Harrogate training firm finds virtiual success after moving online

A Harrogate-based business which specialises in leadership training says its move online in response to the Covid outbreak has resulted in 1,000 participants completing over 34,000 minutes of its CPD-accredited digital courses during the last eight months, and generating an additional £50,000 of revenue.

Director and head of training Alan Aucoin, operations director Kris Northfield, and managing director Laura Bouttell of Harrogate-based leadership training business Quarterdeck, which has moved online following the Covid outbreak, with 1,000 participants completing over 34,000 minutes of its CPD accredited digital courses during the last eight months, and generating an additional £50,000 of revenue.

Quarterdeck delivers leadership and people management programmes, and when the pandemic struck, its management team realised they needed to move swiftly from in-person to online training, and developed a user-friendly library of its own bespoke Learning Management System software to deliver the training.

Managing director Laura Bouttell said: “Like many businesses that previously relied on face-to-face contact with clients, we had to re-think our offering following the first lockdown.

“We quickly developed a new product, Quarterdeck Online, which has surpassed our expectations. By Q3 2020, it was performing strongly as, having recovered from the initial shock of the pandemic, increasing numbers of businesses recognised the need for strong leadership skills while trying to give direction to teams working remotely.

“Covid has, of course, had a profound impact on the way we live and work. With many businesses seeing the cost savings and employee lifestyle benefits of continued home or hybrid working, the need to communicate a shared vision and strong cultural messaging has also risen up the agenda.

“Our Inspirational Leadership Programme (ILP) has been designed to do exactly that – it provides practical ways of solving problems, focusing on developing participants’ practical skills and helping them to change behavioural patterns.”