We work exclusively with professionals who create the built environment, helping them develop skills and competencies that are not addressed in their formal training at schools of architecture and engineering. In doing this, we help individuals and teams realise their full potential.
On this page we talk about the in-house training that we offer, and our increasingly popular 1:1 coaching services, as well as our occasional public courses for small practices.
In-house training :
Our training is well respected and valued by architects, engineers and designers, as it addresses the specific issues of running creative businesses and influencing project design, from inception through to delivery on site.
We are known for the interactive and immersive quality of our training, whether it is delivered in-person or online and we are therefore pleased to offer a number of our courses in both formats. Please refer to the individual course for details.
Our generic course titles are listed below but we are always happy to develop - or re-jig - specific courses to give a slightly different emphasis. All our courses end up being tailored to each client's specific requirements.
Do contact us if you think we could help: training@colander.co.uk We'd be delighted to tailor our expertise to suit your training needs.
Meantime, you might be interested to take a look at the Think Pieces in our Journal which explore some of the factors behind running a successful creative business.
Communications
Leadership
Winning work
Working on projects
Business management
"Colander has provided our practice with tailored training for our architectural staff which has been well received and beneficial to their personal development. The trainers are experienced and knowledgeable and deliver their training in an enjoyable format. We can definitely recommend Colander to other practices for their professional approach and delivery."
— Tony Barton, Chairman, Donald Insall Associates
Coaching :
Our coaching focuses on communication, management and leadership skills as well as getting the best from creative people. We work with Partners, Directors and senior staff, either individually or in small groups.
We have a number of different Associates who offer coaching in-person or online. Some of the themes we cover include:
- Influencing with confidence and communicating with gravitas whether working face to face or remotely, by phone or video conferencing.
- The ups and downs of leading an architectural business.
- Inter-personal skills, behaviours and relationships, particularly with work colleagues and clients.
- Thoughts, opinions and perspectives, particularly those that limit people’s ability to achieve either personal or professional goals.
To find out more about coaching, please contact: info@colander.co.uk
“I found the sessions with James massively helpful in understanding how to find an appropriate tone of voice for myself and the practice - to listen to what one is saying but also how one is saying it in a convincing and engaging way. James made it interesting and enjoyable, and it has really helped with the post-lockdown return to work for Square Feet”
— Daniel Leon, Square Feet Architects
Public course
Provided we have sufficient numbers, we can run most (although not all) of our in-house courses as public sessions; so, if there is any specific topic of training that interests you, please contact info@colander.co.uk.
These sessions are especially useful to practices that have only one or two people that they want to train, with the added bonus of giving delegates the opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas with other practitioners.
“Over a number of years the Colander team has helped us with a range of training. Colander's engagement with the architectural profession means the courses are both focused and relevant to our needs. Staff feedback is not only positive as a learning experience but they also seem to enjoy themselves too!"
— Jo Bacon, Partner, Allies + Morrison