We work together with our customers to define what they actually need – rather than developing something that may or may not directly address their requirements.
Fistral provides management consultancy internationally to organisations across all sectors: from SMEs to blue-chip companies, local government to global public sector organisations, academic organisations to industry partners. The Fistral team focus on identifying the root cause of a problem and then work with the customer to develop the best method of addressing it, with a solution that works and importantly, will stick.
Areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: Improving Projects; Designing Training; and Motivating People. Engagements are often complimented with training, seminars, masterclasses, workshops, 1:1 or group sessions, mentoring and remote (e.g. Skype) support to ensure meaningful and sustainable change.
Improving Projects
Project Management is at the heart of what we do, so it is no surprise that Fistral has extensive expertise supporting traditional project management phases such as:
- Project Initiation
- Planning for New or Existing Projects
as well as specialising in:
- Project Audits
- Monitoring & Project Control
- Project Recovery – including troubleshooting
- Independent Risk Review
- Project Review & Evaluation
- Lessons Learned Capture
Designing Training
Using almost 30 years’ industry experience and circa 20 years in the academic sector, Fistral has a wealth of expertise in:
- Designing Courses & Programmes
- Designing Training & Lecturing
- Course Evaluation
- Aligning Courses to Professional Certification (PMI, ILM, CMI, Chartered status etc)
to provide cohesive and effective approaches to designing, developing and implementing:
- Integrated Training Courses & Staff Development Programmes
Motivating People
In addition to our coaching and mentoring support, customers working with new or existing teams often opt for bespoke consultancy or group workshops on softer skills such as:
- Improved Team Work
- Motivation
- Communication
- Improving Customer Service
- Change Management
which can be underpinned by:
- Certified DiSC® Professional User Expertise and/or
- Individual, Team, or Leadership Behavioural Profiling as appropriate
Supporting Missions
We are often asked to apply our 10+yrs experience in the Space Sector to partner on live project outputs for missions such as ATHENA and JUICE. E.g. in:
- Early Stage Planning
- Facilitated Phase 0-Phase B Risk Assessment Workshops
- Mission-Specific Bespoke Training Development
as well as specialising in:
- Agile Product Development during development & operations phases
- Project Schedule & Control
- Effective Team Working & Leadership in challenging situations or with difficult behaviours
Consultancy Examples
The consultancy examples below show how we use extensive industry and academic experience to help and support: kick-starting new projects; improving existing projects; monitoring, reviewing and/or auditing projects; engaging and motivating staff; supporting change in organisations; conducting training needs analysis; evaluating programmes and courses; and designing, developing and delivering new training and programmes using a cohesive and effective approach to implementation of integrated into staff and researcher development programmes.
- Providing guidance on best-practice application of project/programme management techniques for a large European-funded network of 450+ members working together across 25+ countries
- Team development workshops for departments undergoing change and restructure in HEIs
- Leadership workshops linked to gender equality for women in technology.
- Personal effectiveness workshops for BME researchers
- Workshops and mentoring sessions for staff managing strategic projects in Universities
- Masterclasses, mentoring and bespoke workshops for Universities and UK Catapult organisations
- Advising on a standardised approach to planning and implementing projects to align with Strategic Planning deliverables
- Independent evaluation of a European-funded project supporting partners in 21 European countries
- Developing a Project and Programme Capability Development Model for the Portfolio Management Office of one the biggest public sector organisations in Scotland
- Developing and delivering a Leadership and Management Programme for ECRs and MCAs working at one of the top 200 young Universities in the world.
- Bespoke seminars – in Risk Management, Offshore-Wind and Renewables Energy
- Dovetailing internal and external training approaches to ensure a consistent, integrated, approach to training and staff development programmes
- Project audits for blue-chip companies in Europe
- Advice on customisation of templates for Project Management and Risk Management based on best-practice
- Development of a plan for creating a Competency Development Framework and Portfolio Maturity Model
- Organising and sponsoring the National CanSat Competition 2012
- Bespoke Risk workshops for European teams working on satellite missions
- Development of Project Management role descriptions, skills and competencies
For Customer Comments see Testimonials
“Very useful for CPD” – Project Management in the Real World for staff 4.87
Loughborough University staff joined Fistral onsite for our Project Management in the Real World training. The group rated the training...
“Huge scope for application” – CAPM Preparation
A mix of research staff and PhDs from the University of Bath joined us online for Fistral’s CAPM Preparation webinar...
“Practical skills that can be applied or transferred” – Project Management in the Real World
A second group of staff from Loughborough University joined us onsite for Fistral’s Project Management in the Real World training....
“Really informative and worthwhile” – PMRW 4.91 score from staff
Staff at Loughborough University joined us onsite for Fistral’s Project Management in the Real World training. The group rated the...
“Engaging and useful” – 4.77 for Intro PM
A second group of PGR’s at the University of Manchester, Graphene NOWNANO CDT joined Fistral onsite for our Introduction to...
“Very engaging speaker” – University of Manchester CDT
PGR’s from the University of Manchester, Graphene NOWNANO CDT joined Fistral onsite for a session entitled Introduction to Project Management....
CDT rates CAPM training 5 out of 5
PhD students at the University of Manchester iCAT Centre for Doctoral Training logged on to Fistral’s CAPM Preparation training session....
CAPM Prep course rated 5 out of 5 – “You learn a lot”
Fistral delivered our CAPM Preparation training course onsite to PGRs at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. This session prepares...
100% recommend Advanced PM
A mix of research staff and PhDs from the University of Bath joined us online for Fistral’s Advanced Project Management...
Assertive Communication -100% would recommend
Researchers at Ulster University logged on to our webinar session entitled Assertive Communication for the PhD Researcher. The group gave...
4.90 for Project Risk Management – “Applicable to many situations”
Postgraduate researchers at the University of Strathclyde Doctoral School joined us onsite in Glasgow for a session entitled Project Risk...
5 out of 5 for Creating a Good Supervisory Relationship – “Great session for anyone starting a PhD”
PhD students from the University of Liverpool who logged on to Fistral’s Creating a Good Supervisory Relationship webinar session, gave...
“One of only a few genuinely useful PM courses” – PM tools for Researchers 4.78
Staff at the University of Bristol joined us for a training session called Project Management Tools for Managing Your Research...
4.70 for Leadership & Teambuilding Techniques “Useful content for teams of any size”
PGRs at The University of Strathclyde joined Fistral onsite for a training course entitled Leadership and Teambuilding Techniques. The group...
“A good introduction to Project Management” – PM techniques for research
We were joined online by Post Graduate Researchers at the University of Bristol for parts 1 & 2 of Fistral's...
“Worth every minute” – Intro to Project Planning rates 4.83
Staff from the University of Manchester joined us online for a training session entitled Introduction to Project Planning. The group...
Good for future career prospects – Project Management in the Real World rated 4.82
Joining us onsite at the University of Strathclyde, a cohort of PhD students undertook Fistral’s Project Management in the Real...
“Some very useful techniques” – Procrastination Busting 4.67
Postgraduate Researchers at Ulster University logged on to Fistral’s webinar session Get Unstuck: Procrastination Busting. The attendees rated the course...
100% would recommend – Risk Management Webinar
A mixed group of research staff and PhDs at the University of Bath logged on to Fistral’s Risk Management webinar...
“Practical and applicable” – PM Essentials (Part 4)
A group from The University of Exeter Doctoral College logged on to Part 4 of a webinar series entitled Project...
“Helpful introduction to project management” – Intro to PM rated 4.50
A mix of PhDs and research staff from The University of Bath logged on to our Introduction to Project Management...
Advanced Project Management – rated 5 out of 5
Joining us onsite recently at Strathclyde Doctoral School, a cohort of PGR’s undertook Fistral’s Advanced Project Management training. The group...
“Great tools for work and research” – Time Management rates 4.92
PhD students from Ulster University Doctoral College logged on to Fistral’s webinar session Taking Charge of Your Time: Avoid Drifting....
“Lots of helpful tips for Research Projects” – Intro to Project Planning
Staff at The University of Manchester joined us online for Fistral’s Introduction to Project Planning webinar training. The group gave...
Perfect 5/5 from Liverpool Doctoral College – Time Management training
Fistral welcomed students from the University of Liverpool Doctoral College online for a training session Taking Charge of Your Time:...
ECRs say PM for Researcher training is “Very helpful for developing realistic plans”
Researchers from The University of Exeter Doctoral College joined us for Part 3 of a webinar series Project Management Essentials...
“Useful, relatable and applicable” – Project Management in the Real World rates 4.93
Fistral was welcomed onsite at Loughborough University for a training session Project Management in the Real World (PMRW). The group...
4.83 for PM Essentials for Researchers – staff say “I wish I had taken the course 5 years ago!”
Researcher staff from The University of Exeter once more joined us for Part 2 of a webinar series entitled Project...
“Applicable to my current work” – PM Essentials for Researchers (Part 1)
Researcher staff from The University of Exeter Doctoral College joined us online for Part 1 of a webinar series entitled...
Intro to Project Planning (Part 3): Rated 4.8 “Real-life examples make it memorable”
Staff at the University of Dundee logged on to Part 3 of Fistral’s Introduction to Project Planning course, entitled Creating...
Resilience skills are “Important to successfully navigate the PhD journey” – 5 out of 5 rating
PhD students from Ulster University Doctoral College gave Fistral’s webinar session Build Your Resilience and Take your PhD in your...
“Tailor-made for PhD” – Time Management is “A truly enlightening experience”
Joining us online for a webinar session entitled Keeping on Top of Your PhD: Personal Time Management Strategies were a...
Risk training is “Necessary in our PhD” – Doctoral College student
The third of four training courses in our CAPM professional certification series, Project Risk Management, was delivered onsite to a...
5 out of 5 for CAPM Preparation
Onsite once more at The University of Strathclyde, we delivered Fistral’s CAPM Preparation training course to a group of PhD...
“Useful real-world application” – 4.92 for Risk Management
We welcomed a cohort of PhD students and research staff at all levels from The University of Bath online for...
4.88 for PMRW – “Very useful, especially in the context of research”
Onsite at The University of Strathclyde Teaching and Learning Building, we delivered Fistral’s Project Management in the Real World training...
4.77, “Insightful and relevant to PhD” – Supervisory Relationship training
PhD students at the Doctoral College in the University of Strathclyde joined us online for a webinar entitled Creating a...
“Informative and well-organised” – Intro to PM for research staff and students
A group of research staff and PhDs from The University of Bath joined us online for a training session Introduction...
“Really impactful” – Professional Communication Skills for PhDs
We welcomed a cohort of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year PhD students from the University of Strathclyde Doctoral College to...
“Best course ever” – 5 out of 5 for Leadership and Teambuilding training
Onsite at The University of Strathclyde, we delivered a training course called Leadership and Teambuilding Techniques. The attendees gave a...
“Really worthwhile – lots of practical tools” – PM Tools for Managing Your Research Project post-award
Joining us onsite for a new training session entitled Project Management Tools for Managing Your Research Project was a group...
“Engaging and useful” – Intro to Project Planning for Doctoral College students
Postgraduate Researchers from The University of Manchester joined us online for Fistral’s Introduction to Project Planning webinar session. The Doctoral...
“Extremely useful for career” – Advanced PM training
Onsite for this session, we welcomed a group of PhD students from the University of Strathclyde, to a training course...
“Perfect for both students and professionals” – Taking Charge of Your Time: Avoid Drifting’ rates 5 out of 5
We welcomed a group of PhD students from the University of Strathclyde Doctoral College online to a webinar entitled Taking...
CAPM Exam Prep webinar – “The tools were really helpful”
Staff at the University of Dundee logged on to a Fistral CAPM Prep webinar session. This training prepares attendees to...
“Transferrable skills for real-life” – Conflict in Teams webinar rated 4.5
Logging on to Fistral’s webinar session Managing Conflict in Teams were staff from The University of Dundee, who rated the...
“Transferrable tools and real-life scenarios” – Making Decisions in Stressful Circumstances
Staff at The University of Dundee logged on to a Fistral webinar session entitled Making Decisions in Stressful Circumstances. The...
“The tools were really helpful” – Introduction to Project Planning for Researchers (Part 4)
A group of staff from The University of Dundee logged on to Part 4 of Fistral's Introduction to Project Planning...
4.92 for Risk Management – PhDs say “in-depth real-life experiences that help convey the message”
Fistral hosted an onsite training course for Postgraduate Researchers at the University of Strathclyde entitled Risk Management in the Real...
“Great tools to plan PhD” – Part 3 rates 5 out of 5
PhD students at the University of Ulster Doctoral College joined us once more for part three of our four-part Introduction...