CATS is regularly asked to develop and deliver in-house training courses as a cost-effective means of providing tailored training for managers and staff at all levels.  Commercial clients have included major companies such as Tarmac, Heinz, Blue Circle, Securicor, Coats Viyella, Cable & Wireless, National Power, Gillette, John Lewis Partnership, Sony and, in Belgium, Electrabel and SWIFT.  We have worked with numerous public sector bodies including many government departments and agencies, local authorities, and health-care organisations.  Other clients include charities such as SCOPE, and financial institutions (for example the Bank of England, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds/TSB, Britannic Assurance, AIB, HBOS, National Australia Bank, Banque Audi (Lebanon) and National Commercial Bank [Saudi Arabia]). In 1996, CATS was awarded the contract to train internal auditors throughout the Irish civil service.  It has been renewed annually since then. 

Such training programmes are obviously designed to meet the specific needs of the client. The organisation’s culture and background, the particular circumstances, participants’ needs and training requirements are discussed and the training objectives, course programme and material developed accordingly.  Where necessary, a comprehensive Training Needs Analysis is conducted.  The training provided ranges from a one-day seminar to a fully integrated training programme over a period of years.  We aim not just to bridge skills gaps and to promote individual competence and confidence, but either directly or through course participants to help organisations in developing their audit functions and control framework.

Training programmes have also been devised and delivered for managers and administrators, including control workshops in several organisations, and a series of value for money seminars for senior officials and line managers in a major overseas government department.  We have also trained vets, research officers, health-care professionals, banking supervisors and staff from other disciplines. Increasingly we work with organisations, often through their internal audit function, to train managers in the principles and practice of business control and risk management.

The Nature of CATS Training
However it is provided, all CATS' training is practical, participative, authoritative, up-to-date and founded on accepted principles, recognised professional standards, international best practice and the trainers' own wide experience and skills.  Considerable use is made of group work, case studies and real-life examples.  Extensive material is provided in the form of handouts and course manuals.  Topical illustrations bring the subject to life and keep it fresh.  Participants range from new entrants and junior staff to experienced Heads of Audit and Directors. On all its courses, CATS prides itself on the personal touch and the detailed tailoring of training to ensure that it exactly meets the client's and participants' needs and circumstances.  For example, all delegates and sponsors are asked to complete a pre-course questionnaire so that individual needs, circumstances and objectives can be identified; and follow-up letters, in addition to standard course appraisal sheets, are sent to determine the levels of satisfaction and relevance, and to identify any future changes.  We aim to develop close relationships with our clients - both participants, employers and other stakeholders, so that a partnership approach to training and development can be forged.