How to produce readable materials: Using clear English in the workplace

[Background] [Who should attend?] [Course content] [What are the benefits?] [Aim] [Spot the difference] [A client view] [Programme] [Application Form]

Are you constantly looking at the best way to get across important messages?

Do you find you have to read some documents several times to understand the meaning only to find the basic message is fairly straightforward?

Do you think important information often gets deleted or ends up in the bin?

Do you expect large numbers of your staff or customers to read lengthy texts?

Do you have difficulty getting staff to read important documents?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, read on.

Training Background

The success of any business depends on communication and there is a clear case to use plain English in every workplace. The documents used in your organisation need to be clear and easy to understand. That means that everyone who produces documents should think about making them easier to read.

National statistics show that many people in the workplace struggle to read and understand important documents. One recent report among all types of further education and training organisations in England, including colleges, work-based training, prison education and adult learning providers, highlighted that 86% of staff say that lack of plain English has limited their understanding of important information - a quarter say this happens frequently.

83% say jargon has put them off reading important external information. Only 5% find the information they receive is usually clear and easy to read.

If your organisation employs large numbers of staff for whom English is not their first language this may also be an issue. Writing in plain English helps everyone to understand what they read.

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Who should attend?

NIACE is offering a half-day workshop designed for anyone in the workplace who regularly writes at work. This may include work instructions, guidelines, newsletters, company letters and emails, posters and notices. The workshop is suitable for staff at all levels.

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Course content

The workshops will give you a chance to reflect on your own and your organisation's written communication. You will practise using a clearer writing style and pick up tips to help you do this.

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What are the benefits of attending this workshop?

The aim of these workshops is to change the way people communicate; to encourage them to use plain English and a clearer writing style.

You will also have an opportunity to reflect on what you write at work and how you can write so that everyone can read.

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Training aim

• To increase awareness and understanding of reading difficulties and their impact on the workplace
• To explore the principles of clear writing
• To practice using a clearer writing style

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Spot the difference: Which is easier to read?

Learning centres are principally designed to encourage all employees from across the UK divisions, of whatever grade, to restart the process of learning. As such many of the courses provided are at the request of the centre users.

With the development of the national Learning & Development strategy our partnership has agreed to maximise the use of these centres and create a sustainable facility by gradually extending the learning available to cover non-vocational or workrelated programmes. In addition, access will be extended, wherever feasible, to all UK-based employees.

OR

Learning Centres are to encourage all our staff to learn new skills. If we haven't got the course you're looking for, please ask.

You can choose a course that is not related to your job, but is something you think you will enjoy.

We are opening more centres so that all our UK employees will have access to learning.

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A client view

NIACE has worked with us to improve the written communications within our organisation. This has included carrying out research amongst our staff and testing reading comprehension levels. As a result of this research, they are helping us to implement a clear written communications policy.

NIACE has put together a bespoke course for our staff to help them simplify their writing and delivered this to key personnel. This has significantly improved the level of awareness among managers and we are beginning to see a change in communication styles that will ensure written communication is accessible to all our staff.

First UK Bus is proud to be leading the field in raising awareness of the difficulties of communication within the workplace and our work with NIACE is part of our ongoing work to make us an Employer of Choice.

Clare Hannah, Learning & Development Director, First UK Bus

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Programme

Places are limited to 15 participants per workshop session

Morning Workshop

This programme is correct at the time of going to press. The organisers reserve the right to make changes to the published programme in the event of one or more of the advertised speakers being unable to attend. Delegates will have no claim against NIACE in respect of such changes.

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Application Form

(For people not using the online reservation system above.)