Wales Co-operative Centre
Canolfan Cwdweithredol Cymru

Case study

Client: 

Course: Understanding Governance           

Swansea Care & Repair Services makes a huge difference to the lives of older people by employing a ‘Handypersons’ team who carry out adaptations and repairs to older people’s homes in Swansea.

In May 2011, senior staff and board members from Swansea Care and Repair and its trading arm, Care & Repair Services attended our ‘Understanding Governance’ workshop. The workshop was organised by the Wales Co-operative Centre via our Social Enterprise Support Project and was tailored to meet the exact needs of Swansea Care & Repair Services, as Chief Executive Officer, Maggie Berry explains:

“Wales Co-operative Centre arranged a bespoke workshop for our senior staff and board members.  The training on Governance was geared to what we needed as an organisation that has recently developed a social enterprise as a trading arm.  There was good attendance and the venue suited our Board members. The value of bespoke training for an organisation is that you are in a very safe environment to discuss, challenge and debate your ways of working and reporting. The trainer was excellent and very helpful. Next, its finance – we’re all looking forward to it."

Case study

Client: 

Course: Direct Marketing for Absolute Beginners     

Kyleigh Buckle of Cleanstream Carpets, Porth, South Wales, recognised the benefits that Direct Marketing could have for business. She was keen to learn more about this form of communication, so she booked onto our course on 4th May 2011.

“I was a total beginner when it comes to Direct Marketing, so I found this bespoke seminar extremely helpful,” says Kyleigh.

The main objective of the seminar is to breakdown the Direct Marketing process into methodical steps, from the initial stages of identifying your budget and creating your ‘message’ through to the evaluation of the entire campaign. This seminar was able achieve this, as Kyleigh explains: “The training was well presented. The trainer guided everyone through the entire Direct Marketing process, whilst offering focused support to each individual and how they could implement Direct Marketing into their business.” 

“During the seminar, I had the opportunity to construct a small Direct Marketing campaign based on the information we had been given.  The feedback that I received from the trainer was very positive, which has given me confidence in my ability to effectively use Direct Marketing for Cleanstream Carpets.” 

Case study

Client: 

Course: Equal Opportunities / Diversity     

The aim of Diversity training is to raise awareness and assist in the understanding of equality and diversity issues in the work place, through the development of a diversity policy.

Trinity Care and Support is a social enterprise that is making a big difference to people in Bridgend with a learning disability, and their families. Manager Jackie Graham was keen to improve her knowledge of equal opportunities so she attended our diversity training.

During the session, the trainer will help you construct and implement a diversity policy action plan tailored to your business, as Jackie explains: “Our service is quite client specific and the opportunity to write an equal opportunities policy with direct reference to our needs, and with the expertise of the trainer was of great benefit to us.

“Probably the largest constraint on a small business is time, followed closely by the need for in depth knowledge on the wide range of areas. The bespoke training we received was a great way of making sure I gave uninterrupted attention to the ‘job in hand’ and had the best updated advice and guidance.”

 “Our new diversity policy has strengthened the values and culture of the organisation and helped us gain new contracts.” Jackie added.

Case study

Client: 

Course: Envisioning     

Set in 42 acres of beautiful countryside, in Tondu, Bridgend, Ecodysgu - Ecolearn helps to increase the self-confidence, skills and well-being of children, young people and adults by delivering a model of holistic education called ‘Learning to Heal – Healing to Learn’.

On 20th June 2011, they decided to enrol on our Envisioning workshop as it offers existing and potential Social Enterprise leaders the capability to define a clear vision for their business, as Ecodysgu - Ecolearn manager Robert Visintainer, explains: “I hoped that the training would enable all of us to reach a common understanding of where our project is now and where we would like it to be in the future.”

One of the many benefits of bespoke training is that the focus is on you and your business. “The trainer talked to us in depth before the workshop about our project, and this meant that the delivery on the day was very focused and relevant.”

“The trainer was clearly an expert in his field, he asked pertinent questions and offered great support and advice based on current market conditions.  Through the training we were able, as a group, to really understand our strengths and potential.   We were able to come up with a focus and strategy for the future.”

Case study

Client: 

Course: Financial Planning and Management for Social Enterprises            

Karen Owen, Centre Manager of Conwy Rural Development Centre (Glasdir), was keen to improve her knowledge of financial planning and management, so she contacted the Wales Co-operative Centre in November 2010 to organise a workshop for herself and her team.

Located in the heart of the Conwy valley, North Wales, Conwy Rural Development Centre/Glasdir provides modern, purpose built venues for business conferences, exhibitions, fairs, meetings and training.

One of the advantages of bespoke training is that the skill and experience levels of all employees can be adapted to during the session.  As Karen explains, “Employees from different levels of Glasdir attended the session, therefore it was important that the trainer and the content of the session was flexible enough to meet the needs of everyone.  The trainer was able to perfectly adapt and relate the training to each participant.”

Karen added, “Everyone was involved throughout the session and through the use of interactive tasks, strength and practicality was added to the theory that was being taught. The bespoke finance training we received from the Wales Co-operative Centre was excellent”.