Pitman Training

Effective Business Communication

Course Outline

This excellent, course lets you raise your game when it comes to business communication skills, and as effective communication skills are top of the list of qualities demanded by employers, it’s an essential skill to master.

Split into eight lessons, your business communication training begins with examining English language skills before looking at the use of the appropriate tone (including non-sexist language and avoiding clichés).

Your business communication skills training continues with writing styles, layouts and proofreading. Moving on through CVs, notices, memos and faxes, you’ll progress to email and netiquette. In the final stages of your business communication studies, you’ll complete the course with learning how to prepare a presentation and using your voice effectively.

Your next step: our Microsoft Word course for real expertise in Microsoft Word.

From studying this course, you will learn how to communicate effectively within the business environment. 

With this course you’ll have;

  • The flexibility and value of a self-study course designed to enable you to work at your own pace;
  • A workbook to use as a reference guide on completion of the course;
  • The opportunity to gain the widely recognised Pitman Training Certificate.

If you work as an Admin Assistant, Office Administrator, Secretary or Receptionist, you will be dealing with business communications on a daily basis. This course will ensure you produce the highest quality possible and portray a professional representation of the business you work for.

It would also be a good course for anyone looking to work in these types of roles. By undertaking this training, employers will be confident in your ability to handle their business communications.

There are 8 lessons in this course which you can work through at your own pace. Below is an outline of what each lesson covers: –

Lesson 1: Become familiar with the course content, know about different sorts of communication, construction of a sentence, sentence structure, subject and verb agreement, correct use of punctuation, know about common errors, including use of the apostrophe.

Lesson 2: Use the appropriate tone for a letter, know to use positive words and phrases, using non-sexist language in writing, avoiding clichés and jargon, know about the plain English Campaign.

Lesson 3: Know about the style of writing including short words, sentences and paragraphs, know the correct layout for letters, writing letters from draft through to final copy, know how to proofread effectively, know about proofreading symbols.

Lesson 4: Writing a letter of complaint, a letter of apology, a circular letter and a thank you letter.

Lesson 5: Be familiar with the format of a curriculum vitae, know how to write a job application letter, learn how to write notes, notices, memos and fax forms, know how to design and about the use of leaflets, learn about envelope sizes and uses of different paper.

Lesson 6: Learn about E-mail, learn about net acronyms, netiquette, how to set out a business email and how to format and present web pages.

Lesson 7: Know how to communicate effectively on the telephone, about non-verbal communication such as body language and dress, learn about video conferencing and the advantages of personal networking.

Lesson 8: Understand how to alleviate fears when doing a presentation, learn how to structure and prepare a presentation, know how to use your voice for effective communication and learn about non-verbal communication in a presentation

This course will take around 18 – 20 hours to complete.

Our Effective Business Communication course is part of our distance learning range – which can be accessed online via our distance learning portal. 

This means that you have the flexibility to study our Effective Business Communication course:

  • In centre, with our friendly course advisors available for support and guidance as and when you need it.
  • At home or from work – with support via email or telephone during working hours.
  • On a blended mix – in-centre for the modules you need help with, at home or from work for those you are gliding through.

Once you’ve decided to go ahead, all you’ll need to do is contact your nearest Pitman Training centre that offers and supports our distance learning platform, and they will arrange for you to have an induction to show you around the system and talk you through how our online training works. After this, you can learn in your own time and at your own speed, but with the knowledge you have support at hand if required. 

To find your nearest centre that offers and supports our online Effective Business Communication training course, /training-a-z/”>


The best way to make sure your training programme suits you, your skills, your ambitions and your busy schedule, is to get in touch with us for a free, friendly expert career consultation.

Enquire Now