The British School of Etiquette has inked a deal with local executive coaching and leadership training firm, Clarendon Wallace, under which its full range of training courses and certification will be made available on the island.

Lorene Phillips, founder of Clarendon Wallace, said: “This is a game changer for Bermudians and couldn’t come at a better time.

“We exist in a tenuous job climate where there is no job security. The continued impact of Covid-19 has also shrunk Bermuda’s employed workforce. Entrepreneurs too, are now forced to become more adaptive, agile and creative to exceed client expectations and grow their businesses.

“We’re all looking for that differentiator and here’s an opportunity for you.”

Bermuda is the latest addition to TBSoE’s international network that extends to China, India, Pakistan, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, the US, South Africa and Europe.

Ms Phillips took on Clarendon Wallace full-time in early 2020 to coach and train next-level leaders and senior executives for career advancement, providing them insights from her 25 years of global executive experience in the male-dominated re/insurance sector.

She points to recent research from LinkedIn and the Society of Human Resource Management’s 2019 State of the Workplace report that underscores that soft skills represent the top three missing skills for job applicants.

Ms Phillips said: “Employers have realised that it’s the soft skills that makes the difference in their top performers. Soft skills underpin a harmonious work environment and the consistent delivery of a first-class client experience that inevitably grows the bottom line and sustain business success.”

TBSoE guides its students on skills including business etiquette, emotional intelligence, social intelligence and cultural intelligence.

“We help you build confidence and skills, giving you the ability and opportunity to succeed and get ahead in life,” said TBSoE founder Philip Sykes, whose background before starting the business in 2013 was in the hotel industry.

The TBSoE website states: “Our students can become the best and most sought after within their industry because they use the correct and appropriate etiquette and skills to feel calm, at ease and confident in every situation.”

Mr Sykes’ motto is: “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”.

During its seven-year history, The British School of Etiquette has engaged with clients from royals to celebrities to politicians, diplomats, C-suite executives, sports stars and luxury brands. It also offers programmes for children and young adults, all available remotely or in person.

It is the only organisation in etiquette, manners and core life skills to be accredited by all of the following awarding bodies: The Institute of Leadership & Management, Continued Professional Development Consortium, Investors in People, A Provider of Training Excellence and ILM, Britain’s leading provider of leadership, coaching and management qualifications and training, part of the City and Guilds Group.

Phillips, who herself is a TBSoE alumni and one of its certified coaches and trainers, said: “I’ve always wanted to work with Philip, but couldn’t afford him.”

The pandemic presented an opportunity for the two to co-host a virtual etiquette workshop for Bermudians, the success of which gave birth to the joint venture between their organisations.

Clarendon Wallace will adapt the TBSoE curriculum for cultural relevance as necessary to Bermuda and start an immediate “train-the-trainer” programme to build capacity, the firm said.