August Newsletter
August 2011 Newsletter
30th Aug 2011
Welcome to our communication update to our valued clients!
London Riots
News of the ‘London Riots’ has swept across the globe with much television exposure and coverage of the unfolding events. What was an initial protest by friends and family outside a police station was seized upon by opportunists and, through word of mouth, this escalated into a number of disturbances across London and, later, across the UK.
Thankfully, these disturbances were not located near our training centre in Hammersmith and, as such, LCT has been completely unaffected by the events. Training has continued as usual and delegates have reported no difficulties during their time with us.
We would like to assure our clients that there is no need to be alarmed. The authorities now have control over the situation with large numbers of police maintaining order on the streets in addition to an ongoing operation designed to identify the culprits and bring them to justice. These efforts have led to calmness, order and a sense of security which is expected to last. It is extremely unlikely that the situation will deteriorate further especially now that order has been restored. London is now back to normal.
Ramadan
In some ways, it is perhaps fitting that we have entered the month of Ramadan, historically a time for spiritual reflection and worship. With the disturbance in London (and ongoing unrest elsewhere in the world) serving both as a stark and continual reminder of the more brutal impulses of humanity, it is important to remind ourselves of the goodness of humanity as well. As part of Ramadan, many of our delegates have been fasting to redirect the heart away from worldly activities and to refocus attention on Allah as a means of purifying the soul.
So, to all our Muslim readers from all over the world, LCT would like to wish you:
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Trade Mission to Brazil
Ian Mann, London Corporate Training (LCT)’s Managing Director has just returned from a Trade Mission to Brazil.
The mission, according to Ian, has been a great success as Brazil is a country of huge potential and possibilities. Internationally, Brazil is recognised, along with Russia, India and China, as having one of the fastest growing economies in the world today.
Both in Sao Paulo and in Rio de Janeiro, he was warmly welcomed as large (and very large) organisations saw the benefits of quality training for their employees.
“This was,” said Ian, “probably one of the most exciting Trade Missions I have ever been on. I was welcomed with open arms throughout the trip. The potential for helping the businesses of Brazil to improve the performance of their staff is enormous. I shall be back again very soon.”
The trade mission to Brazil is just one part of LCT’s ambitious expansion programme which aims to make LCT the leading management training provider in the UK. Other projects already underway include the development of a permanent office in Erbil, Kurdistan and a number of forthcoming expeditions into the rest of Europe/Asia. Be sure to keep up to date with further exciting developments planned by visiting our website http://www.lct.uk.com
BONUS - Tips for Success!
Human resources are essential to all businesses. You need a motivated work force in order for it to be a productive workforce. Without this, companies run the risk of high staff turnover which results in a lack of cohesion which tangibly impacts upon results. But how do you motivate your employees?
Have you thought about?
- Making your employees feel comfortable in the workplace – in terms of a positive, enjoyable working atmosphere.
- Making your employees feel valued in the workplace. This is the art of good management.
LCT offers a number of short training courses designed with this purpose in mind – to make your employees more productive. Our trainers are highly qualified with extensive experience in their respective industries. In following newsletters, they will also begin to start sharing valuable tips exclusively for you - our readers. So be sure to keep up to date with the latest tips for business success by reading our newsletter!
June Newsletter
June 2011 Newsletter
29th Jun 2011
Welcome to our communication update to our valued clients!
Kurdish Business Delegation in London
London Corporate Training seals training agreement with Kurdistan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and begins ambitious expansion programme.
Dara Al Khayat (right), President of the Kurdistan Chamber of Commerce and Vice-President of the Iraqi Chamber of Commerce, with Dr. John Cross (left), the regional representative of London Corporate Training, signing the agreement to provide training in London for senior Iraqi business people wanting to do business in Britain.
Over the past few years, London Corporate Training has been steadily expanding its business operations. This month, the first delegation of senior Iraqi businessmen and women arrived in London, since an agreement was formalised between LCT and the Kurdistan Federation of Chambers of Commerce, earlier this year.
Under this agreement, groups of Iraqi executives will be regularly visiting London to undergo training in a number of different aspects of management. The first agreement of this kind, it represents, according to Ian Mann, Managing Director of LCT, 'a small but significant step forward in forming and strengthening relations between London and Kurdistan.'
As part of the training, sessions were scheduled with the Middle East Association and with the London Chamber of Commerce providing delegates with an invaluable insight into the processes behind international trade and business relations. A guided tour of London was also organised. Delegates enjoyed views of the River Thames, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, the scene of recent Royal Wedding celebrations.
April Newsletter
April 2011 Newsletter
14th Apr 2011
Welcome to our communication update to our valued clients!
Keep up to date with all the latest events happening in London at http://www.timeout.com/london/
Attacking the UK Visa Problem
Changes in making visa applications in 2010 have resulted in annoying, time-consuming and expensive processes when applying for a UK visa. In Kurdistan, northern Iraq, for example, it had been necessary for Iraqis to travel to Amman in Jordan, hand in their passports and to wait for up to three weeks to learn whether or not their visa had been granted.
Infuriated by the way in which this ridiculous process was making it so difficult for genuine business people to come to London, LCT has been fighting to improve the system for some months. The Managing Director of LCT, Ian Mann, has been lobbying Members of Parliament and of the House of Lords. He has been writing letters to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Minister for Business, the Head of UK Trade and Investment, the London Chamber of Commerce, the Middle East Association, and others.
After much effort there have been some changes for the better.
It is now possible for business people in Iraq to obtain their UK visas without having to leave the country. They can complete the visa application form and take it with supporting documentation to the office of the British Consul General in Erbil. Here they can have the necessary biometric process completed where their eyes are scanned and the iris recorded along with their finger prints. This information is now sent by courier to the UK Border Agency office in Amman, whilst the applicant stays at home to await his or her visa.
Ian Mann's most recent attempt to keep the visa problem under the spotlight was on Wednesday 14th March when his letter to the editor of the Financial Times was given lead position with a headline spread over four columns at the top of the letters page.
The full text of this letter can be found on http://www.lct.uk.com/about-us/news/article/ft.
LCT continues its work to make it as easy as can be for genuine visa applications to be processed as efficiently as possible.
Letter to the editor of the Financial Times
A letter addressed to the editor of the Financial Times by Ian Mann - Managing Director of London Corporate Training:
9th Mar 2011
The Editor
The Financial Times
Monday 7th March 2011
Sir,
UK Border Agency
Mr. Liam Long's letter from Brussels rings another discordant note in the saga of the UK Border Agency. He tells of the loss of fees to a British university for the failure of his Russian wife to get a visa to study for her MBA in this country.
At a meeting at the MEA (Middle East Association) in London this morning I learned that the director of an Iraqi organisation wanting to come to Britain to buy materials for a construction project was so appalled at the difficulty in getting a British visa that he went elsewhere. A Shengen visa, allowing entry into 25 European countries (but not Britain), was obtained in two days; so much easier than having to apply for a Jordanian visa so that he could lodge his documents with the UK Border Agency in Amman; and then wait expensively in a hotel for up to three weeks to know whether his application was approved or not. This particular fiasco cost British exports the tidy sum of €7,000,000.
My own experience based on three visits last year to Kurdistan, northern Iraq, is an equally sorry tale of failure to help the UK get out of its present financial mess.
The Iraqi director of a Norwegian oil company wanted to fly to Scotland to buy equipment. He flew to Amman and waited for his visa to be approved. Eventually he ran out of time and had to return to Iraq. He went instead to Europe (but not to Britain).
At a new power station in Erbil, capital of Kurdistan, I was much impressed by all the latest Swiss generating equipment. There I was told that a party of a dozen engineers had wanted to come to the UK to source machinery. The visa delay caused by UK Border Agency was too much for them. European visas, available in two days, were a much better bet. It has since been noted that they spent a total of nearly US$80 million in France and Germany.
Following pressure in various quarters, including from this organisation, the office of the deputy-consul in Erbil has this year been upgraded to full consular status. This means that Iraqis can now deposit their visa applications there without having to go to Amman. A great improvement; but this can still take up to three weeks for visas to be approved.
The present troubles in Libya are causing a loss of business to many British organisations, including London Corporate Training, where we have been providing quality management training for many years. We have to look for other markets and indeed have recently signed an agreement with the Erbil Chamber of Commerce. This means that senior members of the Chamber will be coming to London where they will have the opportunity to learn the latest techniques and ideas for doing business at top level – that is, if they can get their visas in time.
If Mr. Cameron and the Chancellor of the Exchequer are really serious about creating “an enterprise culture” in this country they really must get a grip on the UK Border Agency. The Prime Minister, In his own words, has declared war on “officials who concoct ridiculous rules that make life impossible for small firms”. Equally impossible for large firms. And, of course, don’t forget the UK Border Agency.
Yours faithfully,
Ian Mann Managing Director London Corporate TrainingJanuary Newsletter
January 2011 Newsletter
13th Jan 2011
A very Happy New Year to all of our clients !
Keep up to date with all the latest events happening in London at http://www.timeout.com/london/.
Overseas Business Visits
Last year, Ian Mann - Managing Director of LCT, visited Kurdistan in July and December, and in October was on the LCT stand at the International Trade Fair in Erbil, the capital. The need for training in that previously devastated part of Iraq is great. This week Allan Spink, well known to so many delegates who have enjoyed his guided tours of London, is there and will be reporting in detail on the training that is most needed. At the end of November, Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, benefited from the first training visit from Andrew Eden, one of LCT’s senior HR trainers, when he presented to a government ministry. He returns to deliver further training at the end of this week.
Algeria will see a Trade Mission from the Middle East Association coming at the end of January which will be joined by Ian Mann. This will be the first visit from LCT to this country where the oil and gas industry keeps on discovering more liquid gold under the sand and the sea.
The delegates attending have also enjoyed the very sunny summer weather, the money saving sales in most of the high street stores and the very exciting sports season which has included the World Cup and the Wimbledon Tournament.
Poland will be welcoming Aneta Szczerbicka who returns to her homeland for a brief visit next month to meet up with clients.
More than fifty countries are now sending delegates to attend world class training with LCT in London; and the number of lands where LCT’s trainers are now passing on their expertise is growing constantly.
Featured courses
- Strategic Public Relations, Protocol and Travel Management
- Effective Communication
- Internal Auditing - Procedures and Controls
1BUManager Central Bank of NigeriaThe programme has been fascinating. The Trainers are experienced in their respective areas of specialisation. The atmosphere was great and the Trainers were patient enough to ensure every topic was well covered.