Quarter four of 2026 is shaping up to be a quarter full of great and diverse training opportunities.
There’s everything from AI to mastering management, sickness absences to emergency first aid and LinkedIn unfiltered.
Our featured training of the month is below.
AI for Website Content & SEO: Get Found Online Faster
Date: Thursday, 24th September
Time: 10am to 1pm
Price: £75 +VAT members / £95 +VAT non-members
Venue: The Melbreak Country House Hotel
Delivered by: Bekah Bell of Virtual Bell
Small businesses often struggle with creating strong website content and understanding SEO (search engine optimisation). AI can simplify both, helping you write clear, keyword rich content, identify what your customers are searching for and optimise your site for better visibility.
This course teaches business owners how to use AI tools to improve their website content, structure pages properly and boost their online reach, even with zero technical experience.
Participants will learn how to use AI to improve clarity, create compelling copy and optimise pages so customers (and Google) can find them more easily.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Use AI to create website copy that is persuasive, easy to read and fully customer focused
• Identify keywords and search terms customers are using
• Optimise website pages for SEO
• Use AI tools to improve page structure, headlines and calls to action
• Understand how Google ranks content and how to write accordingly
• Avoid common SEO mistakes small businesses make
Coming up in September:
Why Your Facebook/Instagram Posts and/or Ads Aren’t Working (& How to Fix Them)
Date: Every Wednesday 16th, 23rd and 30th September 2026 (3-Session Online Programme)
Time: 10am to 11am
Price: £65 +VAT members / £85 +VAT non-members
Venue: Online (Teams)
Delivered by: Bekah Bell of Virtual Bell
A practical, interactive programme over three 1-hour sessions designed to help small businesses improve the performance of their Facebook and Instagram content through guided transformational learning.
Rather than generic advice, this course focuses on diagnosing real issues and guiding participants to create better performing content over a structured 3-week period.
Attendees will:
• understand why their posts and/or ads are not performing
• have created and tested improved posts using trainer and group feedback
• gain a repeatable content framework using a re-usable prompt sheet and diagnostic tool
• build confidence using Facebook/Instagram effectively
• understand which platform (FB or IG) works better for them and why
This isn’t just training, it’s a guided improvement process. By the end, you won’t just understand what to do, you'll have already started doing it!
AI – Beyond the Basics
Date: Tuesday 29th September
Time: 9am to 12noon
Price: £75+VAT members / £95 +VAT non-members
Venue: J36 Conference Centre, Milnthorpe
Delivered by: Bekah Bell of Virtual Bell
This course is designed for businesses that have experimented with AI tools but are not yet getting the consistent, high-quality results they expected.
Many businesses have started using AI but find the outputs generic, inconsistent or time consuming to refine.
This practical, highly hands on workshop helps delegates turn AI into a simple, repeatable business system that genuinely saves time.
The workshop focuses primarily on ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot while also providing an overview of the most commonly used AI platforms.
By the end of the session delegates will:
• Understand which AI platform is best suited to specific business tasks
• Write better prompts for consistently high-quality results
• Use AI to create meeting minutes, summaries and action plans
• Create reusable templates for emails, documents and responses
• Automate repetitive admin tasks including quotes, replies and notes
• Turn rough ideas into professional communications
• Save time across administration, communication and marketing
• Understand safe and ethical AI use
Ideal for businesses that:
• Have already experimented with AI
• Want better quality results
• Want to save time and work smarter
• Are ready to move beyond basic AI use
Coming up in October:
Mastering Management
Date: Tuesday 6th October 2026
Time: 9:30am to 4.30pm
Venue: J36 Conference Centre, Crooklands LA7 7NU
Price: £250 +VAT members / £299 +VAT non-members
Delivered by: Tim Hill, Coach Tim
Unlock your Leadership potential with ‘Mastering Management’
Are you ready to take your management skills to the next level and lead your team to success? Join Coach Tim in our immersive ‘Mastering Management’ workshop, specially designed to equip you with all the tools you need to excel in your new role.
Why Choose ‘Mastering Management?
1. Comprehensive Curriculum: From your first 90 days as a manager to handling poor performance, we’ve got you covered. Learn the ins and outs of effective management from the ground up.
2. International expertise: With workshops delivered in 3 countries, Coach Tim brings a wealth of global experience and insights to the table.
3. Dynamic Team Understanding: Gain insights into team dynamics, behaviours, and how to lead high-performing teams with confidence.
4. Master EQ: Elevate your Emotional Intelligence (EQ) for better relationships, communication and team cohesion.
5. Strategic Personal Development: Craft robust Personal Development Plans (PDPs) that drive growth and performance.
6. Adapt to Remote Working: Learn the nuances of managing remote teams effectively, ensuring productivity and connection across distances.
7. Proactive Performance Management: Gain practical strategies to handle poor performance and motivate your team toward success.
What you’ll gain:
• A clear roadmap for your first 90 days as a new manager
• Strategies to understand and harness your team’s unique dynamics
• Techniques to build and sustain high-performing teams
• The tools to elevate your EQ for better leadership
• Guidance on crafting effective PDPs for your team
• Tips for mastering remote working and keeping your team connected
• Practical approaches for managing and improving performance issues
Don’t miss out!
Whether you’re new to management or looking to sharpen your skills, ‘Mastering Management; offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business. Coach Tim’s engaging teaching style and wealth of experience will empower you to lead your team with confidence.
Secure your spot today and take the first step toward becoming a truly exceptional manager. Your team – and your future – will thank you for it!
Hire with Confidence: Practical Interview Skills for Managers
Date: Tuesday 13th October
Time: 10am to 11.30am
Price: £50 +VAT members / £65 +VAT non-members
Venue: Online
Delivered by: Realise HR
This practical and engaging 90-minute online workshop is designed to help managers feel confident, prepared, and equipped to run effective interviews that bring out the very best candidates.
You'll learn how to:
• Prepare thoroughly before an interview to ensure a smooth and professional process
• Build rapport and create a positive candidate experience from start to finish
• Ask insightful, competency-based questions that uncover skills, behaviours and potential
• Listen actively and assess responses consistently and fairly
• Avoid common interviewing pitfalls and unconscious bias
• Make confident, evidence-based hiring decisions
Whether you're new to interviewing or looking to refresh your skills, this session will provide practical techniques and real-life examples that you can apply immediately.
The result? Better interviews, smarter hiring decisions, and a positive experience that strengthens your organisation's reputation and helps attract and retain great people.
Ideal for: Managers, team leaders and anyone involved in recruitment and selection.
Outcome: Confident managers who can identify the right talent and represent the organisation professionally
Effective management of sickness absence
Date: Wednesday 21st October 2026
Time: 10am to 1pm
Price: £75 + VAT members, £95 +VAT non-members
Venue: Penrith RUFC, Winters Park, Penrith CA11 8RQ
Whether it is staff who have a poor sickness record due to sporadic days off sick here and there or someone on long-term sick, such absences all have an impact on a business, on productivity and sometimes on the morale and attitude of other staff.
This practical and “can-do” training will use hand-outs, sample letters and real examples:
• Provide practical tips and guidance to minimise avoidable absence
• Give clear advice and techniques for tackling repeat short-term absences
• Explain the process for handling long-term absence, including dismissing fairly when appropriate
• Look at alternatives to the usual sickness absence processes
For November we have booked in:
Emergency First Aid – 3rd November
LinkedIn Unfiltered: Be Seen to Succeed - Building the right foundations – 10th November
LinkedIn Unfiltered: Be Seen to Succeed - LinkedIn for Leads and Sales – 11th November
Tackling Poor Performance – 25th November
We’re just working on a couple of courses for the first two weeks of December and already have training booked in for January and February of next year.
You can full the full schedule here
Don’t forget if you want to start 2027 with a clear training plan and focus for your spend, our training needs analysis is here to help you priortise training needs and source relevant delivery. If you’d like to find out more contact Lesley Robinson, Head of Business Growth & Support – lesleyr@cumbriachamber.co.uk
