We’re proud to have provided development consultancy and training solutions for many leading professional services and high-profile organisations.
We deliver training courses and learning solutions with a difference. Engaging, powerful and designed to raise performance standards within your organisation, these courses can be truly transformative.
We spend time analysing what each company requires before helping you implement change both for the individual and for the business.
Continual and consistent feedback demonstrates the success and long lasting effects from our work. Read on to find out more.
Who was the course developed for?
Business Service personnel based in the Washington DC and New York offices of a magic circle law firm.
The Brief
To provide a bespoke solution for all business service personnel situated in the DC and New York offices.
The aim of the session was reinforce the requirement for all personnel to demonstrate a proactive rather than reactive approach, to take ownership and responsibility whilst demonstrating an understanding of the bigger picture and how this links to the overall vision of the organisation.
The Solution
Debbie Ackland developed a 3-hour course entitled “More than Reactive”. Delegates worked with relevant case studies to identify the differences between reactive and proactive behaviour, the benefits of proactivity in the workplace, how natural preferences may impact the way we work and how to develop or maintain a proactive approach in the workplace.
The feedback
The course was compulsory.
We received 48 evaluation forms and out of those, 43 rated the training as excellent. Having reviewed the evaluations from the “More than Reactive” training, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
What was the impact on the individual?
Comments included:
– ‘Personal investment in your job makes you want to be better’
– ‘Debbie got the group to see how each person being proactive in their individual roles worked towards getting the firm to its goal.’
– ‘Can easily be applied to everyday life’
Feedback from the Client Sponsor
‘We have reviewed the evaluations received from the “More than Reactive” training and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive – I hope we have the opportunity to work with you again.’
Who was the course developed for?
A de-centralised multinational law firm ranked by Acritas as one of the world’s top 20 Global Elite law firms. The firm has over 7,000 lawyers.
The brief
A modular management programme which would provide accredited foundation management skills for business service managers, professional support lawyers or anyone else in the Organisation responsible for managing people. The programme needed to be flexible and align with the clients own internal learning and development offerings.
The solution
Platinum provided a modular programme delivered over a 6 month period which included the following subject areas (selected by the Client):
– Understanding Leadership
– Leading and Motivating a Team
– Developing yourself and others
– Understanding Conflict in the workplace
Delegates were supported throughout the process with post course coaching and assignment review.
This programme has been delivered for a number of years and is now an integral part of the Clients L&D Portfolio of courses.
The feedback
What has been the impact to the individual and the business?
– Delegates obtain an industry standard accreditation – Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management.
– Benefit to the organisation, team and the managers are significant as the practical work-based assignments and coaching mean delegates apply what they learn instantly in the workplace.
– Creates a supportive internal network for managers who recognise they all face the same challenges.
Who was the course developed for?
An international global law firm, with more than 1400 lawyers in over 30 countries.
What was the brief?
To develop a bespoke management course in collaboration with the client which provided foundation management skills for their business service managers.
The solution
The MDP (Management Development Programme) was delivered across a 6 month period. Modules linked directly to the firms core values and PRISM behavioural profiling was employed at key stages throughout the programme. All delegates and their mentors completed PRISM questionnaires at the start of the Programme which assisted in creating a common language when discussing different strengths and weaknesses.
The programme content included leadership skills, managing yourself, recruitment and selection, developing others, planning and reviewing performance, business planning, influencing skills, team development and motivation. Key speakers from the business joined the programme at pivotal times.
Delegates were asked to complete reflective reviews after each session to demonstrate how they had applied the learning and how this had impacted them, their teams and the Business as a whole these were shared and supported by line managers and mentors.
The programme culminated in a Project Presentation and Celebrating Success session (attended and supported by senior management) where delegates presented business cases based on potential, deviation or improvement problems for the business.
The feedback
What was the impact on the individual and the business?
– One of the delegates has recently been promoted
– A number of the business cases presented at the project presentation session are progressing
– One of the managers restructured their team (due to a better understanding of their behavioural preferences). The team is now functioning more effectively
– Created a strong internal network
– The MDP created an extremely positive buzz around the firm with other managers keen to join the next cohort
– Strengthened relationships between the Board and managers
“You’ve created a valuable, solid platform for us to build on for the rest of our careers.
Although this has been a lot of hard work, I have enjoyed it so much and feel I have gained so much experience and learning from others too. We have a lot of respect and support for one another and we now have an extended internal network that we can keep going.
It’s been a fantastic programme. Everyone I have spoken to has loved the programme. We’ve all learned something and I know I have learned a lot!!”
Marion Coles
Senior Consultant and Performance Coach
Marion is an experienced learning and development consultant who specialises in organisational change management and personal development. She has extensive experience in restructuring secretarial and support resources, supported by training and market recognised qualifications, to provide first class efficient and effective support services within the legal and commercial sector. It was with this unique experience that she became a consultant, and has since worked with many of the UK’s top law and corporate firms during major change, helping them to improve working practices and develop their people to work effectively and efficiently.
Marion’s experience gained approval for Platinum Training Solutions to offer ILM qualifications in Management and City & Guilds Certification in Office Skills.
Marion is an RSA qualified teacher and assessor of office administration and management skills.
Deborah Ackland
Senior Consultant and Performance Coach
Deborah is a senior partner in Platinum Training Solutions having founded the Company in 2004.
An experienced learning, development and change consultant, Deborah provides a pragmatic yet passionate approach when assisting organisations who are looking to deliver innovative solutions to enhance and improve business productivity.
She has an outstanding appreciation of the issues faced by commercial organisations and law firms having previously been employed in business service and management positions. She has subsequently worked with a wide variety of high profile organisations – this combined experience has enabled her to consistently deliver positive outcomes for clients, meeting the expectations at both senior and junior levels.
Deborah has overall responsibility for the management, design and development of Platinum’s Institute of Leadership & Management (“ILM”), Business Skills and IT accredited programmes. In addition Deborah oversees the account management and customer support for all of Platinum’s UK Testing Centres.
A regular speaker at legal and commercial networking events, Deborah also holds qualifications in law, management and coaching and is a PRINCE 2 Project Manager, PRISM® Practitioner and Institute of Leadership Facilitator/Assessor.
