The Director holds an English academic teaching qualification and visiting lecturers are selected from top class practising professional toastmasters. The course runs from Sunday a.m. to Thursday a.m. Shorter courses are available for individuals or small groups Contact Graham for more information 01502 500317 QUESTIONS. 1. Can I absorb all the information in just four and a half days? Certainly there is a great deal to absorb but the training techniques and the 100% input from the tutors on the course will help you achieve what you did not think you would be able to. The pass rate for the final examination is 65% but the average pass park across the students, particularly over the past two years has been over 70%. You will be regularly tested and continuous assessment made of your progress. Any problems will be spotted and attention paid to then so that you will be able to assess your own progress too. The input from course members as a group as well as individuals is also an important factor. Yes, you will be able with commitment to absorb what is required for your success. 2. What experience and qualifications do you have? I have been practising as a professional toastmaster for eighteen years after receiving training from a very experienced and popular toastmaster. I have experienced and officiated at many and varied functions. These include prestigious venues such as the Mansion House working for the Lord Mayor, The Guildhall at the double centenary banquet of Admiral Lord Nelson and other venues in London and the country. I have officiated at hundreds of Wedding Breakfasts, often attending at civil ceremonies. I am a fully qualified English pedagogue graduate, (London, Cambridge and Bristol) and taught for nearly forty years in the UK and abroad in secondary education up to University entrance. My academic experience is put to good use in the structure and procedures of my courses. I am a past president of the FPT, AUKSPT and the ITGB. The pedigree of my assistant tutors is also quite staggering. Past presidents of the ITGB, the LST and again the AUKSPT.  3. Do I have to make speeches? It can have its advantages if you can but it is certainly not a requirement. An important part of your work is to ensure that you introduce others to speak using the absolutely correct protocol and to make any required announcements again in the correct manner and at the correct time. In any case you will have what you have to say written down on ‘Q’ cards so memory is also not an issue. Memory is fallible and not to be relied on. 4. What type of weddings can I cover? From weddings in a small venue to grand occasions in the best hotels and Great Houses. You will be able to officiate at weddings of all cultures including Asian, Greek and others.  5. I am a Cockney/Scot/Irish/Welsh/ Cornishman/Scouser, Tyke, Geordie etc. Is this a disadvantage? Not at all. In some cases it can be an advantage. The main things are to be able to project clearly and precisely and without strain through shouting. 6. Where can I purchase uniform? Your ‘whites’, i.e. shirts, waistcoats (vests) and bow ties can be ordered through the school at preferential rates and be waiting for you on arrival at the course. I have several suppliers who can provide you with the wonderful toastmaster red tailcoats, again at preferential rates through the school but the school does not take any commission from the independent suppliers. Suppliers come to the course to measure you for the tailcoats. 7. What about reference material? Your own reference material will spring from the course notes issued on arrival and these contain a huge amount of information. In addition I present you with a reference book on Civic Ceremonial. This volume is carried by every town council and City Hall in England and your own new copy is the most up to date version. I also offer two very good reference books (Optional). 8. What is the Accommodation like? The double rooms at the hotel are either new or recently refurbished and are very spacious and comfortable. The service and food is also excellent and plentiful. If you are lucky you may get a room with a jacuzzi. 9. Where is the hotel? Can my partner stay in the hotel? The hotel is in Hethersett in the lovely county of Norfolk just south of Norwich off the A11. If your partner wishes to accompany you staying in the same room, some very acceptable terms and conditions apply.  10. Can I join a professional organisation? There are several professional toastmaster organisations in the country and there may be one near your own area. The UKSPT Ltd introduces you to two main ones it has links to but the option choices are open to you. The first one is the Association of the UK School of Professional Toastmasters (AUKSPT) and was created initially for some past students who wanted to form a social organisation. It has since developed into a very efficient and forward thinking organisation and currently successful students of the UKSPT Ltd are accepted as Associated members. The AUKSPT has now the largest membership in the UK. The Institute of Toastmasters of Great Britain (ITGB) is a much older organisation and any student who passes the schools examination with 80% or more is guaranteed an interview on application to join.  11. Do you provide me with work? Not normally but occasionally I do pass on jobs in my own area and I do refer potential clients to toastmasters in other areas when I am fully booked myself. The Course sets marketing information and guidance and you are told of ways to attract custom and clients. Please do not think that your telephone is there just for calls begging for your services. 12. What do I have to pay ‘up front’ and when and how/when do I pay the balance? There is a £250 advance booking fee which guarantees your place on the course and enables me to prepare everything for you prior to the course including securing the hotel accommodation and procuring all the items ready for your arrival. The remainder of the fee is paid 14 working days before the course is due to start. It can be paid by cheque or bank transfer. There is NO VAT to pay. 13. What qualifications do I receive? Regardless of the false claims of many toastmasters, there are no recognised National qualifications for toastmasters. The School awards its own Certificate of Proficiency which shows where you were successfully trained. This certificate has a good value among toastmasters and should be exhibited when you attend a Trade/Wedding Fair or shown to clients. 14. Do you give further training after the course is finished? I am aware that others offer further training after their courses have finished. This amazes me! WHY, I ask myself is this of any merit. If you have finished the course you should have received a comprehensive programme of training that enables you to be a professional toastmaster on leaving that course. If further training is needed it would seem that the course itself is incomplete. My guaranteed service to you is that I make myself available to you by email or by telephone whenever you come across a problem that may present itself at a forthcoming function. Usually, the answer can be found in the course notes you receive or maybe it is just a little confirmation you require. Inevitably most toastmasters have solved the problem but just want a little reassurance. Being a member of an organisation can occasionally help when experiences are shared but always take these up with caution as they may be not what the toastmaster should be doing. 15. Anything else you can offer? As it happens, I can. I can offer to show you how to Sabrage and this is a useful option extra to offer to clients. It is the action of cracking open a bottle of Champagne with a sabre. Not too difficult or even dangerous when trained how to do it. 16. Now the BIG QUESTION! How can you justify the expense of the course? We, at the school are in the business of training professional rivals, often in our own areas. Our reputation is on the line here and we want to be able to recommend a student without reservation. We therefore pass on to you many of the concepts and secrets we have personally learned over many years that have enabled us to be successful. The Hotel is one of the best in the area and its costs are not inexpensive. The fees for a good professional toastmaster are also high and when, as tutors do, stay for 24 hours at the hotel during the course to be available to you for as long as possible these fees are also professional. Everything provided for the course is of high quality and many hours go into the preparation of individual requirements. (See also answer to question 17.) 17. Another BIG QUESTION! What sort of return can I expect working as a professionally trained toastmaster? How much of yourself are you going to put in? The greater your effort and input, the greater you can expect to receive. Some toastmasters give a minimal service and expect great returns. It does not work like that. You have to believe that your efforts can bring you as much as a very experienced toastmaster from the moment you start. You must give potential clients confidence that your services are exactly what they want and that you can deliver them to their satisfaction and delight. Having said all that, the area in which you work does to some extent dictate the prices obtained. Some of the graduates of the school are asking and getting between £300 and £475 just for weddings. They are, certainly, giving a great service and giving a great deal of themselves in terms of time, travel, presentation, administration, demonstration and delivery. Many toastmasters will accept from £200 upwards but your targets should be higher. You give effort and you receive appropriate reward. 18. My question to YOU is: Have you been able to find another training programme that can offer anywhere near the same quality of content, the same enthusiasm, the same passion, commitment and service that the UK School of Professional Toastmasters Limited can offer. There approximately 100 years of toastmaster experience with the tutors. The UKSPT Ltd. is keen to have you on board the next course. The successes of the graduates fill me with immense pride and humility. 19. What is my next move? Contact Graham immediately to confirm your interest by submitting the contact Form. He will be delighted to chat with you about any further questions. Or you can Email: at glennjmayes@btinternet.com Telephone: 01502 500317 / 01502 570361. Your submission, email and/or your call will be attended to and arrangements will be made to create and send you your own personalised Brochure and Booking Form by first class post.. 20.Any other information you require please do not hesitate to contact: Glenn Mayes - Director of Training Tel: 01245 381577 M: 07826 339498 Email:glennjmayes@btinternet.com FREE GUIDE. Sending for my brochure and booking form indicates that you are considering joining us on our courses. I will be delighted to forward these to you complete with a free guide of : AN INTRODUCTION TO TOASTMASTERING EXCELLENCE with 10 KEY SUCCESS FACTORS, PLUS 21 PITFALLS TO AVOID Contact Graham immediately to confirm your interest by submitting the Contact Form. He will be delighted to chat with you about any further questions. Or you can Email: at glennjmayes@btinternet.com or Telephone 01245 381577, Mobile 07826 339498. Your submission, email and/or your call will be attended to and arrangements will be made to create and send you your own personalised brochure and booking form. Glenn Mayes - Director of Training 4, Brockley Cottages, Ulting, Maldon, Essex CM9 6QX Tel: 01245 381577 M: 07826 339498 Email:glennjmayes@btinternet.com |
