It is said that the average Spitfire pilot was given just nine hours of training! Fortunately, nowadays we take training more seriously. And, we have the time to do it properly.

Training means different things to different organisations. However, the end result is the same. We want the trainer to enable the trainee to do something. Possibly, to do something more quickly or more efficiently. It is not a matter of teaching by rote. It is not good enough to repeat a message endlessly. The trainer has to be aware, throughout the process, of the needs of the trainee.

Most people deem it unwise to teach a relative to drive. There are two reasons for this. First, the level of anger that develops. Second, that qualified driving instructors do it professionally and well. Training is often most effective when delivered by an external agency.

The venue, the voices, the audio-visual support, the time of day - all have an effect on any training session. Most participants wish to be amused, entertained and informed in equal parts. And, in this Television age, everyone is used to seeing the very highest production values of all audio-visuals.

Having been the recipients of some awful training courses over the years - from MoD to Inspirational - we are both determined to customise every course we create. We always start with the Audience, then the Message. We can then develop the training through the most suitable media.

We do not believe in 'death by PowerPoint presentation'. Of course PowerPoint is a superb tool. But many users get carried away by the bells and whistles and thus lose sight of the core message.

Our experience ranges from individual tuition, through small group work, to sales-force product induction. However small or large the group, we always want the participants to feel that they matter, that they are part of the process. Good training should be two-way and interactive.