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Minutes: taking and writing effective minutes

(Former name: Taking and writing minutes: the essentials)

Course summary

Effective minute-taking is vital to the efficient organisation and a good minute-taker can transform the effectiveness of a team. This one-day Minute-taking course is a sound introduction to minute-taking and equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to write professional minutes with confidence.

This is a hands-on course with practical exercises throughout the day to help you capture the essential information accurately.

Course dates and location

All our training courses are being delivered virtually. The webinar systems used do not require software download.

Please note: we allow a maximum of three people per organisation on our Individual training courses.

Our next available course dates for individuals are:

  • 23 April, 2024
  • 9 July, 2024
  • 17 September, 2024

We can deliver this course virtually for your organisation, on a date and time that suits you. If you have four or more people who would like to attend this course then group training could be the most cost-effective option. Contact one of our Training Coordinators on 020 7490 3030 or email for more information and a quote.

  • Course outline

    Minute-Taking Courses in London

    Over the day's training you will cover:

    • the purpose and use of minutes
    • preparation for taking minutes and meetings
    • 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
    • what minutes should include and what should be left out
    • 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
    • practical exercises including real life opportunities to practice taking minutes
    • minutes and The Freedom of Information Act 
    • a year of free support from your trainer

    To help you develop your skills further and remind you of what you learnt on the day, you will receive a  published book to take away with you.

    “When I used to take minutes my boss would then review them and make a lot of amendments before passing them to the actuary and then to the chair.  After attending the course, not only did my managers comment on how quick the turnaround was, they all commented on how little they changed. As a result the minutes were circulated to the Trustees much quicker than usual and even they have commented that all looks good (probably because it was quick enough for them all to remember the meeting!)” SB, RSPB

    All our training courses are delivered virtually. The webinar systems used do not require software download.

  • Who is this course for?

    This one-day Minutes course is 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 is suitable for those who have never taken minutes before as well as those who want a refresher and clarification of minute-taking.

    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 course provides you with an opportunity to practice and review your minute-taking so you leave knowing how to take effective and clear minutes. The skills you learn will make minute-taking simpler and make you feel more confident.

    You will understand the key skills involved in minute-taking, both in terms of format and layout, and the crucial thing about what to put in and what to leave out. It will also help you to work effectively with your chair.

  • Other courses to consider

    The Centre offers a wide range of training courses for professional office staff, including Advanced Minutes: formal minute taking for Board and Governance meetings, The Executive PA; Customer care and telephone skills and Essential skills for administrators. You might also want to take a look at our writing courses including Business writing skills and the Centre's popular Proofreading course.  

    You may also be interested in purchasing the Centre's published book on the subject of minute-taking: Taking and writing minutes

  • Course fee
    • £469 plus VAT not-for-profit price (applies to charities and all other not-for-profit organisations, including public sector and housing)
    • £522 plus VAT standard price (applies to all other organisations)

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