"The programme is fantastic. I feel that potentially emotive, uncomfortable and difficult subjects were covered in a thorough and yet sensitive manner. It would have been easy to omit them, but we were forced to deal with them...... brilliant! The two days were made fun, but it really hit home how important they were. There was great insight into Cooperative Group Retail Logistics and all demonstrations were extremely relevant. Not only have I gained so much about the subject of communication but I've also learnt so much about training techniques. Thank you both, a real inspiration"

Training and Development Supervisor

Cooperative Group Retail Logistics

"I wanted to write and thank you on behalf of the team for the excellent few days at Shrigley Hall last week.

It is a big decision to put the hearts and minds of a management team into the hands of an external trainer.  The title for the two day session 'Communication, Trust and Teamwork' starts to conjure up images of raft building and rock climbing.  So it was a relief for the team to learn that although a great deal would be asked of them it didn't include such outdoor pursuits.  However, from the first minute it was clear that the learning would be approachable, stimulating and highly interactive but in a spirit of trust and openness.

We worked towards sharing a common understanding of good communication and a raised awareness of the impact we have on those around us - concepts that are valuable both in personal and professional life.

We were provided with a series of tools to significantly improve our understanding and use of face-to-face communication but in a practical way that acknowledged our human weaknesses.  By the end of the course, I knew that we had armed our team with skills that can be applied quickly.  Once back in the office, this was apparent immediately through more positive outlooks and clearer communication which is allowing us to get on with the real job of growing the business.  This type of training also encourages continued learning through discussion and analysis of everyday interactions.

Overall, this was a big decision, but a good one that resulted in the most impact, cost effective and productive course we have ever attended.

We look forward to reviewing progress with you over the coming weeks and at our follow up session in September. Many thanks."

Robert Smith
Managing Director, Cedar Health Ltd.

"The day was a huge success 'Thank You' very much. The day was exactly what I was hoping for.

You planned the day to suit our needs which was fantastic - you also toned it throughout the day on the feedback you were getting from us - so you kept it moving and you kept everyone involved (even the sceptics!). Not only that - everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day - even though it was hard work and every minute packed to the full.

The team talked about the day a lot that evening and I heard nothing but praise for the content and your facilitation skills. I heard several people say how it had challenged them to think again or to think about things differently and how they would now take time to reflect on the day to see how they could incorporate various aspects into their everyday practice.

Certainly as a team we are intending to write up our flip chart notes and create a document around communication that we will all sign up to. Not only that, but the whole mood of the meeting was different the next day - you had 'inspired' us and got people enthusiastic about what they are doing and about what they could be doing in the future. We gained hugely from the content and techniques you shared with us, but also from the positive team building that working together, under your facilitation gave.

lf you ever need to give contact names for people as references/recommendations etc I would be more than happy to talk to people considering using you for the first time. I certainly would strongly recommend you to anyone who said to me they were looking for someone to run a team building day for them.

I hope we can come back to you again in the future, but in the mean time I am looking forward to seeing how we incorporate the ideas and techniques into our team. I will certainly be working hard to ensure we keep talking things through and keep using the day as time goes on.

Seriously - 'Thank You' so much for your input - I am sure it is going to have a positive and lasting impact."

Suzanne Henwood PhD, MSc, HDCR, PGCE
Manager for Education and Learning of the Macmillan National Institute of Education, London.

"The entire session was delivered with much interaction; group and individual work, motivation, energy, and the training maintained the focus and enthusiasm of the entire team. The skills attained can now be taken forward by the team to assist with each member's personal development - identifying strengths and skills individuals are willing to share, and those identified as learning needs. Through using these new skills a whole new set of tools can be shared amongst our team to achieve improved performance and delivery as a team within the NHS.

We have planned a follow up day with CChange, to develop the team's communication and leadership skills. A highly recommended experience."

Claire Bevan
Medical Directorate Manager of the Royal Glamorgan NHS Trust.