Archive for October, 2010

Vol orgs face increasing pressure to deliver high quality
Value for money services I have no doubt that they can do this
Their challenge is to network, to harness the talents of Gen Y
In taking over from functional institutional hierarchies they need to be different

These organisations can and should be driven by their values, their causes, rather than the need to build empires

It is by promoting their cause be it poverty, cancer research, caring for older people that they will engage the young and the support of all

While people today are less likely to subscribe to political party membership or even church there is real drive and support on a cause by cause or issue basis

Vol orgs who understand this, who become transparent, who network using social media, who clearly articulate their cause have great opportunities.

Great opportunities to have all staff drive the cause and the organisation forward

Great opportunities to have volunteers work for and with them who have bought into their values

Great opportunities to grow their customer base as people want to use their service as they are clearly seen as an organisation that cares, an organisation that ‘walks the talk’

Our challenge is to have Vol org leaders understand the power of social media as a driver of opinion, as a catalyst for change, as a recruiting tool

The challenge is to move away from insular protectionist organisations of well meaning amateurs and to open minded, outward looking,networked professionals.

Just an update really for our team across the globe.

Intro

As you are aware the UK Government has just announced the detail of its Spending Review and we are likely to be involved in various arenas giving advice and providing commentary on this over the next week.  I felt therefore this was a good time to produce a brief organisational update.

The Right Now!

Online / ELearning

We have just negotiated a deal with a UK company to develop training (induction) online for their staff that will see us deliver through our latest Virtual Learning Environment. In addition, in the coming weeks we will be developing a whole suite of training for them.

The environment is awesome and combines the written word, video and audio simultaneously.

There is a need to scale up our offering on the new VLE and as such if any of the readers know of any organisation that could benefit from such an environment then please let us  know.At this point in time we are happy to consider all project small and large.

Our future

We are facing a increasing demand for our services in increasingly difficult economic times in the UK and indeed most economies and for that I must thank our hard working team who continue to deliver for us

Going global

My challenge is increasingly to work with colleagues, associates and partners to continue to achieve deliverables while I stand back and continue to develop our business in ways that continue to make us a great place to work. That challenge includes motivating our many staff and associates across the gloibe who work so well for us remotely.

Increasingly we are working to make us a fun place to work and play in this despondent era and so far so good.

In the next month we will announce a rapid overseas expansion programme that will involve staff in many areas of the world joining us and we need to adapt to meet their needs while maintaining the closeness of the group and its people.

All in all, we face exciting and challenging times as we move forward

Our Values

I will not reiterate our values here except to say that we continue to demand that we treat our people, our customers and our suppliers well,  Even where customers and others at times appear to treat us poorly we need remind ourselves that there may be undererlying reasons for this and to treat them professionally.

With our partners and associates we treat them fairly and offer transparency in our dealings so that they can decide how and when they wish to work with us in an atmosphere and culture of mutual benefit and only where we can add value to the end customer.   We will expect the same from our partners and associates,

Our Associates

Increasingly we need flexibility, expertise and a resource base that can meet the needs of our global customer base,  As such we have increased the number of associates that work with us in the last few weeks.  So welcome aboard!

I ask associates and prospective associates to let me know how we can be better at providing you with interesting work and provide you with an interesting culture and an organisation to be part of. How can we reward you for your efforts on our behalf.

Outsourcing

We will be looking to outsource a number of our web based projects in the next six months to ensure our core team will be available to focus on new, innovative products and services as we move into 2011.  In particular we are interested in people willing to work for us part or full time from their office or at home. Skills required will include WordPress, Kajabi development, Social Media development and people with experience in the Third Sector particularly in the UK.

I trust at least for our people and our associates this brings you up to date with where we are at.

To all of the team – Thank You!

In the home office today on endless conference calls at different time zones.   It is an exciting time with the launch of our new ELearning platform and products and with business flowing in from across the globe.

Since ’95 we have been involved in the learning and development industry globally and this is the time when it has all come together.

Previous clients include NATO, McLaren Mercedes, HM Cabinet Office, Office of the Deputy PM, Major Universities and a host od SMEs and individuals.

We retain many of these customer to this very day and very soon the business is set to explode.

Our move to our new offices has really come at a great time and the creativity of the team here is just soaring. Even more so when I will reveasl to them the little secret of our new location and what it has they have not yet discovered. Its zany, fun and creative!

While our business has been very centred on Business Customers to date, soon individuals will be able to complete elearning from us not on just on their PC’s but on their iphones, ipads and other mobile devices.

Soon they will be able to get fully recognised qualifications and lead directly into Degree Programmes and pay by credit card or paypal. Whats more our prices will be industry changing!

We have been inundated for information on the new products following a leak in the media but it would just be plain unfair to tell you before anyone else.

I am happy however to let you get a few days advantage on other people just for being an interested person and obvious trend setter

So to join our early bird list and get a chance to get our new product first  (and remember we will limit the number of people severely) email me with your details to chartermark@gmail.com headed ‘Early Bird’

In difficult times it is time to invest in yourself and prepare for the future.

Rob

Due to increased demand for our services including Elearning, Byte size (Elearning chunks) and Business Consultancy we are now about to expand out operation. In the UK we will continue to have our City Centre locations and are about to open at the Maxim Business Park, Lanarkshire, UK.

Maxim is an award winning Business Park on the very edge of the M8 Motorway connecting Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh with its industrial capital, Glasgow.

This significant development places us in a state of the art Business Park complete with a high spec hotel and Conference Facility.

Not only will this space enable staff and customers to meet without the City Centre congestion of our prestigious City Centre locations but it assists us in serving the M8 corridor and beyond thus firmly establishing us as the key player in Scotland and beyond for learning, development and Business Consultancy.

Our new Social Networking and Marketing operations will be based at the new offices. 

 In the coming weeks we will announce further details of our international expansion and exciting new products.

For more information or to meet one of the team to discuss how we can assist you then please contact us.