Tag Archives: avptglobal

Are you focused, productive, transactional or inspirational? by Diane Shawe

shortcourses expert bannerBeing busy isn’t the same as being productive, but how do you assess what you need to do to improve both your productivity and your staff?

Would an online Personal Training Need Analysis that takes about 10 minutes help?

Then  CLICK HERE TO TRY ONE FREE Personal Training Needs Analysis and in as little as two hours you can judge for yourself if it would be of use in your business.

Would it help if you could find out how to get the best out of your employees?

Would it help to be able to speed up Pre-Interview selections, Staff Appraisals, Training Needs, Personal Development, Management Selection, Team building and any of those otherwise expensive long winded, time consuming and expensive process?

Well click on our complimentary link to see how it works, I promise you will not be disappointed.

What most people, employers, entrepreneurs and even some educational institutions do not have in today’s current environment is time, the necessary resources and the infrastructure they need to support and achieve learning objectives cost effectively.

Out with the Old in with the new but who is going to be ready at the ‘Start Line’ with all the right tools to assist with the new Continued Competences?

We can offer a person centric online Personal Training Needs analysis tools and  reports to aid in the development of any individuals or organisations growth. The profiles and learning programmes are designed to help reduce risk and to create action and results.  Goal setting is no good without implementation.

We invite you with our compliments to click and complete 10 simple questions and we will send you back a report so that you can see how it works and give us your feedback.

In order to better identify and appraise an individual to pinpoint specific training needs, the Speed of Implementation and adaption to change will confirm who gets ahead or sustain growth by using technology to help with self appraisal, self reflection and personal development.

However, the new skill set or competencies, aims to define the standards needed to enter, compete and remain in the profession which mainly comprise of the following:

  1. Ethics, professionalism and judgment;
  2. Financial Literacy and Technical ability;
  3. Managing yourself and your work;
  4. Working with other people.

That said, in order to meet these new core competencies, individuals and organisations will be required to undergo a process of self-reflection through a high-level Personal Training learning needs analysis to identify their own learning gaps; as well as identify gaps specific to those needed by the organisation they work with. Ideally, this process will be recorded and accompanied by an evaluation of the success of the learning completed and ultimately, organisations will be required to make an annual declaration that they have considered and taken action to address Point of Need training.

We look forward to your feedback once you get your free report back and then maybe we can discuss the speed of implementing this process throughout your business or consulting services.

Just click here now and in just 10 minutes you would have completed 10 questions and we will send you back the results.

 

Why strategies for modernising corporate learning should focus on learning outcome cover by diane shawe

 

“The only thing worse than training people and having them leave, is not training them and having them stay”

 

What do we do..

We specialise in resourcing short courses via a pre-populated LMS solution for Point of Need Training via mobile devices so that all different levels of staff can access training whilst on the move using their own device supported by one off our virtual tutors to help them complete their online 4 weeks course.

10 Tips for Becoming a Social Media Influencer by Diane Shawe

10 tips on becoming social media influencer by Diane ShaweAre you trying to become a social media influencer?

article by:

CEO at AVPT Ltd. Business Growth Training Provider & CPD Approved by SRA. Startup Loan Mentor

To be considered an influencer, people need to see you as a resource. Consider your audience and share content that they’ll find useful. Post original articles, plus posts from other trusted sources.

Publishing on social media is a great way to share expert knowledge and develop your influencer status.

In this article I’ll share ten tips that can help you become a social media influencer.

Discover ten tips for becoming a social media influencer.

1: Focus on one area and one specialism

To become an influencer, master a specific topic within your niche. If you cast your net too wide, it will be difficult to gain the level of knowledge necessary to be considered an expert.

If your goal is to be an expert in the digital space and become known as an influencer, there are plenty of things you can do to raise your profile. Develop your expertise and use social media to raise yourself to influencer status. To help you find your focus here are some points to consider.

What do you think?
What is your niche?
What platforms get the most engagement?
How have you developed your reputation as an influencer?
In what ways will you engaged your audience and shared your expertise

Either focus on one social media industry such as social media marketing or public relations, or on a single platform like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest or Instagram. The Vine is also good for short video clips from your Youtube account.

1: Master one topic to become a true expert.

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Start small and learn as much as you can about your desired niche through research and experimentation. That way, you’ll be able to discover the ins and outs of your specialty and form your own ideas, as opposed to simply restating others’ opinions. This is a very important step on your way to influencer status.

Oh and try not to drill down too much in your articles, more and more people access using a mobile device so think about what you would want to see if it was you reading someone else’s blog.

2: Subscribe to Platform Blogs

Social media is unique because it is in constant flux. Stay on top of the latest platform updates, such as algorithm changes, new analytics and added features, as they can drastically change a social channel and the way it’s navigated.

Whether you want to be viewed as the authority on a social channel or a broader industry, read platform blogs regularly: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Instagram. There’s no better way to keep tabs on any social media channel.

3: Familiarise and Read Relevant Blogs Daily

In addition to platform blogs, read other information outlets to gain valuable insights into your niche. Study news, expert opinions and case studies that are published or shared by people you trust.

Makes subscribing to and reading multiple blogs easy.

By using a tool like Feedly to subscribe to a variety of relevant industry blogs, you will benefit from different viewpoints and helpful advice.

4: Do you use your Alert Settings?

Reading press releases, news alerts and relevant posts is key to staying informed. When you know what’s happening, you can keep your followers in the know.

Since it is impossible to keep track of all of the information from platform blogs and your favourite outlets, invest time into creating alerts directly related to your specialism. A couple of tools that make it easy to stay on top of relevant news are Google Alerts and Social Mention.

5: Populate Your Blog

There is nothing worse than a blog that is several weeks out of date! Write blog posts and publish consistently. You should shoot to publish at least two to three times each week.

To stay on track, create an editorial calendar and stick to it.

Partner with other influencers and reblog them. Interview them, (over the phone, on skype or send them 5 questions to answer. Invite them to contribute to your blog or run a promotion together that gets shared on everyone’s sites.

6: Publish on LinkedIn

In addition to your own blog, re-create your posts on LinkedIn’s publishing platform. Cut and paste your previously published blog posts and add a headline, image and keywords. (I hope you have a linkedin account)

Remember, people generally assume LinkedIn posts are only from the most influential thought leaders. Now, when people in your network and beyond see your articles on LinkedIn, it is likely they will view you as an authority too.

Share your knowledge and get noticed by publishing on LinkedIn.

Through its publishing platform, LinkedIn has created a prime opportunity for influencers to get noticed.

7: Use Sharing tools to share Valuable Content

I repeat again, share content. Once you’ve determined your focus and have implemented a system for keeping on top of the latest news and information within your niche, start sharing high-value influencer content with your audience via social media.

8: Seek out and Contribute to Other Sites

One of the quickest ways to gain influencer status is to contribute your unique content to other blogs and publications. Guest posting increases your visibility, bolsters your credibility and increases traffic to your own blog.

After your content is published, let people in your network know. Tweet a link, share it on Facebook, tell your other online communities and add it to your LinkedIn profile publications. Dare I say it but +google plus is fast becoming a really influential content showcase. Have you got your account set up yet?

9: Be Seen Engaging Online

To be an influencer, you need to be seen and also be engaging. Social media influencers regularly take part in relevant conversations across a variety of networks. Attend and participate in Twitter chats and webinars (and host Twitter chats too), answer questions on Quora and share ideas in LinkedIn groups. Be constructive and you don’t always have to be controversial for the sake of it.

10: Safeguard your Reputation

This area is not often looked at, getting misquoted, having the wrong type of media attached to your blog can often flag up in the search engine above all of your positive content.

Make sure you sign up to a online reputation notify. They are good because they sweep the internet each week and give you a report on any new content found linked to you or uploaded by you. I use www.naymz.com It’s worth becoming a premium user.

Sharing your knowledge is how you’ll truly stand out as an influencer.

How can we help?

We have a Social Media Course that you might find very beneficial. Visit www.shortcourses.expert or give us a call and we will send you the course outline. 0208 1333120

Personality Profiling Highlights Personal Training Needs Analysis

What is your colour combination?

What is your colour combination?

What does your colour say about you?

article by Diane Shawe M.Ed

The Academy of Vocational and Professional Training has teamed up with Clarity4D to offer an affordable, accessible, Personality Profiling to assist with identifying Individuals Communication style and Personal Training Needs Analysis in April 2015.  Both solution incorporating a behavioural model and psychometric tool based on the work of Carl Jung and uses colour to identify the four basic personality traits, supported by a L.M.S Point of Need Training Courses in Softskills is set to improve the direct needs of Individual from small businesses to corporates.

Steve Davies Director of Clarity4d states that ‘Personality profiling helps people to raise self-awareness, to understand their preferred style of communication and to recognise the personality and styles of communication of their work colleagues, suppliers and customers’.

Clarity4D profiles are easy to understand and provide a good basis for a personal development plan and when used in conjunction with personal/professional training and coaching which can maximise the potential of individuals and teams.

Clarity4D is used by many organisations in the following ways:

  1. To improve teamwork and leadership
  2. For management development
  3. To understand how some behaviour could be perceived as “bullying”
  4. To introduce the concept of diversity and inclusion into corporate cultures
  5. For recruitment, appraisals and coaching
  6. To help organisations through cultural change

AVTP specialises in Soft Skills courses which can assist in Continued Competence and Point of Need Training via a mobile device or Short Intense courses. The advantage to the individual is that the courses are colour coded and the candidate can decide if they want to strengthen a low colour grade or improve a medium high colour grade with the most appropriate soft skill.

AVPT is used by many organisation in the following ways:

  1. We understand the business sector inside out – that is why Point of Need training for Clarity4dour main focus is placed upon providing the highest quality training of your staff, in the shortest possible time and to ensure that every person who trains with us goes out more effective than when they came in.
  2. We Are very flexible, student centric and time sensitive.
  3. We Can help you with both compliance and accreditation issues.
  4. Allow real time tracking, monitorng and measure staff progress and achievements.
  5. Impressive lead times that can be delivered over different time scales to suit individual learning needs.
  6. Mobile phone and tablet compliant and secure with no advertising to suck up bandwidth.
  7. We have immediate availability at the very last minute for a large number of effective tailored one day courses including social media marketing, building self esteem, information management, writing reports and proposals, minute taking, business marketing, leadership skills, sales & negotiation and much more!
  8. We are IAO accredited so certificates are recognised around the world.

So if you are involved with young people, teams, individuals, couples or appraisals what have you got to lose? try out one of our quick online profiling now. Click here or you can call us on 0203 551 2621 for a free consultation.

Never Miss the Opportunity to Accept Debit/Credit Cards with the New Breed of Mobile Readers

intuit credit card readerHave you setup your business to take money from plasitic cards anywhere?

Did you know that your clients will be more willing to part with £64 via their card than to part with £20 in cash – that’s astonishing!!!!!

You to, should join the increasing number of small businesses who never miss the opportunity to gain a sale and instead take advantage of the ability to take secure card payments via their mobiles or tablets.

The new breed of Debit/Credit mobile reader devices allows you to Accept credit card payments on your iPhone, Android or iPad with our easy to use credit card reader. No monthly fees or long term contracts.  There is no more excuse for you not to generate income on the move and here’s why.

worldzinc credit card reader

WorldpayZinc mobile card reader

The Benefits:

  • Never lose business by giving customers the opportunity to say ‘oh I haven’t got enough cash on me’ and then lose them because you were not able to take a cashless payment.
  • Card readers and your mobile phones are portable, so wherever you go, so does your business.
  • Nowadays customers expect to pay by card! No more walking around with large wads of cash or scraping about in your purse for change to give your clients

Here’s how it works:

  • Make an application to a bank/payment service provider like WorldPay Zinc, Paypal and Intuit for a Merchant Account. (Check around for who are offering the best rates and set up fees) They will need to know your current or projected sales per month. (Make sure you have your business setup as set out in our previous blog)
  • Request a card reader and download the App to use with the card reader. There will be useful tools in the App to help you manage your account and its transactions.
  • Some providers offer free readers but you may need to purchase or lease one (approx. £50). The device works by reading your client’s card and asks the cardholder to enter their PIN on the device. The device Bluetooths the information to your phone; then, via the App on your phone, the clients details are sent to your merchant account where the payment is authorised or denied. As long you have an internet connection, you are good to go.

What you need to know:

  • Most providers charge a set-up fee and you will also be charged for each transaction and in most cases for refunds
  • You won’t receive the money from transactions instantly but typically, you can expect for the money to reach your account within a week.
  • You are not liable for card fraud if you get a chip and pin device versus a chip and sign device. That said, to avoid fraudulent transactions, it does not hurt to ask for identification from your clients before accepting a purchase (you can write this into your terms and conditions )
  • Ensure your provider is compliant with the global Payment Card paypal credit card readerIndustry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This Authority is designed to protect your business transactions and your customers from fraud. Also ensure you keep customers financial information/receipts locked away safely as you are responsible for protecting their data.

So you can now make your mobile phone work for you and spend less time hassling about cash and more time collecting payments for your services.

 

10 Questions You Absolutely Must Ask Before Accepting a Job Offer

Need help with sharpening up your interviewing skills?

Need help with sharpening up your interviewing skills?

How to become a Self Employed Hair Extensions Technician

Becoming a Self Employed Mobile Hair Extension Technician

getting started in the hair extensions business 141364929463..jpgIf you are currently working and are considering going it alone as a hair extension technician, working on a mobile basis can be a fantastic way to go about it. No matter how bad the economy gets, people will always need haircuts and, given the lower overheads involved in visiting people at home, mobile hair extension technicians can generally offer a more affordable service. Traveling to a location that suits your customers also gives you a far larger client base than you would have if you limited yourself to working from a single salon. Sounds good so far? Here’s how to get started.

article by Diane Shawe

What to do next if you have just qualified: the nuts and bolts

A. Create a Business Name
B. Identify the sector that you come under ( hair and beauty, Hairdressing, mobile business)
C. Consider a Trading address other than your private address
D. What services are you going to offer
E. Website with contact details and prices ( try http://www.wahanda.com free websites for beauty/hairdressing)
F. Open a Business bank account
G. Proof of qualifications or experience
H. Data Management registration
I.  Create a Facebook fan page
J. Create a YouTube channel
K. Cost and value of equipment

What do insurance company’s cover?

Insurance companies insure the following

  1. Businesses
  2. Public Liability
  3. Equipment
  4. Professional indemnity (need 5 years experience to qualify for this)

They do not cover specific certificates, however they will want to know if you are qualified or experienced in your chosen field.  But primarily they are going to cover a business and the services you provide.  Ringing up an insurance company without a business name etc as specified above will not get you very far.

How much insurance cover will you get?

AUTOMATIC COVERS WITH MOST MOBILE HAIRDRESSING INSURANCES

  • Public Liability – £3 million or £5 million
  • Products Liability – £3 million or £5 million
  • Treatment Risk – £3 million
  • Financial Loss – £10,000 or £50,000

OPTIONAL COVERS

  • Employers Liability
  • Money
  • Legal Expenses
  • Personal Accident for hands
  • Stock/Equipment

Think about ways to make yourself even more attractive to potential clients:

  • If you’ve specialised in styling hair, could you take a more advanced colourist course?
  • Could mastering intricate hairstyles and up-dos open a whole new market of wedding and special event clients?

There are also various other aspects of being self-employed to consider; it won’t only be about cutting, styling and colouring hair. You will need to learn about self-assessment tax returns, salon management and how to set your prices at a level which is affordable to your clients, attractive enough to have them switch from their current hairdresser and enough to cover your expenses and salary.

Of course, there are some further education courses you could take to help make your self-employment dream a reality – a diploma or even a BA in Salon Management could be perfect. Browse the websites and prospectuses of local colleges and universities to see what you could get yourself enrolled in.

From the beginning of your new venture

We cannot emphasise enough how important organisation is to the self-employed, no matter what industry you are working in.

As soon as you start working as a self-employed hairdresser, make sure to notify HMRC about your self-employed status. Keep an accurate record of every penny that comes in or goes out of your business; you’ll need it when it comes to completing your self-assessment at the end of the tax year, and also when reviewing your finances to make sure your prices and wages are set at an appropriate level.

Don’t forget to record your mileage!

This freelancer take-home pay calculator may also come in handy.

Always, ALWAYS, remember to keep back-ups of all of your records (including your appointments and client details). Don’t rely on any one type of recording – paper can get damaged and computer files or devices can be wiped or destroyed.

Drumming up new business

At first, you will probably find it easiest and most cost effective to promote your new found services on facebook to your friends for a special offer.

There are also quite a few other routes to explore:

  • Bridal/special occasion packagesLearn new hair extensions technique in one day 3
  • School prom or university ball specials
  • Contacting local wedding or ball venues to inquire about becoming one of their preferred suppliers
  • Advertising on bridal or local message boards or forums
  • Delivering leaflets in your local area or advertising in shops, community centres and clubs
  • Working as a advisor with other specialist hairdressers

Remember that, the more you can offer your clients, the more attractive you will be to them. Would it be an option for you to train in nails, spray-tanning or eyebrow threading? This could open up a whole new market to you, particularly when it comes to bridal packages, pamper days and even pampering birthday parties girls Hen Parties.

You could also consider renting a chair in a salon for a day or two a week to give you some guaranteed business and income.

Going forward

The world is your oyster – all you need is a little imagination and a lot of hard work. Good luck in your new venture! Once it is up and running, it’s time to start working on your five year plan…

Online insurances to check out:

Direct Line for Mobile Hairdressers

Simply Business for Hairdressers

Association of Beauty Therapist

Salon Savers (need to be qualified hairdresser)

We are not affiliated to any of the above company’s this is just a guideline to get you going.

Visit our website for more information on our 1, 2 or 3 day hair extensions courses.

Why mentoring for women running a business has become critical

mentoring by diane shaweWhy Mentoring is important

Article by Diane Shawe

It was revealed last year in an article that young women are more likely to fall into personal insolvency than young men of the same age. The figures, which were quite alarming if you’re a woman, showed that nearly eight out of 10,000 young women became insolvent last year, compared to just four men in 10,000

“Mentor: Someone whose hindsight can become your foresight”

Mentoring is a powerful personal and development tool. It is a partnership between two people (mentor and mentee) normally working in a similar field or sharing similar experiences – or conversely, perhaps you are looking to enter a new field and would like support from someone who has been there before. It is a helpful, supportive relationship based on mutual trust and respect.

What is a mentor

Mentoring is most often defined as a professional relationship in which an experienced person (the mentor) assists another (the mentoree) in developing specific skills and knowledge that will enhance the less-experienced person’s professional and personal growth.

What is a Coach

Coaching is training or development in which a person called a “coach” supports a learner in achieving a specific personal or professional goal. The learner is sometimes called a “coachee”. Occasionally, “coaching” may mean an informal relationship between two people, of whom one has more experience and expertise than the other and offers advice and guidance as the latter learns; but coaching differs from mentoring in focusing on competence specifics, as opposed to general overall development.

Some coaches use a style in which they ask questions and offer opportunities to challenge the learner to find his or her own answers. This helps the learner find answers and new ways of achieving their goals based on their own values, preferences and perspectives.

So your mentor is your guide who can help you to find the right direction, be a sounding board and support you in developing solutions for you and your business or lifestyle.

Getting Financed – A fair share for Women startup

Start-Up Loans are funded by the Government both for people starting up and new businesses trading for less than two years. They are easy to apply for and typically people borrow between £2,000 and £10,000, although there is no limit. Enterprising Women’s parent company YTKO has now been approved as a national provider of Start-up Loans, which means that Enterprising Women can now bring them to you!

WHY PRE START UP SUPPORT IS ALSO IMPORTANT

The Enterprising Women  also offer a wealth of pre-start support through their sister organisation Outset, as well as post-finance mentors to help keep you on track. So if you’re a new business (trading for less than two years months) looking to fund your growth or just starting out, – or know someone who is – click here to find out more.

The Start Up Loans Company is a UK-wide, government backed scheme, which offers a repayable loan to individuals over the age of 18 who have a viable business idea but no access to finance. The scheme funds businesses in every sector. As well as financial backing, all loan recipients are given access to a mentor, free training events and exclusive business offers.

If you are yet to start, or in your first two years of trading, then you will probably be eligible to apply. People typically borrow between £2,000 and £10,000 (the maximum loan is £25,000) and all loans come at a competitive, fixed rate of interest at 6.2% APR.

 

Do women still derail each other in the workplace?

women derailing women by Diane Shawe 2015Are women other women’s own worst enemies at work?

article by Diane Shawe M.Ed

There was an interesting essay a few weeks ago in the New York Times about workplace infighting among women. The piece describes how women can sometimes derail each other in the office. Is this true? One study by the Workplace Bullying Institute, for example, found that female office bullies, who commit verbal abuse, sabotage performance or hurt relationships, aim at other women more than 70% of the time. (Male workplace bullies, by contrast, tend to be equal-opportunity offenders, targeting both men and women.)

There are several theories why some women hurt other women in the workplace, but surely this must also apply to men… so lets check out some of the theories

Scarcity:

One is scarcity: there are few spots at the top, so women at higher levels are reluctant to help other women who could potentially usurp them.

D.I.Y Bootstrap Theory:

Another reason a bit more basic is called the “D.I.Y. Bootstrap Theory.” Some women reason that if they had to pull themselves up on their own, why should they help anyone else?

Fear of showing Favoritism;

Women may also be worried about showing favoritism toward other women, so instead, they can end up going too far in the other direction and go out of their way to not help their female colleagues.

Over Emotional:

And then there’s the idea that some women are over-emotional, which leads them to take challenges or criticism personally, hold grudges or get caught up in petty arguments.

The way forward

Becoming simply aware of these habits is not quite enough anymore “If we really want to clear one of the last remaining hurdles to gender parity and career success, let’s start by really understanding how to be resilient, focused, leadership skills, personal wealth management and personal profiling.

Readers, what do you think? If you’re a woman, have you experienced being derailed or undermined at a time of importance both to you career and self-esteem? How did you handle it? Have managers or colleagues been more supportive of your performance or do you feel like games are being played well if your tired of being tired here is a seminar for you…

Five Steps to avoiding being undermined and derailed Seminar 17th February 2015 at the Doubletree Hilton Westminster Hotel.
Five experienced speakers who will focus on:

How can you make yourself be heard without shouting?
Do you feel like you are constantly being derailed?
Are you uncomfortable about how to present yourself in front of a camera?
Do you need clarity on what type of Manager/leader you are?
Are you at that point in your life where you seriously need to carve out a financial haven for the future?

The importance of keep in-touch with enquirers

Explore different ways to engage your online enquirers

Explore different ways to engage your online enquirers

In my previous blog Why the Money is in the list If you have taken on board my last piece of advice and have started to build a list then congratulations!

article by Diane Shawe M.Ed

I have been using pagewiz and have found it to be very productive as I receive at least 8 – 12 new enquires each day.

If you do the same then you you will greatly increased your chances of making a real business online for yourself that you can grow and develop.

There is one key element though that you will need to take on board if you really want your list to bear the fruits of your hard labour. You will need to stay in contact with them and build a relationship with them. You can do this by introducing them to your blog or a newsletter management solution.

That’s rights guys, this is a relationship like any other and you will need to work on it and keep in contact with your list if you really want them to buy from you. Just like you would keep in contact with your boyfriend and girlfriend on a regular basis and would suffer the consequences if you didn’t it’s the same with your list.

That’s because having a list is not enough but rather having a loyal trusting list is worth its weight in gold. There have been examples online of guys with less than 1000 people on their list outselling others with thousands of people of theirs. And the difference here is trust and relationship building.

When you have the trust levels and relationship built up by staying in touch with them you can maximise the potential of this list of buyers.

try 5 short courses for £25.00 at www.crashcourses.academy 1

Watct out for my next lesson: Why auto responders are must for your online business.

Download your free report on Strategies for Modernising Corporate Elearning by Diane Shawe

Why strategies for modernising corporate learning should focus on learning outcome cover by diane shawe