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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.

Our YouTube playlist

Hear from our students, tutors & alumni on our Professional Business Services playlist.

Navigate through the films by clicking on the top right icon!

Photo gallery

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

I 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.

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Meet your tutor

Jane Barker

I 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.

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Meet your tutor

Lesley Postlethwaite

I 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.

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Meet your tutor

Tracey Richardson

I 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.

Read More

View our courses

Professional Digital Marketing (CIM)
Part-time 4 17th Apr 2024 34 weeks

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.

Leaders & Managers
Part-time 5 Sept 2024 18 Months

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.

People Practice CIPD
Part-time 3 Sept 2024 34 Weeks

This is a well-respected professional qualification, which is highly valued by employers. It will help you to develop the business skills and technical knowledge that employers look for in HR professionals. This qualification can boost your promotion prospects or provide retraining route for those looking for a career in the HR industry.

Accounting AAT
Part-time 2 Sept 2024 32/33 Weeks

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.

Accounting AAT
Part-time 2 Sept 2024 32/33 Weeks

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.

Professional Marketing (CIM)
Part-time 4 17th Apr 2024 34 weeks

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.

Professional Marketing (CIM)
Part-time 4 17th Apr 2024 34 weeks

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.

Accounting AAT
Part-time 4 Sept 2024 47 Weeks

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.