Your browser is unsupported and may have security vulnerabilities! Upgrade to a newer browser to experience this site in all it's glory.
Skip to main content

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 tutors

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.

Read More

Meet your tutors

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.

Read More

Meet your tutors

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

Microsoft Excel 2016 (Intermediate)
Part-time N/A 16th May 2025 1 Day

This course is designed to introduce those who have a basic knowledge and understanding of Microsoft Excel to many of the other tools and techniques that are available. You will spend a very practical day with a qualified Microsoft Expert Master watching demonstrations and then completing tasks to learn the various tools and techniques.

IT Users
Part-time 3 1st Oct 2024 33 weeks

This level 3 course is aimed at those with an existing intermediate knowledge of I.T. and the Microsoft Office suite. You will learn to use the Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel & PowerPoint at advanced level whilst working towards gaining the City & Guilds Level 3 IT Users Diploma.

Microsoft Excel 2016 (Introduction)
Part-time N/A 17th Jan 2025 1 Day

This is an introductory course designed to introduce the learner to Microsoft Excel. The course will provide you with a working understanding of the basic functions and features of Microsoft Excel and teach you to make professional working spreadsheets, displaying data using charts and graphs. You will also learn many tools and techniques which will improve your productivity whilst using Excel.

Microsoft Excel 2016 (Introduction)
Part-time N/A 14th Mar 2025 1 Day

This is an introductory course designed to introduce the learner to Microsoft Excel. The course will provide you with a working understanding of the basic functions and features of Microsoft Excel and teach you to make professional working spreadsheets, displaying data using charts and graphs. You will also learn many tools and techniques which will improve your productivity whilst using Excel.

Microsoft Excel 2016 (Introduction)
Part-time N/A 9th May 2025 1 Day

This is an introductory course designed to introduce the learner to Microsoft Excel. The course will provide you with a working understanding of the basic functions and features of Microsoft Excel and teach you to make professional working spreadsheets, displaying data using charts and graphs. You will also learn many tools and techniques which will improve your productivity whilst using Excel.

Microsoft Excel 2016 (Intermediate)
Part-time N/A 24th Jan 2025 1 Day

This course is designed to introduce those who have a basic knowledge and understanding of Microsoft Excel to many of the other tools and techniques that are available. You will spend a very practical day with a qualified Microsoft Expert Master watching demonstrations and then completing tasks to learn the various tools and techniques.

Microsoft Excel 2016 (Intermediate)
Part-time N/A 21st Mar 2025 1 Day

This course is designed to introduce those who have a basic knowledge and understanding of Microsoft Excel to many of the other tools and techniques that are available. You will spend a very practical day with a qualified Microsoft Expert Master watching demonstrations and then completing tasks to learn the various tools and techniques.

Bookkeeping AAT
Part-time 2 28th Jan 2025 16 Weeks

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.