Business Writing 2 Day Training Course

Communication skills are vital in any industry – sourcing information, interviewing and writing documents to relay key messages to various audiences are some of the key skills that can be developed through the course. The two-day course is taught by the leading journalist, Marianne Gray, who has extensive experience both as a journalist and as a trainer.

 The course is essentially very realistic and contemporary. It is a relaxed class that covers a lot of ground and is designed to make your business corporate writing stand out in a crowd. It guides delegates on how to find and write vital information in the best style and deliver it to the correct reader. In class we write documents like mission statements, press releases, USPs and corporate documents for external, in-house, web and blog use. We also do interviews and test examples of writing among delegates. 

We will do our best to incorporate individual training needs. Prior to the course taking place, you will be required to provide details on your current role and areas that you wish to improve in terms of writing and what you are looking to gain from the course. The training is designed to be practical and offers considerable advice and information.

 Course delegates will submit a 1,500-word feature two weeks after completing the course. Topics can be related to either professional occupations or personal interest.

2 Day Intensive Course

• Different business writing styles
• Researching the market-place
• Identifying your readers and understanding audience expectation
• How to write an effective press release
• Layout of a press release

• Mission statements/USPs
• Building blocks of writing a text
• The right ingredients – newsworthiness/angles/clarity
• Structuring a text and working to corporate house styles and layout
• Creating media contacts

Write a set press release, and write a short business report (choice of topics given)

• Interviewing techniques - how to elicit good quotes
• PR interviewing techniques – staying on message
• Tools of the trade
• Getting your message out clearly
• Writing an in-house newsletter

• How to write and present a business speech
• Legal issues - copyright and plagiarism
• Writing specialist press releases - designed for crisis and risk in business
• Developing good relationships with journalists
• Review and Qs & As

Write up interviews with fellow delegates, and write a crisis and risk management release (based on a given scenario)

Resources: Training notes and exercises are provided

Award: Certificate in Writing for Business. The award is based on successfully producing and delivering a 1000/1500 word corporate report. The report must be submitted two weeks after the completion of the course.

Marianne Gray – Trainer in Press Release Writing and Business Writing

Marianne Gray is a freelance journalist based in London. She writes interviews and features for British and international publications. She trained as a reporter on newspapers in South Africa, has edited The Athens News, worked in syndication for magazine group Media 24, broadcast on both radio and television and written several books, including biographies of French actors Gérard Depardieu and Jeanne Moreau (Little, Brown) and self-employment handbooks Working from Home and The Freelance Alternative (Piatkus).

Marianne teaches the popular Business Writing at London School of Public Relations and London School of Publishing, and Criticism at visiting summer schools of American universities in Europe. She is the former president of the British Critics¹ Circle, a member of Fipresci, The Society of Authors and PEN. Her PR Company MGPR has selected clients and she is Marketing and PR director of PechamPlex, a multiplex cinema in London SEIS.

"My approach to writing is gut-level and I like to cut to the chase and put the reader in the general picture. Writing should be about presenting facts so that the reader can get a balanced enough impression to form their own considered opinion."

DISCOUNTS:

• GROUP BOOKING - 20% off group booking for 3 or more people* from the same organisation - Code: Group20%

• ALUMNI LOYALTY SCHEME - 20% off any course fee* - Code: Alumni20%

• 2 FOR 1 - bring a colleague, friend or family member for free* on the same course - Code: 2for1

• FREELANCERS AND CHARITIES - 15% off any course fee* - Code: FCH15%

* The offers are subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Terms and conditions apply.