Swindon people can resolve to develop their business skills in the new year, through a range of short, practical courses at the University of Bath in Swindon.

The training is designed for owners and employees of small to medium-sized businesses who want to develop their skills. It is also ideal for individuals who want to progress their skills or explore the idea of starting out on their own.

Courses run weekly from this month at the university's Oakfield campus.

The short course format is geared to minimise study time and provide business people with tools and techniques that can be taken straight back to the workplace.

All the courses are taught by tutors who run their own successful small businesses and understand the pressures and challenges of being the boss.

One course, Sales Matters, gives people who want to sell effectively and confidently the skills to approach prospective customers, prepare for meetings and successfully steer conversations to a sale.

To inject fresh ideas and creative thinking into a business, creativity skills and techniques to drive your business forward enables people to look at their business, products or services from a different angle.

The course will encourage students to use lateral thinking and to innovate, evolve or make changes to support business development.

In an Introduction to Marketing, students will learn to identify the needs and wants of their customers, clients or patients, to be able to take their viewpoint into account when planning business activities.

Some courses are for women only, to provide a supportive environment for learning and developing business skills.

There are free crèche facilities for women's daytime courses and bursaries for students on the Women into Enterprise course who receive benefits. University of Bath in Swindon's campus, Oakfield, opened in 2000 and offers a range of learning opportunities including business education, evening classes and courses leading to a range of undergraduate programmes.

The university's initiatives, including the Innovation Centre, the Enterprise Gateway and the Women into Enterprise scheme, help to support the Swindon economy.

Call 01793 328775.