To book call 020 8069 9000
Report Writing
A report is an exercise in persuasion.
This course gives you the skills to write persuasive and coherent reports. It will help you organise information and communicate powerful ideas to support decision-making. We’ll explore style, tone, structure and content to determine what makes a compelling report in 2026.
The training focuses on five key areas: planning, organising, writing, editing and reviewing.
We will look at the process of working out what we want to say in the report, and how we organise that material. The output of the planning phase is an outline, and we will produce report outlines during the first half of the course. We also discuss how to present visual information.
Editing is the process of improving the style of our report. We develop a strategic approach to editing, working on paragraphs, sentences, and words, in that order. We explore methods of evaluating and measuring readability, as well as online tools for improving grammar, punctuation, and style.
Key Training Features:
- The course is intensely practical. We will work on real reports throughout the day, using a combination of practical exercises to highlight key tools and techniques
- Participants are invited to bring ideas for reports they are currently working on, or have produced recently
This course is suitable for anyone who produces reports or similar reporting documents, for example briefings, business cases, consultation responses, White Papers. It is especially relevant for people who produce reports as part of strategic decision-making.
Learning Outcomes:
As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to:
- understand the purpose and function of reports
- prepare and construct persuasive reports
- organise information more efficiently and convincingly
- improve your use of language, style and tone
- develop and use a set of objective criteria to evaluate and improve your own reports.
This course is supported by a workbook which can be printed or used as an electronic document. It includes a considerable amount of practical work. A key focus of the workshop is attention to individual needs; wherever possible, you will work on your own material. You should be ready to produce work on a laptop or PC during the workshop and be able to share it on screen with the group.
The above course can be completely customised fit your exact organisational requirements. This means you can add your own specific work examples and case studies which makes the learning even more relevant and effective.
Summary
Duration
10:00 - 16:00
Price
£595+VAT
Location
Face to Face or Virtual
VirtualIn-House Option
This course is available In-House and can be tailored to meet your individual training requirements.
EnquireLead Trainer
Alan Barker
Alan Barker is an associate of the Civil Service College and an accomplished training consultant, coach, and author with over 25 years of experience. Alan specialises in creativity and writing skills, providing comprehensive training in various aspects of professional writing.
Read BioAlan Barker
Alan Barker is an associate of the Civil Service College and an accomplished training consultant, coach, and author with over 25 years of experience. As a preferred supplier of training and coaching for the Greater London Authority (GLA), Alan specialises in creativity and writing skills, providing comprehensive training in various aspects of professional writing.
His extensive expertise covers business English, plain English, concise writing, report writing, strategic report writing, advanced report writing, technical report writing, writing for policy, copywriting, speechwriting, proofreading and editing skills, and minutes and agendas.
At CSC, Alan has conducted workshops for esteemed organisations such as GLA, Greater Manchester, and the Ministry of Justice. He has also delivered a public course on Concise Writing. Apart from his association with CSC, Alan is an Affiliate Professional of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, where he conducts a copywriting masterclass and a course on creativity for copywriters. As an associate of the European Speechwriter Network, Alan leads seminars on speechwriting.
Alan's impressive roster of client organisations spans multiple sectors, including local government, finance, culture, science, and the environment. Some notable clients include Alpha Real Capital, The British Museum, The British Science Association, The Environmental Protection Agency (United States), The House of Commons (London), and ICAEW (The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales).
With a deep understanding of the art and science of effective communication, Alan Barker continues to empower civil servants across industries, helping them sharpen their writing skills and unleash their creative potential.
Courses
In-House Training
Civil Service College can deliver In-House training within your organisation that is exactly tailored to meet your individual training requirements.
Book a course
Call 020 8069 9000 to take your booking or for advice on choosing the right course for you.
request a call back
For more information on how we protect and store your submitted data, please see visit our privacy policy.
Training Alerts
For more information on how we protect and store your submitted data, please see visit our privacy policy.