business planning courses uk

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Business Planning

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This course is designed for people starting-up in a wide variety of business sectors and sizes, together with voluntary sector organisations. People not currently in work but seeking to start a business will find the programme of particular value. The course is most suitable for people wishing to enhance their business skills and develop a business start up plan, prior to implementation.

At the end of the course you will be able to:

• Describe and evaluate your business idea
• Carry out market research for your idea
• Market your product or service
• Compile the financial information required to run a business
• Produce a business plan
• Identify sources of funding
• Instigate relevant business controls

Module A: Planning to succeed

• Personal profiling & self-assessment
• Evaluating your business idea
• Writing a business plan
• Business structures
• Basic accounting requirements

Module B: Market Research

• Types of Research
• Survey methods
• Questionnaires
• Secondary research
• Market research analysis

Module C: Effective Marketing

• The marketing cycle
• Marketing plans
• The cost per sale formula
• Target customers
• Business generation
• The Marketing mix
• Product life cycles

Module D: Finance

• Financial planning & control
• A personal survival budget
• Start up budget
• The meaning of profit
• Direct an fixed costs
• Break even analysis
• Costing & pricing
• Sales forecasting and adjustments
• Cash flow forecasting
• Profit & loss forecasting
• Capital requirements

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

• Requirements

Entry Requirements

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

Qualifications

On successful completion of your course you will receive the learndirect Certificate of Completion of Training in Business Planning.

Your course certificate will also state the number of CPD points/hours the course is eligible for.

View a sample of the certificate (opens in new window)

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Certificate in Strategic Business Planning

A unique course to expand your strategic management perspective, improve competitive advantage, enhance business focus and develop your planning skills.

Develop an active role in your company's strategy planning and decision-making

Why Attend?

The course will provide you with the skills and insights to develop strategy and resolve organisational issues, understand yourself and others and then to expand and capitalise on the learned skills to operate more effectively in your management teams.

Benefits Of Attending

• Develop an active role in your company’s strategy planning and decision-making
• Focus on key strategic control areas in guiding others to success
• Take strategic responsibility for business development and focus on customers

Learning Objectives

You will learn the importance of flexibility, focus, empathy, encouragement using a well-balanced approach, and that awareness, thinking styles, problem solving skills, emotional intelligence and cultural matters are important in guiding both yourself and others towards success, creating smart people and people-smart strategies.

Run this course in-house

For over 29 years, Informa Connect Academy’s customised training solutions have helped organisations deliver tailored learning in different languages to suit every requirement.

Bespoke training designed for your organisation only, combining traditional classroom setting, blended and online learning models

Is this course for you?

Who Should Attend

This unique, interactive and comprehensive strategic management master class has been designed with Directors, Senior Executives, Senior Managers, Senior Administrators and Middle Managers in mind. Those in fact, who want to recognise and achieve their full potential as leaders and professionals and then support the company in the most efficient and effective way possible.

Course Information

Program level: Intermediate

Course Methodology

You will be expected to complete evening work for the preparation and evaluation of the key case studies. This will ensure your understanding and maximum input to your respective teams during the review stage and present a solid opportunity to provide input during discussions with the overall group. You will be expected to participate in a well-argued presentation of the teamwork to the main group.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TRAINING COURSE

Delivered by John

Expert in designing/executing management development programs/seminars for senior/middle management

Certified by CPD UK

The CPD Certification Service is an independent accreditation centre working across all sectors, disciplines and further learning applications and supports policies of institutional and professional organisations globally.

For over 29 years, Informa Connect Academy’s customised training solutions have helped organisations deliver tailored learning in different languages to suit every requirement

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Business Planning Courses

Show more filters, courses (209), providers (79), the fundamentals of project management.

• Multiple (2)
• Virtual Classroom, In Company

Business Planning - Online Assessment

• Self-Paced Online

Business Succession Planning

• From 175 GBP
• Self-Paced Online, Virtual Classroom, In Company
• Classroom, Self-Paced Online, Virtual Classroom

Business Continuity Planning

• From 10 USD

Business Plan and Feasibility Study

• Multiple (7)
• Virtual Classroom, Classroom

Business Planning – Development and Analysis Programme

• From 7,650 GBP
• Multiple (23)
• Multiple (8)

Business Plan and Feasibility Study - In Company

Business strategy and planning tool kit.

• This course results in CPD hours
• Beginner level
• From 995 GBP

Co-Pilot for Business Strategy and Planning

• From 397 GBP
• Virtual Classroom

Certified Strategy and Business Planning Professional

• From 1,175 GBP
• Multiple (11)
• Classroom, Virtual Classroom

AI-Driven Business Planning for Small Enterprises

Budgeting, forecasting, business planning and economic modelling.

• From 3,750 GBP
• Multiple (24)

Developing a Successful Business Plan Training Course

Strategy & business planning training course - cpd certified.

• In Company, Classroom, Virtual Classroom, Blended

Integrating Budgeting, Forecasting and Business Planning Training

Certified strategy and business planning professional - tailored course.

• In Company, Virtual Classroom

Developing a Successful Business Plan Training Course - Tailored Course

Strategic business planning and goal setting training course, popular places.

Case studies within Business Planning

What is a business planning course?

Business planning courses can cover several different aspects of business planning - anything from setting up a new business venture to preparing your current business for long-term success in the face of challenge. Most business planning courses will be focused around the following topics:

• Creating Business Plans: Learn to craft comprehensive business plans that lay a strong foundation for entrepreneurial ventures or strategic initiatives. You'll learn market research, defining business objectives, conducting competitor analysis, formulating marketing strategies, financial forecasting, and risk assessment. By mastering business plan creation, you'll be prepared to present convincing proposals to investors, secure funding, and confidently steer your organization towards growth.
• Succession Planning: Succession planning is vital for ensuring the seamless transition of leadership within an organization. Business planning courses delve into succession strategies, talent identification, leadership development, and mentorship programs. You'll grasp the significance of grooming future leaders and fostering a robust talent pipeline, thus safeguarding business continuity and long-term stability.
• Business Continuity Planning: Business continuity planning courses give you the skills to prepare an organisation for unforeseen crises, such as natural disasters, economic downturns, or cyber-attacks. These courses often include material on risk assessment, contingency planning, disaster recovery, and communication strategies during emergencies. You'll develop resilience and the ability to maintain essential operations even amidst disruptions, safeguarding your business and maintaining stakeholder trust.

What careers can business planning courses help prepare me for?

A business planning course is a great step in your professional development if you work in or adjacent to the business world. Here are some careers that will especially benefit from business planning training:

Entrepreneur/Small Business Owner: Business planning courses are ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. With the skills acquired, you'll be ready to confidently start and manage your own ventures, creating well-structured business plans, identifying growth opportunities, and implementing effective strategies for success.

Business Analyst: Business planning courses teach you to analyze market trends, conduct research, and develop comprehensive business plans. Business analysts assist organizations in making informed decisions, identifying areas for improvement, and devising strategies to achieve organizational objectives.

Strategic Planner: Strategic planners develop long-term plans for organisations, aligning business goals with market dynamics and competition. The insights gained from business planning courses help strategic planners create well-informed and data-driven strategies to drive sustainable growth.

Management Consultant: Management consultants use their expertise in business planning to assist clients in improving operations, optimizing efficiency, and implementing growth initiatives. Business planning courses teach consultants to gather valuable insights and guide organisations seeking to enhance their performance.

Business Development Manager: Business planning courses teach participants to assess market opportunities, conduct feasibility studies, and plan for business expansion. Business development managers lead initiatives to identify new markets, develop partnerships, and drive revenue growth.

Corporate Strategist: Corporate strategists develop and implement plans to achieve long-term objectives for large organizations. With knowledge of business planning, they can contribute to shaping the company's direction and driving sustainable success.

Project Manager: Business planning courses equip project managers with skills to develop detailed project plans, define objectives, and manage resources effectively. These courses enhance their ability to lead projects and deliver successful outcomes.

Financial Analyst: Financial analysts with a background in business planning can provide valuable insights into investment decisions, analyze potential growth opportunities, and assess the financial viability of business initiatives.

Operations Manager: Business planning courses help operations managers to optimize processes, streamline workflows, and align operations with overall business objectives.

Business planning skills are valuable across various industries and roles. Whether in entrepreneurship, consulting, management, or analysis, the expertise gained from business planning courses can open doors to diverse and rewarding career opportunities.

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I registered on or before 12 Dec 2018 OR I registered after 12 Dec 2018

Business Planning .

• 100% online learning
• 100 guided learning hours

Business Planning

About the business planning certificate.

A business plan is a formal provision of measurable business goals with the clear tactics to achieve them. Business plans are needed to request financing for a business idea, or to justify major business changes to a board of investors. They are typically worked out on a time frame of 3 to 5 years. This distance learning course will provide you with an insight into analysis, strategy and planning, with a very practical application of tools and techniques that would allow you to put together a compelling business plan.

This online course does not need any prior qualifications. It can be completed by anyone, taking as little or as long as they need. Although there is an indicative 100 hours of home study, referenced for your convenience, we understand each student is different. There will never be any pressure from Stonebridge Associated Colleges to finish your course work if you’re not feeling prepared enough.

Who should study this course?

Business plans are decision-making tools that anyone in the business world could benefit from. Entrepreneurs typically need to create one to request investment, or a bank loan. A non-profit organisation may need it to justify their organisation mission. Even government agencies need business plans for external stakeholders such as tax-payers or international lending bodies.

Anyone could need to write a business plan, regardless of their work experience or qualifications. As with all our courses you do not need any qualifications to embark on this course.

What happens after the course?

Upon completing this home learning course, you will have gained a new understanding in business structures, market research, marketing and finance. Ideally you would draw up your business plan at the same time as taking the course, but the decision is entirely up to you.

There is no career path following a business plan course. However, the skills it offers are at a strategic and planning level, favouring the operations side of a business. Knowing how to draft a business plan can be equally helpful to business advisors or grant consultants, as well as the people setting up a business. Some options you can choose after the business planning course:

• Business coach
• Entrepreneur
• Funding consultant

For more information about this course, give us a call on this number: 0121 392 8288

Qualification: Business Planning

On successful completion of your course, you will receive a Stonebridge Associated Colleges Certificate of Completion.

Your course certificate will also state the number of CPD points/hours the course is eligible for.

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

Module A: Planning to succeed

• Personal profiling & self-assessment
• Evaluating your business idea
• Writing a business plan
• Business structures
• Basic accounting requirements

Module B: Market Research

• Types of Research
• Survey methods
• Questionnaires
• Secondary research
• Market research analysis

Module C: Effective Marketing

• The marketing cycle
• Marketing plans
• The cost per sale formula
• Target customers
• Business generation
• The Marketing mix
• Product life cycles

Module D: Finance

• Financial planning & control
• A personal survival budget
• Start up budget
• The meaning of profit
• Direct an fixed costs
• Break even analysis
• Costing & pricing
• Sales forecasting and adjustments
• Cash flow forecasting
• Profit & loss forecasting
• Capital requirements

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included

• All study materials
• Study Guide
• Full Tutor and Admin support

Course Description

Endorsement.

On completion of your course, you will receive two certificates:

Certificate 1 is issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges: Business Planning Certificate

Business Planning Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, to view a sample of the college’s award, please click here.

Certificate 2 is issued by Quality Licence Scheme: Level 2 Business Planning Certificate of Achievement

At the end of this course successful learners will be given the option to receive a Certificate of Achievement from the Quality Licence Scheme and a Learner Unit Summary (which lists the components the learner has completed as part of the course).

The course has been endorsed under the Quality Licence Scheme. This means that Stonebridge Associated Colleges has undergone an external quality check to ensure that the organisation and the courses it offers, meet defined quality criteria. The completion of this course alone does not lead to a regulated qualification* but may be used as evidence of knowledge and skills gained. The Learner Unit Summary may be used as evidence towards Recognition of Prior Learning if you wish to progress your studies in this subject. To this end the learning outcomes of the course have been benchmarked at Level 2 against level descriptors published by Ofqual, to indicate the depth of study and level of demand/complexity involved in successful completion by the learner.

The course itself has been designed Stonebridge Associated Colleges to meet specific learners’ and/or employers’ requirements which cannot be satisfied through current regulated qualifications. The Quality Licence Scheme endorsement involves robust and rigorous quality audits by external auditors to ensure quality is continually met. A review of courses is carried out as part of the endorsement process.

The Quality Licence Scheme is part of the Skills and Education Group , a charitable organisation that unites education and skills-orientated organisations that share similar values and objectives. With more than 100 years of collective experience, the Skills and Education Group’s strategic partnerships create opportunities to inform, influence and represent the wider education and skills sector.

The Skills and Education Group also includes two nationally recognised awarding organisations; Skills and Education Group Awards and Skills and Education Group Access . Through our awarding organisations we have developed a reputation for providing high-quality qualifications and assessments for the education and skills sector. We are committed to helping employers, organisations and learners cultivate the relevant skills for learning, skills for employment, and skills for life.

Our knowledge and experience of working within the awarding sector enables us to work with training providers, through the Quality Licence Scheme, to help them develop high-quality courses and/or training programmes for the non-regulated market.

*Regulated qualification refers to those qualifications that are regulated by Ofqual / CCEA / Qualification Wales

To view a sample of the Certificate of Achievement, please click here .

Professional Membership

On completion of this course you will be eligible to join the following Professional Associations(s):

On successful completion of your course your qualification is awarded. You will receive an attractively presented Diploma or Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, this will also allow you to use the letters SAC. Dip. or SAC. Cert. after your name.

Stonebridge Associated Colleges is one of the leading (and biggest) distance education colleges in the U.K and internationally. We have many thousands of students studying with us at any one time from locations all over the world. Our diplomas will always count towards your future, and will improve your prospects of future employment or higher level study etc. by proving that you have studied to a certain level, that you have proficiency in your chosen subjects and that you are interested in your field of choice. Education is always an investment in your future and you will find this to be the case with our qualifications in your jurisdiction.

What's Included

Available from as little as, payment options.

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• A desktop PC, or any Android or iOS compatible mobile device

On submission of this enquiry, one of the learner support team from will contact you within 24 hours and help you enrol on this diploma.

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Whether you’re seeking entry into the world of business or looking to progress your career towards a management position, our business and management courses have much to offer you. Choose below from our range of degrees, diplomas and certificates.

Business and Management Degrees  Degrees Also known as an undergraduate or bachelors degree. Internationally respected, universally understood. An essential requirement for many high-level jobs. Gain a thorough understanding of your subject – and the tools to investigate, think critically, form reasoned arguments, solve problems and communicate effectively in new contexts. Progress to higher level study, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree.

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• One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
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• For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.

How long will it take?

Business and Management Diplomas  Diplomas Widely recognised qualification. Equivalent to the first two thirds of an honours degree. Enhance your professional and technical skills or extend your knowledge and understanding of a subject. Study for interest or career development. Top up to a full honours degree in just two years.

Business and management certificates  certificates widely recognised qualification. equivalent to the first third of an honours degree. study for interest or career development. shows that you can study successfully at university level. count it towards further qualifications such as a diphe or honours degree., why study business and management with the open university.

The Open University Business School has been delivering transformational, high quality business and management education for over 30 years. You can be reassured by the quality of our teaching as we’re proud to be part of an elite and exclusive group of the top 1% of global business schools who are triple accredited. The benefits of studying business and management with us: 

• You can specialise in accounting, economics, innovation and enterprise, leadership practice or marketing.
• You can combine your business and management studies with computing and IT, or a modern language and reach level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

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As organisations must innovate to meet the challenges of economic uncertainty and global competition, they’re looking for managers with adaptable skills to help them succeed. A good grounding in commercial awareness and the leadership skills that business and management qualifications develop is becoming more valuable to employers.

Our range of courses in business and management can help you start or progress your career in:

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Looking for something other than a qualification?

The majority of our modules can be studied by themselves, on a stand-alone basis. If you later choose to work towards a qualification, you may be able to count your study towards it.

See our full list of Business and Management modules

Business and Management short courses

Quickly build in-demand business management skills and knowledge and stay up-to-date with evolving needs of business and the latest leadership and management trends.

See our full list of Business and Management short courses

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Browse all the Business and Management courses we offer – certificates, diplomas and degrees.

See our full list of Business and Management courses

Interested in postgraduate study?

We also offer a range of postgraduate Business and Management courses.

See our full list of postgraduate Business and Management courses

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Strategic Business Planning

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Strategy and Business Planning --> Advanced Techniques: Strategic Thinking and Business Planning

• Strategy and Business Planning
• Advanced Techniques Strategic Thinking and Business Planning

Course Overview

Our course is designed to help you take a step back and analyse your business from a strategic perspective. You'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate your business strategy and recommend changes and improvements through lectures, case studies, and hands-on exercises.

Our expert trainers will guide you through reviewing your business, understanding its strengths and weaknesses, and understanding the external business environment in which it operates. In addition, you'll learn how to check your corporate mission, objectives, strategy, and tactics and understand where strategic planning stops and tactical operations begin. Throughout the course, you'll learn how to apply strategic planning to your business.

Join us for a course that will equip you with the tools and techniques to develop and implement a successful business strategy. Whether you're a business owner, executive, or manager, this course will provide the skills and knowledge needed to take your business to the next level.

•   Analyse your current business strategy and recommend changes and improvements.
•   Review your business and understand its strengths and weaknesses.
•   Understand the external business environment in which your business operates.
•   Review your corporate mission, objectives, strategy and tactics.
•   Know where strategic planning stops and tactical operations begin.
•   Apply formal and semi-formal techniques to your business throughout the workshop.

Course Outline

Day 1 vision, mission, objectives, strategy and tactics.

•   What are they, and how do they relate to each other?
•   Creating a formal vision and mission statement.
•   Entrepreneurship and leadership input to planning.
•   Using strategy and tactics with planning and operations.

Day 2 External analysis

•   Applying analytical techniques.
•   PESTLE analysis and its applications.
•   Competitor analysis and benchmarking.
•   Benchmarking – what it is and how to use it.
•   5-Forces model and how to use it.
•   Market segmentation and differentiation methods.

Day 3 Internal analysis

•   Exploring ways of analysing the business.
•   Financial techniques and measures.
•   Porter's Value Chain as an analytical technique.
•   7-S model and review.
•   Product portfolio analysis and marketing analysis.
•   Identifying the skills shortfall in your business.

Day 5 Pulling it all together

•   Creating a SWOT matrix – the current strategic position.
•   Scenario planning and alternatives – "what ifs'.
•   Strategy versus Planning.
•   Options and implementation.

Schedule & Fees

3 for 2 offer.

Get the most out of group training with our special discount! Register 3 of your participants together on the same course and only pay for 2.

Select Month

Duration: 20 CPD hours (5Days)

Date: 12 - 16 aug 2024.

date: 26 - 30 Aug 2024

date: 09 - 13 Sep 2024

date: 16 - 20 Sep 2024

Date: 30 sep - 04 oct 2024.

date: 18 - 22 Nov 2024

Date: 09 - 13 dec 2024.

date: 27 - 31 Jan 2025

Advanced techniques: strategic thinking and business planning, duration: 5 days (20 cpd hours), questions speak to our friendly training advisor, siham ziyadi, [email protected], +44 2071836657.

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Employees of professional or formally regulated bodies are generally expected to have CPD accredited training. This type of accreditation ensures that the training is knowledgeable, informed and constantly updated. It ensures our standards as a company are kept high and consistent.

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Strategic Planning

Our courses are delivered either live online or face to face – check dates below for more information

A One Day Strategic Planning Training Course

A strategic planning training course that demystifies the whole process and provides a practical approach to understanding strategy and strategic thinking.

Strategic planning is an essential business management skill: coming up with a vision for a better, brighter future and translating that into a doable strategic plan. At the same time it is a creative and exciting process that takes you beyond the restrictions of current thinking and opens up new possibilities for the future.

Call us on: 020 3286 5446

Email us at: [email protected]

This strategic planning course takes the form of a journey through a simple strategic planning process from vision to implementation plan. During the programme you will apply the process to an area in which you wish to think strategically.

Our one day Strategic Planning public course often runs the day after our Leadership Programme . Book both for a truly inspiring Leadership journey.

It is suitable for all those with strategic planning responsibilities or for those responsible for implementing a strategy handed down from above.

Strategic Planning Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending our strategic planning training course you will:.

• Be familiar with a simple strategic planning model
• Understand how to apply the model in real life
• Recognise and understand common strategic planning terminology
• Know how and why to set truly s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g goals
• Be able to apply creative problem solving techniques
• Understand how to motivate people to deliver your strategy
• Have an outline strategic plan in an appropriate template

Here are a selection of exercises from the Aspire Leadership Strategic Planning Training Course:

• A Strategy Model
• A Compelling Strategic Vision
• The Mission
• Supporting Values
• Measuring Success
• Fact Finding – PESTO, SWOT, etc
• Strategic Objectives
• Getting SMART
• Creative Problem Solving
• Making and aligning Strategic Plans
• Strategic Partnerships
• The Aspire Strategic Planning Template

For in-house programmes we offer a one or two day version depending on group size, budget and level of interaction.

To book an in-house course please contact us today.

Book your place today!

09.30 - 17.00 (UK time)

Online - £540 (Early bird £432) Face to Face - £575 (£460) all + VAT

9 Staple Inn London WC1V 7QH

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Open Courses

Business planning and growth strategies, introduction.

In today’s competitive landscape, successful organisations must not only compete with rivals but also carve out new market spaces. This course equips senior leaders with comprehensive strategies and tools for business planning and growth. Through a five-day programme, delegates will explore various planning types, strategise amidst volatility, and leverage innovation for market expansion. The course is crafted to refine strategic decision-making, enhance executive leadership capabilities, and foster a proactive approach to business challenges. Participants will depart with a solid framework for implementing and sustaining growth strategies in any business environment.

Who should attend

This course is tailored for senior management roles including CEOs, Directors, and Senior Managers involved in or aspiring to undertake strategic planning and business development responsibilities. It is especially beneficial for those looking to enhance their strategic thinking, improve organisational agility, and drive business growth through innovative approaches.

London | £4950 Dubai | £4950 Barcelona | £4950 Istanbul | £4950 Kuala Lumpur | £4950

Strategic Planning Foundations

• Assessing different planning approaches and their applicability
• Distinguishing between strategic thinking and strategic planning
• Evaluating the merits and limitations of formal strategic plans
• Practicing the art of the ‘elevator pitch’ for effective communication
• Developing roadmaps for strategic execution

Managing for a VUCA World

• Adapting leadership styles to manage volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA)
• Enhancing customer experience to boost loyalty and revenue
• Analysing internal processes for efficiency improvements
• Structuring organisations to support strategic objectives
• Preparing teams for future challenges through skill assessments

Strategic Growth and Market Expansion

• Comparing organic growth with mergers and acquisitions
• Formulating integration strategies for newly acquired assets
• Identifying and leveraging Mega Trends affecting the industry
• Employing advanced forecasting tools and techniques
• Planning for disruptions with contingency strategies

Enhancing Business Agility

• Identifying and managing new and emerging risks
• Employing scenario planning to anticipate future business conditions
• Understanding the principles that underpin agile organisations
• Reviewing and optimising business processes
• Incorporating quality improvements continuously

Innovating for New Market Opportunities

• Developing strategies to enter and expand new markets
• Breaking traditional industry boundaries to explore new areas
• Scaling businesses effectively for sustained growth
• Innovating with new products and services
• Applying the 7Ps of marketing to maximise market reach

At the end of this course, delegates will be able to:

• Differentiate and apply various strategic planning approaches.
• Communicate strategic plans effectively through compelling pitches.
• Lead and manage in a VUCA environment, enhancing adaptability and resilience.
• Conduct comprehensive internal and external environmental analyses.
• Formulate and execute growth strategies through organic and inorganic means.
• Implement agile practices to enhance organisational responsiveness.
• Innovate and identify opportunities in new and existing markets.
• Evaluate and refine business processes continuously for quality improvement.

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An intensive 5-day training course, strategic thinking, analysis and planning, mapping-out your best possible direction, course introduction.

Can you foretell the future?

Strategy depends upon the ability to foresee future consequences of present initiatives and the basic requirements for strategy development include, among other factors: 1) Extensive knowledge about the environment, market and competitors; 2) Ability to examine this knowledge as an interactive dynamic system; and 3) The imagination and logic to choose between specific alternatives.

This Oxford Strategic Thinking, Analysis and Planning training course has been specifically designed to provide the necessary strategic tools and mapping capabilities to achieve high levels of strategic alignment and consistency relative to both the external and internal environment. In this way, strategy enables professionals to maximize internal efficiency while capturing the highest potential of opportunities in the external environment and gain organisational and personal success.

Course Objective

• Leading-edge thinking in strategic analysis and planning
• Understanding the choices faced in developing strategy
• The concepts, tools and techniques of ‘strategy’ and ‘strategic planning’
• Step-by-step processes, providing a toolkit for each stage
• Mapping and applying strategic tools in managing their specialist roles
• Decision making and problem solving

Who Should Attend?

Designed for.

This Oxford course is suitable to a wide range of professionals who are required to make strategic decisions, and who wishes to learn how to apply strategic tools in their own job and their own career but will greatly benefit the following individuals who belong in the Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals Industry:

• New & Experienced Supervisors
• Team Leaders & Line Managers
• Projects & Process Managers
• Senior Managers
• Strategic Developers

Course Outline

• Global Strategic Thinking, Analysis and Planning
• Understand the Global Leading- Edge Thinking in Strategic Development
• Identify and Evaluate the Options and Implications faced in Developing Strategy
• Apply the Concepts, Tools and Techniques of ‘Strategy’ and ‘Strategic Planning’
• Core Strategic Tools
• Understand the Step-by Step process and Apply a Strategic Toolkit for each stage
• Mapping Strategic Options
• Map out Possible Directions using Strategic Tools to Apply to their own Specialist Role in the Alignment of Strategic Programmes and Projects
• Strategic Options for Competitive Advantage

Certificate

Oxford Management Centre Certificate will be provided to delegates who successfully completed the training course.

Accreditation

In association with

GLOMACS Training & Consultancy

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Business Planning Course

GET ACCESS TO THIS COURSE ALONG WITH 2500+ COURSES FOR A YEAR FOR JUST £49. GET NOW

• For Business

• Company Name *

A business without a plan is like driving without knowing how to drive. Without a proper plan at hand, you can never drive your business to profit. So before you start building your business empire, learn the ABCs of business planning with our exclusive Business Planning Course.

Through this course you will grasp the core concepts of business planning. The informative modules will educate you on how to set up your business goals and develop an outline. Then, you will know the essentials of structuring and organising a business plan. In addition, the course will help you develop an effective marketing plan and show you how to manage the finances. Furthermore, you will grasp the skills to create company value. 

This course is ideal for both current and future business professionals. So, if you are one of them, join today and open new doors of possibilities. 

Course Preview

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the basic concepts of business planning 
• Learn how to set up your business goals 
• Know the strategies for structuring and organising a business plan 
• Grasp the process of developing a marketing plan 
• Set up the skills required for financing your business 
• Understand how to build company value

Why Take This Course From John Academy?

• Affordable, well-structured and high-quality e-learning study materials
• Meticulously crafted engaging and informative tutorial videos and materials
• Efficient exam systems for the assessment and instant result
• Earn UK & internationally recognised accredited qualification
• Easily access the course content on mobile, tablet, or desktop from anywhere, anytime
• Excellent career advancement opportunities
• Get 24/7 student support via email

What Skills Will You Learn from This Course?

• Business planning 
• Building company value

Who Should Take This Business Planning Course?

Whether you’re an existing practitioner or an aspiring professional, this course is an ideal training opportunity. It will elevate your expertise and boost your CV with key skills and a recognised qualification attesting to your knowledge.

Are There Any Entry Requirements?

This Business Planning Course  is available to all learners of all academic backgrounds. But learners should be aged 16 or over to undertake the qualification. And a good understanding of the English language, numeracy, and ICT will be helpful.

Business Planning Course Certification

After completing and passing th e Business Planning Course s uccessfully, you will be able to obtain a Recognised Certificate of Achievement. Learners can obtain the certificate in hard copy at £14.99 or PDF format at £11.99.

Career Path​

This e xclusive Business Planning Course will equip you with effective skills and abilities and help you explore career paths such as 

• Business Executives 
• Entrepreneurs

Module 01: An Introduction To Business Planning

Module 02: self-assessment, module 03: setting your goals, module 04: roles and responsibilities, module 05: outlining a sketch, module 06: organising a business plan, module 07: structuring a business plan, module 08: marketing plan, module 09: getting to know your customers, module 10: financing your business, module 11: setting the right price, module 12: building a company value, order your certificate and transcript, what our students are saying, sam carpenter.

John Academy has helped me in my development, and I took the courses seriously and gained a qualifications certificate, which I've wanted to do for a long time. I highly recommend it, and a few friends have signed up, too. Thank you, John Academy.

Georgina Salazar

Easy to access, generous options for multiple learning and approaches. Supportive team.

Wayne Wright

The course empowers me to make my dreams come true. The course material was excellent. John Academy is good to study.

I am thankful that I have chosen John Academy for my online courses. It has given me a platform where I have learned a lot. It has so many reading materials with a handful of knowledge. Once again, thank you so much to the John Academy support team, who has cooperated & supported me throughout this journey.

Peter Gilbert

Brilliant course, with so many to choose from, very good value and a certificate at the end. Quick turnaround to receive a certificate. Very good academy I have completed several and have 2 ongoing at the moment. Never had any problems. Excellent customer service. Would recommend.

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All you need to know and prepare for starting your new business, from business planning, set up, design the salon, staff recruiting, products, advertise. We will go in business and management training through with you in every step.

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Business Planning Training

Instant access | free instant pdf certificate | 24/7 expert support | lifetime access.

• Reed courses certificate of completion - Free
• Tutor is available to students

Overview Overview

Whether you want to improve your career prospects or start your own successful career, this Business Planning course can be a useful step in the right direction

This Business Planning course has been updated recently with proper guidance changes resulting from any deadlines or revisions.

★★ As a complimentary offer, we are letting our learners gain lifetime free access to the Business Planning course ★★

For over a decade, we've delivered Business Planning training to individuals and organisations big and small. Our courses help you be proactive and engaged in your working life.

Certificates Certificates

Reed courses certificate of completion.

Digital certificate - Included

Will be downloadable when all lectures have been completed

Curriculum Curriculum

Module 1 - executive summary 01:00.

• 1: Executive summary (Business Plan) 01:00 PDF

Module 2 - Company Overview 02:00

• 2: Company Overview (Business Plan) 02:00 PDF

Module 3 - Market Overview 01:00

• 3: Market Overview (Business Plan) 01:00 PDF

Module 4 - Market Size 02:00

• 4: Market Size (Business Plan) 02:00 PDF

Module 5 - Target Customers 01:00

• 5: Target Customers (Business Plan) 01:00 PDF

Module 6 - Customer Needs 02:00

• 6: Module 6 - Customer Needs (Business Plan) 02:00 PDF

Module 7 - Direct Competitors 01:00

• 7: Direct Competitors (Business Plan) 01:00 PDF

Module 8 - Indirect Competitors 02:00

• 8: Indirect Competitors (Business Plan) 02:00 PDF

Module 9 - Competitive Advantage 02:00

• 9: Competitive Advantage (Business Plan) 02:00 PDF

Module 10 - Description of Product and/or Services Offered 01:00

• 10: Description of Product andor Services Offered (Business Plan) 01:00 PDF

Module 11 - Pricing of Products Services 02:00

• 11: Pricing of Products _ Services (Business Plan) 02:00 PDF

Course media Course media

Description Description

Course Curriculum of Business Planning

• Module 1 - Executive summary
• Module 2 - Company Overview
• Module 3 - Market Overview
• Module 4 - Market Size
• Module 5 - Target Customers
• Module 6 - Customer Needs
• Module 7 - Direct Competitors
• Module 8 - Indirect Competitors
• Module 9 - Competitive Advantage
• Module 10 - Description of Product Services Offered
• Module 11 - Pricing of Products Services

Further information about this Business Planning Course

Course Delivery: Our Courses are 100% online, interactive learning

Duration: 24 Hours

Accredited Provider: The CPD Accreditation Group (#779641)

Certificate: Upon successfully completing the Business Planning course, you will be sent a Digital Certificate. You can showcase this certificate of achievement in your professional life.

FREE Updates: You will be notified if there is any update of the Business Planning course.

Who is this course for? Who is this course for?

This Business Planning has been designed for learners who wish to progress their personal and professional life. However, this Business Planning does not need traditional entry qualifications, you can start your journey within this Business Planning course straight away.

Requirements Requirements

Our online platform allows you to study 24/7, wherever you are. This online Business Planning course is open to anyone. All you need is an interest in learning! We give you access to world-class learning led by Compete High .

Career path Career path

Compete High offers the most convenient path to gain knowledge of Business Planning which will give you the opportunity to put into practice your skill in a corporate environment.

Questions and answers Questions and answers

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Strategic Planning and Implementation Training

• Duration: 3 days
• Language: English
• 17 PMI PDUs
• Level: Foundation

Shape and guide the overall business objectives of your organisation by leveraging proven analytical techniques. In this training course, you learn to formulate, execute, and monitor the strategic planning for your organisation by assessing your current business environment, identifying strategic options for competitive advantage, and applying strategy processes at the organisational and departmental level.

• A general understanding of business practices

Strategic Planning and Implementation Training Delivery Methods

• After-course instructor coaching benefit
• Learning Tree end-of-course exam included

Strategic Planning and Implementation Training Course Benefits

Strategic planning and implementation training outline, fundamentals of strategic planning.

Defining strategy

• Components of strategy
• Discovering why strategies fail
• Clarifying your organisation's mission, vision and core competencies

The benefits of strategic planning

• The need for strategic planning
• Assessing tools and processes for strategic planning

Developing the Strategy

Ensuring organisational capabilities are appropriate for the strategic environment

• Analysing how competitive and other environmental factors shape strategy
• Determining the impact of operating and remote environments
• Assessing the external environment for individual departments
• Identifying your customers and their needs

Assessing external forces

• Analysing your operating and external environment
• Initiating a SWOT analysis
• Prioritising opportunities and threats
• Categorising the external environment with checklists

Auditing internal capabilities

• Identifying strengths by business function
• Recognising vulnerabilities
• Expanding the SWOT analysis

Identifying Strategic Options

Evaluating factors for choosing strategy

• Mapping strategies to product or market life cycle
• Aligning strategies with capabilities of the organisation
• Choosing strategies to meet stakeholder expectations

Selecting appropriate strategic models

• Identifying sources of competitive advantage
• Implications of growth and diversification strategies
• Global strategies for sourcing, operations and marketing

Formulating Your Strategic Plan

Considering strategic planning approaches

• Issue-centric, Entrepreneurial and Holistic planning
• Assessing organisational readiness

Building the plan

• Key components of a strategic plan
• Operationalising the strategic plan
• Identifying opportunities with portfolio management and gap analysis techniques

Linking strategy to actions

• Aligning strategy with six key organisational factors
• Identifying gaps between current and needed capabilities
• Establishing appropriate objectives and milestones
• Managing culture, human resources, skills, processes and structure for strategy execution
• Initiating programmes and projects for implementing strategy

Executing Your Strategy for Success

Managing stakeholder expectations

• Establishing effective communication mechanisms
• Aligning culture to strategic direction
• Linking rewards to performance
• Managing the inevitable change

Maximising results with applied processes

• Connecting people to the execution of strategy
• Establishing and maintaining communications
• Designing effective information systems
• Organising to execute in line with strategy

Monitoring and Controlling Implementation

Establishing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Setting up metrics to measure performance
• Monitoring progress with dashboards
• Deploying Balanced Scorecards

Dimensions of strategic control

• Detecting changes in assumptions
• Coping with a dynamic environment
• Adjusting for unanticipated events
• 3-day instructor-led training course
• Dec 4 - 6 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM GMT London or Virtual
• Mar 12 - 14 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM GMT London or Virtual
• May 7 - 9 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM BST London or Virtual
• Bring this or any training to your organisation
• Full - scale program development
• Delivered when, where, and how you want it
• Blended learning models
• Tailored content
• Expert team coaching

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Can i learn strategic planning and implementation training online.

Yes! We know your busy work schedule may prevent you from getting to one of our classrooms which is why we offer convenient online training to meet your needs wherever you want, including online training.

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Business and management studies

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• Subjects it's useful to have studied first

Careers: Where it can take you

Getting in: entry requirements, other subjects you may be interested in, considering an apprenticeship, explore further, application advice.

Choosing business and management will give you a versatile skill set covering strategic planning, leadership and problem-solving, all essential for navigating the corporate world. This popular field opens doors into dynamic careers, spanning corporate management, consulting, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

Armed with a degree in business and management, individuals become catalysts for organisational growth, driving innovation, leading teams, and shaping the strategic landscape of multiple sectors and industries on a global scale.

• Contribute to the success of businesses on a global scale.
• Drive organisational success and innovation.
• Advocate economic growth and job creation.
• Entrepreneurship
• Management theory
• Human resources
• Market analysis

Options to study in this field include:

• undergraduate courses
• apprenticeships

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BSc (Hons) Business Management

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Chat to a current business and management studies student using UniBuddy.

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• Ask which modules they really enjoyed.
• Find out how easy it was for them to make friends on their course.
• Do they have any tips on your personal statement?
• Did they do anything to prep for uni before they went?
• Are there books, podcasts or YouTube channels they would recommend?  

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Subjects it's useful to have studied first

Some business and management studies courses or apprenticeships will have requirements for previous qualifications in certain subjects. Entry requirements vary, so always check with the provider.

Let's talk about business and administration apprenticeships

• Strategic planning
• Market research and analysis
• Negotiation and conflict resolution
• Entrepreneurship and innovation
• Communication
• Team collaboration
• Project management

Career options

Chief executives and senior officials

Financial managers and directors

Purchasing managers and directors

Human resource managers and directors

Marketing and sales directors

Advertising and public relations directors

Business and related associate professionals

Advertising accounts managers and creative directors

Office managers

Business and financial project management professionals

Financial accounts managers

Find out more about your career prospects from studying business and management studies. The following information is based on a typical business professional role.

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What is a… corporate innovation specialist.

Find out more about what you'll need to study business and management studies at university or as an apprenticeship.

Average requirements for undergraduate degrees

Entry requirements differ between university and course, but this should give you a guide to what is usually expected from business and management studies applicants.

The expert view

Accounting and finance

Events management

• Marketing 
• PR and communications  

Applying for an apprenticeship is just like applying for a normal job. Here’s what you need to know:

Where to apply

Apply to university and apprenticeships.

There's nothing stopping you applying to university through UCAS, while also applying for apprenticeship vacancies.

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Bbc one – the apprentice, ted business, professional bodies.

Follow the relevant professional bodies to keep yourself up-to-date with the latest industry news.

• Chartered Management Institute
• Institute of Leadership and Management
• The Chartered Institute of Marketing
• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
• Would you say you’re tech savvy? That’s a great asset in the business world.
• Have you always been a bit of an entrepreneur? Did you have an idea as a child that made you some pocket money?
• Have you delivered presentations at school or anywhere else where you’ve communicated ideas in front of an audience?
• Showcase any customer service skills you’ve gained through part-time work or volunteering roles.
• Show examples of instances where you took the initiative or contributed to innovative ideas.
• Are you good at building professional networks and connections? That’s a great skill that all successful managers have.

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Explore courses

Business and Management Studies

University of Sussex

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Brighton · 23/09/2024

Tariff points: 120/147

University of Huddersfield

PhD · 6 Years · Part-time · Huddersfield · 14/04/2025

Tariff points: N/A

Social Science Research (Business and Management Studies)

Loughborough University

MS · 2 Years · Part-time · Loughborough · 10/2024

Business Studies

University of West London

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · London · 09/2024

Tariff points: 112/112

University of Greenwich

BA (Hons) · 4 Years · Sandwich · London · 09/2024

ICON College of Technology and Management

Sheffield Hallam University

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Sheffield · 23/09/2024

Leeds Beckett University

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Leeds · 16/09/2024

Tariff points: 72/72

University of Stirling

BA (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time · Stirling · 09/09/2024

University of Worcester

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Worcester · 09/2024

Tariff points: 64/64

De Montfort University

HND · 2 Years · Full-time · Leicester · 09/2024

Tariff points: 32/32

University of Chichester

MPR · 7 Years · Part-time · Chichester · 10/2024

Bishop Grosseteste University

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Lincoln · 23/09/2024

Tariff points: 96/112

Business Administration

University of East London

MBA · 2 Years · Part-time · Newham · 09/2024

Business Administration : Finance

European School of Economics

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · London · 23/09/2024

Business Administration (Business Analytics)

University of Aberdeen

MBA · 12 Months · Full-time · Aberdeen · 16/09/2024

Business Finance (with Professional Placement Year)

University of Chester

BA (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time · Chester · 23/09/2024

University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

HND · 2 Years · Full-time · Perth · 09/2024

Tariff points: 42/48

Business Administration (Human Resource Management)

University of Bedfordshire

MBA · 1 Year · Block-release · Luton · 07/2025

Business and Finance with Sandwich Placement

University of Wolverhampton

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Sandwich · Wolverhampton · 16/09/2024

Tariff points: 96/96

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Hospitality, leisure, and tourism

Manufacturing engineering

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Mathematics and statistics

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Media studies

PR and communications

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• Certification & Training
• Certificate of the Business Continuity Institute (CBCI)

CBCI Certification

Gain a globally recognised certification in business continuity, showcase your foundational knowledge, and advance your career in the resilience industry.

Find a Course

CBCI 7.0 Certification Course

The new CBCI 7.0 Certification Course is the most comprehensive business continuity training course that covers the full range of practices used by business continuity professionals to develop, implement, and maintain an effective business continuity management system. 

The course has been updated in line with the new Good Practice Guidelines (GPG) 7.0, which draws on the knowledge of practitioners from all over the world and on information from ISO standards.

The cost of sitting the CBCI 7.0 Certification Course will depend on location and delivery method.

To learn more about the new CBCI 7.0 Certification Course watch our on-demand webinar and access all FAQ.

CBCI Certification Course

Book 3-5 Days Online/Classroom Course

Book 6 Weeks Online Course

Learning outcomes:

The CBCI 7.0 will take you through the six Professional Practices (PP) and provide you with detailed learning outcomes that you will be able to directly apply to your day-to-day job.

PP 1 - Establishing a business continuity management system

In this course module you will learn: 

• The activities needed to establish and maintain a business continuity management system.    
• Why and how to define the scope of a business continuity management system. 
• How to develop an effective business continuity policy and governance. 

PP 2 - Embracing business continuity

• The difference between embracing and embedding business continuity. 
• How to understand an organization’s culture and business continuity culture.  
• How to improve an organization’s business continuity culture through different approaches. 
• How to measure an organization’s business continuity culture. 
• The benefits and outcomes of embracing business continuity management and the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance activities. 

PP 3 - Analysis

• The use of primary techniques of analysis, business impact analysis, and risk assessment.  
• How to identify different types of business impact analysis and the activities that need to be undertaken to develop a business impact analysis. 
• How to determine the maximum tolerable period of disruption (MTPD) and recovery time objective (RTO). 
• About the product and service, the process, and the activity of business impact analysis.  
• The content, approval, and use of a consolidated business impact analysis. 
• Risk assessment in the context of the business continuity management system. 

PP 4 - Solutions design

• The purpose of business continuity solutions design and how recovery strategies and solutions are developed. 
• The strategies and solutions that can be used for different resources and RTO categories, and how unacceptable risks and single points of failure are mitigated. 

PP 5 - Enabling solutions

• How to implement a solution, and establish a response structure. 
• The factors affecting communications when responding to incidents and the relevant procedures to be applied. 
• How business continuity plans are developed and managed as well as the purpose and characteristics of strategic, tactical, and operational business continuity plans. 

PP 6 - Validation

• Why and how exercise programmes are developed as well as the different types of exercises.  
• How to develop, conduct, and evaluate an exercise. 
• How a business continuity management system should be maintained and reviewed.

What are the benefits of taking this course?

• Acquire comprehensive and practical foundational knowledge of business continuity management that you can bring back to your organization to build organizational resilience.  
• By passing the CBCI Exam , you will gain a globally recognized and industry-leading certification in business continuity that will support you in job searches, career progression, and demonstrating your competency in the field of business continuity.  
• Become part of a global network of business continuity and resilience professionals. By passing the CBCI Exam you will also acquire your BCI Membership (with the first membership fee will be waived), which comes with a plethora of opportunities and benefits.  
• As a BCI Member, you will receive the post-nominal title CBCI that you can use to showcase your knowledge, expertise, and commitment to professional development.  

Hear what students have to say about the course ...

 who is the course and certification for.

• Professionals and/or practitioners seeking to complement practical experience in business continuity management with a globally recognised certification. 
• Professionals and/or practitioners looking to kick-start or progress a career in business continuity management and/or resilience. 
• Professionals that have business continuity management-related responsibilities embedded within their role.  

We would highly recommend the course: as business continuity professionals the experience shared by the tutor and other participants was enlightening and the GPG have definitely helped to better understand some steps of the methodology. The course has also given us many resources and examples to improve the way in which we explain the BIAs and plans to clients during a business continuity program implementation. James [McAlister] was fantastic. He has a great deal of experience in the sector and tremendous energy and sense of humour. Marta Bellera CBCI Student with BC Training, Institut Cerdà

Your training - it was engaging and informative, so well delivered. I really related to some of the examples you provided and that helped me a lot to put context to what we were discussing. CBCI Student - The Continuity Shop

The training was very rewarding. I appreciated a lot. The instructor was knowledgeable on the subject matter, he provided clear examples and he asked questions to the participants which further enriched the training with the exchanges of experiences and best practices. Zouhair Erraji - CBCI Student with BC Training

  How is the course delivered?

Bci licensed training partners.

The BCI has a global network of Licensed Training Partners delivering the CBCI 7.0 Certification Course over 3-5 days, in-class or online. In this course, you will be joined by fellow professionals from a variety of backgrounds and organizations. All you need to do is select your prefered course date and book your place.

CBCI Online 6-week course

The CBCI Online is delivered over 6 weeks, with four hours of sessions each week. This course format provides flexibility for studying at a time that suits you. It is supported by recorded sessions and is a highly convenient course designed to work around your schedule, irrespective of whether you are new to business continuity or a seasoned professional.

CBCI Online

How will the course be assessed?

To receive your CBCI Certification, post-nominals, and access to BCI Membership - you need to sit and pass the CBCI Exam. 

The CBCI Exam consists of multiple-choice answers based on the based on the course content. The exam can be taken online at a convenient time for you. You simply need a stable internet connection and a webcam so the exam can be proctored. 

Learn More About the CBCI Exam

Free resources

Cbci qualification specifications.

A document providing all of the entry requirements, assessment criteria and learning outcomes of the CBCI Certfication.

Download Here

CBCI Candidate Information Pack

This is your first step to getting your CBCI Certification. It tells you everything you need to know about the CBCI Certification course and exam and how to prepare.

Good Practice Guideline (GPG) Lite Edition 7.0

The GPG Lite Edition 7.0 is a condensed version of the GPG Edition 7.0, It is designed for any professional looking to take their first steps towards understanding business continuity and improving organizational resilience.

We fact-checked some of the rumors spreading online about the Trump assassination attempt

• Medium Text

MISIDENTIFIED SHOOTERS

Altered images, false claims shooting was staged, predictive programming conspiracy theories.

Reporting by Seana Davis; additional reporting Esther Chan; editing by Stephanie Burnett and Christina Agnagnostopoulos

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

Fact Check: No firearm recovered in Milwaukee officer-involved shooting near RNC

There is no evidence a July 16 officer-involved shooting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was linked to the Republican National Convention (RNC) nearly a mile away, or to the July 13 assassination attempt targeting Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, as suggested in social media posts saying the incident involved a “potential shooter.”

Understanding retirement needs

• How much do you need to retire comfortably?
• How much to save based on age

Building your retirement savings

Adjusting for inflation, lifestyle, and healthcare costs.

• General rules of thumb
• Seeking professional advice

How Much Do I Need to Retire? A Complete Guide to Retirement Planning

Paid non-client promotion: Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate investing products to write unbiased product reviews.

• Target savings will vary for each future retiree, depending on one's expenses and current salary.
• Many advisors recommend saving 15% of your earnings annually or even more if you are getting a late start.
• Multiple income streams and a conservative withdrawal rate ensure you don't run out of money.

Acquiring adequate retirement savings doesn't happen overnight. For most people, saving enough for retirement requires decades of dedication and strategic financial planning . But how much do you actually need to save to ensure a comfortable retirement? 

Here are the best retirement plans , calculators, investment strategies, and tips you can use to ensure your retirement savings plan is on track. 

Assessing your retirement needs

Unfortunately, there's no general number to aim for when saving toward retirement. Your target retirement savings goal will differ greatly from your siblings', neighbors', and even your coworkers' goals since the amount you'll need largely depends on personal factors.

However, one rule of thumb applies to everyone: The sooner you start saving, the less effort you'll need to put in to reach your goal, and the better-positioned you'll be later in life. 

According to the 2024 MassMutual Retirement Happiness Study , the average age for retirees in the U.S. is 62. If you were to live to 85, this means you'd need enough money to cover all your expenses (and retirement goals) for at least 22 years. Economic factors like inflation will also certainly impact your savings over time.

Estimating your retirement expenses

Understanding what you expect retirement to look like will help determine how much you'll need to fund that lifestyle. If you plan to travel the world in luxury, your budget will differ from someone wanting to bird watch from the backyard each morning.

In retirement, your savings will cover many of the same expenses you had pre-retirement. This includes costs like food, housing, transportation, clothes, gifts, utilities, insurance (including a health plan), and travel.

In most cases, these expenses won't change much from pre- to post-retirement, which makes creating a budget easier. But if you have big plans for your retirement years (moving to a new state or country, buying a bigger home, increasing travel, etc.), you must calculate how much your new standard of living will cost. 

How much do you need to retire comfortably? 

The first step to adequately saving for retirement is to determine how much you'll need. This means analyzing current and future expenses and deciding how much you can afford to put away each month. You may also want to use a number of different savings and investment vehicles or passive income streams.

Financial advisors suggest saving around 10 times your current salary by the time you reach retirement age. Before you retire, you should aim to reduce your annual expenses as much as possible, including paying off existing debt. This can help stretch your retirement savings for even longer. 

As always, it's wise to consult with a trusted financial planner to help you determine your unique needs and retirement savings strategy.

How much to save for retirement based on your age

One way to see if you're on track to reach a comfortable retirement savings is to aim for a multiple of your current annual earnings. This serves as a rough estimate so you can get a better sense of your situation. Remember that the amount of savings required to ensure a comfortable retirement varies according to your projected retirement costs and even the specific investments you choose for your retirement portfolio.

According to Fidelity , here's how much you should have saved up each decade to meet your retirement goals:

Financial advisors recommend dedicating 15% of your annual income toward retirement. However, depending on your retirement goals, financial obligations, and current assets, you may need to save even more.

Types of retirement accounts (401(k), IRA, etc.)

There are multiple savings vehicles and income streams to consider for building your nest egg. These can affect how much you need to save today, depending on which sources of income are available to you.

Some of the most popular types of retirement accounts include: 

• 401(k) plans: Employer-sponsored investment vehicles with compounding power and tax advantages to help you grow your nest egg steadily over time. Money in a 401(k) can be invested in various securities, and your contributions may even be matched by your employer, amplifying your efforts. Funds can be distributed without penalty beginning at age 59 ½, or earlier with certain exceptions.
• IRAs: IRAs are retirement accounts individuals open through major banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. The best IRA accounts include traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs. IRAs have the same tax advantages as 401(k)s but offer more flexibility over how your funds are allocated.
• Traditional pension plans: Traditional pensions are another employer-sponsored investment vehicle certain businesses offer. With a pension, your employer is responsible for contributing and investing the funds in your account. The amount contributed is determined by employee earnings and years at the business. 

Outside of savings accounts, other ways to generate income during retirement include:

• Social Security benefits: Social Security is a government program that provides individuals with monthly retirement and disability benefits. You can opt-in to start receiving Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but you'll receive lower payments. Financial experts recommend delaying Social Security until you reach full retirement age (age 70). 
• Annuities: Annuities are another retirement income source to consider. They're offered by insurance companies and act as a long-term investment vehicle. After purchasing an annuity — either with a lump sum or periodic purchase payments — you will receive regular payments over the course of your retirement.

Planning for inflation in retirement

Remember to consider inflation and its impact on your savings. For instance, in 2024, there have been inflation rates of 3%, following the 3.3% increase in 2023 and the high 6.5% rate in 2022. Generally, you should account for inflation of approximately 2% per year.

However, certain economic, political, or natural disasters can cause unexpected spikes in inflation. In those cases, you may experience significant financial losses that require you to permanently or temporarily adjust your lifestyle and budget. One of the best ways to hedge against inflation and market downturns is by continuing to invest after retirement . 

Healthcare costs and long-term care planning

Try to account for potential unexpected expenses, such as medical care for you and your spouse or even financially helping a child or grandchild.

"The most common expense that a retiree can ignore (or forget to budget for) is end-of-life expectancy expenses," says Jim Ludwick, a CFP and member at Garrett Planning Network . "This includes caregivers coming to your house, going into assisted living, or skilled nursing. Those are very expensive parts of people's lives. And a lot of times that can eat up quite a bit of savings if it goes on for an extended period of time."

Downsizing and lifestyle adjustments

When planning your retirement lifestyle, consider where you want to live. You may want to downsize depending on your preferred lifestyle, savings amount, and priorities. That said, your priorities may be buying your dream retirement home or moving to a certain location. In this case, be sure that you factor those larger expenses into your budget.

Retirement planning general rules of thumb

While everyone's situation and needs will differ, there are a few primary rules of thumb that most financial advisors follow, which you should consider when determining how much to save for retirement.

Retirement income as a percentage of pre-retirement income

Many financial professionals recommend that you account for between 70% and 80% of your pre-retirement income each year in retirement. This means that if you currently earn $60,000 per year, you should plan to spend between $42,000 to $48,000 annually once you retire. 

This isn't a set rule for everyone, and you may need to even account for more savings. "Many people need to have income streams (or savings and investments) cover 80%, 90%, or even 100% of their pre-retirement budget," Ludwick says. It all depends on your specific expenses now and in retirement.

Saving 15% of your earnings every year

If you start saving for retirement early enough, an annual savings rate of 15% may be sufficient to meet your goals. If you're off to a late start, you may need to save a lot more each year to catch up. 

"As you get older, the amount needed for savings to reach the same end goal roughly doubles every 10 years," says Tolen Teigen, chief investment officer for FinDec . "So, if someone waits ten years to start saving, instead of 30, they are now 40. Instead of 8% to 10% annually, they are now looking at 16% to 20% saved to reach the same end number."

Saving 10 times your income by retirement age

As mentioned above, many financial advisors and firms like Fidelity recommend having approximately 10 times your annual salary saved by the time you reach retirement age. While this may not be exactly what you need, it's a good target to keep in mind as you go. You can always adjust it depending on your projected needs in retirement.

The 4% withdrawal rule 

Many retirees are concerned about running out of money once they reach retirement. The 4% rule may be a good guideline to avoid this. While many factors can affect the actual drawdown process, the 4% rule can be a good place to start if you want to avoid running out of money.

This rule states that retirees can withdraw up to 4% of their retirement savings in year one of retirement. So, if you have $2,000,000 in retirement savings, you would withdraw $80,000 that first year. In year two, you would adjust that $80,000 for inflation and withdraw that amount from your savings.

Keep in mind that while the 4% rule is standard, some financial advisors say your actual withdrawal percentage could be anywhere from 3% to 5%.

Seeking professional advice when retirement planning

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to saving for retirement. Everyone's needs will be different, and so will their approach to saving, including when they start and how much they can set aside each year. Consulting with a certified financial planner or other retirement expert is the best way to understand your unique needs.

"Planning ahead and checking in on your efforts" is key to saving enough for the retirement years, Ludwick says."It's dangerous when you're 75 and realize you're running out of money and you have to move in with a younger sibling or something." 

His advice? "If you want to stay independent, do your homework ahead of time. Think about all those things that could possibly happen. If they don't happen, you're lucky … and your kids and grandkids can have a nice gift that you leave behind."

You can calculate how much you need to retire by assessing your expected expenses, considering your desired lifestyle, current expenses, projected inflation, and healthcare costs. Business Insider's free retirement calculator can help you see if you're on track to secure a comfortable retirement. You can also use other rules of thumb, such as having an annual savings rate of 15%.

The 4% rule in retirement planning suggests withdrawing 4% of your retirement savings each year to prevent you from prematurely running out of money for at least 30 years. It's a general guideline to help estimate how much you need to save. However, some advisors recommend more or less than that rate.

You can maximize your retirement savings by regularly contributing to tax-advantaged retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs to maximize employer matching contributions, investment opportunities, and compound interest. Generally, it's best practice to max out your retirement accounts first. Also, adopt a diversified investment strategy for greater portfolio growth and risk management.

The sooner you start planning for retirement, the easier it will be to compound your savings and reach your goals. Starting in your 20s and 30s allows more time for your investments to grow. It's still possible to catch up if you start in your 40s or 50s by saving more aggressively and adjusting your strategy, but it will be generally more stressful. 

Common mistakes to avoid in retirement planning include underestimating expenses, waiting to start saving, relying too heavily on Social Security, failing to diversify investments, spending too quickly, and not accounting for healthcare costs and inflation. The best way to avoid these common mistakes is by creating a thorough financial plan and consulting a financial advisor.

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Money blog: Budget airline set to slash fares as profits slump

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. Share your Money Problem or consumer dispute below along with your email address and we'll get answers from an expert - today we're helping a reader having trouble with a neighbour.

Monday 22 July 2024 20:12, UK

• 'I constantly smell smoke from my neighbour's log burner - what can I do?'
• Popular European city to 'substantially' raise tourist tax for cruises
• Budget airline set to slash fares as profits slump
• Biden bombshell fails to move markets - here's why

Essential reads

• What happens when our gold mines run dry?
• Cheapest ways to get your holiday money
• We tried UK's cheapest three-course dinner* - here's what you get for £4 (or £5 if you want to splash out)
• Women in Business: 'I set up business with £200 and went on Dragons' Den - now it's worth £1.5m'
• Basically... What happens when you go bankrupt?
• Best of the Money blog - an archive of features

Ask a question or make a comment

By Mark Kleinman , city editor

Nadhim Zahawi, the former Conservative chancellor, is assembling a £600m bid for The Daily Telegraph that could up-end the auction of some of Britain’s most influential media assets.

Sky News has learnt that Mr Zahawi, who left parliament in May after opting not to stand again in his Stratford-on-Avon seat, has approached a number of billionaire backers about helping to finance an offer for the daily newspaper, its Sunday sister title and The Spectator magazine.

City sources said the Reuben family, which owns a vast swathe of property assets and a stake in Newcastle United Football Club, was among those to have been sounded out by Mr Zahawi in recent weeks.

The former cabinet minister, who also spent time as business secretary, education secretary and as the government's vaccines minister during the Covid-19 pandemic, is said to believe the Telegraph has significant scope to boost its profitability by expanding in the US.

Read more here .

Online grocery retailer Ocado has struck a deal with a company that will oversee its warehouses controlled mainly by robots .

Ocado told shareholders today that US firm Kroger will roll out its "Re:imagined" tech across "multiple" fulfilment centres, as well as "future" ones.

"The technologies include proprietary Ocado innovations such as On-Grid Robotic Pick and Automated Frameload, which will bring new levels of efficiency and labour productivity to the Kroger Delivery network," Ocado said.

"These innovations will enable Kroger to further drive down their cost to serve from CFCs, and enhance an already market-leading customer proposition."

Lucozade has added to its "Alert" energy drink range with two new flavours .

Coming in 250ml cans, Lucozade Alert Ultimate Energy (guarana-flavoured) and Lucozade Alert Mango Peachade are set to roll out from next month.

RRP is £1 a can.

Carpetright's future is understood to have been secured but the majority of its 1,800 staff are set to lose their jobs under a limited rescue deal.

It is believed that rival floorings retailer Tapi will confirm it is buying just 54 of 272 stores and two warehouses in a so-called pre-pack administration that allows a buyer to cherry-pick assets.

The deal would see, however, only 300 staff retained.

The brand and Carpetright's intellectual property rights are also believed to be included in the sale.

Read more here :

Families paying for holiday clubs this summer now face a bill of £1,045 for six weeks' care for one child, a study has found. 

A survey of councils across the UK by charity Coram Family and Childcare found that represented a rise of 6% on last year's costs.

Providers say they are trying to keep costs down as they struggle with staff shortages.

This table shows how prices have increased in the past 12 months in England, Scotland and Wales... 

"Too many families dread the onset of the summer holidays," Coram Family and Childcare managing director Ellen Broomé said.

"Finding a place will be a challenge this summer, particularly for children with special educational needs and disabilities."

Lending for buy-to-let (BTL) house purchases has more than halved over the past year, a banking and finance industry body has said.

New mortgage deals granted for this purpose fell from 25,280 in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 12,422 in the first quarter of this year.

The market also shrank - from 2.04 million outstanding BTL mortgages in the first quarter of 2023 to 1.98 million in the first quarter of this year. 

This has been put down to rapidly rising interest rates, which made it harder for those looking to buy a BTL property to pass bank affordability tests, UK Finance said.

Stamp duty surcharges on second and subsequent properties also played a part.

James Tatch, head of analytics at UK Finance, said: "Without more unexpected negative shocks, strong rental demand and strong lending standards could mean the buy-to-let sector emerges from last year's downturn sooner than previously expected, also that further rises in arrears are limited.

"Lenders continue to offer a range of support to anyone who's worried about their finances, with teams of trained experts ready to help. If you are struggling, please reach out to your lender as soon as possible to discuss the support options available."

Are you struggling because of high interest rates? Sky News is keen to hear from people who are due to refix their mortgages, are on variable rates or are trying to get on the housing ladder.

Email us your stories at [email protected]  or use the box at the top of this page. 

We've all heard of unusual jobs, but this may take the biscuit... 

A 72-year-old grandmother has been appointed theme park Alton Towers' first "chief thrillseeker". 

Jackie Smith, from Wiltshire, was the first female to join the Parachute Regiment in 1971 (at aged 19) and has led an adrenaline-fuelled life since. 

Her new role, which will last 12 months, will see her responsible for testing rides.

"It's my absolute honour to be appointed Alton Towers' first chief thrillseeker," she said.

"I can't wait to bring my expertise from a lifetime of adventure to help ensure they continue to set new standards."

She has already been on rides in the park, and offered her thoughts. 

"My first time on the iconic Nemesis Reborn definitely met my high standards for thrills - it felt like my first jump all over again."

Ms Smith has completed some 5,000 parachute jumps in her career and has previously been nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop, the pre-mixed cocktail brand created by legendary American rappers Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg, is launching in the UK. 

The drinks take their name from Snoop Dogg's 1994 single (which was produced by Dr Dre) and will be available via independent retail, DTC and Amazon.

Drinkers can choose from citrus, melon, passionfruit and apricot flavours.

Gin & Juice are 5.9% abv, costing £2.50 per 250ml can and made from a "premium light gin base" with real fruit, the brand said. 

Gin & Juice launched in the US in February.

Barcelona is set to "substantially" raise the tourist tax for cruise passengers visiting the city for less than 12 hours.

It comes as anti-tourism protests have taken place across parts of Spain in recent weeks.

Jaume Collboni, the mayor of Barcelona, has confirmed the charge will be increasing but hasn't said by how much.

The tourist tax for stopover cruise passengers is currently €7 (£6).

Mr Collboni said in an interview with El Pais newspaper: "We are going to propose... substantially increasing the tax for stopover cruise passengers.

"In the case of stopover cruise passengers (less than 12 hours) there is intensive use of public space without any benefit for the city and a feeling of occupation and saturation. We want to have tourism that is respectful of the destination."

Mr Collboni said tourists, not local taxpayers, should pay for local projects like air-conditioning in schools.

The proposal will have to be agreed with the Catalan regional government, he added.

You can read more here : 

By James Sillars , business reporter

The widely expected (but nevertheless bombshell) news that Joe Biden had pulled out of the US presidential race failed to produce a crater on financial markets.

US stock market futures gained slightly but the dollar and US bond yields were static as the trading week opened in Asia.

Market analysts said the election development was largely inconsequential as a win for Donald Trump remained priced in.

A big sympathy vote was anticipated after the failed assassination attempt earlier in the month.

In London, the FTSE 100 gained back most of the losses seen on Friday when dealing began.

It was 0.5% higher at 8,196.

Utilities and real estate stocks were leading the charge.

The big story, however, was in Ireland, where Ryanair shares fell by more than 12% at the open.

Investors were reacting to a slump in first quarter profits and the revelation of big discounting to drive ticket sales.

You can read more about the budget airline's fortunes in our previous post...

Ryanair fares will likely be lower than those we saw last summer, the airline has said. 

The average fare is 15% cheaper this summer, with Europe's largest carrier (by passenger numbers) engaging in significant discounting in an attempt to keep customers interested. 

Reporting weaker profits, which the company blamed on heightened consumer caution, group chief executive Michael O'Leary warned shareholders that fares over the key summer holiday months would be significantly down as a result of the weaker than anticipated consumer backdrop.

He also indicated that prices would continue to drop. 

Mr O'Leary told shareholders: "While Q2 demand is strong, pricing remains softer than we expected, and we now expect Q2 fares to be materially lower than last summer [previously expected to be flat to modestly up]".

Ryanair reported the weaker profits than expected for its first financial quarter, blaming a need to "stimulate" flight sales.

Every Monday we get an expert to answer your Money Problems or consumer disputes. Find out how to submit yours at the bottom of this post. Today's question is...

My neighbour has installed a log burner and the chimney is as close to our property as it is legally allowed. Every time I go out of my front door I can smell acrid smoke. What can I do about it? Crissy

The first thing to do is speak to your neighbour and try to resolve it amicably, according to Chun Wong, a partner at law firm Hodge Jones & Allen.

"Remember you do need to live by them in close proximity on a daily basis, so aim to maintain a good relationship," she says.

"Although neighbours may install items within their own boundaries so it may technically not trespass into your property, there may still be recourse for consequential losses due to noise or smells escaping into your property.

"Smells and noise can be classed as a statutory or private nuisance, which may depend on expert evidence or the effect/harm on you such as the frequency of the smell or noise."

Statutory nuisance is something that affects a person's health or causes disturbance to them in their property. It has to occur frequently and continue for a period of time that makes it unreasonable.

Private nuisance is a branch of the law which provides more robust remedies through the civil courts where there has been a significant detriment to the use or enjoyment of a person's land.

It's down to the individual to decide which route they want to go down - bearing in mind statutory nuisance may not give compensation but will likely be cheaper and easier to action.

If the smoke is seen as a statutory nuisance, Wong says, then you should complain to your local council, which could end up serving an abatement notice.

"This is a notice which only the local authority can serve requiring someone to take action or refrain from action. If that fails, breach of an abatement notice can lead to a substantial fine and in serious cases, prosecution," she says.

"If it is a private nuisance you may be able to bring court proceedings to stop the nuisance and claim for compensation. 

"The first step would be to send a letter of claim to your neighbour and also submit a claim form in your local county court with all the details and supporting evidence. 

"You do not need a solicitor to do this, but I strongly advise you to seek legal advice before taking this drastic step given the serious consequences involved."

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about.  Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute via:

• The form above - you need to leave a phone number or email address so we can contact you for further details
• Email [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog"
• WhatsApp us  here

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