Are these courses of interest to you?
Managing Operations
Managing People
Managing Markets
Writing For Staff/Customer Magazines

I have just discovered an organisation that aims these courses at those who need them most – the managers. They aren’t about teaching staff to be able to add or spell, but about enabling them to manage their work more effectively and productively.

I used to despair of managers who were technically great, but terrible managers. It now seems that help is to hand. Based in the Midlands, Skills For Business is offering partly funded courses.

And if you say that you read about it here, they might even send you some chocolate!

http://www.dmu.ac.uk/partnerships/skillsforbusiness/

Spent a great afternoon today on a panel presenting to a group of aspiring film makers. I am always inspired by those who have creativity running through their veins. Something about art being the object of their day’s work, not the pursuit of profit.

My input was to help improve the participant’s business skills. Also on the panel were four (yes, four) lawyers.

Art is good, sustainable art is better; be led by your work, not by the corporate structure.

Thanks to The Producers Forum for organising a great session. http://www.producersforum.org.uk/about.asp

I gave two presentations today. The first was to a group of creative leaders, the second to the regional meeting of the Charity Finance Directors Group. Perhaps unsurprisingly I left the former meeting feeling more energised than the second…

As an ex-member of CFDG myself, a healthy dose of scepticism is to be expected while discussing charity’s reserves.

You just can’t help but be inspired while listening to leaders of organisations talking about their vision and goals in life, and appreciating that finance is a tool to help make their dreams happen.

The convenor of the training session (Helga Henry at Fierce Earth) is to be congratulated. They just need to get their website up and running!