Course Overview

    Overview

    Course Highlights

    Eligibility Criteria

    Benefits

    What Is Lean and Why It Powers Continuous ImprovementUntitledA Practical Foundation for Every Team

    Lean Fundamentals Training in Switzerland gives professionals a practical grounding in Lean management, a systematic approach to maximising customer value while minimising waste. This one-day programme introduces the five Lean principles set out by Womack and Jones in Lean Thinking (1996), the eight wastes summarised as DOWNTIME, and the core tools teams use every day, including 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, standard work and Kaizen. Rooted in the Toyota Production System developed by Taiichi Ohno and Shigeo Shingo, Lean now reaches far beyond the factory floor. Across Switzerland's pharmaceutical, precision manufacturing, food, financial services and public-sector organisations, Lean thinking helps teams shorten lead times, cut defects and improve flow. The course suits employees, supervisors, managers and improvement professionals from any background, with no prior Lean knowledge required. You leave able to identify waste in your own work, contribute to improvement activities using a shared Lean vocabulary, and apply the PDCA cycle to real problems. Build practical Lean capability with Invensis Learning and start improving processes from day one.

    What Is Lean and Why It Powers Continuous ImprovementA Practical Foundation for Every Team

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    Key Highlightsof the Lean Fundamentals Training Course

    Lean Fundamentals Training Eligibility in the SwitzerlandWho Can Enroll?

    What You Gain from Building Lean SkillsValue You Can Apply from Day One

    Lean Career Outcomes in SwitzerlandWhy These Skills Pay Off

    Lean skills, built through Lean Fundamentals training, are consistently valued across Switzerland's high-cost, quality-driven economy, where pharmaceutical, precision manufacturing, food and financial-services employers run continuous improvement programmes. From the Basel life-sciences cluster to machinery makers and insurers, organisations want people who can see waste, improve flow and lead operational excellence. Demand spans specialist and management roles, and here is what the Swiss market is telling us now.

    Why Lean Skills Are in Demand Across Swiss Industry

    Lean is more than a toolkit. It is a practical skill that helps you and your team remove waste and improve flow in any process. Join professionals building Lean capability with Invensis Learning and start improving from day one.

    Your Switzerland Career Transformation

    Where You Stand Today,

    And Where Lean Skills Take You

    Switzerland's quality-driven, high-cost economy rewards teams that can remove waste and improve flow, and employers increasingly value people who bring a Lean method rather than ad hoc fixes. Here is the shift this training helps you make.

    Sources: Glassdoor, ERI SalaryExpert, PayScale (Switzerland) 2026.

    Module 1: Introduction

    • Exploring the foundational principles and purpose of Lean as a methodology for eliminating waste and improving operational efficiency across manufacturing and service environments
    • Understanding the origins of Lean thinking and how Lean principles were developed and refined through the Toyota Production System and subsequent global applications
    • Examining the linkage between Lean and Six Sigma and how the two disciplines complement each other within broader operational excellence and continuous improvement programs
    • Reviewing the structure and objectives of the Lean Fundamentals course and establishing a framework for understanding how each module connects within the overall Lean methodology

    Module 2: Lean Mentality / Muda (Waste) Elimination

    • Understanding the concept of the hidden factory and the hidden office, and how non-value-adding activities consume resources without contributing to customer value in both manufacturing and administrative environments
    • Exploring the seven types of waste in Lean, including overproduction, waiting, transportation, over-processing, inventory, motion, and defects, and how each type manifests across different operational contexts
    • Developing the skills to identify waste within processes through systematic observation, process analysis, and the application of Lean waste identification tools
    • Learning the strategies and principles used to eliminate or reduce waste once identified, and the role of cultural and behavioral change in sustaining waste reduction over time

    Module 3: Mapping the Value Stream

    • Understanding the purpose and methodology of value stream mapping as a tool for visualizing the complete flow of materials and information required to deliver a product or service to the customer
    • Exploring different types of value stream maps, including current-state maps that document existing processes and future-state maps that define the improved process design
    • Learning how to create and interpret value stream maps to identify areas of waste, delay, and inefficiency within a process and to prioritize improvement actions
    • Understanding how value stream mapping provides the analytical foundation for planning and executing Lean improvement events and targeted process changes

    Module 4: Lean Events

    • Exploring the Kaizen event as a focused, team-based improvement activity designed to achieve significant process change within a short and defined timeframe
    • Understanding the structure and stages of a standard five-day Kaizen event, from preparation and scoping through to execution, solution testing, and results presentation
    • Learning how to plan and run shorter Lean events when the scope or available time requires a condensed improvement activity without sacrificing rigor or impact
    • Developing the facilitation and team management skills needed to lead Lean events effectively and ensure that improvement gains are sustained after the event concludes

    Module 5: Constraints

    • Understanding the concept of process constraints and how bottlenecks in process flow limit the throughput, efficiency, and capacity of the entire value stream
    • Learning systematic approaches for identifying constraints within a process, including observation-based methods, data analysis, and value stream review techniques
    • Exploring strategies for addressing bottlenecks, including process redesign, resource reallocation, workload balancing, and targeted improvement activities
    • Understanding the relationship between constraint management and broader Lean improvement efforts, and how resolving bottlenecks contributes to overall flow and value stream performance

    Module 6: Flow and Takt Time

    • Exploring the principle of flow in Lean and how continuous, uninterrupted movement of work through the value stream minimizes waiting, batching, and inventory accumulation
    • Understanding Takt time as the rate at which products or services must be produced to match customer demand, and how Takt time is calculated and applied in process design
    • Learning how to use Takt time as a planning tool to set the rhythm of production flow and ensure that process capacity is aligned to actual customer demand
    • Examining the relationship between flow, Takt time, and the broader Lean goal of delivering value to the customer efficiently, consistently, and without waste

    Module 7: Pull Systems and Kanban

    • Understanding the principles of pull-based production, in which work is initiated by actual customer demand rather than forecast-driven schedules or upstream production push
    • Exploring the Kanban system as a simple and visual method for signaling demand and controlling the flow of work, materials, and information through a process
    • Learning how to design and implement a basic Kanban system, including the selection of signal types, determination of replenishment quantities, and establishment of workflow rules
    • Understanding how pull systems and Kanban reduce overproduction, excess inventory, and lead time while improving process responsiveness to changing customer demand

    Module 8: 5S Implementation

    • Exploring the five elements of 5S, including Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain, and how each element contributes to a safe, organized, and efficient workplace
    • Learning the systematic approach to implementing 5S across a work area or department, from initial assessment and Sort activities through to the development of standardized procedures and audit routines
    • Understanding how 5S creates the physical and organizational foundation that Lean tools and improvement activities require to function effectively and sustainably
    • Developing the skills to sustain 5S gains over time through visual management, regular audits, team accountability, and the integration of 5S standards into daily work habits

    Module 9: Lean Management Principles

    • Understanding the key principles of Lean management and how they guide the implementation and ongoing operation of Lean systems within organizations
    • Exploring the leadership behaviors, management practices, and organizational structures that enable Lean to move from a set of tools to a sustained operational discipline
    • Learning how to develop and communicate a Lean implementation strategy that aligns improvement activities with organizational goals, resource availability, and process maturity
    • Understanding the role of performance measurement, visual management, and continuous review in sustaining Lean improvements and building a long-term culture of operational excellence

    Course Curriculumof the Lean Fundamentals Training

    This online Lean Fundamentals training course is structured across nine modules that progress from the foundational principles and mentality of Lean through to the full suite of practical tools and management principles that enable organizations to implement and sustain operational excellence. Each module builds on the previous one to ensure participants develop a coherent and comprehensive understanding of Lean as both a philosophy and a practical improvement discipline. The curriculum is suitable for professionals across operations, quality, manufacturing, and process improvement roles, and is designed to connect directly to the Lean implementation challenges faced by organizations across the Switzerland.

    • Exploring the foundational principles and purpose of Lean as a methodology for eliminating waste and improving operational efficiency across manufacturing and service environments
    • Understanding the origins of Lean thinking and how Lean principles were developed and refined through the Toyota Production System and subsequent global applications
    • Examining the linkage between Lean and Six Sigma and how the two disciplines complement each other within broader operational excellence and continuous improvement programs
    • Reviewing the structure and objectives of the Lean Fundamentals course and establishing a framework for understanding how each module connects within the overall Lean methodology

    Clarifies where Lean ends and Six Sigma begins, so you stop treating them as interchangeable.

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    Skills You Will Build in This Lean ProgrammePrinciples, Wastes and Tools in Practice

    By the end of this Lean Fundamentals training you can identify waste, apply the five Lean principles and use core Lean tools to improve everyday processes. Each session pairs concepts with hands-on exercises so you can act on what you learn straightaway.

    See Work as a Value Stream

    Map how value flows from customer request to delivery, and classify each step as value-adding, necessary or pure waste so you know exactly where to focus improvement.

    Identify the Eight Wastes (DOWNTIME)

    Recognise Defects, Overproduction, Waiting, Non-utilised talent, Transportation, Inventory, Motion and Extra processing in real processes, and understand Muda, Mura and Muri.

    Apply the Five Lean Principles

    Use Identify Value, Map the Value Stream, Create Flow, Establish Pull and Seek Perfection as a practical framework for improving work in any setting.

    Put Core Lean Tools to Work

    Get hands-on with 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban pull systems, standard work and visual management to organise work and make problems visible.

    Drive Improvement with Kaizen and PDCA

    Run small, continuous improvements using the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and Gemba walks, and understand how a Lean culture sustains the gains.

    Adapt Lean Across Industries

    See how Lean applies in manufacturing, healthcare, financial services and IT, then plan practical first steps for your own workplace.

    Who Should TakeLean Fundamentals Training in Switzerland?

    Team Leaders

    Business Analysts

    Operations Managers

    Project Managers

    Manufacturing Engineers

    Production Supervisors

    Process Improvement Managers

    Quality Assurance Specialists

    Who Can Take This Certification Training

    Lean Fundamentals Training Modesfor Professionals and Teams

    We offer flexible training formats designed to suit different learning preferences, schedules, and professional goals. Whether you prefer self-paced learning or a structured, corporate, instructor-led experience, choose the option that best supports your skill development journey through the best Lean Fundamentals online training options available.

    Lean Fundamentals Live Virtual Training

    • Live online instructor-led sessions

    • Interactive discussions and virtual activities

    • Expert guidance from experienced trainers

    • Practice assessments and revision support

    • Dedicated Q&A sessions for concept clarification

    • Fixed schedules for accountability and momentum

    • Small batch sizes for personalized attention

    • Access from any location with internet connectivity

    CHF 430

    Attend fully interactive weekend Lean Fundamentals training sessions from anywhere while benefiting from real-time instructor guidance and collaborative learning experiences.

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    Best For: Professionals seeking the flexibility of online learning without compromising on live instructor interaction.

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    Lean Fundamentals Classroom Training

    • Instructor-led classroom sessions

    • Interactive discussions and group activities

    • Real-world examples and practical exercises

    • Structured learning with fixed schedules

    • Opportunities for peer networking and collaboration

    • Practice assessments and knowledge checks

    • Dedicated Q&A and concept clarification

    • Immediate trainer feedback and support

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    Learn through face-to-face sessions led by experienced instructors in a collaborative classroom environment. This classroom Lean Fundamentals training format combines expert guidance, peer interaction, and hands-on activities to create an engaging learning experience.

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    Best For: Learners who prefer in-person interaction, structured schedules, and collaborative learning experiences.

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    Lean Fundamentals Corporate Group Training

    • Customized training aligned to organizational goals

    • Flexible delivery: onsite, virtual, hybrid, or blended

    • Scheduling tailored to business availability

    • Role-based examples and industry-relevant discussions

    • Progress tracking and learner assessments where applicable

    • Dedicated coordination and administrative support

    • Consistent learning experiences across teams

    • Scalable delivery for local, regional, or global workforces

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    Designed for organizations that want to build capabilities at scale, standardize knowledge, and support workforce development through customized team learning initiatives and Lean Fundamentals training for companies.

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    Best For: Organizations looking to upskill employees, address capability gaps, and deliver consistent training across teams.

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    Lean Fundamentals Focused 1-to-1 Training

    • One-to-one instructor attention

    • Customized learning plans and objectives

    • Flexible scheduling based on availability

    • Personalized feedback and coaching

    • Additional focus on challenging topics

    • Targeted practice and revision support

    • Faster clarification of questions and concepts

    • Learning pace is adapted to individual needs

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    Receive personalized instruction tailored to your goals, pace, and learning requirements through dedicated sessions delivered by the Lean Fundamentals training company.

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    Best For: Professionals seeking personalized guidance, accelerated learning, or focused support to achieve specific outcomes.

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    Lean Fundamentals Live Virtual Training

    Lean Fundamentals Live Virtual Training

    Live online instructor-led sessions

    Interactive discussions and virtual activities

    Expert guidance from experienced trainers

    Practice assessments and revision support

    Dedicated Q&A sessions for concept clarification

    Fixed schedules for accountability and momentum

    Small batch sizes for personalized attention

    Access from any location with internet connectivity

    Starts from

    CHF 430

    Please Note:Attend fully interactive weekend Lean Fundamentals training sessions from anywhere while benefiting from real-time instructor guidance and collaborative learning experiences.

    Best For: Professionals seeking the flexibility of online learning without compromising on live instructor interaction.

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    Why Choose Invensis Learning for Lean Fundamentals Training in SwitzerlandPractical, Expert-Led Learning

    As a trusted Lean Fundamentals training company, Invensis Learning delivers practical, instructor-led Lean training for individual professionals and organisations across Switzerland. Our programmes combine experienced trainers, hands-on exercises, structured courseware and flexible delivery so learners leave able to apply Lean thinking in their own roles. Whether you enrol as an individual or plan a team programme, you get a professional learning experience focused on real workplace application and measurable improvement, backed by ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 certified operations.

    • Experienced trainers with real Lean and operational excellence delivery experience
    • Practical, exercise-led sessions built around real workplace scenarios
    • Flexible formats: live virtual, classroom and on-site corporate training
    • Content suited to any industry, from pharma and manufacturing to services
    • Structured courseware, case studies and waste-identification exercises
    • ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management systems
    • ISO 27001:2022 certified information security
    • Dedicated learner support before, during and after training
    • Course completion certificate from Invensis Learning
    • Trusted by professionals and organisations across Switzerland and worldwide

    200K+

    Professionals Trained

    12M+

    Hours of Training Delivered

    4

    Flexible Learning Modes

    98%

    First-Attempt Pass Rate

    ISO 9001:2015 Certified

    ISO 9001:2015 Certified

    ISO 27001:2022 Certified

    ISO 27001:2022 Certified

    Secure SSL Encryption

    Secure SSL Encryption

    Leaders in Training industry for 12+ years

    Leaders in Training industry for 12+ years

    Over 5000 five star reviews

    Over 5000 five star reviews

    Level AA conformance, W3C WCAG 2.2

    Level AA conformance, W3C WCAG 2.2

    Lean Fundamentals Locations in the SwitzerlandAll our classroom training is now available online at your convenience

    Lean Fundamentals in Switzerland

    Tschuggen Grand Hotel, Tschuggen Torweg 1, 7050 Arosa

    Lean Fundamentals in Switzerland

    Hotel Les Trois, Rois Blumenrain 8, 4001 Basel

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    Corporate Lean Training in SwitzerlandBuild Team Capability

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    • Suitable for small, medium and large teams
    • Delivered on-site, live virtual or blended to fit shift patterns
    • Sector-tailored examples for pharma, manufacturing, finance and services
    • Builds a shared Lean vocabulary across departments and sites
    • Trainers with hands-on operational excellence experience
    • Flexible scheduling aligned to your team's availability
    • A scalable first step for an enterprise-wide Lean programme

    Trusted by Leading Swiss Employers

    RocheNovartisNestleABBLonzaSchindler

    What Our Learners Say

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    Lean That I Could Use Straightaway

    "The waste-identification exercises finally made Lean click for me. Within a week I mapped a bottleneck on our line and cut the waiting time with a simple Kanban signal. Genuinely practical training."

    Lukas Meier

    Production Team Lead

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    Clear, Hands-On and Relevant

    "As a quality specialist in pharma, I now see our processes as value streams. The 5S and standard work sessions were especially useful, and the trainer tied every concept to real regulated environments."

    Sophie Favre

    Quality Specialist

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    A Strong Lean Foundation

    "A great one-day introduction. The eight wastes and PDCA cycle gave me a simple structure I use in weekly team reviews. I would have liked more time on Value Stream Mapping, but the foundation is solid."

    Andrea Rossi

    Process Coordinator

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    The Right Start for Our Lean Rollout

    "We ran this for our operations team before launching a wider improvement programme. Everyone now shares the same Lean vocabulary, which made the rollout far smoother. The delivery flexed well around our shifts."

    Nadia Keller

    Operations Manager, Manufacturing

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    Engaging and Well Tailored for Teams

    "As an L&D lead, I needed training that would engage staff from very different functions. Invensis tailored the examples to our sector and the feedback was excellent. A practical foundation our teams actually apply."

    Thomas Brunner

    Learning and Development Lead, Financial Services

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    Frequently Asked QuestionsHere's everything you may ask...

    Lean Fundamentals Training is a one-day, introductory course that gives you a practical grounding in Lean management. It covers the origins of Lean in the Toyota Production System, the five Lean principles, the eight wastes (DOWNTIME) and core tools including 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, standard work and Kaizen.

    General

    What is Lean Fundamentals Training?

    Lean Fundamentals Training is a one-day, introductory course that gives you a practical grounding in Lean management. It covers the origins of Lean in the Toyota Production System, the five Lean principles, the eight wastes (DOWNTIME) and core tools including 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, standard work and Kaizen.

    Who should attend this Lean course?

    The course suits all employees, team members, supervisors, managers and improvement professionals across any industry who want to understand Lean and apply it in their own work. It is also an ideal entry point for teams starting a Lean or operational excellence programme in Switzerland.

    Do I need prior Lean experience?

    No. There are no prerequisites and no prior Lean knowledge is required. The training introduces every principle and tool from first principles, so beginners and experienced professionals alike can follow along and apply what they learn.

    Is Lean Fundamentals training worth it?

    Yes. In one day you gain skills you can use immediately to remove waste and improve flow, capabilities Swiss employers in pharma, manufacturing and financial services actively value. Lean Manager roles in Switzerland average around CHF 131,000, and Lean grounding supports growth into those roles. Talk to a learning advisor to plan your start.

    Which framework does the training follow?

    The course is grounded in Lean management as rooted in the Toyota Production System, the five Lean principles codified by Womack and Jones in Lean Thinking (1996), and the eight wastes summarised as DOWNTIME. Lean is a vendor-neutral methodology, so there is no single governing body.

    Pricing

    How much does the Lean course cost in Switzerland?

    Pricing varies by delivery mode (live virtual, classroom or corporate on-site), group size and schedule. Fees are available on request. Contact a learning advisor for a quote tailored to your needs or your team.

    What is included in the course fee?

    The fee typically includes instructor-led training across all Lean fundamentals modules, structured courseware, waste-identification and tool exercises, case study discussions, learner support and a course completion certificate from Invensis Learning.

    Do you offer corporate or group pricing?

    Yes. We offer corporate group training with customised schedules and volume-based pricing for teams, departments and whole sites. It is a common, cost-effective way to launch an organisation-wide Lean programme. Ask about group pricing for your team.

    What payment options are available?

    We accept major credit and debit cards and bank transfers, with instalment options on selected plans. Speak with a learning advisor to choose the option that suits you.

    Is there a discount for booking a team?

    Group bookings are priced on a per-team basis, so larger cohorts benefit from volume pricing. Request a group quote and we will tailor the cost to your team size and preferred delivery format.

    Assessment

    Is there an exam for this Lean course?

    No. This is a non-certification course with no examination. Learning is reinforced through waste-identification exercises, case study discussions and team activities during the one-day programme, so you apply concepts to realistic scenarios as you go.

    Do I receive a certificate after the course?

    Yes. On completing the one-day programme you receive a course completion certificate from Invensis Learning. This is a record of completion rather than a formal credential, as Lean Fundamentals is a skills training course.

    How is my learning assessed during the course?

    There is no formal assessment. Instead, hands-on waste-identification exercises, a simple value stream reading activity and a 5S workplace assessment let you practise applying Lean concepts throughout the day with trainer feedback.

    Is this a certification course?

    No. Lean Fundamentals is a non-certification skills training course. It builds practical Lean knowledge and workplace capability rather than preparing you for an exam or awarding a formal credential from an external body.

    Will this prepare me for further Lean learning?

    Yes. Lean Fundamentals is the ideal foundation before deeper programmes such as Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen or Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt training. It gives you the shared vocabulary and mindset those courses build on.

    Course Content

    What topics does the Lean course cover?

    The course covers the origins and philosophy of Lean and the Toyota Production System, the five Lean principles, the eight wastes (DOWNTIME), foundational tools (5S, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, standard work, visual management), Kaizen and the PDCA cycle, and how Lean applies across industries.

    What Lean tools will I learn to use?

    You learn to apply 5S workplace organisation, an introduction to Value Stream Mapping, Kanban pull systems, standard work and visual management, plus the PDCA cycle and Gemba walks for continuous improvement.

    Are there hands-on exercises?

    Yes. Waste-identification exercises, a current-state value stream reading activity, a 5S workplace assessment and case study discussions run throughout the day, so you connect Lean concepts to real work rather than just theory.

    What are the eight wastes in Lean?

    The eight wastes are summarised by the acronym DOWNTIME: Defects, Overproduction, Waiting, Non-utilised talent, Transportation, Inventory, Motion and Extra processing. The course also covers Muda, Mura and Muri, and how to spot each in your own processes.

    Is the training relevant outside manufacturing?

    Yes. While Lean began in manufacturing, the principles apply wherever processes exist. The course includes examples from healthcare, financial services, IT and administration, so professionals from any sector can apply what they learn.

    Enrollment

    How do I enrol in the Lean course in Switzerland?

    You can enrol through the Invensis Learning website. Choose your preferred format, complete your booking, and you receive access to the schedule, courseware and learning resources. Contact a learning advisor if you need help choosing a session.

    What delivery formats are available?

    The training is available in live virtual (online) instructor-led, classroom and corporate on-site formats. Choose the option that best fits your schedule and learning preference across Switzerland.

    Can the course be delivered on-site for my team?

    Yes. Corporate on-site delivery is popular for this course, as organisations often train whole teams together as the first step in a Lean programme. We tailor examples to your sector and schedule around your team's availability. Ask about corporate training.

    How soon can I start?

    New sessions run regularly in live virtual and classroom formats, and corporate sessions are scheduled to suit your team. See upcoming schedules or speak with a learning advisor to find the next available date that works for you.

    Can I reschedule my booking?

    Yes. Flexible options let you reschedule or transfer to another session where needed. Reach out to our support team and we will help you move to a date that suits you.