Hi all and welcome!
Firstly, I'd like to apologise that Michael is having a few days holiday. I know that he is becoming a bit of a cult blogger, but even literary superstars need a break!
This week has certainly been exciting. As the great Downey proclaimed, I was hosting the Scottish Banking Forum on Tuesday morning, with that unforgettable title "Wealth Managers Driving For Success: Becoming Tomorrow's Elite" - by the time that I had announced it, it was nearly time for the closing remarks!! Apart from that it was a good session, with over 20 delegates in attendance.
On Wednesday, we had our International Chartered Banker Conference. With delegates arriving from Corstorphine, Gorgie, Dalry and Leith, it truly was a global affair! To balance that up, we did however have several excellent speakers from Europe who gave an insight as to the opportunities for UK banks to tap into the Central Eastern European markets. Interestingly, but of no surprise to many delegates, the message for UK banks was that service delivery had to be sharpened up for success to follow - others would however argue that service levels are currently more than satisfactory!
Professionalism and Ethics was another key theme of the day.
This is an area of much interest to all in the financial services sector and one which the CIOBS will be focusing on over the coming months / years. During the panel discussion, a delegate asked about the ethics of charging £30 for an overdrawn balance of say £10. The reply from a panel member was to the effect that perhaps it was about as ethical as overdrawing your account in the first place without permission - indeed, was unauthorised overdrawing actually any different from walking out of a shop without paying for your goods? Controversial or what, young Giles!
Overall, the Conference was a great success, with around 130 in attendance and a distinguished speaker list, including John Swinney, MSP and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance giving the keynote address. I always like to pick up on the little idiosyncrasies of speakers and like many politicians, John just loves to say "aspirations"!
Other than that, we have been doing some real work as well. We are still working on the new procedures for the Chartered Banker qualification and these will be sent to students as soon as possible. The new procedures include areas like assignments, which of course affect tutors too and so these are also being revamped.
Never mind, folks, even if life is getting a bit weary, it's important to look on the bright side. Two things to cheer you up before I go. Firstly, it's Friday and the weekend looms. Secondly, the King of the Bloggers will return next week to royally entertain you. On reflection, at least you have one thing to look forward to!
Have a great weekend.
Raymond
Friday, 30 May 2008
Friday, 23 May 2008
Three in a row - is that a treble?
Hi and welcome to the CIOBS blog.
First of all it is my great pleasure to announce that Raymond has been podcasting this week.
Please go to http://www.ciobs.org.uk/about/what_podcasts.cfm (after you have read this blog of course!) and you will hear a fit and healthy sounding Raymond with some very interesting business news.
Well, what a week it has been dear reader. I have been in the class room for the first three days of this week. Monday and Tuesday saw the Apex 5 revision course take place and Wednesday brought an introductory day for a group of new Chartered Banker students.
One of the favourite aspects of this job is meeting people and there were some very nice attendees this week. The not so nice ones know who you are!
(Disclaimer – This is a very bad attempt at humour – everyone was very nice.)
Of course we have yet another bank holiday weekend coming up, although I believe the Edinburgh schools were off last week and will not be off next Monday; however I am sure that many of you will be looking forward to the long weekend.
I know that the good citizens of Glasgow are looking forward to next week and in particular Tuesday morning when the fit and healthy Raymond Brown will be chairing the Scottish Banking Forum at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Argyle Street.
The financial services community will be out in force in Edinburgh on Wednesday when the Chartered Banker Conference takes place at the Balmoral Hotel in Princes Street.
Myself and Raymond will be in attendance at that one and we hope to meet friends old and new.
Just a reminder that we are undertaking a survey at the moment of those who have recently signed up for a course with CIOBS. If you have received an email and possibly a reminder regarding this, then I would encourage you to take a little time to complete the survey.
Well time to go. I am off now to do a little more recording.
Please don’t worry about this I will not be singing.
Michael (Any requests?)
First of all it is my great pleasure to announce that Raymond has been podcasting this week.
Please go to http://www.ciobs.org.uk/about/what_podcasts.cfm (after you have read this blog of course!) and you will hear a fit and healthy sounding Raymond with some very interesting business news.
Well, what a week it has been dear reader. I have been in the class room for the first three days of this week. Monday and Tuesday saw the Apex 5 revision course take place and Wednesday brought an introductory day for a group of new Chartered Banker students.
One of the favourite aspects of this job is meeting people and there were some very nice attendees this week. The not so nice ones know who you are!
(Disclaimer – This is a very bad attempt at humour – everyone was very nice.)
Of course we have yet another bank holiday weekend coming up, although I believe the Edinburgh schools were off last week and will not be off next Monday; however I am sure that many of you will be looking forward to the long weekend.
I know that the good citizens of Glasgow are looking forward to next week and in particular Tuesday morning when the fit and healthy Raymond Brown will be chairing the Scottish Banking Forum at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Argyle Street.
The financial services community will be out in force in Edinburgh on Wednesday when the Chartered Banker Conference takes place at the Balmoral Hotel in Princes Street.
Myself and Raymond will be in attendance at that one and we hope to meet friends old and new.
Just a reminder that we are undertaking a survey at the moment of those who have recently signed up for a course with CIOBS. If you have received an email and possibly a reminder regarding this, then I would encourage you to take a little time to complete the survey.
Well time to go. I am off now to do a little more recording.
Please don’t worry about this I will not be singing.
Michael (Any requests?)
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Raymond's Return
Hi again dear readers and welcome to the CIOBS midweek blog.
It’s Wednesday again and I do hope you are having a good week wherever you are.
“So what’s happening at Drumsheugh Gardens?” I hear you ask.
Well,I shall tell you.
We are currently planning revision courses in respect of Chartered Banker and related Diplomas.
These will take place during the final quarter of 2008 and dates will be finalised shortly.
Looking towards 2009, it is planned that revision courses will take place throughout the year. This is in response to the new examination format and the publication of these dates will assist students in planning their studies and their final examination date(s).
Dates for 2009 will be advised in due course.
We are also about to send out one of our surveys.
This will be sent to students have enrolled for a new course during the period 1st February 2008 to 30th April 2008.
If you do receive a survey by email from us I would urge you to complete it. This is your chance to voice your opinion!
All replies will be anonymous.
Next Monday and Tuesday brings yet another of our ever so popular revision courses for The RQF Apex 5/H2 examination – Yes, this is the one where there is an opportunity to sit the final examination here at CIOBS HQ on the Tuesday afternoon.
A very warm welcome to all delegates – I look forward to meeting with you all on Monday morning.
Looking ahead, some events for your diary.
Tuesday 27th May 2008:Scottish Banking Forum. Wealth Managers Driving for Success: Become tomorrow’s Elite. Location: Glasgow
Wednesday 28th May 2008: International Chartered Banker Conference. Location: Edinburgh
Please contact Martin Fishman of CIOBS on 0131 473 7789 or email him Martin@ciobs.org.uk if you are interested in attending any of the above.
And finally this week ……….
Yes folks he is back.
Raymond has returned and is looking fit and well and I am sure that he will be up to a bit of blogging very soon.
Welcome back Raymond.
Michael (Our survey said XX)
It’s Wednesday again and I do hope you are having a good week wherever you are.
“So what’s happening at Drumsheugh Gardens?” I hear you ask.
Well,I shall tell you.
We are currently planning revision courses in respect of Chartered Banker and related Diplomas.
These will take place during the final quarter of 2008 and dates will be finalised shortly.
Looking towards 2009, it is planned that revision courses will take place throughout the year. This is in response to the new examination format and the publication of these dates will assist students in planning their studies and their final examination date(s).
Dates for 2009 will be advised in due course.
We are also about to send out one of our surveys.
This will be sent to students have enrolled for a new course during the period 1st February 2008 to 30th April 2008.
If you do receive a survey by email from us I would urge you to complete it. This is your chance to voice your opinion!
All replies will be anonymous.
Next Monday and Tuesday brings yet another of our ever so popular revision courses for The RQF Apex 5/H2 examination – Yes, this is the one where there is an opportunity to sit the final examination here at CIOBS HQ on the Tuesday afternoon.
A very warm welcome to all delegates – I look forward to meeting with you all on Monday morning.
Looking ahead, some events for your diary.
Tuesday 27th May 2008:Scottish Banking Forum. Wealth Managers Driving for Success: Become tomorrow’s Elite. Location: Glasgow
Wednesday 28th May 2008: International Chartered Banker Conference. Location: Edinburgh
Please contact Martin Fishman of CIOBS on 0131 473 7789 or email him Martin@ciobs.org.uk if you are interested in attending any of the above.
And finally this week ……….
Yes folks he is back.
Raymond has returned and is looking fit and well and I am sure that he will be up to a bit of blogging very soon.
Welcome back Raymond.
Michael (Our survey said XX)
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Midweek and in colour too!
Welcome to the midweek colourful CIOBS Blog. Regular readers will be aware of my previous rants regarding the lack of colour therefore it is so exciting when colour makes a return! It must be something to do with the wonderful weather that we have been having in Scotland this week.
Okay, hands up it has nothing to do with the weather - it is about location, location, location. It depends upon where I am doing this from as to whether or not colour is available. Older readers will have experienced this with t.v. or wireless reception in years gone by. If you are not sure what a wireless is, then please ask your grandparents!
This will all change very soon when the CIOBS website is revamped - We shall be in total control. At present this blog effectively comes to you via a third party. That scenario will end after the revamp. Hooray!
I trust that readers in the U.K. enjoyed the bank holiday last weekend and are looking forward to the next one at the end of the month.
Here at CIOBS it is pretty much business us usual. I have noticed some of the papers from the recent examination diet passing through the office on their way to or from the examiners and verifiers. This is a very busy time for all concerned and as previously mentioned this diet was the last to be held on a fixed date.
Raymond is well on his way back to full fitness and will be back in the saddle next week, he is currently enjoying a holiday during this period of lovely weather.
Peter's head is also healing and he would like me to thank you all for the many cards and bouquets of flowers that he has received recently - O.K. I made that one up.
Our Business Development team are on the road this week and are presently in Manchester of all places. Some of you from the Glasgow area may be travelling to that city next week.
If you are going away soon, remember your blog and the weekly news podcast are available wherever you are. Just log on to www.ciobs.org.uk
Some students were commenting on the podcast last week and I would agree with their comments that it is an invaluable learning tool for student members of the Institute.
Time to get on.
Have a great week and I hope the sun is shinning wherever you are.
Michael (Did I mention the weather?)
Friday, 2 May 2008
May Mayhem
Well here we are once again. Another week and another month have gone by.Welcome to the first blog of the merry month of May.Did any of you wash your face in the morning dew yesterday? Before you ask, yes, I certainly did and I am feeling radiant on this sunny Friday morning here in Edinburgh.
What a week it has been here at Drumsheugh.Your very own Raymond Brown was hospitalised earlier in the week,however, the good news is that he is well on the way to recovery. Which means I have got my hands on the blog again.
I will not be running a “Guess what was wrong with Raymond” Competition.
Another blog favourite, Peter Moir sustained some head injuries this week which involved a tunnel and a plank of wood. Don’t ask!
No competition here either.
Academically speaking the two day Apex 1(2004)version course went well and it was a pleasure to meet all the delegates.
Good Luck to you all with the final examination.
Yesterday was certainly historical from a CIOBS point of view.The very last Chartered Banker examination in the present format took place yesterday afternoon.From September these examinations will be available in an on-line format.
Students will use lap tops to type the answers to the questions.Some of our older readers might ask “what is a lap top?” Please ask your grandchildren – they will demonstrate for you.
I am advised that the results from the recent diet will be available to students on or about 5th July 2008.
Your blog team will keep you up to date with the progress regarding the results. (With Peter Moir’s kind permission of course)
The new format will make the examinations available to students on a weekly basis and will end the present twice-yearly diets.
As I write students are arriving here at CIOBS to sit various on-line examinations for the Regulatory Qualifications or the Diploma or Certificate in Financial Services etc.
I hope it goes well for everyone.
Remember a selection of the week’s business news is available as a podcast on our website and can be found by pasting the following into your browser.
http://www.ciobs.org.uk/about/what_podcasts.cfm
It’s not just a new month or the fact that it is Friday that excites us today,it is a bank Holiday Weekend here in the U.K.
So whatever you are doing please enjoy yourself and stay safe.(See above re planks of wood etc.)
Michael (Radiant and healthy at the moment)
What a week it has been here at Drumsheugh.Your very own Raymond Brown was hospitalised earlier in the week,however, the good news is that he is well on the way to recovery. Which means I have got my hands on the blog again.
I will not be running a “Guess what was wrong with Raymond” Competition.
Another blog favourite, Peter Moir sustained some head injuries this week which involved a tunnel and a plank of wood. Don’t ask!
No competition here either.
Academically speaking the two day Apex 1(2004)version course went well and it was a pleasure to meet all the delegates.
Good Luck to you all with the final examination.
Yesterday was certainly historical from a CIOBS point of view.The very last Chartered Banker examination in the present format took place yesterday afternoon.From September these examinations will be available in an on-line format.
Students will use lap tops to type the answers to the questions.Some of our older readers might ask “what is a lap top?” Please ask your grandchildren – they will demonstrate for you.
I am advised that the results from the recent diet will be available to students on or about 5th July 2008.
Your blog team will keep you up to date with the progress regarding the results. (With Peter Moir’s kind permission of course)
The new format will make the examinations available to students on a weekly basis and will end the present twice-yearly diets.
As I write students are arriving here at CIOBS to sit various on-line examinations for the Regulatory Qualifications or the Diploma or Certificate in Financial Services etc.
I hope it goes well for everyone.
Remember a selection of the week’s business news is available as a podcast on our website and can be found by pasting the following into your browser.
http://www.ciobs.org.uk/about/what_podcasts.cfm
It’s not just a new month or the fact that it is Friday that excites us today,it is a bank Holiday Weekend here in the U.K.
So whatever you are doing please enjoy yourself and stay safe.(See above re planks of wood etc.)
Michael (Radiant and healthy at the moment)
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