The commercial blind spots of newly promoted leaders
Promotion often comes because someone is good at what they do. They understand their function, deliver results and have earned the confidence....
3 mins read
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Discover practical insights, trends, and strategies from MDA Training’s team of learning and development experts. Our blog explores the topics that matter most to L&D leaders, from experiential learning and skills development to industry-specific training approaches, helping you build high-performing teams.
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Commercial Skills
How to present financial analysis to non-financial stakeholders
You have completed the analysis. You understand the assumptions, the movements and the detail behind every figure.
Then you....
8 mins read
Want managers to think more commercially? How to choose the right training provider in 2026
Imagine two managers reviewing the same customer opportunity.
The first can define....
7 mins read
Best training providers for improving commercial awareness across your business: what to look for
Commercial awareness is no longer a niche capability for sales teams, finance specialists or....
10 mins read
Why commercial acumen matters more in 2026
Commercial acumen training is moving from a useful development option to a core business capability. In 2026, HR and L&D leaders are being asked to....
6 mins read
What makes a good commercial skills training programme?
Here is an uncomfortable truth about corporate learning: research suggests that as little as 10 to 40 per cent of the knowledge and skills....
7 mins read
How AI is evolving commercial skills training and what still needs human practice
Commercial skills training is entering a new phase. Technology can now help people prepare faster, practise more....
3 mins read
Commercial Skills Training: In-Person, Virtual or Self-Led, Which Works Best?
Commercial capability has become a strategic priority for organisations across sectors. Teams are expected to....
5 mins read
Reskilling vs upskilling: key differences and when organisations need each
Skills conversations are everywhere right now, and for good reason. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report....
6 mins read
How leaders learn commercial acumen by doing, not listening
Commercial acumen is often spoken about as though it is a knowledge gap. Give leaders the strategy deck, explain the profit and loss....
7 mins read
In the dynamic landscape of leadership, the art of active listening stands as a powerful catalyst for transformation. Leaders who embrace this skill possess the ability to inspire, engage, and....
4 mins read
The foundation of collaboration and teamwork lies in managers seeking input from their team. When leaders fail to communicate or value their ideas, it can create a culture that hampers effective....
5 mins read
Did you know that a recent survey found that 71% of employers believe that commercial awareness is one of the most important skills for their employees to possess?
With the fast-paced nature of....
6 mins read
Commercial awareness is a core skill, which is highly sought-after by potential employers.
Consisting of an individual’s accumulated knowledge of the business world, and paired with a critical....
4 mins read
Commercial acumen is the ability to understand how a business creates value, generates revenue, manages costs, and achieves its strategic objectives. It enables employees to make informed....
4 mins read
Video calls are now an essential part of the working day as we continue to maintain social distancing and communicate digitally as opposed to travelling all over the world for meetings and....
2 mins read
Achieving operational excellence and continually improving the quality of products is a top priority for all manufacturing businesses.
When it comes to maintaining quality across an entire....
< 1 min read
The importance of understanding how an organisation operates and succeeds is higher than ever in the current economic climate.
How commerciality is measured will vary from business to business,....
< 1 min read
Without regular, practical client service skills training, a company runs the risk of failing to understand the immediate and long term needs of its customers, which in turn can lead to losing....
3 mins read
Video conferences and meetings are undoubtedly going to form the 'new normal' of business operations. We've put together four useful tips to consider before presenting on a video call to clients or....
2 mins read
In such a short amount of time, virtual communication and video conferencing have become such a huge part of the professional world globally.
It doesn’t take long to figure out that this is a....
3 mins read
After several months in lockdown and growing uncertainty about the future of the UK economy, many businesses are now beginning to integrate their employees back into their typical working....
3 mins read
Employees in the banking sector will use the skills they learn from day one to help them succeed long term, which ultimately highlights the importance of effective early careers development.
For....
2 mins read
Banks and investment management companies pay a significant amount of attention to the technical skills required to excel in the increasingly competitive industry - such as credit skills and....
3 mins read
At this time of the year, our specialist consultants would usually be flying across the world, delivering in-house, experiential learning solutions for graduates, interns and new hires....
2 mins read
As we continue to live in a world where businesses are in disarray, public spaces are closed, and most of us spend the majority of their time indoors, there is no doubting the fact that corporate....
3 mins read
There is no doubting the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has already begun to cause significant disruptions to the worldwide economy.
Given the fact that the majority of businesses in the UK will....
2 mins read
1 Understanding the business
For employees at all levels, it is critical to understand the specific model, approach, culture and values of the business in order to work as effectively as....
2 mins read
The beginning of a new decade poses many new opportunities as well as challenges for businesses that operate in the banking sector. While the issue of Brexit still remains relatively unsolved, there....
3 mins read
The Christmas break is a highly anticipated holiday for most, as people look forward to celebrating the festive season with family and friends and enjoying time away from work.
However, the....
4 mins read
Graduate training programmes in the banking sector will put the brightest young talent through their paces from the very beginning, ultimately preparing them for the various roles and....
2 mins read
Workplace learning methods as an aspect of company culture is a more relevant concept than ever, as the modern workplace continuously evolves due to ever-increasing digitalisation and technological....
2 mins read
The banking sector in the UK and beyond is facing its most uncertain period in years, as the political and social climate continues to produce economic uncertainty.
When it comes to preparing a....
3 mins read
The number of graduate employees entering the workplace is increasing year on year, meaning that graduate training programmes need to be optimised to ensure that young workers are integrated with....
2 mins read
There has been a significant shift in what business leaders need to prioritise when implementing workplace training methods that engage their employees.
When it comes to commercial skills....
2 mins read
As Millennials continue to progress in the workplace, there has been a significant shift in what business leaders need to prioritise in order to reduce staff turnover.
Millennials are typically....
3 mins read
It’s no secret or coincidence that manufacturing improvements are made across the entire hierarchy of a business when all employees work in unison.
When achieved, collaboration in the workplace....
2 mins read
The deliverance of practical credit skills as well as developing relationship management techniques should form the basis of any commercial bank training programme.
With this in mind, there are....
3 mins read
Whether employers like it or not; Brexit doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.
With this in mind, those in workplace leadership positions have a responsibility to ease tensions....
3 mins read
Most business leaders will agree that developing the commercial skills of a workforce is pivotal in maintaining operations to a high standard as well as improving employee engagement.
By....
2 mins read
Developing the commercial skills of an entire workforce should be a top priority for business leaders in any sector.
In order to develop commercial acumen effectively, leaders have a....
2 mins read
Implementing business simulations into workplace training is an effective method of developing the commercial skills of an entire workforce, while also improving decision making and teamwork.....
2 mins read
Providing an entire workforce with the necessary workplace training to develop the commercial skills needed to achieve commercial success can be difficult as it requires each member of staff to....
2 mins read
With the United Kingdom expected to leave the European Union in just a matter of weeks, the future of the banking sector is still unclear. The potential implications of Brexit toward financial....
2 mins read
How to effectively increase the commercial awareness skills of employees in the manufacturing sector
The manufacturing sector is an industry that rapidly develops alongside the introduction of new technologies and products. With manufacturing roles and responsibilities so wide and diverse,....
2 mins read
Workplace training is always essential to improve their skills and abilities and ensure that you’re offering your customers the optimum service and best representation of your business.
Whether....
3 mins read
How can your employees improve their commercial awareness every day?
Commercial awareness is one of the most valuable workplace skills employees can develop. It is the ability to understand how....
2 mins read
A recent survey revealed a clear divide between the skills that graduates consider to be essential to entrepreneurship and those which employers regard as valuable.
Increasingly, business....
3 mins read
Commercial skills have never been more in demand than now. Therefore, training should be conducted regularly in order to ensure employees possess relevant knowledge at all times.
Human Resource....
2 mins read
With a wealth of millennial and Generation Z talent entering the workplace, businesses are fighting to attract the top of the talent pool to join their ranks.
Where private banking and finance....
2 mins read
It’s a well-known fact that your workforce will perform their best when they are properly trained and motived. When everyone understands their duties and how to effectively carry these out,....
2 mins read
In an age where diversity and inclusivity should be at the forefront of any business, effective management and workplace leadership are more crucial than ever to ensure this is implemented at every....
2 mins read
Commercial skills encompass the ability to understand what attributes contribute to the success of an organisation or business.
Commercial awareness allows your workforce to understand the....
2 mins read
Following the life-shaping experience of university, many graduates find beginning their first job daunting. Effective graduate training can help to ease doubts.
From new environments to alien....
3 mins read
Wider training for managers not only allows them to gain an insight into a variety of areas of a company, ensuring a more holistic approach to problems and strategies but can also prevent....
2 mins read
By implementing a workplace training scheme that supports training within both management and the general workforce, in supporting themselves and others with mental health problems, sick days....
2 mins read
Although the concept of microlearning may seem new to many, it incorporates many familiar aspects that have been around for a number of years.
The process of microlearning allows individuals or....
2 mins read
Graduate training is the ideal way to set the bar for quality, induct new employees into your business and ensure that they have the tools to perform efficiently in their new role.
For many new....
2 mins read
Graduate training programmes are often designed for university leavers who are entering their first full-time job.
However, with an evolving set of industries, with some becoming obsolete as....
2 mins read
Recent shifts in graduate employment figures suggest that they are no longer as interested in pursuing careers in the banking sector, compared to previous alumni.
Socially conscious graduates are....
3 mins read
In 2017, the rates of unemployment within the graduate community reached its lowest since 1989.
The graduate jobs market has since been described as ‘in a robust situation’, regardless of....
3 mins read
Microlearning is one of the most important trends in human resources and workplace training today.
Delivering short bursts of information to the user; whether the aim is to refresh skills that....
2 mins read
Graduates can bring a variety of skills to the workplace, and with adequate graduate training, they can be moulded into the ideal candidate for future management roles.
However, in a recent....
3 mins read
There has been an increasing shift in workplace leadership over recent years. Young professionals are now being placed in prominent positions and despite their age, they are now part of workplace....
3 mins read
The workplace dynamic is evolving so rapidly and with such innovation, that it is quickly transforming the way in which teams are managed and business success is achieved.
These momentous shifts....
3 mins read
Commercial skills are an employee's ability to understand what makes a business or organisation successful, through either buying or selling products or supplying services to a market.....
3 mins read
Microlearning refers to the learning method with the objective to deliver mini bursts of information.
A typical microlearning activity could be viewing a flash card, memorising a word, listening....
3 mins read
Commercial skills and awareness are often considered essential by employers but are not always a measurable skill.
Commercial awareness is classed as the ability to develop an understanding of....
2 mins read
It’s no secret that adequate commercial awareness is crucial for any business, particularly when it comes to those in senior management positions.
Anyone in charge of making decisions that may....
2 mins read
Commercial skills can cover a range of expertise, from financial knowledge to interpersonal relationships, across a multitude of industries.
Training within commercial awareness now focuses....
2 mins read
Ensuring that employees are focusing on the most important information during workplace training can improve productivity.
With hundreds of hours of video footage being added to YouTube each....
2 mins read
Great leaders within an organisation are the difference between sinking or swimming when it comes to navigating uncertainty - something particularly relevant with the likes of Brexit still high on....
2 mins read
Commercial skills are an essential attribute for employees within almost every business, but particularly for those in the financial sector, or those wishing to progress through the ranks.
One....
2 mins read
Having a productive working environment is critical to the success of a business, along with ensuring that all employees are happy.
However, if you're finding that your employees are drifting....
3 mins read
When it comes to training for financial and commercial skills, generic, off the shelf solutions such as ‘finance for non-financial managers’ doesn't cut it.
These programmes have a lack of....
2 mins read
As an employer, it is imperative that alongside your business goals and aims, attracting and retaining staff is high up on your priority list, and in order to successfully do that, you must begin to....
3 mins read
You may think ‘commercial skills training’ is just the latest buzzword amongst HR and training professionals, but in essence, commercial skills training is a fundamental part of ensuring your....
2 mins read
Predicted as a top trend in 2016 Gamification has been in the spotlight for a number of years and its popularity in 2017 is set to rise. While it is failing in mainstream popularity, its presence....
2 mins read
Millennials are set to change the workforce as we currently know it. Their revolutionary outlook to work/life balance represents their passion for the fact success should not come at the expense of....
2 mins read
It is no wonder that with the introduction of the millennial generation, workplace training has undergone a dramatic transformation in order to keep up to date with the first introduction of a....
3 mins read
It has been recognised that due to the vast shifts in economical, technological and social factors over the last few decades, businesses must evolve and adapt to meet new challenges and....
2 mins read
Gone are the days of ‘a job is for life’, yet it is as important as ever to implement good workplace training schemes.
Whether your workforce is made up of millennials, baby boomers or other....
2 mins read
A new year provides business leaders with new opportunities to develop the skills of their workforce in order to improve productivity.
With this in mind, we have compiled three of the most....
2 mins read
Giving your employees the skills they need to positively impact the business, as well as understanding how their behaviour and performance can lead to financial and performance enhancements is....
2 mins read
A key problem facing businesses and organisations of all sizes in the coming years is the mass departure of the baby boomer generation as they hit retirement age.
How businesses deal with and....
2 mins read
Commercial decision making – tips for making better decisions
Commercial decision making is the process of evaluating information, balancing risks and opportunities, and choosing the best....
5 mins read
Large or small, business is about making money, no matter what is chosen to be done with it. Invested, distributed to shareholders, used for social projects or philanthropy - making money is at the....
2 mins read
To drive a business forward, you must first establish great leadership.
It has been said that great leaders possess qualities such as passion, commitment, and delegation, in order for a leader....
2 mins read
Commercial awareness is the buzzword of the modern day recruiter and HR professional.
Many employers regularly cite it as essential to the employability of a candidate, but all too often....
2 mins read
With the majority of UK graduates being forced into employment that does not require their talents, isn’t time to start thinking about why you’re not hiring them?
Research has reported that....
2 mins read
Not all employees are born leaders, however, it is possible to learn how to be a more effective leader. It can be said that the best leaders display certain qualities that enable them to strive for....
2 mins read
While many businesses believe it is qualifications and technical skills that give businesses the competitive edge for success, it is in-fact employees with soft skills who pose the biggest....
2 mins read
It has been reported that by 2020 more than 7 billion people and businesses and 30 billion devices will be connected to the internet.
Within a constantly changing technological world, companies must....
2 mins read
Within every business staff turnover is somewhat expected and in some cases it can be seen as a good thing, it will help bring in fresh ideas and new approaches.
However, every organisation should....
< 1 min read
It has been reported that businesses with the highest quality leaders were at least 13 times more likely to outperform their competition.
Quality leaders in the workplace are vital to success as....
2 mins read
Training and development is an opportunity for employees to build upon their skills and knowledge and develop both personally and professionally, but why is it essential to your business?
Improved....
2 mins read
In order for each and every workplace to perform effectively, it must be structured with an efficient management system.
Managers work to motivate and engage individuals in the workplace while....
2 mins read
Training within a business is an action taken to improve performance and ultimately increase profitability.
To ensure that the training undertaken is effective, it must be measured and evaluated.....
2 mins read
Do you want your staff to become more commercially aware? Commercial skills training may be just what you need.
Commercial skills training comprises of tailored programmes designed to allow employees....
< 1 min read
Commercial skills training can cover a wide range of qualities, from financial to interpersonal skills, and by-and-large will vary from role to role, and by each organisation.
Do you want to....
2 mins read