Professional English

Writing for
Impact
Template 2
Request and enquiry
If it’s a Dear Mr Leonard
personalised
request, start This is the simplest way to
by introducing My name is Sharon King, and I am the Training Manager introduce yourself.
yourself. In less at Rencher Engineering. I recently attended an excellent
personal requests, training course conducted by you on Time Management. I
go straight to the found the content of the course extremely useful and you
purpose of writing.
made the whole event very memorable and enjoyable.

Use a formula like this to make

I would therefore like to ask if you would be willing to your request more polite.
conduct a similar course for a group of middle managers at
Make your request my company. I have identified Time Management as one
and say why it is of the key areas for improvement in our business, and I am When you make a big request,
important for you. show that you understand that
confident that your course would be extremely beneficial to it may be inconvenient for the
our team. I realise you must have a very busy schedule, but other person.

I hope you will find time to spend a few days at our offices.
Contrast the high benefits (e.g.
extremely beneficial) with the
If you think this is something you might be interested in, low costs (e.g. a few days).
After the request,
you need a call please let me know so that we can discuss details such as
There is no need to go into
to action: tell the dates and of course your fee. Perhaps we could arrange an detail in your initial email. Save
other person what introductory meeting at our offices to plan how to take this that for your first meeting (or a
later email).
to do next. forward.
In enquiries, describe what you
I would also be very interested to find out what other are looking for, using a/an (e.g.
a trainer who could provide …).
Keep the request training courses you would be able to provide. I am Don’t create the impression that
(paragraphs 1–3) you are offering a contract (e.g.
especially keen to identify a trainer who could provide
separate from I would like you to provide …).
advanced training for professional negotiators. Again,
any follow-up
enquiries. please let me know if you would be interested in discussing This is a very safe way of
this further. asking for a response to an
enquiry. There is no danger of a
misunderstanding.
Finish on a I look forward to hearing from you soon.
positive note. Best regards

Sharon King

Training Manager
Rencher Engineering

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