A Guide to Training and Development Courses
Consultancy
Our associates are all experienced business people, consultants and trainers. Informed by our international, multi-sector experience in delivering consultancy projects, we offer bespoke consultancy services to suit your organisation’s business needs and aspirations.
As each project is unique to each client we will work with you to identify your needs and how we can best service them. We will then produce a proposal specific to your requirements and budget.
Examples of recent tutor projects include:
• Senior leadership development and commercial strategy creation for North of England Care System Support (NECS) part of the UK National Health Service.
• Supporting CCBRT (Tanzania), a leading not for profit hospital in it’s evolution from a charity to a social-enterprise.
• Supporting a major technology rollout for an Aerospace company including, organisational restructure, communications planning, data and warehouse strategy and training.
• Ongoing support of Scottish Government Technology Innovation programme
TDC Courses for different Leadership Stages
Ø Courses for Directors and Senior Leaders
These are intensive 1, 2 and 3 day courses for those already at, or moving up to, director, trustee, or equivalent senior level. The subjects are business-critical issues for leaders running organisations in the commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Ø Courses for Leaders and Managers
These, typically 1 or 2 day, courses act as an introduction to key business issues for managers or as a refresher for more senior leaders.
Ø The Mini-series
Short introductory/refresher courses for Leaders at any level. These courses are typically 2 hours or half-days and act as an introduction to a subject for newer leaders or as a refresher for more senior leaders. The following sections explain how we deliver our training options and the type of courses we can offer.
TDC Course delivery options
Delivery
• face to face
• on-line
Attendance options
• open to the public
• open to the membership of your organisation
• exclusive for your organisation’s staff
Course content
• we offer a range of existing and possible courses
• courses can be tailored to suit your own organisation’s requirements
• we can create a new bespoke course to suit your organisation’s specific needs with a learning journey over an agreed timeframe to better embed learning into practice
TDC Course delivery options
Our courses are workshop-based high-engagement training. Our delivery approach is adaptable to meet the needs of clients, providing a range of informative and inspiring learning experiences face to face or on-line.
Courses for Directors, Trustees and Senior Leaders
These intensive courses are designed for those delegates already or about to operate at board or senior executive leadership levels.
Courses for Directors, Trustees and Senior Leaders
LEADERSHIP
L1. Leadership essentials for Directors - 3 days
This course enables delegates to understand the dynamics and responsibilities of leadership. It contextualises leadership in relation to key responsibilities, such as managing change, and provides a practical understanding of the role of a director. Delegates will gain core leadership skills to drive business performance.
L2. Women in Leadership - 3 days
This course is our full leadership course (L1) especially adapted to include issues pertinent to women leaders and their unique strengths and challenges.
L3. Board dynamics and the Effective Board – 1 day
Dysfunctional boards can cause serious harm to company performance. This course challenges delegates to take a forensic look at their own board’s dynamics and explore ways to greatly enhance board dynamics and resultant board performance.
Courses for Directors, Trustees and Senior Leaders
STRATEGY
S1. Creating successful strategy – 2 or 3 days
This course gives delegates a stronger understanding of strategy and greater confidence in the crafting and implementation of competitive strategies. Delegates will become competent using strategic tools and be better able to drive the creation and implementation of robust strategic plans.
S2. Strategy for 'Not for Profit' organisations - 2 days
This course is designed to reflect the different issues and demands of the NFP world, and gives delegates a stronger understanding of strategy and greater confidence in the crafting and implementation of strategy when beneficiary outcomes are the focus, not profit generation.
S3. Scenario planning – 2 days
This course shows delegates how to apply scenario planning to work through a range of credible scenarios, focusing on key actions to achieve desirable outcomes in the face of specific current or future challenges. It incorporates key strategic models and tools for analysis and planning, and how to apply them in the context of scenario planning.
Courses for Directors, Trustees and Senior Leaders
FINANCE
F1. Finance for non finance Directors - 2 days
This course helps leaders who do not work in finance to better understand how money flows through an organisation, identify organisational finance issues and structures, and demystifies 'accountancy-speak’.
F2. Raising capital, acquisitions or disposals - 1 day
This course provides an understanding of the key issues of raising additional capital for growth, leading an acquisition, merger or disposal. Practical advice is given about assessing the suitability of a given route and managing the process
Courses for Directors, Trustees and Senior Leaders
GOVERNANCE
G1. Directors Introduction to Organisational Governance - 2 days
This course introduces governance and helps leaders to understand the concept of agency, who the key governance players are, and their roles and responsibilities in ensuring good governance.
G2. Leadership in Partnerships - 1 day
This course is focused on the special complexities and opportunities of leadership, finance and governance in partnerships.
Courses for Directors, Trustees and Senior Leaders
CHANGE & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
C1. Managing change, staying agile - 2 days
This course covers the basics of agile operating. It then focusses on applying these to managing the change you are trying to achieve. It covers using agile rhythms to drive Change and how Agile processes support digital Transformation work-streams.
C2. Creating positive digital change - 2 days
This course investigates what works, (and what doesn’t), in digital change, using case studies from the last 8 years to demonstrate the good and the bad in delivering positive digital change to generate best practice.
C3. Digital transformation strategy - 2 days
This two day intensive course covers the core of a Digital Transformation Strategy, what it is, its key components and how to deliver it.
Courses for Leaders and Managers
These courses are designed for existing or soon to be managers and leaders. They act as a good introduction to the subjects for managers or a useful refresher for directors.
Courses for Leaders and Managers
LEADERSHIP
L4. Stepping up to leadership - 1 day
This course identifies the key differences between management and leadership responsibilities and how to raise your game to become a true leader.
L5. The critical 'soft skills' of leadership - 1 day
This course introduces the so-called 'soft skills’, and why they are actually so hard. It explains their relevance to leadership and how to enhance them in yourselves and your teams.
L6. Women in leadership - 1 day
This course looks at leadership from a female perspective and discusses the unique experiences and abilities women have as leaders.
L7. Collaborative leadership - 1 day
This course examines the strengths of collaborative leadership within and between organisations.
Courses
LEADERSHIP
L8. Decision making - 1 day
This course focusses on leaders and their role as decision makers, including asking the right questions, decision-making tools and common pitfalls.
L9. Achieving diversity and inclusion - 1 day
This course introduces the concept of diversity and inclusion within an organisational setting and and why it is important.
L10. Introduction to risk and crisis management - 1 day
This course introduces delegates to the key issues in risk and crisis management and discusses why they are critical for the organisation.
L11. Encouraging and delivering innovation - 1 day
This course helps leaders to encourage innovation in their teams or organisations, defining innovation, types of innovation, innovative cultures and crowdsourcing.
Courses for Leaders and Managers
STRATEGY
S3. Introduction to stakeholder management - 1 day
This course introduces the key issues around stakeholders and stakeholder management, mapping and communications.
S4. Introduction to strategic analysis - 1 day
This course provides an introduction to the need for and ways to perform strategic analysis.
S5. Creating strategic plans - 1 day
This course explains how to approach the creation of a deliverable strategic plan for your organisation.
S6. Developing an agile strategy - 1 day
This course introduces the concept of agile strategy and helps leaders to understand how to make their organisation more agile.
Courses for Leaders and Managers
GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE
G3. Introduction to organisational governance - 1 day
This course introduces the concept of organisational governance for managers and new directors, examining roles and responsibilities, and where to look for regulations, laws or guidance.
G4. The role of the Chair and the Board - 1 day
This course explores the role of the chair and the board, in leading an organisation, their responsibilities and how to fulfill the roles well.
F3. Finance for non financial managers - 1 day
This course introduces key financial terms and issues to managers from nonfinancial disciplines, what to look for in financial reports and understanding the basic financial structures.
Courses for Leaders and Managers
CHANGE, INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
C4. Digital Transformation and Evolution – 2 days
This course gives directors knowledge and understanding of Digital Transformation, how it can be used and how to overcome barriers to achieve success.
C5. AI as a driver of Organisational Change – 1 day
AI can have an exponential impact on an organisation. This introduction will give Directors an overview of how, why and when to deploy AI in the organisation to maximise beneficial outcomes.
C6. Strategies for Future Tech. Investments – 1 day
This course highlights how people skills and curiosity deliver the best strategies and planning for technology investments.
C7. Managing Big Data – 1 day
This course introduces the concepts of Data lakes or data warehousing and how best to leverage big data across all aspects of the business.
The Mini-series
These are short courses typically 2 hours or half days. They are designed to be an introduction (or a refresher) to a subject and are suitable for leaders at any level, from team leader to director. These can also be tailored to meet the more specific needs of a membership organisation or trade body.
The Mini-series - 2 hours or half day introductory/refresher courses
Introductory and refresher courses for leaders at any level.
IR1. Finding your leadership style.
IR2. Chairing Meetings
IR3. Public speaking and presenting
IR4. Understanding & overcoming ‘Imposter syndrome’.
IR5. Establishing your personal presence
IR6. Leaders as coach and mentor
IR7. Understanding basic organisational finances
IR8. Introduction to inclusion and diversity
IR9. Psychological safety in the workplace
IR10. How to run internal team or board evaluations
IR11. Strategic decision making
IR12. Understanding culture in the workplace
IR 13. Stepping up to leadership
Additional subjects may be available on request, subject to tutor expertise.
Conventions
These are expert-led peer to peer learning sessions. They are not traditional training but are designed to introduce specialist subject matter to leaders, to enhance their breadth and depth of expertise.
Typically 3 x 2hrs sessions, run as in-house company events or for membership organisations, they are led by an expert in a specific subject area, who gives a talk on their area of expertise, and are then supported by course leaders from TDC, who help delegates to create tangible plans for their business.
Delegates work in peer-to-peer learning groups, so these sessions provide excellent networking opportunities.
How Conventions work
Session 1 : Learn
One business theme, e.g. ‘Managing ESG’ is explained in a learning session, led by an experienced practitioner. Delegates work through tasks, in groups, to enhance the learning.
Session 2 : Collaborate
Delegates work, in groups, to create a plan for a real business, based on the earlier learning and expert advice. The session is guided by experienced international trainers.
Session 3 : Share
Each team presents back their ideas and plans for their chosen business, creating a wide range of ideas for delegates to then apply in their own organisation. The session ends with networking.
1. Learn
3. Share
2. Collaborate
Why work with us: who we are
First and foremost, we are business people, we have first hand experience of running organisations. We are executive and non-executive directors.
We bring this wealth of real world experience to our course content and delivery. We know being a leader or director is not easy and we know what you need to know and do, and what you need to avoid doing.
We are experienced consultants and trainers with international experience across continents and across sectors. We have wide contact networks with diverse expertise to draw upon.
Why work with us?
Industry-experienced Course Leaders
Our course leaders bring a wealth of experience and expertise, illuminating their courses with real world examples and lived experiences derived from their:
• UK and international experience.
• Director, CEO and NXD level careers.
• Multi-sector expertise in commercial, public sector, and not-for-profit organisations.
• Diverse industry experience, as direct employees, business owners and consultants.
“We are business people, and we are experienced consultants and trainers, with a passion for enhancing personal and business performance.”
Expert speakers
We source speakers for our conventions that are experts in their field, speak with passion, communicate well, and bring new insights to our understanding of their specialist subjects. They tell you what you need you know and understand as a leader.
Our Approach
Our focus is to create high-engagement courses or conventions that work for you as a client or delegate, exceeding your organisation’s development ambitions. We ensure everyone’s voice is heard so that peer-to-peer learning can flourish. Our courses are informative, challenging, inspirational and most importantly enjoyable.
Who we are
Dr. Deborah Benson
An international consultant, trainer and board director specialising in strategy, leadership and board dynamics. In ‘ The Directors Convention’, and for the UK Inst. of Directors’ Chartered Director Programme, she has created courses and delivered to thousands of international directors. With over 20 years’ experience as a commercial executive director/CEO, and as an NED in the public sector and charities, Deborah has held the roles of depute chair and treasurer, and member/chair of finance, audit, risk & remuneration committees. Her inspiring courses are grounded in business reality. Recent projects: Strategy and scenario planning with Scottish Human Rights Commission. Leadership training for Scottish Womens Aid’s members. Strategy and leadership development with the board of Wise Investments Ltd. Strategy development for NECS (NHS) and and CCBRT Hospital.
Qualifications
Doctorate in Business Administration
Inst. of Directors Diploma in Company Direction
MBA General Management
BSc (Hons). Environmental Science
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Who we are
Mary Campbell OBE
Mary has been a director since 1990, serving on listed and unlisted boards, in the UK and the USA. She has advised FTSE100 companies, SMEs, Governments, Central Banks and charities, and specialises in governance and finance.
Mary brings her years of high-level corporate experience to her high-engagement training and consultancy, illustrating her deliveries with her extensive knowledge of real-world events. Her approach helps delegates to understand the importance of governance to the successful and legal deliver of business in any sector, and helps delegates to comprehend how to oversee their company’s finances.
Mary was awarded an OBE for services to enterprise.
Qualifications
BA Accountancy & Business Law with Economics
Chartered Accountant (ICAS)
Certified Director (UK IoD)
FCA (and predecessors) Approved (since 1990)
Inst. of Directors Diploma in Company Direction
Who we are
Steve Plummer
Over 25 years of board experience. Steve has been delivering practitioner-focussed, outcome-orientated training for over 12 years. Since 2021 Steve has worked in the Innovation Managers team within the Scottish Government's Civtech programme, supporting the successful delivery of countless challenges from AI to aerospace. Steve is Chair of Scotland's largest independent community care charity ‘Turning Point Scotland’ and runs a small Social Enterprise called 12 Guitars, enabling disadvantaged people to access and learn the guitar.
Recent projects: The University of Buckingham, EDF Energy, Falkirk Community Trust, Impact Arts, Robert Gordon University, National Theatre Scotland, The Royal Academy of Dance.
Qualifications
BA (Hons) English and Information Science
British Interactive Media Assoc. Top 100 Class of 2020
BIMA Top 10 Digital Strategy Consultant
Who we are
Nicola Barclay
Nicola has over 30 years’ professional experience in the corporate world, principally in the UK real estate sector, most recently as Chief Executive and main board director of industry body, Homes for Scotland.
A qualified coach, passionate about great leadership, Nicola helps clients to support and promote diverse teams through 1-2-1 coaching, mentoring and group training. Nicola uses her knowledge, along with her extensive professional and executive expertise to provide individuals and groups with the necessary tools to excel confidently in their careers.
Nicola is Chair of the charity, Habitat for Humanity GB; a senior advisor to the Housing Growth Partnership; Chair of the Board of Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST); and Chair of the Housing Commission for More Homes through Alternative Investment.
Qualifications
European Mentoring and Coaching Council Practitioner
BSc (Hons) Town and country planning
Member Royal Town Planning Institute.
