Ballard & Chalmers - Latest Blog Entries

Registration for the Internet Marketing course now Open

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:43:00 -0600

Registration for th Internet Marketing & SEO course for delivery from 22 January 2009 is now open.

Please note:
Due to the Interactive and Practical nature of this course we will only accommodate a maximum of 10 students per course.

Checklist for Registration

Please visit the following links for more information:

Preamble

Enrollment Form

Course Payment

Internet Marketing and SEO Short Course

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:51:00 -0600

Increase your personal and / or business value through effective online positioning of your website supported by a professional online marketing and advertising strategy.

Course Outline

Internet marketing fundamentals
Internet marketing & advertising strategy
Website building & configuration
Search Engine Optimization
Google Webmaster Tools
Internet Marketing Planning
Tactical Deployment
Web PR / Social Media
Campaign Management
Statistical / performance measurement

Course Preamble

Target Audience: Small business owners and entrepreneurs with or without a website. Or marketing and public relations practitioners who requires a good understanding of current online marketing and advertising methodology.

Delivery: Up to 40 contact hours.

Dates: 22 January 2009 18:00 - 21:00 Thursdays

Venue: Durbanville Nascense Education

Presenter: Vernon Chalmers

Website included: Each delegate will receive his / her own fully functional .com website. (zero unwanted advertising banners - you will have 100% control of all content / advertising).

Entry requirements: National Senior Certificate (Matric) / 2 years of marketing / business experience. A good understanding of the functionality of the Internet. Internet access at home / office for the duration of the course is highly recommended.

Certification: NQF 5 Allignment

Dates: From Semester 1 - 2009 (40 Hours)

Course Fee: R3 000 (All inclusive / website / textbook / notes / practical web building)

Please complete this form should you be interested in doing the course.

Should you require any information wrt personal Internet requirements please Contact Us to discuss how we can assist with your IT requirements

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Free Website: Own domain name registration (.com) and Business Plan website included in the course (terms and conditions will apply). This offer is valid for three months where after certain hosting rates will apply. Follow the link to the Business Plan option. Ignore the costing for three months as it is inclusive in the course fee.

Textbook: The E of Marketing (Swanepoel 2007), various text notes and web resources will also be made available throughout the course.

Dates: From January 2009

Internet Marketing Course page

2009 Key Drivers

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:51:00 -0600

From 2009 Ballard & Chalmers will be offering a variety of additional services to clients and students.

Short Courses

All private short courses presented to be SAQA / NQF aligned
Educator / trainer / assessment guidance (based on SAQA requirements)
Class groups not exceeding 20 students
On-site training availability / tailored courses (min 5 students)
Competitive pricing
Enhanced online classroom resources and functionality
Pre-course / career counseling (registered psychometric testing)

Business Consulting

SME business / finance consultation
Business planning assistance
Marketing Strategy
Internet Marketing

Thank you for your continuous support during 2008 and wishing you and your families all the best over the festive season.

Acer eMachine E510 Notebook Promotion - R5 200-00

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:17:00 -0600

Download Acer eMachine E510 Winows XP / Vista Drivers

This Acer eMachine E510 notebook computer is based on an Intel Celeron processor and is configured with a high level of mobile and connectivity specifications to provide true mobile functionality to the serious student and value seeking professional.

Quick Specifications - Acer eMachine E510

Intel Celeron M 560 ( 2.13 GHz)
1 Gig DDR2-667 Mhz RAM Memory
160 Gig Hard Drive
3x USB Ports
DVD R/W Optical Drive
15.4" WXGA CristalBrite LCD Display
Wireless LAN
10/100 LAN
Microsoft Vista Home Basic

Backed with a 1-year Acer warranty. Visit the Acer eMachine product page for more information.

Project Management Short Course

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:16:00 -0600

Vernon Chalmers will be offering private NQF 5 aligned Project Management short courses for individuals, NGO's and business organisations during the first semester 2009. As a contract lecturer he facilitated similar courses at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (Centre for Continuing Education / Graduate Centre for Management) and other clients for the last four years. This short course is enhanced for delivery as a private credit-bearing SAQA / NQF aligned short course and for the first time the minimum SAQA / NQF 5 accreditation standards / outcomes will guide certification.

Project Management clients

More information | All Short Courses

NQF Level 5 Assessor Training Course

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:16:00 -0600

From 1-5 December 08 Vernon Chalmers attended a private NQF level 5 Assessor training course in Bellville, Cape Town. The rationale for attending this short course is to ensure NQF / SAQA alignment and accreditation of all future private NQF 5 short courses offered at Ballard & Chalmers. The application of the prescribed training / assessment methodologies to play a significant role in the following 2009 training and assessment practices:

NQF / SAQA alignment of applicable short course offerings
Enhance current facilitation and assessment standards
Enhance quality and excellence of our adult learning approach
Design of a quantitative model for measuring training ROI
Offer assessor training to corporate facilitators / assessors
Consult learning requirements with educators and learners
Partner with accredited and selected private training providers

More information on 2009 Short Courses

Communication Training for the Healthcare Industry

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:34:00 -0600

Vernon Chalmers facilitated two NQF Level 3 Communication Training for Nascence Education (Pty) Ltd in Bellville, Cape Town. This training is inclusive of facilitation and assessment of Unit Standard 8968, 8970, 8973 for home base carers. Duration of the training - one week (5 days) repeated for two different learner groups during November / December 2008.

QuickBooks Sales & Installations - From R950-00

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:05:00 -0600

We supply QuickBooks Simple Start 2008 from R950-00 to new and exisitng small business owners.

User training from R280-00 per two-hour session. Registered Ballard & Chalmers website users R200-00 per two-hour session.

A QuickBooks short course will also be available from 2009.

Product Information

The simplest way to manage and track money going in and out of your business. It's easy to manage sales, expenses and customers when you do your company's books with SimpleStart. SimpleStart has been designed specifically to address small business needs and help them through their first start-up year which is the most critical year. SimpleStart takes less than 15 minutes to set up and with the easy interactive audio tutorials; you are taken through each step of setting up your company. Using SimpleStart allows you to know exactly where your business is at any time, it will also help you to make the right decisions at the right time. source: Easy Biz (PTY) LTD.

Software Features - demo

Fast & Easy - automatic calculations
Save you time and reduce errors
Track money coming in and out of your business
Accurately record your sales and expenses
One-Click reporting
Create estimates and customize templates with logo
Easily find info with Google Desktop Search
Multiple Companies
Runs on Vista
Create invoices and sales receipts and estimates
Email as PDF's
VAT Management (Cash Basis)
Multiple delivery addresses per customer

QuikBooks Simple Start Demo

Please Contact Us for more information.

2009 Business & Management short courses in / around Cape Town

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:47:00 -0600

The following short courses will be presented by Vernon Chalmers and selected during 2009.

Course		Fees
Project Management		R2 500
Advanced Project Cost & Risk Management		R2 500
Corporate Value Chain Analysis for SME's		R2 500
Bookkeeping with QuickBooks Simple Start		On Request
Financial Management for Non-Financial Managers		R2 500
Internet Marketing and Search Engine Optimization		R3 000
Introduction to Investment & Trading Strategies		R2 500
Presentation Skills & Assertiveness		R1 500

All 2009 courses to be SAQA / NQF alligned

More information

IT Products and Sales update

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:15:00 -0500

A comprehensive list of IT products including the latest Acer notebook, Canon cameras, and peripherals will be updated from 3 November 2008. These products will be available via direct delivery and pricing will be subject to the most current exchange rate. More information

New Business Profile

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:00:00 -0500

We are pleased to announce a name and profile change to Ballard & Chalmers. The new Business and Management Development profile will focus on a broader and more integrated delivery of business services to corporations, students and academic / business research. Our relationship with our Business Associates will remain a key contributor in offering professional business and talent development. More information on the complete range of business services will be made available in due course.

Website Analytics Update Report

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:03:00 -0500

The Ballard & Chalmers website attracted more than 8000 visitors between January - September 2008. Other significant milestones are 50 000 page views and 2 500 Unique Visitors since formal launch on 1 January 2008. More detailed analytics.

Project Management Course for MetroRail

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:50:00 -0500

Vernon Chalmers will be presenting a 5 day project management short course to Metrorail in Cape Town. This short course will be presented at the CCE of CPUT. Course Dates: 22 - 28 September 2008. The course content will include detailed discussion and application of the 9 PMBOK principles as applied in contemporary product and service organisations.

New Associate - Kariema Gool

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:11:00 -0500

Kariema Gool joined Ballard & Chalmers recently to further enhance our growing portfolio of professional trainers.

An expert trainer from a corporate background (23 years) including PwC, Mweb and Shell, she has extensive experience in training management and capacity building. Kariema is Workplace Learning Diploma qualified and a registered Skills Development Facilitator for a previous corporate employer.

View Kariema's full profile here

External Portfolio Evaluator Appointment at CPUT

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:43:00 -0500

Vernon Chalmers has once again been appointed as an external evaluator at CPUT Cape Town and Bellville (Co-operative Education), assessing final year National Diploma students' business management and marketing management portfolios.

CPUT Short Course in Project Management

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:06:00 -0500

This popular Short Course started once again at CPUT's CCE in Cape Town on Monday, 5 August 2008. The course will be presented on Monday evenings from 17:30 - 20:00 and will run for 16 weeks. Course content include detailed discussion and application of the 9 PMBOK principles. Course presenter - Vernon Chalmers. Wishing all the students the best with their studies and learning.

Training Course for Woolworths

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:06:00 -0500

Vernon Chalmers is currently presenting a new corporate training course on project management to Woolworths’ managers, entitled Woolworths Certificate in Project Management.

The course is in association with CPUT CCE and commenced on the 17 July 08

UNISA e-Commerce module started

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:42:00 -0500

VC started lecturing the UNISA e-Commerce module (MNC202-M) at Varsity College in Rondebosch on Monday - 7 July 2008. Two classes (Mondays / Fridays) will be facilitated up to the end of September 2008. This course elective will provide UNISA students with the insight and reference on e-Commerce strategy / structure / as it is deployed globally to provide competitive advantage across the corporate Value Chain.

CCE Project Management Semester I Course Closure (Update)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0500

The CPUT CCE short course in project management (Cape Campus) was the first short course to register on the new VC website in 2008 and quite sadly for me this course came to an end this evening. Final assignments were returned and most students waited in anticipation for their final course results. In a first VC awarded 11 merit awards / vouchers to 10 students who received distinctions (75% and higher for their overall course mark).

S
P
A
C
E
R

Three students amongst this group also passed their final assignment with an excellent 80%. One student received a special merit award for continuous individual improvement.

The vouchers for up to R500 may be redeemed at any VC lectured course anywhere in Cape Town until the end of the 2009 academic year. All 33 students on the course received a R100 VC voucher each towards any future VC course of their choice.

It was once again a privilege to facilitate project management to such a focused class of individuals. I wish them the best with their careers and are looking forward to be of service on any future VC short course they may attend. Award winners.

New Course Partner - Professor Harry Ballard

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:53:00 -0500

Introducing VC’s new course partner, Professor Harry Ballard. Professor Ballard is the Head of Public Management, Faculty of Business, CPUT and an experienced lecturer and trainer across many business disciplines. He will be collaborating with Vernon Chalmers to present private courses, including the new 2-day Microsoft Project 2007 short course at the CCE of CPUT (Bellville Campus) on 15 & 16 July 2008.

Find an introduction to this course here. The full course outline and scope will be available shortly.

See Professor Ballard’s full profile here