Minutes: taking and writing effective minutes - two day course

(Former name: Taking and writing minutes: learning and practising new skills)

Course summary

All organisations need minutes. They are essential if teams, committees and boards are to have a clear record of the decisions they have made and the actions required. Effective minute taking is a must for the efficient organisation and a good minute taker can transform the effectiveness of a team.

This two day minute taking course provides lots of practical work in taking meeting minutes. We will give you plenty of exercises to sharpen up your skills and practice the essential elements of minute taking. This course is ideal for those who learn better through practice and experience as well as those who are new to minute taking.

Course outline

This two day minute taking course, which takes place at our Central London training suite, will give you the skills and confidence you need to take meeting minutes that are valued and respected.  Over the two days you will cover:
  • the purpose and use of minutes
  • preparation for taking minutes
  • the special rules of grammar and language for minutes
  • some useful terminology and how to use it
  • minuting presentations and information briefings
  • the difference between informal and formal minutes and notes
  • what minutes should include and what should be left out
  • minute taking practice
  • the tasks of the effective minute taker
  • the role of the chair and how to work with your chair
  • effective listening
  • tips and tricks for note-taking
  • minutes and The Freedom of Information Act
  • a year of free support

There are a number of practical exercises including some real life opportunities to practise taking minutes.

"A wonderful two-day workshop. It was thoroughly enjoyed, and I learned a lot which I have already successfully and appropriately in my work. Thank you."
≈ AG, National Council for Drama Training

"I enjoyed the course and learnt a lot. I was pleased that all my objectives were met."  JK, Hexagon Housing Association

Who is this course for?

This minute taking course will be useful to anyone who has to take minutes as part of their work. Whether you are asked to minute the occasional team meeting or are responsible for minuting formal Board meetings, this course will have something for you. The Centre works with people from all sectors including the public sector, voluntary sector, corporate sector and private sector.

What will this course help me do: learning outcomes?

This minute taking course will give you the skills and confidence to work effectively with the chair, and take minutes that provide a succinct and useful record of a meeting and accurately highlight decisions taken and actions agreed. It will also give you useful underpinning knowledge on, for example, the Freedom of Information Act.

Other courses to consider

Busy administrators need to get the best from their time. The Centre's courses on TIME MANAGEMENT and ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING for administrators focus on helping you to achieve what you need to and to take proactive control of your work. If your job includes several discrete projects running alongside each other, you may also find our two day PROJECT MANAGEMENT course useful. The Centre also offers courses on WRITING SKILLS: THE BASICS, CUSTOMER CARE AND TELEPHONE SKILLS and our popular PROOFREADING COURSE.

You may also be interested in purchasing the Centre's published book: Taking and writing minutes by Jan Burnell. Click here to buy the book.

Course dates

25 June, 2012 – 26 June, 2012

This course starts at 10am and will finish by 4.30pm. Lunch and refreshments are provided.

Course fee

  • £395 plus VAT small charity price (applies to registered charities with an annual turnover of less than £3m)
  • £630 plus VAT not-for-profit price (applies to all other charities and all other not-for-profit organisations, including public sector and housing)
  • £730 plus VAT standard price (applies to all other organisations)

Share