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
“Engaging and practical” – Loughborough University Staff
Staff from Loughborough University welcomed us onsite for our Project Management in the Real World training session. The group gave...
“Useful to learn how to organise a project to completion” – University of Bath feedback
A mix of research staff and PhDs from the University of Bath logged on to Fistral’s CAPM Preparation training session....
“Very engaging & interactive without being pressured “– University of Warwick staff feedback
The second of two groups of research staff joined us onsite at the University of Warwick for Fistral’s Increase Your...
“Another great course!” – University of Warwick staff feedback
The first of two groups of research staff joined us onsite at The University of Warwick for Fistral’s Handling Academic...
“It will absolutely help me in my work going forward” – University College Cork staff
The first of two groups of staff at University College Cork joined us onsite recently for Fistral’s Successfully Planning &...
“Engaging, useful, and practical” – University College Cork staff
The second of two groups of staff at University College Cork joined us onsite for Fistral’s Successfully Planning & Managing...
“Useful and transferable skills” – University of Strathclyde feedback
PhD students University of Strathclyde joined us onsite in Glasgow for Fistral’s CAPM Preparation training session. The group gave it...
“Good mix of theory and application” – University of Strathclyde PhD student
PhD students University of Strathclyde logged on to Fistral’s Leadership and Teambuilding Techniques webinar training session. The group gave it...
5 out of 5 score for PM training – University of Strathclyde
Fistral welcomed PhD students at the University of Strathclyde onsite in Glasgow for our Advanced Project Management course. The group...
“Useful for Planning PhD” – University of Strathclyde PhD Student
Onsite in Glasgow at the University of Strathclyde, Fistral welcomed a cohort of PhD students on our Project Risk Management...
“Very practical and applicable” – University of Bath feedback
A mix of research staff and PhDs from the University of Bath logged on to Fistral’s Advanced Project Management webinar...
“Effective and realistic” – University of Winchester staff
Staff from the University of Winchester logged on to Fistral’s Influencing Skills for Leaders of Research Teams webinar course and...
“Very useful, easy to use tools” – University of Winchester staff
Research staff from the University of Winchester logged on to Fistral’s Handling Academic Rejection webinar. The group gave the training...
“Invaluable techniques when planning a project” – Loughborough University staff
We joined staff onsite at Loughborough University to deliver our Project Management in the Real World training course and they...
“Practical things I can use straight away” – University of Winchester staff feedback
Research staff from the University of Winchester logged on to Fistral's webinar entitled Getting Unstuck: Procrastination Busting Techniques. The group...
“I can apply this in a number of different scenarios” – University of Bath feedback
PhDs from the University of Bath logged on to our Introduction to Risk Management webinar session. The group gave the...
“Really applicable to a PhD project” – University of Strathclyde PhD student
We were joined onsite in Glasgow by PhD students at the University of Strathclyde for Fistral’s Project Management in the...
“Practical and applicable tools” – University of Winchester Research Staff
We were joined onsite by research staff at the University of Winchester for Fistral’s Releasing Your Leadership & Teambuilding Potential...
“Very applicable and lots of examples” – research staff at University of Winchester
We were joined onsite by research staff at the University of Winchester for Fistral’s Project Management Techniques for New &...
“Interesting and relevant” – University of Strathclyde PGR
PGR’s from the University of Strathclyde logged on to Fistral’s Advanced Project Management webinar session. The group gave the training...
“Manage projects for the better” – ASPIRE Programme attendee from Sheffield Hallam University
A group of PhD students from the ASPIRE Programme, Sheffield Hallam University logged on to Fistral’s Project Management: 5 Key...
5 out of 5 rating for CAPM Training from CDT
PhD students at the University of Manchester iCAT Centre for Doctoral Training logged on to Fistral’s CAPM Preparation training course....
“Helps break down planning of PhD” – University of Bath
We were joined online by PhD students at The University of Bath for Fistral’s Introduction to Project Management training course....
“Everyone working on a project should complete this course” – Loughborough University Staff
We welcomed staff onsite at Loughborough University to Fistral’s Project Management in the Real World training course, and they gave...
“Lots of interesting techniques learned” – Manchester CDT
PhD students at the University of Manchester iCAT Centre for Doctoral Training joined us onsite for Fistral’s Project Management in...
“Head and shoulders above other providers” – University of Strathclyde PGR
We welcomed PGR’s onsite at the University of Strathclyde to our Risk Management in the Real World training course and...
5 out of 5 for CAPM training – University of Strathclyde PGRs
We joined PGR’s from the University of Strathclyde onsite in Glasgow to deliver Fistral's CAPM Preparation training. This training is...
“Useful for PhD planning” – University of Strathclyde PGR feedback
A cohort of PGR’s from the University of Strathclyde logged on to our Introduction to Project Planning training course and...
“Useful tips” – Space agency staff
Staff from LSE Space logged on to Fistral’s training webinar entitled Time Management: Prioritisation and rated the session Very Good....
4.93 rating for Maximising your PhD Performance training
PhD students from the ASPIRE programme joined us onsite at Sheffield Hallam University for Fristral’s Maximising Your PhD Performance Using...
“Project management made simple” – University of the West of England attendee
Fistral travelled to Bristol to the University of the West of England to deliver our Project Management for Researchers training....
“A must-attend course” – Strathclyde University PGR
PGR’s at Strathclyde University logged on to Fistral’s training webinar entitled Creating a Good Supervisory Relationship. The attendees rated the...
“Practical and helpful” – University of Bristol Staff
We welcomed staff onsite at the University of Bristol for a session entitled Project Management Tools for Managing Your Research...
Project Management In The Real World – Rated 5 out of 5 at Strathclyde University
Onsite at Strathclyde University, we ran our Project Management In The Real World training for a group of Postgraduate Researchers....
“Provides new perspectives” – PGR University of Strathclyde
Postgraduate Researchers from the University of Strathclyde logged on to our Techniques for Confident Professional Communication webinar training. The attendees...
“Plenty of practical tools” – Project Management in the Real World
Onsite at Loughborough University, we ran our Project Management In The Real World training for a group of Postgraduate Researchers....
“Useful practical tools” – Bristol University Staff
We welcomed staff from the University of Bristol to Fistral’s Introduction to Project Management webinar training. The attendees rated the...
“Useful prep for CAPM Exam” – Intro to PM webinar
PhD Students from the University of Exeter joined us online for Fistral’s Introduction to Project Management training webinar. The group...
“Very insightful” – Leadership and Teambuilding Techniques Training rated 5 out of 5
Postgraduate Researchers from the University of Strathclyde joined us onsite for Fistral’s Leadership and Teambuilding Techniques training course. The group...
“Worthwhile and engaging” – Intro to Project Management
We welcomed a mix of research staff and PhDs from the University of Bath to Fistral’s Introduction to Project Management...
Advanced Project Management – “Useful for professional development”
Onsite once more at the University of Strathclyde, we hosted PhD students at Fistral’s Advanced Project Management training session. The...
“Useful for research projects” – PM Essentials
PGR’s from the University of Exeter logged on to parts 1-4 of Fistral’s Project Management Essentials for Researchers webinar series...
“A lot of inspiration for managing PhD” – 5/5 for Intro to PM
PhD students at the University of Bath joined Fistral logged on to Fistral’s Introduction to Project Management training session and...
‘Good for identifying risks that can impact your PhD” – University of Strathclyde student
A cohort from the University of Strathclyde joined Fistral onsite for our Risk Management in the Real World training session...
“Worth the time” – Avoid Drifting webinar
Fistral welcomed PhD students from the University of Strathclyde online for a webinar entitled Taking Charge of Your Time: Avoid...
“Practical and useful” – Time Management Strategies
PhD students from the University of Strathclyde joined Fistral onsite for a training session entitled Keeping on Top of Your...
5 out of 5 rating for Intro to Project Planning Part 4
PhD students from Ulster University joined us for a final time on Part 4 of Fistral’s Introduction to Project Planning...
“Invaluable for PhD” – Intro to Project Planning Part 3
PhD students from Ulster University logged on to Part 3 of Fistral’s Introduction to Project Planning webinar series and rated...
“Clearly charts the essentials of Project Mgt” – Ulster University PhD student
PhD students at Ulster University logged on to part three of Fistral’s webinar session Introduction to Project Planning and rated...
“Time management tools you can apply to your working day” – Space staff feedback
LSE Space staff logged on to Fistral’s webinar session entitled Time Management: Personal Effectiveness and rated it 4.88 out of...