We will be using this newsletter to keep you informed of the ICT courses that we have scheduled for the month ahead and also to highlight any special promotions or member discounts that we have coming up. We are continually updating our course list but if you can't see the particular training course that you're interested in, please call us on 08700 663 994 or email info@merit.org.uk and we'll find the right solution for you. Many of you no doubt will already be aware that Merseyside-based SMEs can take advantage of SkillWorks funding for training, which effectively reduces the price of training courses by 50%. What some of you may not realise is that this funding will expire in July 2008. Do something about it today.
	Thurs 25th October - Search Engine Optimisation (SEO by Jan Klin) Date: 25th October 2007 Time: 09:30am - 16:30pm Venue: Liverpool Innovation Park Don't miss this opportunity to gain the competitive edge over your rivals. This full day masterclass, delivered by Jan Klin, will provide you with all the tools, techniques and know-how to get you to the top of search engines and deliver new business. (Read More) ONLY A FEW PLACES LEFT - BOOK NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
	Date: 7th November 2007 Time: Morning or Afternoon Course Venue: Liverpool Innovation Park This 1/2 day course is designed to offer you a practical, hands-on demonstration of Microsoft VISTA, showing not only the new facilities and application but also where to find the old ones. The majority of PCs will now be sold with VISTA pre-installed so keep up to date. (Read More) Date: 12th November 2007 Time: 10:00am - 15:30pm Venue: Liverpool Innovation Park This one day workshop will focus on setting up a new blog using the free and open source Wordpress.com. The workshop will cover setting up a blog using Wordpress hosted blog functionality, customising your blog with themes, custom headers, using blog plugins, and customising the layout of your blog. We will also practice writing posts, publishing feeds and managing, moderating and replying to comments. (Read More) Date: TBC Time: 10:00am - 15:30pm Venue: Liverpool Innovation Park This one day workshop will focus on how to maintain a lively blog; attract new readers (and the readers you want), keep them entertained and how to build your reputation as a blogger. We will cover blogging basics: blogging topics, blog identity, blogger personality, and when & how to write. We will also focus on developing your blog community of readers and commenters and how to interact with and develop your readership. (Read More) Date: TBC Time: 10:00am - 15:30pm Venue: Liverpool Innovation Park Following on from Get a Blog! and Read my Blog!, this is the third and final workshop in The Social Series. This one day participatory workshop will focus on how to build better web presence by exploiting social media tools and networks. There are opportunities for harnessing the power of social media. (Read More) Other Courses . Setting Up Projects for Success With Microsoft Project - 14/11/2007 . Creating Effective Presentations With Microsoft PowerPoint - 21/11/2007 . Building Better Microsoft Word 2003 Documents in Less Time - 26/11/2007 . Forecasting and Trend Analysis Using Microsoft Excel 2003 - 27/11/2007 . Microsoft Word 2007: New Features - 28/11/2007 . Microsoft Excel 2007: New Features - 29/11/2007 We can't afford the lost time in sending staff on training courses.. At Merit, we understand the inherent pressures associated with running a successful small/medium sized business. Time is precious and generally consumed by either dealing with existing customers or searching for new ones. This usually means that training is consigned to the 'back burner', becoming one of those issues that you always mean to but never get around to addressing. Staff training is a key factor in keeping your business moving in the right direction and should be ignored at you peril so remember; a trained member of staff is: . Confident (new abilities breed confidence) . Motivated (confidence breeds motivation) . Efficient (motivation gets tasks completed quicker, increasing efficiency) . Happy (confident, motivated and efficient staff are generally happier in their work) To help you achieve this, we can offer you the following choice of delivery method; . Instructor led, offsite training (conducted at our excellent training facility in Liverpool) . Instructor led, onsite training (conducted at your premises) . A full e-learning solution . A blended solution, incorporating e-learning and instructor led tuition (Please note; instructor led courses are based on groups of 10 students) Are you an ICT trainer? We are continually looking to enhance our course list with new and exciting titles so would be interested to hear from any professional ICT trainers to discuss potential opportunities. Please call the team on 08700 663 994