Commercial Awareness Digital Course

Want to have a go at analysing your future employer? Or how about trying to write a research document covering Microsoft’s recent Co-Pilot AI release and its industry implications? Designed for students, this free 1 Hour course aims to level the playing field and equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to help you prepare for interviews, giving you the best chances of success no matter who you are. Course Sections: • Getting to Grips with Commercial Awareness. • Looking through case studies and having a go at creating a research document on Microsoft’s recent product release. • How to analyse a company in under 5 minutes. • Question round, including analysing PwC and implementing your innovative ideas. • Accessing information and utilising the media.

Market Research & Employer Insights for Interview Success

In today’s competitive job market, simply showing up to an interview isn’t enough—you need to stand out. This workshop teaches students and early-career professionals how to prepare for interviews by researching industry trends and company values in a way that makes them more confident, informed, and impressive candidates. Participants will learn how to: • Understand what employers look for beyond basic qualifications • Conduct targeted, credible research on companies and market trends • Use tools like official reports, business news, and platforms like LinkedIn • Apply AI tools for summarising and organising information (e.g. ChatGPT) • Practically connect findings to job applications or interviews • Present research in a short, impactful format (e.g. slides via PowerPoint or Canva) The session includes a structured research assignment based on a real company (Grant Thornton), where students will: • Analyse CSR/sustainability reports • Connect personal values with employer initiatives • Recommend future CSR directions • Submit a short presentation and receive a Certificate of Completion for their CV The workshop wraps with tips on confidence, communication, and interview mindset. By the end, students will have built job-ready insights—and a real deliverable to show for it.

Dealing with Difficult People at Work

Every workplace has difficult people - from micromanaging supervisors to complaining colleagues and angry customers. This interactive workshop teaches you proven strategies to handle these challenging situations professionally and confidently. You'll learn to identify four common types of difficult workplace personalities and master the CALM method (Collect, Acknowledge, Listen, Move Forward) for de-escalating tense situations. Through realistic scenarios, you'll practice responding to micromanagers, handling angry customers, setting boundaries with negative colleagues, and dealing with credit-stealing peers. The workshop includes hands-on practice with branching scenarios where your choices determine the outcome, helping you build confidence before facing these situations in real life. You'll also learn when and how to escalate issues appropriately, protecting both your professional reputation and personal wellbeing. By completion, you'll have practical tools you can use immediately, plus templates and scripts for common difficult situations. Perfect for apprentices and young professionals who want to navigate workplace challenges with confidence and professionalism. Certificate awarded upon successful completion of scenario-based assessment.