Blogs

Over the past week I have been on work experience at CPL Online and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. During the week, I have completed a variety of tasks, all of which have allowed me to become more confident in the work I am doing. At the start of the week I was apprehensive as to what was about to come my way. However, since then I have learnt that it wasn’t as daunting as it seemed. I have now overcome the nerves that I had earlier this week and am able to communicate with confidence.

Throughout my week I have been lucky enough to work for 3 of the many innovative departments that are available here at CPL Online. I have mainly been working in the education department where I have received support and guidance from Head of E-Learning, Jenny Lewis, who is always happy to answer any questions I might have. For this department I have completed a variation of jobs, for example, I have reviewed a number of courses - Allergen Awareness, First Aid, and ALPS. Whilst completing these tasks I have not only evaluated these courses, but I have learnt a great deal of valuable information which I will be able to retain and use later in life. I have also created a bank of Conflict Management questions, which although was my most challenging task, I was able to use this to work harder on other tasks.

I have also been working for the Big Data department by testing a new software. I found this to be a really fascinating task as it enabled me to use a range of skills, and develop my independence within the company. I found that I was able to create links and patterns within two browsers. I really enjoyed the process of comparing Internet Explorer and Chrome, as I never realised how different browsers could affect how certain softwares could function.

By writing this blog I have been able to work for the Social Media department, which is an interesting part of CPL Online, as I have learnt how social media plays a role in a company, how much social media can impact a company, and how important it actually is.

My work experience has allowed me to work with a forward-thinking company that values each individual’s work and ideas. I believe that this experience has opened my eyes to the world of computing and taught me that there is more to computers than just the basic tools e.g. PowerPoint, Word. Even though I have only had a glimpse of what life is like here at CPL Online, I am happy that I had a placement here this week and I would recommend work experience here to anyone interested in any field of computing or for anyone who wants to gain experience is an office.

Written by - Maddy Dasher

The UEFA Euro 2016 is here!

It is no secret that the Euro 2016 presents vast opportunities to all UK Pubs… Opportunities that many UK Publicans are taking advantage of. In recent reports Carlsberg UK’s Director of Brands and Insight, David Scott said ‘75% of pub-goers watch football, presenting publicans with the perfect opportunity to engage existing customers and draw new ones in.’ And he wasn’t wrong!

With many UK Pubs showing some of the most anticipated matches of the season and gearing up to serve many enthusiastic football fans, I began to wonder if these statements applied to not only the UK, but the rest of Europe too. Do other European licensees see the same boost in sales from sporting events as the UK does? I wanted to know more… And so I got my passport at the ready and jetted from CPL Headquarters in Birkenhead to the colourful city of Cologne, Germany.

As the current holders of the World Cup and three-time winners of the UEFA Euros, Germany are high favourites to win with the odds at 4:1. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that atmosphere in Cologne pubs would certainly match, if not beat the UK’s.

From the moment I arrived in Germany, the Euros atmosphere hit me. Shops were decorated in Germany flag print and football themed balloons, chalk boards listing all the match times and all pubs were setting up their big screens ahead of the Germany v Poland game.

I was lucky enough to experience watching Deutschland go head to head with Poland, in a local German pub. I headed down the hotel’s bar for kick off at 9pm (UTC) and already the room was full of football fans, hoping for their country to take home victory. Everyone was in high spirits, and the bar was certainly selling drinks fast.

As half time approached, I decided to move on to a pub in the city centre of Cologne. There were so many options, every pub, bar and restaurant were showing the game - each of them packed full with many different screens placed around each venue.

I headed into ‘Bird’, Cologne’s finest burger joint and sports bar to watch the second half of the match and I must say, it was an excellent choice. The bar staff were dressed up in black, red and yellow and welcomed customers with a free shot, as a good luck to their team. I have never particularly enjoyed football, but there truly was something great about watching it in a new country and seeing how much of an impact the sport has on their people and pubs.

  

 Although they may not have been celebrating a win with a final score of 0 – 0, the team spirit remained high, and the bars continued to fill with happy customers. Busy and loud, it was clear to me that the match that day had made a good impact on Cologne pubs.

It was such a great experience to be a part of, and I was made to feel very welcome. Whether this was down to the fact I was cheering on Germany… who knows?

So how does the atmosphere in German public houses compare to British public houses during the summer of sport? Although the atmosphere in Germany was certainly different, the experiences in both German and British pubs are on par. It is clear that both countries are making considerable efforts in order to boost sales through the event and that both are doing a great job of it. With special events being held to celebrate the euros in many public houses across the UK, the opportunities for publicans to bring in the punters and boost their sales is endless!

England may have lost out to Iceland last night, but that won’t stop UK pubs from filling up for the Semi-final. Are you prepared for the summer of sport? It’s going to be a big one.

Written by – India Snowdon

When it comes to work-related health and safety, Great Britain has one of the best records in the world. As a Brit, it’s something to be immensely proud of – especially when considering the poor working conditions that are evident in emergent nations. For any business to experience success, be it local or international, the wellbeing of workers is paramount.

Unfortunately, health and safety has always suffered a mundane and abstract reputation amongst many employers and employees. In recent years, British-based companies have been the catalyst in transforming health and safety into an accessible and coherent subject. With new innovative software and e-Learning courses, the subject has benefitted from a breath of fresh air – allowing employees to learn with unique features or even via mobile.

CPL Online is a prime example of a British company launching vast developments to champion interactive compliance courses. As a modern alternative to daunting manuals, extensive paperwork, and routine training, CPL’s new Health and Safety e-learning course incorporates cutting-edge features and benefits. It is part of CPL's 'Next Generation' e-Learning courses, which also include: 'Fire Awareness' and 'Food Safety'.

Key Features

• Built for Mobile – primary and optimum performance
• Compatibility – engineered to use on any platform
• Language Translation Support – available in 72 languages
• Pre-course Assessment – entry assessment    
• Suspicious Activity & Malpractice – monitors activity by comparing millions of rows big data
• Tracking – monitor the learners progress on courses and pages
• Gamification – reinforces key learning messages throughout each module
• Voiceover / Audio Style Options – pause or replay key information
• 2D and 3D Animation  - user engagement and interaction 

Despite Britain’s impressive health and safety record, the government and businesses pay out over £14.3 billion annually for work-related injuries and illnesses. With the aim of reducing these damaging incidents, CPL Online provides an engaging and stimulating user experience. The vast range of features – from gamification to learning via mobile, plays an important role in delivering the skills and knowledge to learners. As such, companies will experience an increase in course success rates and significant cost savings.

The CPL Online’s big data platform is powered by one of the world’s biggest data analytics companies, HPCC Systems® – a division of the multi-national corporation, LexisNexis® Risk Solutions. This revolutionary technology has enabled CPL to develop unrivalled e-Learning initiatives.

 

As the man now currently in charge of accounts for CPL Online, Kurt Roberts has worked for the business since 2012.

Having started out as an apprentice earning £95 per week at CDO Group, Kurt has risen through the ranks to become a chartered accountant, qualifying in 2015. After completing his AAT apprenticeship without failing any exams (something he likes to rub in the face of his colleagues, Liam, and Alex), Kurt has gone on to complete his ACCA qualifications.

Asked what movie character or actor he closely identifies with, Kurt names the late Fast & Furious star, Paul Walker – a cinematic hero to petrol-heads across the globe. It’s not surprising that Kurt dreamt of being an F1 driver and raced go-karts week in, week out up until his late teens! During his childhood, he says he was a courageous kid and ‘massively competitive’… although he doesn’t have much support for these claims, as he jokingly admitted to barely remembering being a child.

Fast-forward to 2016 and Kurt has endured 6 years of studying to get to where he is today. Now 25 years old, Kurt has recently begun managing large financial projects for CPL Online, including a costing system designed to implement a complex invoicing system. As a motivator and inspirational character, Kurt has also undertaken a mentoring role for Trainee Management Accountant, Liam Bell, and Trainee Accountant, Rob Courtney.

In terms of career aspirations, all of Kurt’s efforts are solely focused on applying his education to the role at CPL:

“It’s not a case of jumping into a Financial Controller or Financial Director role for me. It’s about applying what I’ve learnt and having ownership of different projects which will lead to whole processes in the business, such as the costing system.”

After initially completing his AAT in 2012, Kurt almost joined a company in Skelmersdale due to lack of positions available at CDO or CPL. Thankfully, Peter Moss, Financial Director, offered Kurt the position of Management Accountancy at CPL Online, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Peter Moss has been massively influential on Kurt’s career, providing the opportunity to crack on and complete his ACCA qualifications. As the final piece in the jigsaw of his accountancy education, Kurt now harbours the ambition of completing a university degree. He’s due to submit his final two projects in September 2016.

Kurt is fully concentrated on providing the best service for CPL Online!

It was March 2015 and I was coming close to the end of my two year, Level 3 Event Management course and deciding my next move in the career game was a tough one.

I had played with the idea of going to University the previous year but come January and the deadline to hand in my UCAS application, I decided that another three years of lectures and theoretical learning just wasn’t for me.

Apprenticeships had never really been talked about in sixth form or college, so I had only ever assumed they were available to people interested in the beauty or mechanics industry and I never knew that the option of an apprenticeship in digital marketing was available to me. It wasn’t until I was browsing on the internet for Digital Marketing courses, whilst binge watching American Horror Story, that I stumbled upon an advert for the Job Vacancy.

I started my apprenticeship in May 2015, and actually had to finish my college course two months prior to the official leaving date. Although I had worked for two years part time beforehand, working in an Indian restaurant didn’t come close to the Digital Marketing job for a big time IT company I was about to embark on. I was nervous and excited all at the same time!

As an apprentice, nerves are expected. You are coming into a whole new environment and learning no longer means sitting at a desk and copying from a text book; it is all about learning as you go. From the get go of working at CPL Online I was given a lot of trust and responsibility, which I believe really helped me to grow and establish my professionalism, independence and confidence. Within my first month here I was given campaigns to work on and my ideas were being heard, I felt valued and still to this day feel like more than just an apprentice – I’m a full member of the team.

My apprenticeship has allowed me the privilege to work for an innovative company, where opportunities for professional growth and development are endless, and the support I have received from the department I work within in particular has been more than I could have asked for! My Line Manager and Direct Marketing Executive, Holly Carr, and Group Marketing Executive, Chelsea Hankin, are always more than happy to answer any questions I have, and suggest cool websites and articles for me to look at in order to develop my marketing knowledge.

If being 19 and already gaining industry experience in an up and coming IT business, whilst achieving a qualification in the career of my choice, isn’t reason enough, CPL Online also throw some fantastic parties and offer some cool staff perks such as Beauty and Barber services!

I would 100 percent recommend an apprenticeship at CPL Online to anyone, it has been a great experience and I am looking forward to my last few months before I complete the course.

Written by India Snowdon