Frequently Asked Questions

Who are your training courses for?

Our courses look to build your knowledge, confidence and skills for working in the EU and other international organisations as well as in national administrations and diplomatic missions.  We provide training for your place of work.  If you’re interested in what we offer, please ask your organisation to get together a group of colleagues who can do the training with you.

What makes your training different from the other training available?

We’re first and foremost experienced practitioners, not academics.  Everything we train we have done for ourselves.  We have negotiated in the Council of the EU, advised Ministers and Commissioners, drafted their speeches and briefs (as well as used them ourselves), and faced the pressures of parliamentary and media scrutiny.  That experience provides the wisdom that we’re keen to pass on.
 

In which languages do your training courses take place?

Our courses are typically delivered in English without interpretation, but we also run the same courses in German if requested.

 

Is your training face-to-face or online?

We prefer to train face-to-face because we believe this offers the easiest, most direct and secure form of communication with course participants.  They spend more time with us, we can pass on more experience, and they learn more from us this way.

Face-to-face training is usually provided in facilities arranged at and by your place of work.  These should have presentation equipment, sufficient tables and chairs and, ideally, space for break out groups.  Training courses last for one or two days depending on the subject matter and take place from 09.30 to 17.30.  Suitable breaks are provided for lunch and coffee.   We encourage participants to bring their mobile phones and laptops to the course.

But all of our training courses can also be delivered online via Zoom.  These are of necessity compressed, lasting no more than four hours on any day (09.00 to 13.00 or 13.30 to 17.30) with one coffee break.  Participants must have their own and not a shared laptop with a functioning camera and microphone.  We ask participants to keep their camera on throughout the training.

How many participants does each training course have?

We like to coach small groups of participants.  Enough for people to learn from each other.  But not so many that people can hide at the back.  Between 16 and 20 participants is ideal.  By agreement with the organisers and to ensure that every participant receives the attention they deserve, we may arrange for two trainers to deliver a particular course.
 

Is your training theoretical or practical?

We believe in learning by doing.  So all our training is interactive, blending a little theory with plenty of practical exercises.  We keep lecturing to a minimum.
 

What do you mean by practical exercises?

Our courses require active engagement from participants.  We use simulation exercises based on real-world and topical scenarios to allow participants to practise the techniques we teach.  This allows participants to relate the training more easily to situations they may face in the office.  Simulation exercises involve everyone in the room and not just the most active participants.   To engage participants, we also use a range of online tools including Slido, Miro and Paddlet.
 

You also offer personalised feedback and mentoring?

As a follow up to our training, we can also offer personalised feedback and mentoring to those participants who ask for it.  On the basis of trust built up between trainer and participant during the training, it is often valuable for participants to be able to seek an objective and experienced view on the quality of their written or other work – in a confidential and secure environment.  Line managers are not involved in any way.