Project Management – Leading & Influencing – Communication & Collaboration – Personal Effectiveness
are the cornerstones of Fistral’s Product Suite.
Fistral Approach to Training
We believe in teaching practical, learnable techniques that can be applied to each individual’s context and used immediately regardless of scale, sector or discipline. Whether online or onsite, Fistral courses and workshops focus on hands-on individual and group-based activities, as well as theory, to enable participants to get the most out of the sessions.
Face-to-face onsite sessions are at the heart of what we do, and these are complemented by online learning in the form of the: ‘Fistral Espresso‘ online learning’ range – bite-sized ‘shots’ of learning; and the longer, more traditional online training webinars in our ‘Fistral Americano‘ range.
Hands-on, Practical, Applicable
We believe in teaching practical, learnable techniques that can be applied to each individual’s context and used immediately regardless of scale, sector or discipline. Fistral courses and workshops focus on hands-on individual and group-based activities, as well as theory, to enable participants to get the most out of the sessions.
By focusing on a number of tried and trusted techniques, we strip away a lot of the ‘white noise’ which surrounds projects, communication and leadership, to get to the heart of the make or break issues. And, most importantly, we don’t just talk about these – we are implementing them in every project we’re involved with so we know they work. This is what we bring to our training: tried, tested and trusted real life.
Participants and employers appreciate the level of relevance and contextualisation that Fistral brings to all-staff and researcher training. Often this is achieved with minimal re-development as trainers use their extensive expertise and experiences to contextualise to the needs of the group on the day.
Course delegates testify increased effectiveness and efficiency immediately in their current role. In addition to the improved morale and self-confidence gained from professional training, they comment on the value of the trainers’ real-life expertise and experiences, as well as the sharing of best practice, tools, tips and techniques that we know make a difference in industry and academia.
Employers appreciate the added-value that external practitioners bring when demonstrating applicability within, as well as across, sectors, and recognise that our work-based, relevant and interprofessional approach delivers tangible improvements in the workplace.
Relevant, Best Practice
Using their expertise as practitioners, trainers share professional insights and good practice tools and techniques of what ‘works’ in real life. Their experience in industry, HEIs and working with
Fistral is unique in that most of our trainers hold doctorates. All of our trainers are active practitioners, and have have worked in education/HEI settings as well as with third sector and industry organisations.
This means that they have the credibility and confidence that the training and learning practices are tied-to industry needs and professional best practice, as well as an in-depth understanding of what it means to be a researcher working within a knowledge-intensive environment.
As active practitioners in their field, trainers are professionally certified which ensures that the tools and learning are pertinent, current, applicable, practical and focused on techniques and skills that are used in real life by experienced practitioners: they genuinely “practise what they preach”.
The Fistral team use this experience to provide professional insights, recommendations, guidance, practical tips and real-life scenarios. This is one key reason why our courses consistently receive ratings of ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’.
High Quality & Customer Service
We are committed to strong Quality Assurance (QA) and ongoing monitoring of our services and training provision to ensure that it continues to meet the high standards that Fistral and our customers expect.
Anything less than Very Good (4 out of 5) is discussed with partners and in-house to ensure quality training and positive ongoing participant experiences.
We make this commitment because we want to provide the best service we can to our customers and because we place high value on the feedback provided by customers and course participants as this helps us continually improve our services and the personal and professional development of our employees and the company as a whole.
In addition, the following Fistral statements and Policies are available on request:
- Maintaining Quality & Monitoring Courses & Services
- GDPR & Data Handling
- Equality & Diversity
- Sustainability
- Health & Safety
Product Suite
The Fistral Product Suite is separated into four areas: Project Management; Leading & Influencing; Communication & Collaboration; and Personal Effectiveness.
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Project Management, Leading & Influencing, Communication & Collaboration, and Personal Effectiveness courses are successfully delivered off-the-shelf, but can be easily customised, combined or tailored to match organisational and participant needs with minimal development input.
The Fistral team have extensive experience designing and developing staff and researcher programmes with customers to provide Project, Portfolio, Leadership and Management pathways for specific groups and all-staff. Pathways can easily be aligned to ILM, CMI, PMI levels as well as other professional bodies.
Project Management sessions are aligned to the Project Management Institute (PMI), and some of our softer-skills courses are underpinned by Everything DiSC®, A Wiley Brand.
Professional Certification
All of our Project Management training is aligned to the Project Management Institute and can lead to a globally recognised professional Certification in Project Management – Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® or Project Management Professional (PMP)®. Read about Fistral’s CAPM/PMP Training Programme here.
In addition to developing PMI and CMI pathways, Fistral training is often used by organisations as part of their internal or external accreditation pathways and programmes. Fistral courses can be tailored bespoke for the organisation or used off-the-shelf.
Fistral courses have been used in: accredited University-awarded Certificates for staff or researchers, Institute of Leadership and Managment (ILM) and Chartered Management Institute (CMI) programmes, as part of European Credit Transfer Scheme (ECTS), or linked to University-recognised credit-bearing pathways. Informally, training courses have also been used by many individuals when evidencing professional portfolios, for example towards CMI, ILM, PDP and Chartered status.
Researcher Focused
Fistral courses provide transferable skills that are directly applicable for researchers at any level. Tools and techniques can be applied to work immediately on return to desk or lab. The usefulness and relevance of the training is evidenced in the excellent feedback we receive from HEIs, Doctoral Colleges, ETNs, DTCs, ITNs, CDTs and staff working in international research organisations.
Our CAPM and PMP Project Management certification pathways are particularly popular with PhDs and all researchers as they provide a route to globally recognised, industry-aligned, professional certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
In addition, other courses particularly popular with CDTs, Doctoral Colleges, ETNs, ITNs, ECRs and MCAs that are specifically contextualised for research include:
- Leadership and Teambuilding Techniques;
- Advanced Research Team Leadership;
- Keeping on Top of Your Research or PhD: Time Management Strategies;
- Professional Communication Skills;
- Releasing Your Research Leadership Potential;
- Practical Leadership: Getting the Best out of Your Team;
- Influencing without Authority: Using Personal Power to Persuade & Convince Others;
- Research Project Management & Planning for Uncertainty; and
- Managing Complex Research Projects
We also provide some courses aimed solely at PhD students. For example for first-years – Kick-start Your PhD, Control Your PhD and Keeping on Top of Your PhD – and for final year PhDs – Finishing your PhD on Time. Contact Us for more information.
Space Focused
Our practical transferable skills courses for the Space Sector focus on best practice as well as the tools and techniques that we know work in this environment. Using over 10 years of experience with a wide range staff at all levels across a range of organisations at sites all over Europe, and supporting a variety of missions, the applicability and relevance of our consultancy and training can be seen in ongoing excellent feedback.
Our PMI-aligned Project Management courses are particularly popular in this sector, as is Agile PM, Leadership, Teamworking and Professional Communication. Fistral courses are contextualised for space, aerospace, energy and engineering, as well as delivered bespoke and tailored to the ESA environment.
Courses currently chosen by Space Sector and contextualised for partners cover topics such as:
- Project Management
- Risk Management
- Agile Project Management
- Leadership – for New Team Leaders and also more Advanced Leadership techniques
- Professional Communication
- Managing Difficult Behaviour and Challenging Situations
- Time Management
- Decision Making
- Assertiveness
Courses can also be tailored to directly align and reference an organisation’s methodology or approach. Linked to the relevance and usefulness of the training we are often asked to deliver bespoke workshops for staff involved in projects and missions. Contact Us for more information.
“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...
“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...
Part 2 of Project Planning “Can be applied making the scope of the PhD more digestible”- Doctoral College
A group of PhD students at the University of Ulster joined us once more for part two of our four-part...
“Very applicable to a PhD” – Intro to Project Planning Part 1
We welcomed PhD students at the University of Ulster to part one of our four-part Introduction to Project Planning webinar...
Research staff say PM Techniques for Planning Your Research is “A useful mix of practical skills”
Academic staff at the University of Bristol joined us online for Parts 1 & 2 of a webinar series entitled...
Time Management rates 4.89 – “Engaging and interactive”
We welcomed a group of PhD students from the University of Strathclyde to an onsite training course Keeping on Top...
“Tools to create a PhD plan” – Intro to Project Planning 4.91
PhD students at the University of Strathclyde logged on to Fistral’s Introduction to Project Planning webinar session. The group gave...
“Incredibly helpful” – 4.81 Intro to Project Planning
PhD students at the University of Manchester logged on to a Fistral webinar session Introduction to Project Planning. The group...
“A lot of very useful tips on how to plan a project and even how to deal with supervisors” – Project Management in the Real World
Fistral delivered an onsite training course at the University of Strathclyde, entitled Project Management in the Real World. This is...
“Great techniques to take away” – 4.9 out of 5 from Doctoral College students
Fistral ran an onsite training session for Doctoral Colege students at the University of Manchester entitled Introduction to Project Management....
![“I told [colleagues] that it was the most helpful session the university has run and that it will completely change the way they plan and think about their PhD projects!” – UoManchester](https://www.fistraltraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/blog_students_whiteboard-310x170.jpg)
“I told [colleagues] that it was the most helpful session the university has run and that it will completely change the way they plan and think about their PhD projects!” – UoManchester
We met a great group of PhD students onsite at the University of Manchester and delivered a training session, Introduction...
4.92 from research staff and PhDs – Introduction to Project Management
Fistral welcomed a group from the University of Bath to a webinar training session entitled Introduction to Project Management. The...
100% of Space sector staff recommend Time Management Strategies and rate it 4.75 out of 5
A group of staff from LSE Space GmbH and Aurora Technology B.V. logged on to Fistral’s online training course Time...
“Useful introductory session that makes starting a project seem a bit less daunting.” – Undergraduate
A group from the University of Strathclyde Internship Programme logged on to Fistral’s Introduction to Project Management webinar session. The...
“Really useful tips that are simple and clear that can be easily applied to any project or work” – Undergrad Internship Programme
Attendees from the University of Strathclyde Internship Programme joined us online for webinar training providing Project Management Tips for undergraduate...
“Highly recommend and very useful in our job setting” say Uni staff
We enjoyed delivering an onsite training course to a group of staff from across Loughborough University entitled Project Management in...
100% of Space Sector attendees recommend Leadership Skills – 4.75 out of 5
Space sector staff joined us online for a webinar entitled Leadership Skills and Techniques for New Team Leaders. The group...
4.75 for ‘PM Techniques for Planning Your Research’
Research staff at the University of Bristol joined us online for a webinar session entitled Project Management Techniques for Planning...
Agile training at ESTEC was “Very useful learning”
ESA staff attended a Fistral onsite training course entitled Agile Product Delivery An Introduction using SCRUM and gave a feedback...
Space contextualised training – ESTEC staff give Risk 4.70 out of 5
Fistral welcomed a cohort of space sector staff to an onsite training course in Noordwijk called Introduction to Project Risk...