Category: Free Workshops

To help you develop your business in good times and bad, we’ve launched a series of FREE one-day workshops throughout the UK. Look out for emails from your unions and from FEU Training. Workshop details below.

Run a successful social media campaign – 9 Oct, Manchester

Posted on

Free workshop for members

Time
10am to 3.30pm

Venue
Band on the Wall
25 Swan Street
The Northern Quarter
Manchester
M4 5JZ

Social media can be a powerful means of getting your message across and raise awareness of what you do. This one-day workshop will take you step-by-step through running a successful campaign.

Apply online by 2 Oct

Workshop content

If you are promoting your work or an event, fundraising for a project, or highlighting an important issue, social media provides a powerful means of getting your message across and can be especially useful for freelances who want to try new ways to raise awareness of their work and related issues on a limited budget.

Who should attend

This workshop is aimed at those with experience of using social media but who feel they haven’t exploited its full potential.

Expected learning outcomes

The day will follow three simple steps:

Plan it

  • How to establish a foundation for social media engagement
  • How to identify the right social media channel for the right message
  • How to establish the objectives, branding and key messages for your campaign
  • How to plan and schedule engaging content for your campaign

Do it

  • How to manage your social media updates across Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms
  • How to monitor activity and respond to community reaction
  • How to be ready for any negative feedback
  • How to maintain momentum beyond the official end of the campaign

Review it

  • How to measure the results of your campaign using simple tools and metrics

Workshop format

Computers are not provided and are not a requisite as this workshop focuses on tutoring, discussion and group-based exercises. However, you are welcome to bring laptops, tablets or iphones if you wish to try out the methods discussed in realtime.

Tutor: Dan Mason

POLITE REQUEST: if you are successful in obtaining a place on this workshop and, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to attend, please let us know asap because we have others on the waiting list who we can allocate your place to. If you do not let us know this will disadvantage another member. Also, we may lose the funds that enable us to provide these workshops to all members including yourself.

NOTE: if we were to postpone or cancel this workshop due to unforeseen circumstances (this has happened only twice in five years due to tutor illness and a tube strike), we will be unable to reimburse any costs such as pre-booked travel expenses. If this were to happen in the future, we will email and telephone you as soon as we know that there is a cancellation and attempt to re-schedule the workshop asap.

Apply online

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, please fill in the short application form below. You will need to login or register if you have not done so already so have your Union number to hand. All events have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful within a few days of this date.

Further enquiries e: [email protected] t: 07580 348726

How to drive traffic to your website – 8 Oct, Manchester

Posted on

Free workshop for members

Time
10am-4pm

Venue

Band on the Wall
25 Swan Street
The Northern Quarter
Manchester
M4 5JZ

APPLY ONLINE BY 2 Oct

Workshop content

To maximise your website potential as an online marketing tool, it’s essential that you do everything possible to ensure that your audience can easily find and access it.

This one-day workshop quickly goes beyond the usual focus on search engines (though they are still covered) to understand the growing importance of social optimisation…creating stories and links that stand the best chance of being shared through social channels to build your online presence. It includes:

  • Reviewing basic optimisation skills to ensure your words, images and videos stand the best chance of being found online
  • Understanding how search engines work; the difference between on-page and off-page search engine optimisation
  • Exploring the tricks and techniques used by growing websites and blogs for encouraging greater levels of engagement
  • Understanding what kind of content does – and doesn’t – get promoted on Facebook’s newsfeed and on Twitter
  • Exploring how to encourage sharing through the use of email
  • Creating a schedule of shareable content for your own website or blog
  • Understanding how to measure your success

Who should attend?

Only those freelances who have a website, are familiar with social media and are now looking to build their web presence and improve their ability to draw more traffic to their website.

Expected learning outcomes

  • A greater knowledge of how to get found online
  • A greater awareness of what content works to engage your audience
  • An understanding of key online tools available to create shareable content
  • A greater ability to build your online presence.

Workshop format

Computers are not provided and are not a requisite as this workshop focuses on tutoring, discussion and group-based exercises. However you are welcome to bring laptops, tablets or iPhones if you wish to try out the methods discussed in realtime.

Tutor: Dan Mason


POLITE REQUEST: if you are successful in obtaining a place on this workshop and, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to attend, please let us know asap because we have others on the waiting list who we can allocate your place to. If you do not let us know this will disadvantage another member. Also, we may lose the funds that enable us to provide these workshops to all members including yourself.

NOTE: if we were to postpone or cancel this workshop due to unforeseen circumstances (this has happened only twice in five years due to tutor illness and a tube strike), we will be unable to reimburse any costs such as pre-booked travel expenses. If this were to happen in the future, we will email and telephone you as soon as we know that there is a cancellation and attempt to re-schedule the workshop asap.

Apply online

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, please fill in the short application form below. You will need to login or register if you have not done so already so have your Union number to hand. All events have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful within a few days after the deadline.

Further enquiries

e: [email protected]
t: 07580 348726

Negotiation for Freelances – 25 Sept, London

Posted on

Free workshop for members

Date and time
25 Sept, 10.30am-4.30am

Venue
The Musicians’ Union
60-62 Clapham Road
London
SW9 OJJ

APPLY ONLINE BY 16 SEPT

Content

Negotiation is an essential skill for a freelance to master. Whether you are negotiating day rates or defined packages of work, it’s important to learn to represent yourself clearly and effectively with the aim of agreeing terms that you and your client are happy with.

This workshop will give you tools and tips for planning, preparing and conducting negotiations in a business like way. It will offer you insights into styles and processes that can help improve your effectiveness for future negotiations.

This workshop covers:

  • the importance of principled negotiation
  • how to prepare effectively
  • how to gather the information you need to negotiate effectively
  • how to find common ground
  • how to focus on negotiation as a business transaction
  • the importance of defining limits.

This workshop includes practical exercises to provide participants with the opportunity to try out what you learn in a safe environment.

Who should attend?

Anyone who needs to negotiate with clients, especially if they have found themselves in the past, agreeing to things they later regretted.

Qualifications required

No specific qualifications are required.

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop you will:

  • have gained a deeper understanding of the negotiation process
  • be aware of the importance of planning effectively
  • know how important it is to explore all the potential variables
  • be aware of the relational aspects of negotiation
  • see the benefits of joint problem solving as a negotiation style
  • understand the importance of strategic thinking in negotiations.

Tutor: Muriel McClymont

POLITE REQUEST: if you are successful in obtaining a place on this workshop and, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to attend, please let us know asap because we have others on the waiting list who we can allocate your place to. If you do not let us know this will disadvantage another member. Also, we may lose the funds that enable us to provide these workshops to all members including yourself.

NOTE: if we were to postpone or cancel this workshop due to unforeseen circumstances (this has happened only twice in five years due to tutor illness and a tube strike), we will be unable to reimburse any costs such as pre-booked travel expenses. If this were to happen in the future, we will email and telephone you as soon as we know that there is a cancellation and attempt to re-schedule the workshop asap.

Apply online

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, please fill in the short application form below. You will need to login or register if you have not done so already so have your Union number to hand.

All events have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful within a couple of days of this date.

Further enquiries
e: [email protected]
t: 07580 348726

Run a successful social media campaign – 18 Sept, Birmingham

Posted on

Free workshop for members

Time
11am to 4.30pm

Venue
Musicians' Union
2 Sovereign Court
Graham Street
Birmingham
B1 3JR

Social media can be a powerful means of getting your message across and raise awareness of what you do. This one-day workshop will take you step-by-step through running a successful campaign.

Apply online by 9 Sept

Workshop content

If you are promoting your work or an event, fundraising for a project, or highlighting an important issue, social media provides a powerful means of getting your message across and can be especially useful for freelances who want to try new ways to raise awareness of their work and related issues on a limited budget.

Who should attend

This workshop is aimed at those with experience of using social media but who feel they haven’t exploited its full potential.

Expected learning outcomes

The day will follow three simple steps:

Plan it

  • How to establish a foundation for social media engagement
  • How to identify the right social media channel for the right message
  • How to establish the objectives, branding and key messages for your campaign
  • How to plan and schedule engaging content for your campaign

Do it

  • How to manage your social media updates across Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms
  • How to monitor activity and respond to community reaction
  • How to be ready for any negative feedback
  • How to maintain momentum beyond the official end of the campaign

Review it

  • How to measure the results of your campaign using simple tools and metrics

Workshop format

Computers are not provided and are not a requisite as this workshop focuses on tutoring, discussion and group-based exercises. However, you are welcome to bring laptops, tablets or iphones if you wish to try out the methods discussed in realtime.

Tutor: Dan Mason

POLITE REQUEST: if you are successful in obtaining a place on this workshop and, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to attend, please let us know asap because we have others on the waiting list who we can allocate your place to. If you do not let us know this will disadvantage another member. Also, we may lose the funds that enable us to provide these workshops to all members including yourself.

NOTE: if we were to postpone or cancel this workshop due to unforeseen circumstances (this has happened only twice in five years due to tutor illness and a tube strike), we will be unable to reimburse any costs such as pre-booked travel expenses. If this were to happen in the future, we will email and telephone you as soon as we know that there is a cancellation and attempt to re-schedule the workshop asap.

Apply online

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, please fill in the short application form below. You will need to login or register if you have not done so already so have your Union number to hand. All events have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful within a few days of this date.

Further enquiries e: [email protected] t: 07580 348726

How to drive traffic to your website – 17 Sept, Birmingham

Posted on

Free workshop for members

Time
11am-4.30pm

Venue

Musicians' Union
2 Sovereign Court
Graham Street
Birmingham
B1 3JR

APPLY ONLINE BY 8 Sept

Workshop content

To maximise your website potential as an online marketing tool, it’s essential that you do everything possible to ensure that your audience can easily find and access it.

This one-day workshop quickly goes beyond the usual focus on search engines (though they are still covered) to understand the growing importance of social optimisation…creating stories and links that stand the best chance of being shared through social channels to build your online presence. It includes:

  • Reviewing basic optimisation skills to ensure your words, images and videos stand the best chance of being found online
  • Understanding how search engines work; the difference between on-page and off-page search engine optimisation
  • Exploring the tricks and techniques used by growing websites and blogs for encouraging greater levels of engagement
  • Understanding what kind of content does – and doesn’t – get promoted on Facebook’s newsfeed and on Twitter
  • Exploring how to encourage sharing through the use of email
  • Creating a schedule of shareable content for your own website or blog
  • Understanding how to measure your success

Who should attend?

Only those freelances who have a website, are familiar with social media and are now looking to build their web presence and improve their ability to draw more traffic to their website.

Expected learning outcomes

  • A greater knowledge of how to get found online
  • A greater awareness of what content works to engage your audience
  • An understanding of key online tools available to create shareable content
  • A greater ability to build your online presence.

Workshop format

Computers are not provided and are not a requisite as this workshop focuses on tutoring, discussion and group-based exercises. However you are welcome to bring laptops, tablets or iPhones if you wish to try out the methods discussed in realtime.

Tutor: Dan Mason


POLITE REQUEST: if you are successful in obtaining a place on this workshop and, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to attend, please let us know asap because we have others on the waiting list who we can allocate your place to. If you do not let us know this will disadvantage another member. Also, we may lose the funds that enable us to provide these workshops to all members including yourself.

NOTE: if we were to postpone or cancel this workshop due to unforeseen circumstances (this has happened only twice in five years due to tutor illness and a tube strike), we will be unable to reimburse any costs such as pre-booked travel expenses. If this were to happen in the future, we will email and telephone you as soon as we know that there is a cancellation and attempt to re-schedule the workshop asap.

Apply online

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, please fill in the short application form below. You will need to login or register if you have not done so already so have your Union number to hand. All events have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful within a few days after the deadline.

Further enquiries

e: [email protected]
t: 07580 348726

Improving focus through ‘mindfulness’ – 21 Aug, London

Posted on

Free workshop for members

This workshop aims to help you improve performance, efficiency and work satisfaction through developing the technique of 'mindfulness'.

The date and time:
21 Aug, 2.00 – 4.30pm

The venue:
Equity
Guild House
Upper St Martin’s Lane
WC2H 9EG

Apply online by 11 August 2015

Workshop content

Maintaining a successful freelance career relies on the ability to successfully juggle several activities at once on an on-going basis.

While this can be exciting, it can sometimes be difficult to concentrate on one thing and do it well, when all the other tasks that you must complete keep popping into your head. This lack of focus can lead to decreased efficiency and increased stress levels.

Here’s where ‘mindfulness’ - the ability to stay in the present moment - can help. In fact, many top businesses, the NHS, schools and MP’s are increasingly introducing ‘mindfulness’ as a practice that supports performance and makes people happier in their work.

Mindfulness is about living life in the now, taking time to focus on and truly experience what you are doing at any given point in time.

We have a fun session planned to help you learn about and experience mindfulness and, in a playful and relaxed environment, explore ways of applying the technique to all areas of your life.

Who should attend

Freelances who wish to improve their focus, performance and work satisfaction.

Expected learning outcomes

  • An understanding of what mindfulness is and why it is effective
  • An understanding of the areas of your work (and social life) that might benefit from ‘mindfulness’
  • An understanding of how to use and apply the technique to improve performance and satisfaction.

Tutor: Muriel McClymont

POLITE REQUEST: if you are successful in obtaining a place on this workshop and, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to attend, please let us know asap because we have others on the waiting list who we can allocate your place to. If you do not let us know this will disadvantage another member. Also, we may lose the funds that enable us to provide these workshops to all members including yourself.

NOTE: if we were to postpone or cancel this workshop due to unforeseen circumstances (this has happened only twice in five years due to tutor illness and a tube strike), we will be unable to reimburse any costs such as pre-booked travel expenses. If this were to happen in the future, we will email and telephone you as soon as we know that there is a cancellation and attempt to re-schedule the workshop asap.

 

Apply online

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, please fill in the short application form below. You will need to login or register if you have not done so already so have your Union number to hand.

All events have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful within a couple of days of this date.

Further enquiries
e: [email protected]
t: 07580 348726

 

Run a successful social media campaign – 16 July, London

Posted on

Free workshop for members

The date and time: 16 July, 10.30am to 4.30pm

The venue: Musicians’ Union, 60-62 Clapham Road, London SW9 OJJ

Social media can be a powerful means of getting your message across and raise awareness of what you do. This one-day workshop will take you step-by-step through running a successful campaign.

Apply online by 6 July 2015

Workshop content

If you are promoting your work or an event, fundraising for a project, or highlighting an important issue, social media provides a powerful means of getting your message across and can be especially useful for freelances who want to try new ways to raise awareness of their work and related issues on a limited budget.

Who should attend

This workshop is aimed at those with experience of using social media but who feel they haven’t exploited its full potential.

Expected learning outcomes

The day will follow three simple steps:

Plan it

  • How to establish a foundation for social media engagement
  • How to identify the right social media channel for the right message
  • How to establish the objectives, branding and key messages for your campaign
  • How to plan and schedule engaging content for your campaign

Do it

  • How to manage your social media updates across Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms
  • How to monitor activity and respond to community reaction
  • How to be ready for any negative feedback
  • How to maintain momentum beyond the official end of the campaign

Review it

  • How to measure the results of your campaign using simple tools and metrics

What should I bring?

You will need to bring a laptop, tablet or smartphone. Computers are not provided. The workshop focuses on tutoring, discussion and group-based exercises.

POLITE REQUEST: if you are successful in obtaining a place on this workshop and, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to attend, please let us know asap because we have others on the waiting list who we can allocate your place to. If you do not let us know this will disadvantage another member. Also, we may lose the funds that enable us to provide these workshops to all members including yourself.

NOTE: if we were to postpone or cancel this workshop due to unforeseen circumstances (this has happened only twice in five years due to tutor illness and a tube strike), we will be unable to reimburse any costs such as pre-booked travel expenses. If this were to happen in the future, we will email and telephone you as soon as we know that there is a cancellation and attempt to re-schedule the workshop asap.

Tutor: Dan Mason

Apply online

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, please fill in the short application form below. You will need to login or register if you have not done so already so have your Union number to hand. All events have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful within a few days of this date.

Further enquiries e: [email protected] t: 07580 348726

How to shoot and edit video with an iPhone or iPad – 15 July, London

Posted on

Free workshop for members

The date and time: 15 July, 10.30am to 4.30pm

The venue: Musicians’ Union, 60-62 Clapham Road, London SW9 OJJ

This one-day workshop will help you unlock the potential of your iPhone or iPad as a powerful tool for planning and creating high quality video.

Apply online by 5 July 2015

Workshop content

Do you want professional looking videos to showcase your work on your website, a snappy intro video for your blog or maybe you want to make a video marketing story for a client?

Whatever your purposes, you will be guided step by step through how to take better mobile photographs, combining them with audio to create an audio slideshow, then - with an understanding of the importance of good images and sound firmly in place - creating simple videos, sequences and stories.

The day will focus on using your iPhone (4S or 5) camera plus the iMovie app to edit video. Along the way, you will also discover some of the best kit to use plus iOS app alternatives used by the professionals.

Who should attend

This workshop is aimed at creative freelances, journalists, bloggers or anyone interested in learning or improving their ability to make professional videos. No prior knowledge of professional video shooting or editing is required.

Expected learning outcomes

By the end of the day you will:

  • Learn the essentials of mobile photography
  • Edit and share images using free mobile apps
  • Create an audio slideshow with images and (music and recorded voice)
  • Shoot video interviews that look great online, using professional approaches to lighting and the shooting environment
  • Understand the key principles of video storytelling
  • Create sequences of video clips that build into a snappy intro video or video news story
  • Edit video on your mobile using iMovie
  • Transfer clips over the internet and upload video to sharing sites such as YouTube

What should I bring?

You will need to bring your own iPhone (4S or 5) or iPad, with the iMovie app (£2.99 or free on new mobiles) installed. We have a limited number of basic tripods and mounts for use during theworkshop. However, if you’d like to do this course using an iPad or iPad Mini it would be advantageous to bring your own mount.

POLITE REQUEST: if you are successful in obtaining a place on this workshop and, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to attend, please let us know asap because we have others on the waiting list who we can allocate your place to. If you do not let us know this will disadvantage another member. Also, we may lose the funds that enable us to provide these workshops to all members including yourself.

NOTE: if we were to postpone or cancel this workshop due to unforeseen circumstances (this has happened only twice in five years due to tutor illness and a tube strike), we will be unable to reimburse any costs such as pre-booked travel expenses. If this were to happen in the future, we will email and telephone you as soon as we know that there is a cancellation and attempt to re-schedule the workshop asap.

Tutor: Dan Mason

Apply online

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, please fill in the short application form below. You will need to login or register if you have not done so already so have your Union number to hand. All events have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful within a few days of this date.

Further enquiries e: [email protected] t: 07580 348726

Finance for Freelances – 10 July, London

Posted on

Free workshop for members

Essential for every freelance, this workshop will help you improve your financial management from how to work out your tax to cash flow forecasting.

The date and time:
10 July, 10.30-4.30

The venue:
Equity
Guild House
Upper St Martin’s Lane
WC2H 9EG

Tutor: David Thomas

Apply online by 1 July 2015

Workshop content

Full of tips, discussion and practical exercises, this workshop will help you understand, organise and plan your finances more successfully. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and will receive handouts and links to useful spreadsheets and templates. It includes:

  • Making the most of your money
  • Types of freelancing
  • How tax works and how it works for you
  • Getting organised to manage your finances
  • VAT: important issues for freelances
  • Improving the process of getting paid
  • Planning for success
  • How not to run out of cash.

Who should attend

Freelances who wish to improve the way in which they handle their finances. No financial training or experience is assumed.

Expected learning outcomes

The workshop aims to provide you with a better understanding of how to plan and organise your finances. You will more clearly understand the importance of good record keeping and how to maintain cash flow along with issues surrounding tax and national insurance.

POLITE REQUEST: if you are successful in obtaining a place on this workshop and, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to attend, please let us know asap because we have others on the waiting list who we can allocate your place to. If you do not let us know this will disadvantage another member. Also, we may lose the funds that enable us to provide these workshops to all members including yourself.

NOTE: if we were to postpone or cancel this workshop due to unforeseen circumstances (this has happened only twice in five years due to tutor illness and a tube strike), we will be unable to reimburse any costs such as pre-booked travel expenses. If this were to happen in the future, we will email and telephone you as soon as we know that there is a cancellation and attempt to re-schedule the workshop asap.

 

Apply online

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, please fill in the short application form below. You will need to login or register if you have not done so already so have your Union number to hand.

All events have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful within a couple of days of this date.

Further enquiries
e: [email protected]
t: 07580 348726

 

Get Fit for Freelancing (age 30 and under) – 2 July, London

Posted on

Free workshop for members

 The date and time: 2 July, 10.30am-4.30pm

The venue
Musicians’ Union
60-62 Clapham Road
London
SW9 OJJ

Apply online by 25 Jun 2015

Workshop Content

While working in the entertainment industries is a privilege and joy, getting your foot in the door and maintaining work continuity can be difficult - even for the most talented of people.

This workshop will examine the key challenges that most freelances experience at some point or another to help you develop good habits and strategies so that you are more likely to survive and thrive as a creative freelance.

We will look at how to establish useful boundaries between home and work, how to get more organised and how important it is to develop good support networks.

We’ll discuss motivation and how to use your goals and other strategies to help you stay engaged and proactive.

We’ll talk about developing your resilience, building confidence and learning to focus on what’s really important to get you to where you want to go.

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at members of 30 and under who are starting out or fairly early on in their career.

Expected Learning outcomes

  • An overview of why boundaries matter and how to create them
  • An understanding of the importance of setting good goals
  • Tips and ideas for developing your resilience and confidence
  • An understanding of the importance of organisation and planning
  • Sign posting to further resources available key topics that will help create and support work continuity.


Tutor: Muriel McClymont

POLITE REQUEST: if you are successful in obtaining a place on this workshop and, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to attend, please let us know asap because we have others on the waiting list who we can allocate your place to. If you do not let us know this will disadvantage another member. Also, we may lose the funds that enable us to provide these workshops to all members including yourself. NOTE: 1. If we were to postpone or cancel this workshop due to unforeseen circumstances (this has happened only twice in five years due to tutor illness and a tube strike), we will be unable to reimburse any costs such as pre-booked travel expenses. If this were to happen in the future, we will email and telephone you as soon as we know that there is a cancellation and attempt to re-schedule the workshop asap. 2. At the workshop, we are required to undertake a short equality & diversity survey. The information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and will help in our commitment to E & D.

Apply online

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, please fill in the short application form below. You will need to login or register if you have not done so already so have your Union number to hand. All events have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful within a couple of days of this date.

Further enquiries
e: [email protected]
t: 07580 348726