Written communication is how most decisions in an organisation are requested, explained and recorded. A well-structured email can resolve an issue in one exchange; a poorly written report can delay a decision for weeks. Minutes carry particular weight because they become the official record of what a board, committee or management team agreed, and they may later be examined by auditors, regulators or courts. Yet many professionals have never been taught a reliable method for either task.

The Best Practices in Business Writing & Minute Taking Training Course provides that method. The first half concentrates on business writing: analysing the reader, planning content, structuring documents logically, using plain language and an appropriate tone, and editing for accuracy and brevity. Participants apply these principles to the documents they produce most often. The second half concentrates on minutes: the roles of the chair and secretary, preparation, listening and summarising techniques, minute styles and formats, recording decisions and actions, and the review, approval and safekeeping of the final record.

The course is highly practical. Participants bring examples of their own documents to improve, take minutes during recorded and live simulated meetings, and receive individual feedback on their drafts. By the last day, each participant has a personal style guide and a minutes template suited to their organisation.

Participants will gain the ability to:

• Plan business documents around a clear purpose, audience and key message.
• Write concise emails, memos, letters, briefing notes and reports in plain English.
• Apply correct grammar, punctuation and a consistent professional tone.
• Edit and proofread their own and colleagues' documents efficiently.
• Prepare agendas and minute templates in partnership with the chair.
• Capture discussions, decisions, resolutions and actions accurately during meetings.
• Produce, circulate and file minutes that meet governance and confidentiality requirements.

This programme serves anyone who writes for work or records meetings, notably:

• Executive assistants, personal assistants and secretaries
• Office administrators and administrative officers
• Board, committee and council clerks
• Company secretarial and governance assistants
• Executive officers and chiefs of staff
• Project and programme officers who minute meetings
• Team leaders and supervisors who write reports for management
• Front office and records staff in public and private organisations

Practical outputs include:

• A personal business writing style guide covering structure, tone and common errors.
• Rewritten versions of their own emails or reports, improved through feedback.
• A reusable minutes template with sections for decisions, resolutions and action owners.
• A pre-meeting and post-meeting checklist for secretaries and clerks.
• A set of note-taking shortcuts and abbreviations for fast, accurate recording.
• Confidence in taking minutes for boards, committees and virtual meetings.

Most learning happens through writing and feedback rather than listening. Activities include:

• Before-and-after rewrites of participants' own documents
• Live and recorded meeting simulations for minute-taking practice
• Individual trainer feedback on drafts and minutes
• Peer editing and proofreading rounds
• Template-building workshops for agendas, minutes and action logs

Attendance at every session and completion of the writing and minute-taking assignments qualify participants for a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion issued by Vision Reach Global Consultancy.