Short, simulation-based courses from DWM Financial Training

For the first time in 2025, we are able to offer a workshop on the key topic of Budgeting within a one-day package.

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This course uses a shortened version of the Virtual Village Pub simulation, where teams complete their decisions for all four rounds in one go, meaning that they can have a detailed P&L for their business, for all four quarters, by mid-morning.

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We explain the Profit & Loss Account from first principles, demonstrate the format in respect of one of the 'autopilot' pubs and show how much profit each pub would have made, with reference to customer numbers, market share, spend per head, cost control and resource management. 

 

In the second half, the focus shifts to planning and budgeting. Teams prepare a brief strategy document and then the group explores the benefits of budgeting and the pitfalls to avoid. Armed with the theory and with their historical data from the morning, they then use a spreadsheet to prepare a budget for a second year. They also make a set of decisions for the first quarter of that second year (Q5).

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We then consider how the budget is used as a control mechanism and how we can explain variances to budget in a systematic and rigorous way. They will then be able to apply that learning as they analyse their variances to budget for Q5. They will also need to reforecast how the second year will end up, based on their Q5 performance.