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.
“Engaging and practical” – 4.93 from 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” – CAPM programme rates 4.86 at University of Bath
A mix of research staff and PhDs from the University of Bath logged on to Fistral’s CAPM Preparation training session....
“Very engaging & interactive“ – stress management at University of Warwick
The second of two groups of researchers from Warwick Medical School joined us onsite at the University of Warwick for...
“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 rate PM 4.82
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” – Leadership for University of Strathclyde PhDs
PhD students University of Strathclyde logged on to Fistral’s Leadership and Teambuilding Techniques webinar training session. The group gave it...
“Recommended for all new Managers” – PM Principles for the Space sector
Space staff welcomed Fistral onsite at ESTEC for our training course, Project Management Principles – Level 1. The group gave...
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” – Advanced PM rates 4.93 from University of Bath
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...
“Should be mandatory across agency” – Space staff feedback for Risk Management
Space staff welcomed Fistral onsite at ESTEC for our training course, Introduction to Project Risk Management and rated it 4.6...
“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...
Agile Mindset is “Hands-on as well as eye-opening” – Space staff feedback
ESA staff joined Fistral onsite in ESOC for our training course; Introducing an Agile Mindset What’s In It For Me?...
“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...
“Very useful for our work” – 4.8 for Schedule Control at ESTEC
ESTEC staff welcomed Fistral back onsite for our training course, Schedule Control. The attendees rated the training 4.8 out of...
“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...
“Course is valuable for anyone performing development or PM within the Space industry”
ESA staff welcomed Fistral onsite to ESTEC for our training course; Project Management Principles - Level 2. The group gave...
“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...
Time Management provided “Useful tips” for LSE Space 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 good foundation for learning Project Management” – Space staff
Fistral were welcomed to ESTEC to deliver our training course; Project Management Principles - Level 1. The group gave the...
“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...
”Fundamental to be deployed to every area” – Agile Mindset for Space
Fistral were onsite at ESTEC to deliver our training course for staff; Introducing an Agile Mindset What’s In It For...
“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...