Business Tips Guides

In the modern world of business learning, many institutions are now opening a centre for executive education in order to provide company executives with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in business. The learning is often to degree standard although a diploma at the end of the course is rarely the case; some inductees however may receive an MBA from the centre of executive education after an elongated course.

In the majority of cases a centre will be attended by the top level execs, all of which are hoping to improve their skills set and business knowledge. In the United States alone it is currently estimated that the executive education industry is worth as much as eight hundred million dollars. This gargantuan figure is only part of the reason why the centre for executive education is becoming so popular; more generally, companies are now seeing the benefits of educating their staff members.

This is especially true for young, junior level execs; normally it is these workers who are likely to leave a company should their opportunities to advance be exhausted. This is why particularly clever senior managers now send these juniors on educational programmes; it is the perfect way to keep them in a company, creating a sense of loyalty and gratitude. If an executive is not given this chance to learn and advance, it is often the case that they will leave to where pastures are greener; hence for the sake of hanging onto the most talented professionals, the centre for executive education is a powerful weapon in the manager’s arsenal.

There are other benefits to sending top flight workers on educational programmes however; these are generally concerned with the increasing of skills within a company. For instance, a manager may be excellent at handling sales and could one day head up a sales department. However, only possessing attributes in this field is a serious disadvantage.

Hence by sending this worker to a centre it is possible to increase their skills across many sectors, the result being a more rounded candidate who is not only able to excel in a sales environment but in other spheres as well. In the same vein if a top executive has earmarked a specific worker for promotion right to the upper echelons of a company, education can be used to enhance their management capabilities, their understanding of forward strategies and economics.

In terms of the timescale that these course are conducted in depends on the centre and the number of modules in a programme. Short scale courses can last for only a couple of weeks albeit on an intensive basis while longer programmes can take month or even years. Typically these longer courses will be conducted through evening sessions and weekend lessons. Most courses will include an element of homework in putting together reports and essays, while this is an addition to an already existent workload the majority of participants find it manageable.

The result of attendance is a greater understanding of the world of business and global markets although depending upon the modules undertaken more specific knowledge can be gained. An example would be international commerce modules that are able to give attendees an understanding of global markets; especially important for companies that operate on a multinational basis.

As previously mentioned the popularity of the centre for executive education is growing all over the globe. It is not just evident in countries like the United Kingdom and the United States but is also prevalent in rising economies such as India and China. The incentive for companies to send employees on these courses is certainly there, business is a cutthroat world where a well educated workforce can provide that important edge.

Business expert Thomas Pretty looks into the growing popularity of the centre for executive education in commercial circles.

An Executive Employment Agreement is a binding agreement for employment between a company and an executive. In exchange for valuable consideration given by the company, the executive is agreeing to perform certain services. In contrast to an Executive Compensation Agreement, Executive Employment Agreements are binding, and by executing the agreement, both the company and the executive are promising to perform under the agreement’s terms.

Executive Employment Agreements should begin with a “Recitals” section that lays out the overall purpose of the agreement. Each recital begins with “WHEREAS.” Generally, the first recital should state simply that the “Employer’s Board of Directors desires to employ Employee in an executive capacity and Employee desires to be so employed in that capacity.” After any other applicable recitals, the agreement should say “THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions set forth below, the parties agree as follows.”

The following are key provisions commonly found in Executive Employment Agreements:

1. Term. The length of the term of the agreement and the termination date should be provided. Also, any understanding regarding the option to renew the agreement, either on the executive’s side, the company’s side, or both, should be addressed. Most likely, the contract will be renewable or extendable under the same terms expressed in the agreement upon mutual agreement of the parties.

2. Compensation and Benefits. First, this provision should list the employee’s annual salary. Next potential salary adjustments, either increases or decreases, should be laid out. The executive may be able to negotiate for an automatic salary increase if a certain event occurs, such as a merger, sale of the company, or accomplishment of certain goals. The employee’s benefits package must also be described, including any stock options, health insurance, expense accounts, and vacation time.

3. Duties of Employee. The employee’s position should be listed again, and his expected duties should be described in detail. If the precise services of the executive may be extended or curtailed by mutual agreement, this should be listed as well. Executive should promise to undertake the responsibilities for and devote his productive time, abilities, and attention to the business of the employer during the term of the Agreement, as well as comply with all federal, state, and local laws.

4. Duties of Employer. The employer should promise to pay all compensation, benefits, and allowances as set forth in the agreement. The employer should also agree to provide offices, and if agreed upon, “stenographic help” (a secretary) as appropriate.

5. Confidential Information. The employee must agree to keep confidential information confidential and to refrain from disclosing confidential information to any third party during the term of his employment and for a period of time following his employment, which could be anywhere from one to three years or longer.

6. Non-Competition. The company should require the executive to promise not to work, directly or indirectly, as an owner, partner, manager, officer, employee, or consultant for any business that competes with the employer during the term of the agreement and for a certain period of time afterwards.

7. Termination. The agreement should spell out whether or not the employee can be terminated only for cause, or for any reason at all. If only for cause, then cause must be defined. One possible definition for cause would be: (a) any breach of any material obligations owed to employer; (b) failure to follow a directive of the company’s Board of Directors; or (c) conviction of a felony or any act involving moral turpitude. The severance pay that will be owed to executive upon termination either for cause or without cause should be provided.

These are the most important provisions of an Executive Employment Agreement. General provisions covering consequences of breach, assignment, modification, governing law, and severability should round out the agreement. For more information or to download part or all of actual Executive Employment Agreements, please visit the Agreement section of the Real Deal Docs website and conduct a search accordingly.

Mark Warner is an Executive Employment Agreement Research Analyst for RealDealDocs.com. RealDealDocs gives you insider access to millions of legal documents online drafted by the top law firms in the US that you can download, edit and print. Search For Free at http://realdealdocs.com.

Corporate logo shirts are a good way to emphasize your company brand at a trade show, but why not use them as a giveaway product to generate more leads and increase your ROI? Simply handing them out to everyone who walks by isn’t going to gain you the leads your company needs to grow and expand. Giving away custom polo shirts, for example, is more effective when you can use them to connect with your leads and start build profitable relationships. There are three great ways to give away items and strengthen their brand.

Pre-Trade Show Giveaways

Including corporate logo shirts into your pre-trade show marketing plan is a great way to build the number of attendees to your booth and increase the number of leads you gain from the event. Before the trade show, send out cards or offer cards for a ‘free gift’ through your website.

On these cards, include the information for the trade show, your company contact information, and an area for the customer to fill out. This should require the leads to fill in their contact information and provide the opportunity to ask a particular question or request more information. Then, the customer simply has to appear at your booth during the event to claim their custom polo shirt embroidered with your company’s brand.

Games And Attractions At The Event

Corporate logo shirts are a great way to incorporate your company brand into your booth. Use them as a prize on a game board. If you will be giving product demonstrations or have an interactive presentation, ask for volunteers and give custom polo shirts away as a prize. Another great way to incorporate these ideas into your trade show is to have a drawing and make the logoed clothing part of a prize pack.

These methods attract more people to your booth, attract more attention to your brand, and create the energy needed to increase sales and hot leads. The booth’s staff should also be wearing the company brand to spread the word about your company even further.

Post Show Thank You

During your post-trade show follow up, corporate apparel is a great way to thank customers and leads for showing interest in your company. They act as an additional way to grow the interest in your products and services while showing appreciation and respect for the customer without being too strong handed or pushy. Custom polo shirts can go to customers who made a purchase at the trade show and to leads that sounded interested, but have not purchased from the company.

When sending the custom polo shirts or other corporate apparel, phone or include a personalized card thanking the customer for their business or interest in your company. Also, provide them with any additional information they requested or ask if they had any questions or comments.

Corporate logo shirts can be a powerful tool in trade show marketing when they are used to the fullest advantage. You can include them before, during, after, or in any combination that fits into your marketing plan. Custom polo shirts and other corporate apparel build the energy, interest, and relations your company needs in order to have a profitable trade show event.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on custom polo shirts, visit http://www.corporateshirtsdirect.com.

The world of business research and education has been steadily growing in recent years. This is because companies are now keen to give their employees additional learning and qualifications in all manner of business sectors and fields. These sectors can range from economics, world trade, strategy and ethics, all have a worth in modern industry and commerce. A question that executives are asking themselves today is whether their employees can do without this specialist knowledge should the company continue to grow and be profitable. Hopefully the following information on the subjects covered by executive education institutions will give a clearer picture of the type of knowledge that is out there.

Understandably having a staff that is well educated in a variety of different disciplines creates a workforce that runs smoother, and with better direction. Some of the most popular business research programmes teach inductees people management skills; now seen as a must for any discerning junior executive. The knowledge gained however stays with participants for life, meaning their contribution to the company over an extended period of time is greater than if they had not undertaken the course.

It is not just management skills that are taught as part of business research programmes however. Accounting is also an extremely popular form of learning. While professional accountancy services are readily available, having members of the workforce who are able to conduct basic accounting functions can save funds but also help to spot any discrepancies in company finances. This can be extremely helpful when undergoing a process of streamlining as it gives managers the knowledge of where to make cut backs and where to increase funding for the most effective benefits.

Business research programmes can also cover the subject of international commerce. This type of course can be extremely beneficial not only to low level executives but also to high end seniors. It is especially important to partake in one of these courses if a business is at the cusp of entering the global marketplace, giving staff members an understanding of the working of the worldwide economy and trade more generally. It can also help to build a team of knowledgeable workers who are able to formulate strategies and policies relating to commercial issues all around the world.

Naturally information technology is increasingly becoming an inmportant factor in any company. Having staff that understand the effects of technological developments can help a company to stay ahead of the competition. As internet trading and commerce grows this can be seen as essential for any company that wishes to conduct a great deal of business online.

Sales have long been a large part of business research programmes. As the sales department is the one that brings in the trade, making sure they are trained and educated in the most advanced techniques is extremely beneficial. Most businessmen will understand that a more focussed and educated sales team will result in greater levels of trade and hence more profitability for the company.

While some executives may wish to keep a division of labour in their company, sending employees away on multiple business research programmes can help create a brilliant and well rounded worker with the knowledge to succeed in almost any field. Ultimately the purpose of training and education is to make a company more profitable, while the outlay for programmes is a concern; these expenses are soon outweighed by the reward of having a well trained, educated and motivated workforce.

Industry and commerce expert Thomas Pretty looks at how business research programmes can help create a better educated and motivated workforce.

If you own your own business and are getting to a stage when people are showering you with all sorts of advice from company incorporation to limited liability and you stare blankly, then this article is for you. There are benefits of company incorporation however it is essential to understand what all the jargon means before committing to the change, although this article offers impartial information it is advised to seek further professional advice on the implications of company incorporation.

If we take the definition of a company to mean an association of people formed together for some common purpose then this can cover not only for-profit organisations but also charitable or club organisations. The motivation for company incorporation for any organisation lies in the status change of the company, as the company itself becomes an individual meaning that there is no personal liability for any director of the company.

This also means that the company can borrow money, buy property, sue and be sued and enter into contracts under the company name. So if you own a company which does not have incorporated or limited status then any contract you enter, you are personally liable for that contract. As opposed to signing on behalf of a company you are signing as an individual so can then be held liable for any deviation of that agreement.

Company incorporation means that the name of your company is protected as no two companies can trade under the same name. There is also a clause which means that the company can live on until it is struck off by Companies House, the company can change directors and be resold without changing the company status. A company’s structure depends on what type of company incorporation the company undertakes.

There are three main types of company structure and they are public and private companies limited by shares, then companies with limited guarantee. The latter is generally used when dealing with a clubs, schools or societies as it is no longer legal to form company shares within a limited guarantee organisation, the members of the association agree the limited guarantee between them which should be a nominal fee of 1 to 10 GBP.

Public companies must have a minimum asset worth of 50,000GBP and anyone can buy shares in the company and the control of that company is split between the shareholders. The implications of this are that the fate of the company rests in a public consortium and control of a company can be lost, with companies being liquidated to unlock the profit in the assets.

Limited companies are still based on shares however they are not up for public sale and the initial investment in that company depicts the control of that company. If two directors invest 500GBP in the formation of a company then the control of this company is split equally between the two investors. Company incorporation is effective in limited companies as it allows private control of the company’s decisions however only a minimal risk of liability is incurred.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert on company incorporation and contributes to trade publications on the subject.

Team building is an important part of a way a company works. It boosts enthusiasm and inter-office relations as well as forming a bond between the owners, directors, managers and general workers. It is a chance for a level playing field to be established and for everyone to get to know each other in a way that just isn’t possible in the office.

Many team building exercises revolve around an activity that promotes communication and cooperation. Themed days such as those based on TV programmes like It’s A Knockout require teams to be formed and encourages a different kind of competition between colleagues. This has the benefit of encouraging people to work together and that kind of team work can be bought back to the office and applied to a working scenario.

Other exercises are of a less rigorous nature, but still based on a TV theme. Game shows such as Family Fortunes and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire form a template for this type of team building activity, and is able to cater for large bookings from one company, or even have several companies at a time taking part. This not only enhances office relations, but serves as a platform for meeting potential business associates or clients in an unbiased atmosphere.

Not all activities need to have a competitive element. Sometimes just a themed event where everyone dresses up is enough to encourage barriers to drop, and bonds to be formed. One popular yet understated way of encouraging positive relations between workers is a corporate day out, such as a day at Newmarket Races or The Oval Cricket Ground. Sporting events are not to everyone’s tastes, but the fine dining, champagne and thrill of dressing up makes up for most that do not like the sporting activity.

The key is in doing something a little unusual. Employees need to be sprung with something that they think is exciting, and a rare opportunity. The novelty factor of most team building events are based on the fact that they are activities that an individual person would not normally do. Despite the reputation of the British weather, summer is an ideal time to hold a team building event, as there are a range of outdoor activities that can be combined to suit all tastes, talents and mobility. Having a feast al fresco is a heart warming and bonding experience. Surround this with outdoor activities and the opportunity for employees to bring family along, and rather than a fear filled corporate picnic to look forward too, it is more like a workers fete.

There are the options of hiring a company to organise it all for you, or find a venue and make all the arrangements yourself. Depending on what you hope to achieve, it is often better to hire an experienced organisation to make the arrangements and to keep an eye on the day’s events so that everyone can relax. The most popular vents are treasure hunts and archery. There is also quite a big demand for dirt days out - for example tank and off road rally driving. Paintball is another favourite for a big group of people. The deciding factor really is the abilities and desires of all involved. The best way to kick start a proper team building exercise is to be part of the team and encourage everyone to participate from the beginning.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the corporate events industry.
Find out more about team building and other corporate events that can be organised for your employees at Accolade.