainer in Business Skills, Health and Safety Training, Human Resources, Management & Leadership, News, Personal Development on June 13th, 2011| No Comments »
What are Active Listening Skills?
“A good listener tries to understand thoroughly what the other person is saying. In the end he may disagree sharply, but before he disagrees, he wants to know exactly what it is…” (Kenneth A. Wells)
Listening is one of the most useful skills we can have. How well we listen has a major impact on how we do our job, and on the quality of our relationships with others.
Active Listening intentionally focuses on who you are listening to, whether in a group or one-on-one, in order to understand what he or she is saying. As the listener, you should then be able to repeat back in your own words what they have said to their satisfaction. This does not mean you agree with, but rather understand, what they are saying.
Active Listening is a key business skill, and is covered on our Management Skills training course as well as our Leadership training course in Brighton, Sussex. We also offer a course specifically on Active Listening Skills which can be arranged on a private or on-site basis if you want to focus on this topic alone.
Active listening is a way of listening and responding to another person that improves mutual understanding. Often when people talk to each other, they don’t listen attentively. They are often distracted, half listening, half thinking about something else.
For example: When people are engaged in a conflict, they are often busy formulating a response to what is being said. They assume that they have heard what their opponent is saying many times before, so rather than paying attention; they focus on how they can respond to win the argument.
Are you a good listener? Think about your relationships with the people in your life – your boss, colleagues, subordinates, best friend, and spouse. If asked, what would they say about how well you listened? Do you often misunderstand assignments or only vaguely remember what people have said to you. If so, you may need to improve your listening skills. The first step is to understand how the listening process works.
Four Steps to Active Listening
- Hearing. At this stage, you simply pay attention to make sure you hear the message.
- Interpretation. If you fail to interpret a speaker’s word correctly it may lead to a misunderstanding.
- Evaluation. Decide what to do with the information you have received.
- Respond. This is a verbal or visual response that lets the speaker know whether you have gotten the message and what your reaction is.
Active Listening Tips:
- Don’t talk-listen. People like to have a chance to get their own ideas or opinions across. A good listener lets them do it.
- Don’t jump to conclusions. Many people will tune out a speaker when they think they have the general idea of the conversation.
- Ask questions. It’s perfectly acceptable to say, “Do you mean….?” or “Did I understand you to say….?”
- Overlook a speech problem, a twitch, or sexist language. Paying too much attention to these types of distractions can break your concentration.
- Keep an open mind. The point of listening it to gain new information.
- Listen to others’ points of view and ideas. It could turn out to be fascinating.
- Provide feedback. Make eye contact, nod your head and if appropriate, interject a comment such as “I see,” etc.
Posted by Alistair Wylie in Management & Leadership, News, Personal Development on April 15th, 2011| 2 Comments »
“Leadership & Management” Training Grants Programme Available NOW!
£1000 Training Grants
Training Grants are limited – application forms below…
Businesses who employ between 2 and 249 people can apply for up to £1,000 of matched funding towards any training courses that will help to develop their organisation’s people management skills. The new Leadership and Management Advisory Service (LMAS) is designed to help eligible employers fund training and development opportunities for their senior leaders.
This funding can be used towards a range of Silicon Beach Training’s courses, including our Management Training and Leadership Training courses, as well as other personal development programmes like our Appraisals Training and Change Management Training courses.
If you are interested in applying and would like to discuss the courses we have available, please call us on 01273 622272 or email info@siliconbeachtraining.co.uk
Is my Organisation Eligible for a Leadership & Management Training Grant?
The Leadership & Management Training Grants are open to any organisation which:
- has 2 to 249 full time equivalent employees
- can display the potential for high or fast growth, defined as:
- if trading for more than 12 months have the potential to increase turnover by 20% each year for three years
- if trading for less than 12 months have the potential to achieve a turnover of £500,000 within three years of trading
How Can I Apply for a Training Grant Towards a Course at Silicon Beach Training?
1) Identify Suitable Training
Identify the training course or courses that you would like to attend – remember, the courses must help you to increase your organisation’s people management skills – so the following courses would be applicable:
Read the rest of "£1,000 Leadership & Management Training Grants Available"
Posted by Andy Trainer in Business Skills, Leadership & Management Training Funding, Management & Leadership, New Free Resources, News, Personal Development, Train to Gain Funding on April 12th, 2011| 5 Comments »
