Most valuable training that you've had?

[2PintsOfCidernaBagofCrisps]

I have recently started a position with a great company that really values staff development and training. I've been told that I can put in requests for any kind of training I would like and as long as its not "frisbee throwing" aka nonsensical to the role, they would support it.
I currently work in Finance but have no formal qualifications. I know that predecessors have been put through entire degree programmes and chartered qualifications etc so the world really is my oyster here. Very privileged but also a little overwhelmed as I don't want to be either too ambitious and flunk or go the opposite way and look uninterested.
So, I'd love to hear about training people have gone through that they felt was valuable either professionally or just for personal development/management development etc. As I say, it can be from HNC/HND/Bachelors/Leadership courses - I'd love to hear about them all.

What would give you most options to progress beyond this company? What time scale do you have? Have you time for a degree?

One of my previous employers were very hot on training courses and I signed up to excel courses which has helped me so much with my work in finance - but would also help with a lot of office based roles.

Active Listening.

If in Finance based job how about Accounting Technician (AAT) a very useful qualification which can be covered while working for experience and usually will involve day release one day or evening per week. First Aider is also a good one and very useful to your employers. I also did NEBOSH - Health and Safety

Thanks - I'd not heard of AAT - I will do some research on that, thanks.

First Aid - Yes. I am being put forward for First Aid and Mental Health First Aid, so should hopefully have those both in the bag by Xmas. I've done first aid before but it has been lapsed for a couple years now.

I did professional qualifications and they served their purpose. But the most useful training I did, which helped me both personally and professionally, was a productivity class, recommended to me by my boss.
There’s a book you can read instead but I found the training course better for me as it’s more engaging. Some of it seems obvious but, as someone who can get overwhelmed when there are too many competing priorities, there were some really good ways of approaching this and having things organised in my mind. It’s something that can be used in all aspects of your life.
My commitment to it varies but it’s easy to get back on track and I regularly use the 5 minute project planning when starting a new work or personal project.
https://www.next-action.co.uk/getting-things-done-the-ultimate-stress-free-productivity-course/

The timeframe is limitless in terms of my not planning to leave this role any time soon. The pension benefits are exceptional so it's really the kind of role I'd like to stick at for many years to come. I'd struggle to find any kind of like-for-like, I think.
That also kind of affects the scope of training with a view to career progression elsewhere, as it's not in my 5-10 year plan to move on. Never say never of course, lots of things could change!

A degree would give me the most value professionally, probably. Especially if I done some sort of accounting, finance or business management degree. I then could potentially move on to a Masters or Chartered qualification. That's what my predecessor done and she moved on elsewhere quick quickly once Chartered. But from what I hear, she'd been with the company from inception as a school-leaver and was ready to spread her wings professionally.

In terms of free time to study; I could manage a night or two in the evenings and could so some studying over a weekend. I have a family and all the day to day responsibilities that come with it. I suppose I have as much on my plate as most women but with all things, it will come down to the question of 'how badly do you want it?'

I was wondering if I'd be better starting lighter with maybe a shorter, less intense course than a degree to get back into the ways of studying. Or is that just procrastinating?

Interesting, thanks. I wouldn't have known such a thing existed but I can absolutely see why it's so valuable.

Public speaking.

Absolutely invaluable in life not just in the workplace.

In person mental health first aid was the best training I've ever been on. I highly recommend everyone take it if offered.

I wish my company offered skill based training or access to it but they don't. I've done reading on Microsoft Word and Power Point on mine own and it was really useful to go through it in a systematic manner. Need to do Excel next really.

In my job role....courses relating to my safety at work, how to de esculate a situation

Donkeys years ago my company used to have Microsoft Office face to face training run by an external consultant. I booked myself onto an Excel course and never looked back. I have multiple professional qualifications that I've spent years studying and have attended countless professional development type things but a one day Excel workshop has been more useful to my real life work than any of them.

It ignited a real interest in all things data and a total love for Excel that still continues to this day. I train newer team members in Excel now, and went on to learn Power BI among other things, but Excel is still my first love.

Another really useful thing was a one hour session on writing effective reports. The person who delivered it was a C-level exec and talked about exactly what board level execs need from their reports as well as how to structure it and things to avoid. I learnt more in that hour than some of my colleagues did from a very expensive two day course.

If I was working in finance and my employer was bankrolling it, I'd look at doing ACCA.

Excel is definitely a skill that I could utilise more. Many moon ago, I bought a tuition book with all the good intentions of becoming a whizz - but I rarely look at it. An in-person course would be better as I learn more efficiently in that format.

ACCA is definitely an option and probably the most sensible for my career. I suppose I'm just worried that I'd totally tank it and it would be a waste of time and money. I'm so out of touch with studying and I find it daunting.

In truth, I've no idea how I ended up in finance. Its like a joke of the universe because I flunked maths in High School and whilst I'm fabulous with money and budgeting, even basic arithmetic makes my brain itch. Thank goodness for excel and calculators! For years I've tried to steer my career out of finance and more into operations and project management but because of my experience and the fact I'm actually quite good at it, I'm still here.

Definitely Excel.
AAT is a good idea, and you might well get credit against ACCA if you did eventually decide to do that.
An few hours introduction to UK law could be really valuable. Have a look on Udemy.

Mental health first aid. At the time I was working in a student-facing role at a University and I can't tell you how many times I had to use it....

@2PintsOfCidernaBagofCrisps For years I've tried to steer my career out of finance and more into operations and project management but because of my experience and the fact I'm actually quite good at it, I'm still here.

Definitely do an Excel course, I did one where the workbook was the training course written out it was nearly word for word. It was the best Excel course as I made notes in the workbook to make sure I understood what to do. The work book was fantastic to use when 2 months later I had to do a complex formula and the workbook meant I could do it as I had the prompts as well. This skill will assist you in any job.

Your knowledge and experience of finance is also a transferrable skill e.g. managing budgets, understanding project costings etc.

Once you have Excel, then look at Management courses e.g. Chartered Management Institute https://www.managers.org.uk/ or consultancy skills https://www.managers.org.uk/institute-of-consulting/

These will both give you a range of transferrable skills and knowledge that would help you move towards operations/project management. They also work for your current role.