The professional business services department provides courses for those wishing to retrain or develop their career in the professions of accounting, HR, law, management and IT.
Our staff are highly qualified and include practising lawyers, chartered accountants, management and HR professionals.
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Hear from our students, tutors & alumni on our Professional Business Services playlist.
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We offer a number of training options, either stand-alone or as a suite under the following options:
- Either at Kendal College
- Or through workplace delivery (subject to numbers)
Please contact us for further information & costs:
e traininghub@kendal.ac.uk
t 01539 814616
Essential HR Skills
Three days or individual sessions are offered
- Recruitment and Selection
- Onboarding/induction
- Introduction to employment law & contracts
- Learning & development of key skills for developing content
- Performance management
Essential Management Skills
Ten days or individual sessions are offered
- Time management
- Management of self
- Self-awareness
- Problem-solving
- Dealing with difficult people/situations
- Change management
- Finance for non-finance managers
- Managing expectations
- Building relationships
- Effective delegation
- Effective Human Resources skills
- Introduction to Coaching and Mentoring
Equality & Diversity
One day
Coaching & Mentoring for Success
Two days
- Introduction level – 2-day key skills
- ILM Level 5 Management coaching (15 days over six months option or Apprenticeship 14-18 months)
NLP Introduction & Unconscious Bias
- ‘Get what you want without asking’
Finance Skills
Essential for businesses
- Bookkeeping
- Payroll
- Account Software
- Charity Accounting
- Farm accounting
Essential Business Skills
- Minute taking
- Planning and organising
- Project management
- IT suite – Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc
- Time management
- Effective delegation
Essential Customer Service Skills
- Assertiveness at work
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Influencing and persuading
- Managing upwards
- Presentation skills
- Personal wellbeing and resilience
- Managing expectations
- Effective communication
Essential Digital Media Skills
- Social media
Accounting bursary
The AAT has been changing lives for over 40 years, with their practical accounting qualifications that are in demand from employers around the world. Now they’re offering a unique opportunity to change your life too, with all your costs covered.
Find out more on the AAT website.

Meet your tutor
Sinéad Kay
Read MoreI am a chartered accountant with 12 year’s experience working in practice both in the UK (PwC) and in New Zealand (Ernst & Young). I have worked with many Blue Chip clients, including Gap Clothing, Ford Motor Company and Manchester United.
Meet your tutor
Jane Barker
Read MoreI was employed in the industry in both the public and private sector, including in senior Human Resources roles and in specialist leadership and management roles such as the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager for the University of Cumbria, Organisational Development and responsible for Payroll within a medium-sized public sector body.

Meet your tutor
Lesley Postlethwaite
Read MoreI studied AAT before going on to become a chartered accountant. I have 10 years’ experience of working in accounts in the industry, firstly working for a building company where I covered all aspects of accountancy including the sales and purchase ledgers and credit control.

Meet your tutor
Tracey Richardson
Read MoreI am a chartered accountant with 20 years of experience working in practice at a medium-sized accountancy firm. I have worked with a variety of clients, from large group companies to sole trader accounts and individual tax returns.
View our courses
A CIM qualification at Level 4 builds on your tactical marketing skills enabling you to advance your marketing career and perform professionally at an operational level within your marketing department.
This course is designed to introduce those who already have a sound knowledge and understanding of Microsoft Excel at an intermediate level to the more advanced tools and techniques that are available. In addition to this you will get a chance to look at some of the latest features and tools Microsoft have added to the Excel application.
This professional qualification, awarded by the Institute of Leadership and Management, is ideal for aspiring professionals taking their first step into line management. You may currently be a team leader, a supervisor, or have some experience of managing a team or project to deliver clearly defined outcomes.
This entry-level industry-recognised bookkeeping qualification will give you the skills to become a bookkeeper. Plus, you'll have the option to move onto the full AAT qualification with exemptions when you finish.
This course builds on the skills that you will have developed in AAT level 3 (or equivalent) and prepare for a career in more senior accounting roles and potentially studying towards the chartered accountancy qualifications.
This highly respected professional qualification, awarded by the Institute of Leadership and Management is ideal for individuals who manage teams or projects and are responsible for achieving operational or departmental goals and objectives as part of their organisation's strategy.
This internationally recognised qualification offers a grounding in the core accounting knowledge and finance skills. It is ideal for those taking their first steps into the industry, those wishing to retrain, and people wanting the theory to underpin some practical experience.
This course builds on the skills that you will have developed in AAT level 3 (or equivalent) and prepare for a career in more senior accounting roles and potentially studying towards the chartered accountancy qualifications.