If you are interested in personal development and would like to go on a course to help you in your job or to improve your career prospects, there are lots of places you can go. Below is a list of courses aimed at practice managers and receptionists. Some are workshops or longer college courses; others can be studied via correspondence and/or e-learning.

As either a practice manager or a receptionist, skills such as people management, customer services and IT literacy are valuable, and courses at your local further education college will cover them. Check out the yellow pages under ‘Further Education’. For practice managers in particular, the British Dental Practice Managers' Association (BDPMA) recommends studying a general management qualification as the skills required in dentistry are the same as those required to manage in many other industries. Many of the BDPMA's members have achieved nationally recognised qualifications in evening classes or by distance learning, such as those linked to the Institute of Leadership and Management, the Chartered Management Institute or the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Practice management ( www.bdpma.org.uk )

The management school Diploma in Professional Practice Management (Institute of Leadership & Management Level 5) (Courses designed specifically for dental practice managers. May be run in various UK locations.) Fourways, Holywell Lake, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 0EH Telephone: 01823 672622 www.themanagementschool.co.uk

UMD Professional Ltd Diploma in Management (Institute of Leadership and Management Level 4) Executive Diploma in Management (Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5) (Courses designed specifically for dental practice managers. May be run in various UK locations.) SBC House, Restmor Way, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 7AH Telephone: 020 8255 2070 www.umdprofessional.co.uk

Dental Resource Company BTEC Professional Diploma in Dental Practice Management (Level 4). This course can be studied from home or at workshops held in London, Birmingham, Manchester or Sheffield. Telephone: 08700 664 398 www.dental-resource.co.uk

Well-received locally based courses (general management) include:

My Work Solutions (Ltd) A new course specifically for practice managers Dental Recruitment, PO Box 121 63, Birmingham, B17 8YW Telephone: 0845 430 9489 www.mywork-solutions.co.uk

People's College of Further Education Edexcel Certificate of Practice Management Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, NG1 6AB Telelephone: 0115 912 4671 www.peoples.ac.uk

Truro College Institute of Leadership and Management Certificate and Diploma in Management, plus separate qualifications in various aspects of management (Levels 3-4) Business Centre, College Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3XX Telephone: 01872 242702 www.trurocollege.ac.uk/businesscentre

Yeovil College Edexcel Certificates & Diploma in Management — Levels 3, 4 and 5 Mudford Road, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 4DR Telephone: 01935 423921 www.yeovil.ac.uk

Also look out for: Diploma in Professional Practice Management (accredited by the Institute of Leadership & Management — equivalent to Level 5). Various UK locations.

For more information on events and membership of the BDPMA visit www.bdpma.org.uk or call 0870 8400381.

Receptionists ( www.bdra.org.uk ) The British Dental Receptionist Association (BDRA) is currently working to establish a network of receptionist groups meeting quarterly in local practices. Groups in Sheffield and Plymouth have already been established and the BDRA is keen to find receptionists who will take the initiative and form their own local group. Meetings will give members a chance to network with receptionists from other practices, and a speaker will make a presentation on a relevant CPD topic.

DenMed Training & Consultancy Health and Safety Risk Assessment NVQ Assessor & Internal Verifier 115 Welford Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 3HT Telephone: 0121 682 1222 www.denmed-uk.com

Dental Resource Company BTEC Advanced Award in Dental Reception BDRA Foundation Certificate in Dental Reception BTEC Advanced Award in Dental Patient Education (Care Co-ordinator Training) The Dental Resource Company now offers discounted in-house full team sessions designed to meet specified training needs identified by practice teams. Topics include: Dealing with Difficult People, Marketing Dental Services, Customer Care, Communication Skills and Changing Perspectives. BDRA members receive a 10% discount on the £600 a day fee for their practices. 24 Farnworth Grove, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, B36 9JA Telephone: 08700 664 398 www.dental-resource.co.uk