Tag Archives: learning

  • The value of continuous learning

    <img class="size-medium wp-image-1049 aligncenter" src="https://www.amassocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/All-progress-takes-place-outside-the-comfort-zone-3-300×251.jpg" alt="All progress takes place outside the comfort zone (3)" width="300" height="251" srcset="https://www.amassocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/All-progress-takes-place-outside-the-comfort-zone-3-300×251.jpg 300w, https://www.amassocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/All-progress-takes-place-outside-the-comfort-zone-3-768×644.jpg 768w, https://www.amassocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/All-progress-takes-place-outside-the-comfort-zone-3-636×533.jpg 636w, https://www.amassocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/All-progress-takes-place-outside-the-comfort-zone-3-320×268 cialis dosierung.jpg 320w, https://www.amassocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/All-progress-takes-place-outside-the-comfort-zone-3-239×200.jpg 239w, https://www.amassocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/All-progress-takes-place-outside-the-comfort-zone-3.jpg 940w” sizes=”(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px” /> There is a common saying that I regularly hear and sometimes see pinned on notice boards in client offices: “What […]

  • Are you catering for the Millennials?

    Are you catering for the Millennial’s? Recent research by a recruitment consultancy has found that 91% of millennial professionals (individuals born between 1980 and 1999) place career progression at the top of their wish list when looking at job offers. But what the research also found is that this level of importance is not matched […]

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    The benefits of developing softer skills in schools

    I read with interest the recently published article, which looked at how educational establishments are selected in the UAE and the role of education in creating the future generations for the workforce. Whilst the Dubai and UAE education system is quite different to the United Kingdom, it is true that we are all striving to […]

  • Soft Skills Breakthrough!

    Last week I read an article in the e-BBC News, Education and Family section that brought music to my ears! It read, “Soft skills” need to be taken much more seriously as factors for business success, says a campaign by employers. These are skills such as communication, initiative, interacting with customers and team working. Research […]

  • Clarity4D Taster Session Goes Live

    Amanda Murrell Associates Ltd is holding a 2hour taster session of an excellent personal profiling tool Clarity4D, using colours to highlight your behaviour preferences. Clarity4D is an affordable, accessible, global, learning and development solution incorporating a behavioural model and psychometric tool based on the work of Carl Jung and uses colour to identify the four basic […]

  • Do your staff have enough confidence to do their jobs effectively?

    It’s the 21st century and no longer do we have staff members that we take fresh from college, train and develop through the business and then wave off for a ‘happy retirement’ 40 years later. Times are a changing and the education system is no longer geared towards developing the non-educational side of our children […]

  • Why take on a voluntary role?

     

    With the summer nearly over, children back to school and my Bedfordshire BusinessWomen (BBW) Presidential year is coming to an end. As a business woman in 2013, I have been taking some time to consider how worthwhile my role as President has been to my business and to the services that I offer to my clients.

    Being President has added real value to my business and whilst the workload has been at times overwhelming, I have a much stronger portfolio of skills and experience as a result. Anyone considering taking up a voluntary role should consider these business benefits, which often cannot be achieved any other way. 

    So, I wanted to share some of my highlights of being President of BBW during the last year.

    October 2012 and our 25th year of networking started on a high as Finalists for Fundraiser of the year 2012 at the Pride in Bedford Awards. Our first event was an evening fashion show at Mercedes Benz of Bedford, where some of our members modeled on the catwalk.

    November 2012 was an exceptional month, winning the Community Investment Award, at the Beds & Luton Business Excellence Awards 2012, and at the same event Finalists for Enterprising Organisation of the year 2012, as well as Runners-Up for Networking Group of the Year 2012 at the East of England Business Champions 2012. 

    We were treated to breakfast in the Mayors parlour and later in November, afternoon tea at Woburn with workshops delivered by members. After a great Christmas afternoon event with fun, frolics and Santa, at the Embankment Hotel, in December, we started 2013 off with the traditional ‘Man Day’ at Millbrook Proving Ground, with over 60 men and women experiencing an exciting day of high-speed pro-drives, professional networking and inspiring presentations.  We also celebrated with our annual International Women’s Day event, sponsored by Bedford College, where we were dined in decadent surroundings at the Mansion House, Old Warden.

    Always keen to raise money for charity, other than The Road Victims Trust  (RVT)my charity of the year, we took part in the Ladies Driving Challenge, RAF Alconbury, for The Fire Fighters Charity, raising over £1,000, this was definitely one of my highlights from the year.

    There are many more highlights; yoga at Champney’s in March, joint FSB Business Expo in April, Putteridge Bury in May, Lifestyle event, Luton Hoo in July and my leaving event, an afternoon garden party at Milton Ernest.

    New for my year are monthly workshops at the i-Lab run by our own members and any member is welcome to run workshops, or share with BBW, aspects of their business, we actively encourage joint working and networking outside of BBW events.

    It wouldn’t be right to finish this review without mentioning our spectacular 25th anniversary ball and awards evening in June at the Sharnbrook Hotel – a truly glamorous event and very befitting of such a wonderful group of ladies and of course also winning the FSB Best Networking Group 2013 in June.

    Finally, I would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who has contributed to BBW in some way, for supporting me as President, and made this another successful year for us all. I wish Emma and the members of BBW all the very best for the coming 12 months.

    Amanda Murrell

     

     

  • Awards – we need the application as much as we need to win!

    We all know that in order to make our business unique, credible and worth investing in, it’s important that we can prove our worth.  There are many ways to achieve this but one of the most effective is to enter and win awards, this confirms that your business has been benchmarked against others, has been through a scrutiny process and that it is a credible and successful business.

    Entering and winning awards can raise your profile, enhance your reputation, allow you to receive the recognition you deserve, instil trust, attract new business and ultimately make you more profitable.

    Compiling the application for an award is an incredible way to focus your mind on your achievements and provides the opportunity to ask your clients for testimonials. 

    Spending time on your business and not in your business is a valuable activity for us all.

    Amanda Murrell