The British School of Excellence

Signature
Programme

Become an internationally-certified etiquette coach — live, online, from wherever you are in the world.

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Live  ·  Learn  ·  Teach  ·  Inspire
16–20 November 2026
Live, Online
Welcome

Are you ready to make a lasting difference?

These are not soft skills. They are essential life skills.

The world is changing quickly. Technology is transforming how we work, learn, communicate and connect. Yet the skills that help people succeed remain deeply human: confidence, emotional intelligence, clear communication, respect, cultural awareness and the ability to conduct oneself with grace under pressure.

At The British School of Excellence, we believe etiquette and manners are practical tools for modern life — they help people communicate with confidence, build trust and show consideration for others in every setting.

The Signature Programme is designed for those who want to do more than teach manners: to shape behaviour, strengthen confidence and equip others to thrive in today’s world — delivered live online, so distance is never a barrier to joining us.

If you are starting out

You will leave with far more than knowledge. You will hold a full teaching framework — lesson plans, course structures, session timings and delivery methods for adults, children, teenagers, schools and corporate teams — alongside the business foundations of a practice: how to position yourself, price your work, find your first clients and speak about what you do with authority. Beginning a career in etiquette need not mean beginning alone.

If you already teach

For established coaches, the value lies in accreditation and standing. Certification recognised internationally, and underpinned by CPD and ILM — part of City & Guilds — gives clients, schools and corporate buyers a credential they can verify. It answers the question every serious prospect eventually asks: by whose standard were you trained? Many arrive with a thriving practice and leave with the authority to charge accordingly.

If you simply love the subject

Not everyone comes to us to build a business, and that is welcome. The programme is five days of genuinely enjoyable material — the origins of etiquette, the correct laying of a table, the rituals of afternoon tea, dress codes, protocol, the small courtesies that carry real weight — taught live, in conversation, with practical exercises rather than recorded lectures. Cohorts are deliberately international, and the discussion is much of the pleasure: you learn as much from how a courtesy is read in Riyadh, Lagos, Singapore or New York as from the syllabus itself. You leave part of a global alumni community of certified etiquette professionals, and that connection outlasts the five days.

A cohort of Signature Programme graduates gathered on a staircase Signature Programme
Poise and presence in a grand hallway
Gracious composure, seated
Welcoming delegates at a BSE event
A business lunch conducted with ease
Impeccable table manners at a formal cover
A traditional three-tier afternoon tea
Silver service in a fine-dining room
Delegates in a live training session
A young guest learning napkin etiquette
A confident greeting and handshake
Children taking tea in a garden setting
Teenagers in easy, respectful conversation
Teenagers together in easy, confident company
Attention to detail in every setting
The June 2026 cohort together after graduation
Afternoon tea at Claridge’s with the cohort
Evening dress and formal poise
A guest at the tea table
Two guests at afternoon tea
A graduate with his certificate
Conversation over tea
Male delegates on the staircase
Why It Matters

Why etiquette coaching matters now

So much of modern life is conducted through screens that face-to-face graces — reading a room, holding a conversation, dining with ease — must now be deliberately taught. Employers consistently rank communication and professionalism among the qualities they most struggle to find, and first impressions are formed in seconds and rarely revised. Etiquette coaching answers all of this at once.

“Manners maketh man.”

William of Wykeham · Founder of New College, Oxford · c. 1380
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In Professional Settings

These skills influence trust, credibility, client relationships and leadership presence.

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In Education

They support confidence, communication, emotional regulation and social belonging.

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In Personal Life

They help people build stronger relationships and move through the world with greater assurance.

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Never About Perfection

Etiquette is not about superiority or rigid rules, but consideration, respect and confidence.

Who This Course Is For

This course is for you if…

A poised professional standing in an elegant hallway
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You believe etiquette, manners and emotional intelligence can transform confidence, mindset and opportunity.

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You want to help people become more self-aware, socially confident and considerate in how they communicate.

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You want to teach adults, children, teenagers, families, schools, private clients or corporate teams.

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You are ready to build a flexible, meaningful career — choosing your schedule and creating your own opportunities.

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You want an internationally recognised certification and a global community of etiquette professionals.

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You want to move beyond information and create transformation — without leaving home to do it.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou
Course Overview

Six modules, one standard

From the foundations of gracious social interaction to the craft of exceptional coaching — etiquette, presence and professional influence, delivered live online in one framework.

An elegant woman in a wide-brimmed black hat
Module 01

Social Etiquette

The origins of etiquette, gracious introductions, small talk and the art of the memorable first meeting.

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Exchanging business cards with professional poise
Module 02

Business Etiquette

Protocol, credibility and confidence for the modern workplace — from the boardroom to the inbox.

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An impeccably set fine-dining table
Module 03

Fine Dining Etiquette

Impeccable table manners, place settings and Britain’s quintessential custom — Afternoon Tea.

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A confident presenter addressing an audience
Module 04

Trainer Skills

Public speaking, behavioural styles and the business foundations of your own coaching practice.

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Young people collaborating with confidence
Module 05

Children’s & Youth Etiquette

Age-appropriate programmes that build confidence, resilience and empathy from an early age.

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Elegant posture and deportment in motion
Module 06

Presentation Skills & Image

Body language, deportment and personal image — projecting confidence before a word is spoken.

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Module 01

Social Etiquette

  • ◆Learn the origins and evolution of etiquette — what it is, why it matters, and its correlation with the Golden and Platinum Rules.
  • ◆Master the essential fundamentals of meeting and greeting, and develop your skills for making effective introductions and small talk.
  • ◆Understand the fundamental principles of holding effective conversations, topics to avoid, and how to diplomatically handle uncomfortable situations and gaffes.
  • ◆Cultivate your networking skills and learn how to make positive, lasting impressions when meeting people for the first time — even when attending an event on your own.

“Politeness is the flower of humanity.”

Joseph Joubert
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Module 02

Business Etiquette

  • ◆Establish smoother working relationships and credibility with co-workers, clients, suppliers and investors through the critical elements of business protocol.
  • ◆Refine your soft skills to improve morale and confidence, perfect your networking with the 3 Cs approach, and manage nervousness in business scenarios.
  • ◆Master the finesse of using your business card as a strategic tool, and enhance your knowledge of international culture and protocol, including cross-cultural gift sensitivities.
  • ◆Understand the diplomatic rules of engagement on social and digital media, email and texting platforms, plus tools and guidelines for the job interview process.
  • ◆Command the courtesies of the modern meeting — punctuality, preparation, introductions in order of precedence, and presence in both the boardroom and on video calls.
  • ◆Learn how to host and be hosted: business entertaining, client lunches and corporate hospitality, where relationships are built away from the desk.

“Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.”

Clarence Thomas
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Module 03

Fine Dining Etiquette

  • ◆Master impeccable fine dining etiquette and table manners in both social and professional situations, eliminating any sense of awkwardness.
  • ◆Understand Western-style place settings, correct use of the napkin, cutlery techniques and glassware, and how to conduct yourself in an exemplary manner at the table.
  • ◆Learn how to eat different types of foods, the do’s and don’ts of fine dining, protocol and hierarchy at dining events, and the five most commonly used types of menus.
  • ◆Discover Britain’s most quintessential social custom — Afternoon Tea — including how to drink and serve tea impeccably, and the difference between High Tea and Afternoon Tea.
  • ◆Navigate the roles of host and guest with equal grace — seating plans, ordering, toasts, conversation at the table and the discreet handling of the bill.
  • ◆Approach formal and ceremonial occasions with confidence — banquets, weddings, galas and state-style dinners, where protocol and precedence matter most.

“The world was my oyster but I used the wrong fork.”

Oscar Wilde
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Module 04

Trainer Skills

  • ◆Develop your public speaking skills — analyse your audience, prepare a clear message and identify your presentation style to project a positive, memorable and professional image.
  • ◆Learn a communication and behavioural assessment tool to recognise and adapt to the styles of others, and understand learning styles to determine the best teaching effectiveness strategies — essential for engaging learners through a screen.
  • ◆Workshop the essential elements of your etiquette coaching programme and business: your basic toolkit, training structure, learning objectives, lesson plans, feedback forms, marketing principles and mindset.

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”

William Arthur Ward
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Module 05

Children’s & Youth Etiquette

  • ◆Children are like sponges — when they learn good manners from a young age, these quickly become second nature, boosting confidence, self-esteem, resilience and empathy.
  • ◆Learn how to structure a children’s programme covering introductions, appearance and hygiene, friendships and family, handling conflict, table manners, thank-you letters and mobile phone etiquette.
  • ◆For older teenagers and university graduates, develop courses in dining etiquette, netiquette, confident conversation, personal presentation, networking, interview techniques and written correspondence.
  • ◆Explore age-appropriate activities designed for the online classroom — audiovisual material, role play, digital breakout games, written assignments, quizzes and think tanks.

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

Frederick Douglass
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Module 06

Presentation Skills & Image

  • ◆Learn to read and influence people through nonverbal communication, and understand the principles and importance of body language on camera and off.
  • ◆Refine your deportment, poise and posture, and gain the key fundamentals and essential tools for projecting a positive image, live on screen.
  • ◆Learn the basic rules of standard, business and casual attire, different dress codes and the occasions they apply to, and the role of clothing, accessories and grooming in a favourable first impression.
  • ◆Participate in a live presentation skills workshop to develop your public speaking skills with real-time feedback from your trainer and cohort.

“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”

Coco Chanel
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The Programme

The programme at a glance

Format

Live, online — interactive sessions with your trainer and cohort, delivered over scheduled dates so you can join from anywhere in the world.

Audience

Aspiring etiquette coaches and trainers of all backgrounds, cultures and walks of life.

Curriculum

Six modules spanning social, business and fine dining etiquette, trainer skills, children’s and youth etiquette, and presentation skills and image.

Certification

A certificate from The British School of Excellence, with certification also available from CPD Standards UK and ILM, part of City & Guilds.

Class Size

Cohort numbers are limited online, so every participant receives close, personal mentorship.

Certification & Community

Your pathway to certification

Upon successful completion of the programme, you will receive a certificate from The British School of Excellence. Upon successful submission of the final assessment, participants may also receive certification from CPD Standards UK and ILM, part of City & Guilds.

The British School of Excellence logo

The British School of Excellence

The School’s own certification — your licence to teach the Signature curriculum.

CPD Standards UK accreditation

CPD Standards UK

Certification from The CPD Standards Office, upon successful submission of the final assessment.

ILM, part of City and Guilds logo

ILM · City & Guilds

Certification from the Institute of Leadership & Management, part of City & Guilds.

A graduate receiving certification

You will also be invited to join our international Alumni Community — a global network of etiquette consultants and trainers with access to further development, support and professional networking opportunities. Once you receive your certification, it is the beginning of a journey: we are there to support you on an ongoing basis.

The Team

The British School of Excellence Leadership

Leanne Miltun, Director of Business Development & International Relations
Leanne Miltun
Director of Business Development & International Relations

A certified DISC Practitioner and Etiquette Coach, Leanne leads strategic partnerships and designs the School’s flagship certification programmes.

Maria Vang Nielsen, Managing Director
Maria Vang Nielsen
Managing Director

Maria supports the School’s strategic direction and operational delivery, ensuring clients and students consistently experience world-class standards.

The British School of Excellence
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