A SKILLS training company based in Essex is about to embark on a trip to Geneva where it will deliver a workshop to top officials from the United Nations - thanks to help from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and East of England International (EEI).

A SKILLS training company based in Essex is about to embark on a trip to Geneva where it will deliver a workshop to top officials from the United Nations - thanks to help from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and East of England International (EEI).

Frontline Training Solutions, from Kelvedon, near Colchester, has developed a bespoke interactive model for the workshop with the theme “influencing strategies for lobbying”.

During the sessions, the delegates will take part in specially written role plays, games and exercises to help express skills such as influencing and persuading, flexible responses, sounding out before making a proposal, structuring your argument to the person, building rapport and maintaining a positive atmosphere during mediation.

Frontline chief executive John Holmes, a former professional actor, said: “We're thrilled about landing this contract with the United Nations International Labour Organisation (ILO). It came after many, many months of hard work both by us, the British-Consulate in Geneva, and by our international trade advisors Martin Senior and Stephen Scowcroft.”

The initial idea came from a breakfast seminar organised by EEI and the Essex Chambers of Commerce in November 2005 about how the UN does business and how its agencies operate. This was followed up by meetings in Geneva, New York and London funded under UKTI's Overseas Market Research Scheme. Frontline also utilised another aspect of the UKTI's Passport to Export portfolio, the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS).

Mr Holmes then invited a senior ILO figure to come along to a workshop he was running in Holland for the central banks of Europe in June this year, after which the deal was clinched.

Martin Senior, international trade advisor for East of England International, which delivers UKTI services in the region, said: “Frontline's success is a fine example of how a small Essex company can achieve impressive overseas success, and develop a highly prestigious client list, by working together with partners and accessing the support available from UK Trade & Investment.

“It's great to see and I wish them every success with their trip to Geneva.”

The ILO training will take place on December 3 and 4.