Business Black Belt

Business Black Belt Programme


Business Black Belt Programme [EP1]


Whole Course Beginning with Green Belt

Business Black Belt Programme [EP2]


Upgrade from Green Belt

Business Black Belt Programme [EP3]


Upgrade from Green Belt & Facilitating and Leading Change

Business Black Belt Programme [EP4]


Upgrade from Black Belt

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LCS Award Logo Level 2b

21-day Programme Overview

15-day Programme Overview

12-day Programme Overview

8-day Programme Overview

We are delighted to announce the public launch of our new and exciting Business Black Belt programme – A British Quality Foundation accredited Black Belt level programme particularly focused on the needs of organisations in the new age of digitalisation.

Modular & Flexible

Upgrade Your Current Belt

Full Course £5935 [plus VAT]

Upgrade from Green Belt
£4918 [plus VAT]

Upgrade from Green & Change
£4158 [plus VAT]

Upgrade from Black Belt
£2971 [plus VAT]

In-Company Training

Group Discount

Introducing Business Black Belt

Our Business Black Belt programme consists of seven modules. Depending on your existing level of training  you can join the programme at different entry points.

All course modules are available virtually through our Open enrolment training or as a bespoke In-Company programme.

Introducing Business Black Belt EP2 – Upgrade from Green Belt

If you are already Lean Six Sigma Green Belt qualified, this is the route for you to obtain BQF Accredited Business Black Belt.

Green Belt is the bedrock to our Business Blackbelt program.  Building on your knowledge of the Green Belt Continuous Improvement toolkit and the DMAIC problem solving methodology you can now progress your learning to obtain the advanced skills of a Business Blackbelt leader.

Introducing Business Black Belt EP3 – Upgrade from Green & Change

If you are already a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and have completed the Facilitating and Leading Change module, this is the route for you to obtain BQF Accredited Business Black Belt.

Introducing Business Black Belt EP4 – Upgrade from Black Belt

Black Belt to Business Black Belt

Already Black Belt qualified and keen to understand the latest thinking in Lean Six Sigma for Business, then this is the Entry Point Level for you.

At A Glance

Business Black Belt
Now Showing Entry Point 1 – Whole CourseEntry Point 2 – Upgrade from Green BeltEntry Point 3 – Upgrade from Green & ChangeEntry Point 4 – Upgrade from Black Belt
Price £5935£4918£4158£2971 + VAT
Duration 2115128 days
CPD Points 300
Accreditations BQF, CQI, LCS, ICAgile
Prerequisites NoneAttendees must have already passed Green Belt and Facilitating and Leading Change Attendees must have already passed Black Belt
Delivery Modes Virtual Classroom & In-Company
Delivered By James Dwan, Ian Fairweather, Helen Smith, Angelique Macrez, Moore Allison, Rob Row, Gillian Rhodes, Jo Dowdall

In today’s rapidly changing business world, multi-skilled practitioner-leaders are needed to constantly transform the business and drive operational excellence. Drawing on the combined expertise of our highly experienced consultancy team with guidance from our client forum, this new Business Black Belt programme equips dynamic individuals with the latest techniques and approaches to thrive in the most demanding environments.

Equal in extent and rigour to our traditional BQF Black Belt programme, the programme is fully accredited by BQF and leads to BQF Black Belt level certification status. All course modules are available virtually through open enrolment training or as a bespoke in-company programme. This programme provides an alternative route to Certified Black Belt status alongside our traditional Lean Six Sigma Black Belt programme. It recognises that the challenges of solving difficult operational problems and driving through strategy at the pace needed today in many business environments requires experts with a wide range of skills.

A Business Black Belt is a highly skilled, data driven problem solver as well as an expert facilitator and change leader. They have broad capabilities in lean process thinking, business transformation, process automation, design thinking and business agility. Being able to use data correctly and with confidence is vital – but the depth of statistical analysis needed is not as deep as the traditional Black Belt.

The course is fully accredited by the British Quality Foundation. As with any rigorous Black Belt programme, our experience is that this will be a career enhancing qualification with long term value for both you and your organisation.

Who should consider the Business Black Belt?

No matter what your business sector, if you work in an operational, improvement or transformation role, this programme will be directly relevant and will supercharge your skillset and enhance your career prospects.

We have positive feedback from delegates in service industries, transactional functions, logistics and manufacturing as well as many different areas of the public sector.

Delegates who have already attended Green Belt training and who aspire to further their knowledge and skills but who don’t feel comfortable with the advanced statistics covered in our Lean Six Sigma Black Belt course may find the balance of skills covered in the Business Black Belt more suited to their personal development needs. The Business Black Belt certification is on an equal footing in rigour and status to our Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.

We offer conversion programmes for delegates who have attended Lean Practitioner or Advanced Lean Practitioner certification either from the BQF or LCS or similar high-quality Lean accreditation organisations as well as other Continuous Improvement programmes.

We’ve also had delegates with traditional Lean Six Sigma Black Belt qualifications who wish to benefit from upgrading ‘horizontally’ by attending selected modules (Entry Point 4) of the Business Black Belt programme.

This course is 300 CPD points.

 

Prerequistites for the full courseEntry Point 2Entry Point 3Entry Point 4

There are no prerequisites for the full Business Black Belt Course

What are the outcomes of the Business Black Belt?

Outcomes for your business

  • This programme will develop new skills in your people to continuously improve, adapt, shift and evolve in ways that will take your competitors by surprise.
  • It will enable your leaders to proactively respond to change, understand how to align programmes and people with the company’s direction and equip people to use real time data to guide the organisation forward.
  • Your business will gain rounded, versatile consultants who can drive and nurture continuous improvement and transformation initiatives and
  • Build capability in your people to autonomously make change happen in accordance with your vision and purpose

Outcomes for your personal development

  • You will learn a comprehensive set of contemporary tools and approaches with strong foundations in Lean, Six Sigma, Change Management and Agile
  • You will be equipped to deploy the latest best practice in building a culture of continuous improvement in your organisation
  • You will be equipped with a business transformation toolbox enabling you to think and act strategically across business functions
  • You will dramatically improve your employment opportunitie

What are the Follow-on Options for Business Black Belt?

As a fully qualified Business Black Belt you are  welcome to join our Business Black Belt alumni forum where experienced practitioners exchange knowledge, skills and techniques.

Which Modules Comprise the Business Black Belt?

All course modules are available virtually through our Open enrolment training or as a bespoke In-Company programme.

Our Business Black Belt programme consists of seven modules. Depending on your existing level of training*  you can join the programme at different entry points:

  • Join at Entry Point 1 if you have not previously undertaken training in any of the modules
  • Join at Entry Point 2 if you are already Green Belt trained
  • Join at Entry Point 3 if you are already Green Belt trained and have also completed training in Change Management
  • Join at Entry Point 4 if you are already an LSS Black Belt and wish to “upgrade” to Business Black Belt
 
Entry Point Module Duration
1 Lean Six Sigma Green Belt 6-days : 3 days live instructor-led Zoom per week for 2 consecutive weeks
2 Facilitating and Leading Change 3 consecutive days live instructor-led Zoom
3 Data Driven Insights and Decisions** 4 consecutive days live instructor-led Zoom
4 Strategic and Operational Improvement 2 consecutive days live instructor-led Zoom
ICAgile – Business Agility Foundations 2 consecutive days live instructor-led Zoom
Innovation and Design 1 day live instructor-led Zoom
ICAgile – Agile Fundamentals 2 consecutive days live instructor-led Zoom
Technology Enabled Continuous Improvement 1 day live instructor-led Zoom

 


 

Apart from Green Belt which must be taken first, the modules can be taken in any order.

If you don’t want to complete the Business Black Belt Programme, you are welcome to enrol in any individual or combination of modules.

*We will provide access to our online Green Belt and Change Management programmes if you just need to refresh your knowledge in these areas for no additional cost. If you are a BQF/LCS certified Lean Practitioner or above we can offer a conversion programme.

**Please note that Minitab software is needed for this module. There is a free 30 day trial available to cover the training period

Choose An Entry Point

 Discover More About Each Module

Virtual Classroom Training for Business Black Belt

The modules of our Business Black Belt programme are delivered live over Zoom by our experienced Master Black Belt instructors. We use a wide variety of techniques to create an engaging, participative and fun experience for the learners including breakout room exercises, polls/quizzes, online collaboration tools, hands-on exercises (where you have to stand up and move!) as well as live discussions.

Our Master Black Belt trainers will >>

    • Plan the learning to provide a ‘mix’ of talking, doing, watching etc
    • Build in opportunities for discussion and activity – people learn best when they’re discussing and doing rather than listening to the trainer
    • Build in plenty of short breaks
    • Give clear concise instructions for tasks and exercises
    • Ask for feedback frequently to make sure the ‘learning from home’ experience is working for everyone

All virtual classroom delegates receive

  • Hard-copy and pdf of all slide materials
  • Downloadable tools and templates
  • 12 months access to our e-learning zone – THE BIZ

In-Company Training  For Business Black Belt

For more than 4 delegates attending the same programme this is the most cost effective option.

The Business Black Belt programme can be delivered on-site or virtually.

The sessions will be bespoke, lively and interactive delivering a memorable learning experience for the delegates.

We will discuss your objectives prior to the delivery, and help you to plan the most effective delivery and support to your team of delegates.

We can deliver individual modules or a bespoke version of the full programme to suit the delegates. In-company Business Black Belt programmes can range in duration from 16 days to 21 days depending on the requirement.

The dates for modular delivery will be mutually agreed and the timings of the days (or half-days) planned up front.

For international programmes we can start at anytime of the day.

Choose An Entry Point

Contents & Entry Point Costs

Our Business Black Belt programme consists of seven modules. Depending on your existing level of training  you can join the programme at different entry points.

For example, already Green Belt qualified? Start at Entry Point 2.

Green Belt and Change Management qualified? Start at Entry Point 3.

Green Belt, Change Management and Data Insights qualified? Start at Entry Point 4.

You can also attend each module separately.

All course modules are available virtually through our Open enrolment training or as a bespoke In-Company programme.

Call us to discuss if you are unsure.

  • The core DMAIC based problem solving approach and tools
  • Six Sigma and Lean Principles and Lean Solutions
  • Learn to map and measure the process, using process data and
    understanding variation
  • Root cause analysis, solution generation and control plan

Join at Entry Point 1 if you have not previously undertaken training in any of the modules.

  • Highly experienced subject matter expert trainers
  • Hard and soft copy materials
  • BQF  Certification included
  • 240 CPD points
  • Live Instructor-Led Zoom Sessions

The programme comprises the following modules (all virtual classroom) :

  1. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (6-days)
  2. Facilitating and Leading Change (3-days)
  3. Data Driven Insights and Decisions (4-days)
  4. Strategic and Operational Improvement (2-days)
  5. ICAgile – Business Agility Foundations (2-days)
  6. Innovation and Design (1-day)
  7. ICAgile – Agile Fundamentals (2-days)
  8. Continuous Improvement for Process Automation (1-day)
  • Understand how change happens in organisations, the culture of your
    organisation and how to manage change within this context
  • Clarify your role as a change agent, able to use appropriate interpersonal
    skills to engage with, influence and help others to accept change
  • Facilitating productive sessions (meetings, workshops, etc) – increasing
    engagement, gaining consensus and buy-in

Join at Entry Point 2 if you are already Green Belt trained.

  • Highly experienced subject matter expert trainers
    Hard and soft copy materials
  • BQF  Certification included
  • 180 CPD points
  • Live Instructor-Led Zoom Sessions

The programme comprises the following modules (all virtual classroom):

  1. Facilitating and Leading Change (3-days)
  2. Data Driven Insights and Decisions (4-days)
  3. Strategic and Operational Improvement (2-days)
  4. ICAgile – Business Agility Foundations (2-days)
  5. Innovation and Design (1-day)
  6. ICAgile – Agile Fundamentals (2-days)
  7. Continuous Improvement for Process Automation (1-day)
  • Apply the correct techniques to measure, interpret and communicate
    process performance.
  • Develop a working knowledge of key data techniques and be able to apply
    them using Minitab software
  • Learn how statistical tools and the robust approach required to apply
    them enhances your thinking and promotes process learning

Join at Entry Point 3 if you are already Green Belt trained and have also completed training in Change Management.

NB This module requires the Minitab software. A 30-day free trial is available for the duration of this module

  • Highly experienced subject matter expert trainers
  • Hard and soft copy materials
  • BQF  Certification included
  • 240 CPD points
  • Live Instructor-Led Zoom Sessions

The programme comprises the following modules (all virtual classroom) :

  1. Data Driven Insights and Decisions (4-days)
  2. Strategic and Operational Improvement (2-days)
  3. ICAgile – Business Agility Foundations (2-days)
  4. Innovation and Design (1-day)
  5. ICAgile – Agile Fundamentals (2-days)
  6. Continuous Improvement for Process Automation (1-day)
  • Understand what Value Stream Mapping is, how it fits within Continuous Improvement and Lean Thinking as a strategic and transformational methodology and is used to engage leadership in transformational change
  • Be able to apply VSM to understand end-to-end work systems and design and implement a future state that enables excellent performance
  • Gain a broader understanding of CI deployment and CI Maturity
  • Understand the role and responsibilities of a leader with regards to CI and consider which specific behaviours support this and help create the right environment
  • Drive stronger alignment of strategic priorities across your organisation
    and use this to selection improvement projects and activities
  • Improve the use of visual management and other management systems
    to engage everybody in daily management and continuous improvement

Join at Entry Point 4 if you are already an LSS Black Belt and wish to “upgrade” to Business Black Belt.

  • Highly experienced subject matter expert trainers
  • Hard and soft copy materials
  • BQF  Certification included
  • 240 CPD points
  • Live Instructor-Led Zoom Sessions

The programme comprises the following modules (all virtual classroom) :

  1. Strategic and Operational Improvement (2-days)
  2. ICAgile – Business Agility Foundations (2-days)
  3. Innovation and Design (1-day)
  4. ICAgile – Agile Fundamentals (2-days)
  5. Continuous Improvement for Process Automation (1-day)
  • Setting the scene for Business Agility
  • The pervasive mindset and culture that Business Agility needs to flourish
  • How to define your customer(s) and how you add value to them
  • How to embrace the unknown and treat everything as an experiment
  • How to use value stream maps, Kanban values, principles and practices, lean thinking to eliminate waste and create space for innovation
  • Empower yourself to be more effective in creating the future of your organisation
  • Learn tools and techniques to support Business Agility thinking
  • Understand the DMADV and Design Thinking approaches, and the tools you can apply to your projects
  • Providing design methodologies that integrates customer focus and structured tools with a systematic design process
  • Design and tollgate reviews and how these reviews help in managing and assuring appropriate governance of innovation development work
  • History of Agile
  • Culture and Mindset of Agile
  • Creating Shared Understanding
  • Shifts in Roles
  • Incremental Development
  • Work in Progress (WIP)
  • Including Customers and Users
  • Planning & Adapting
  • Process & Product Adaptation
  • Digitisation and its fit with Lean and Lean Change Management
  • Implementing Robotic Process Automation (RPA) from a value stream
    thinking perspective, benefits and pitfalls of RPA
  • Process Simulation software – its uses and how it integrates with process
    improvement techniques
  • The role of Process Mining software and how it connects to the above

Recognised by Industry - Accredited Programmes

Catalyst has a long association with the British Quality Foundation and in 2006 established the certification schemes for Lean Six Sigma and Lean in partnership with the BQF.

We have always had strong partnerships with professional bodies and have retained a close working relationship with the EFQM, BQFCQI, ICiPS (Institute for Continuous Improvement in Professional Services) as well as partnerships with organisations such as the Manufacturing Institute, the Agile Business Consortium and IC Agile.

This Exciting New Programme Will Help You To:

For Practitioners

  • become quick to adapt and show the ability to evolve – no matter the circumstances
  • give you a cutting edge in a contemporary and broad range continuous process improvement skills
  • identify, charter and align change opportunities
  • run, lead and facilitate improvement projects that deliver meaningful business outcomes
  • engage, energise, align and coach people
  • build your problem solving skills and leadership capabilities
  • .. and drastically improve your employment opportunities

For Programme Leaders

  • prioritise and align change initiatives
  • think systemically and communicate across the value chain
  • deliver successful projects and programmes, and create high performing proactive teams
  • increase your influence as a leader and learn persuasive skills
  • understand the digital conversation, how and when to apply RPA and automation

For Business Leaders

  • transform the culture of your organisation
  • accelerate the delivery of meaningful change in a volatile and uncertain world
  • become a proactive enabler of change, building connections with the ‘big Why’
  • use Systems Thinking to fully understand and develop your company architecture
  • build capability in your people to autonomously make change happen in accordance with your vision and purpose

Discover Our Business Black Belt Programme for Yourself

Download Our Course Brochure

Download Our Course Schedule

Business Black Belt Programme - Our Clients' View

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Forthcoming Business Black Belt Modules


Business Black BeltTo find dates for forthcoming Business Black Belt modules just select your chosen entry point and the month you want to begin. You can choose to see modules in their natural order, or ordered to give the shortest overall completion time. Unsure which entry point is right for? Just check our handy guide!

If your company has an account with us or you do not wish to purchase online using a credit card then please contact us to make your booking. 




Which Entry Point is Right for Me?


Join at Entry Point 1 if you have not previously undertaken training in any of the modules

Join at Entry Point 2 if you are already Green Belt trained.

Join at Entry Point 3 if you are Green Belt trained and also completed training in Facilitating and Leading Change.

Join at Entry Point 4 if you are already an LSS Black Belt and wish to “upgrade” to Business Black Belt

Enquire About Our Training Options


Whether you are an individual, interested in private in-house training options or would like to discuss our group discounts our expert team is waiting to help you with your enquiry

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