Branded! 9th June 2010
We're delighted to have been awarded Learndirect Scotland Branded status!
We were assessed by Skills Development Scotland in April and had to demonstrate how we support our learners and keep our training student-centred. This means we have been judged to adhere to the Pledge to Learners, which basically says that we help sustain a lifelong learning network, see the Learn Direct website for more details on "the Pledge"!
We have always aimed to keep our training relevant to learners needs, whether delivering training in coaching, mediation, counselling skills or bereavement awareness. We're pleased to have had this acknowledge, and even more pleased that this will lead to our courses becoming more affordable. Our next step is to apply to become a provider of Individual Learning Account (ILA) approved courses, so that people on incomes of £22K or less can use money in their ILA to pay for Rowan courses. The money is usually £200, but it can be £500 for some courses.We will be allowed to apply for ILA status in October this year and we have our application forms already filled in and ready to go!
See the website for details of how to apply for an ILA account.
More Counselling Skills Success 16th February 2010
Another successful cohort celebrate achieving their Rowan Certificate in Counselling Skills, validated by COSCA, the Scottish national body for counselling and psychotherapy. The certificate carrying 40 SCQF points at Level 7, takes a year of part-time study to complete. Sarah Jauncey said "It's very encouraging to see students develop their counselling skills and self awareness during the certificate course. They grow in their ability to support others with empathy, to recognise their own strengths and talents, as they step out of their comfort zones to practice new skills." Several students were sponsored by their employers, including Perth & Kinross Council, and NHS Tayside. Others chose to fund the course themselves for their own personal development.
Rachel Ferguson, Social Care Officer with Perth and Kinross Council, said "The course has increased my self awareness dramatically.This has had an extremely positive impact on both my home life, relationships, working life and confidence - thank you!"
For further details see Rowan's Certificate in Counselling Skills.
Coaching Skills graduates receive certificates 3rd December 2009
The first Perth College UHI staff have received their Certificates in Coaching Skills from Rowan Consultancy. The certificates, awarded through Napier University and consisting of five credit points at SCQF level 9, recognise the ability to motivate their teams and bring out their creativity and initiative.
Rachel Weiss, Senior Partner at Rowan Consultancy which carried out the training sessions during 2009, commented: "This is equivalent to degree level credits and reflects the skills gained by completing the course. We developed the coaching skills in partnership with Perth College UHI, one of a number of organisations which are increasingly realising that by investing in their employees' coaching skills they increase the productivity and creativity of all their staff in a cost-effective and enjoyable way."
More than 60 people across the College have taken part in coaching training which involves two days' training and three individual coaching sessions, followed by a group CPD sessions to embed the learning and to help them apply the coaching skills appropriately at work.
Want to benefit from the same training as these Perth College staff? Our next Rowan Coaching Certificate is running in Perth Autumn 2010 and open to all.
Edinburgh Uni applauds Rowan's Certificate in Coaching Skills 19th August 2009
Edinburgh Napier University has credit-rated Rowan Consultancy's Certificate in Coaching Skills. In these testing times for business, coaching skills are increasingly recognised as essential for managers to motivate their teams and bring out their creativity and intiative.
"We are delighted that the university has approved our course, awarding it 5 credit points at SCQF Level 9", said senior partner, Rachel Weiss. "This is equivalent to degree level credits and reflects the skills gained by managers completing the course. We developed the coaching skills course in response to customer demand. Organisations are increasingly realising that by investing in their managers' coaching skills they increase the productivity and creativity of all their staff in a cost-effective and enjoyable way. This award is confirmation of Rowan's position as a centre for excellence in coaching in Tayside".
"It's been hard work getting the course credit-rated, being scrutinised not just be Edinburgh Napier University but also by the Association for Coaching, but it's worth it for our students to get recognition for their skills and study. I'd recommend the process to other local training providers."
Rowan will be running the Certificate in Coaching Skills early in 2010. It can also be delivered inhouse.
Perth and Kinross Council staff become happier! 19th May 2009
Rachel Weiss, Head of Training at Rowan, delivered training in " Becoming Happier: an Introduction to Positive Psychology" to 12 staff from Perth and Kinross Council's Education and Children's services department on April 30th and May 14th. The course covered the latest research on the science of happiness, based on Havard's Positive Psychology course and participants were introduced to various strategies for applying these findings to their own life and to that of their pupils or foster children.
"Useful course to realise what is important in life" Trudi Jack, Abernethy Primary School
"I've gained strategies to cope better with general life and therefore be a better teacher, staff team member, wife, mother, friend, daughter, etc! Already I am more reslilent and feel I can grow this more. Great presenter!" Bridget Thomson, Morrisons Academy Nursery
For more information on positive psychology, see the website of the Glasgow based Centre for Confidence.
Perthshire Businesswomen recognise Rachel's Contribution
Rachel Weiss, senior partner at Rowan Consultancy, received the Perthshire Businesswomen's Network's Members Award 2009 from Helen MacDonald of Prepress Project Ltd, Chairperson of PBN. Rachel has been an active member of the network since founding Rowan in 1997. The award was in recognition of her contribution to the network, supporting and inspiring local businesswomen.
Rowan opens its doors for Take Your Child to Work Day - Thursday 30th April 2009
For 16 years, international "Take Your Child To Work Day", has enabled children to find out what Mum and Dad do at that mysterious place called "Work". Last week Michelle Obama welcomed children of White House Employees as part of the US "Take Your Child to Work Day". In Perth several local businesses opened their doors to children in years P6-S2 (10 - 14 years old) today giving them the opportunity to see what different careers involve. Rowan Consultancy has hosted many children over the years, giving them insight into what it takes to set up and run your own successful business. Today Katriona Weiss Sanwell from Perth High School and Heather Innes, Oakbank Primary School, are visiting their parents at Rowan Consultancy.
Rachel Weiss, partner at Rowan, says "As a successful local business, Rowan Consultancy is delighted to have hosted several children on Take your Child to Work Day, over the years. Heather and Katriona spent the day learning how crucial finance is to any business large or small, what the different aspects of any business are : products and services, finance, management, HR, IT, Marketing and Sales. They also helped with practical tasks like processing invoices, creating advertising, setting up a computer, and assembling materials for our "Becoming Happier" course on positive psychology. We hope this may inspire them to start their own business one day, and at the very least introduce them to the basic budgeting skills which are vital in running a household, a team or a whole business."
Personal and Organisational Growth and Development: in the HOME, in BUSINESS, in the COMMUNITY.
