About the Business

I’ve spent over 30 years helping organisations grow, and one thing has always been true, growth only works when your people do.

I established Skillslocal to bring leadership, culture and performance together in a way that’s practical and supportive for local businesses. I work mainly with founders, family-run businesses, CEOs and leadership teams in growing SMEs, typically where the business is doing well, but growth is starting to feel challenging.  That often shows up as everything still coming back to the founder, managers not quite stepping up, and culture varying from team to team.

My USP is my signature offer, Flourish, a whole-organisation approach that aligns leadership, culture and performance. Most clients start with the Flourish Strategic Diagnostic, which gives them clarity on what’s really going on in the business and a focused 90-day plan.  Alongside this, I’ve developed a learning portal with over 120 accredited courses, giving businesses a simple, scalable way to build capability across their teams.

I’m also a contributing author to the Amazon bestselling book Show Your Light, which reflects my belief that confidence isn’t the problem in business – belonging is.

Key Achievements

Recently, I’ve been supporting a number of businesses across the East Midlands with employee engagement and culture insight work, including eNPS surveys, focus groups, mediation and practical recommendations to help leadership teams take clear, informed action.

Alongside this, I delivered a leadership development project for newly appointed managers, combining DISC profiling, the Flourish leadership programme, short accredited courses and 1:1 coaching. The focus was on building confidence, accountability and consistency, using action learning and peer-to-peer support to embed learning in real time.  Typical outcomes included improved manager confidence, stronger team communication and clearer ownership of performance.

One manager shared:
“The training was really practical, I was able to apply what I’d learned straight away. The peer discussions and action learning approach made a huge difference.”

I also deliver ILM coaching and mentoring programmes as a trainer with the Association of Business Mentors, supporting the next generation of coaches and mentors.

What is it like to do business in the Peak District?

There’s a genuine willingness to collaborate here, which creates real opportunity for partnerships and shared growth.

At the same time, many businesses are scaling quickly without the leadership capability or structure to support that growth. That’s where pressure builds on founders, on managers, and across teams.

The biggest threat is growth at the expense of culture. When culture is left to chance, it shows up quickly in performance, retention and reputation.

How does Business Peak District support your ambitions?

I’ve seen the value of Business Peak District from both sides, having previously served as Vice Chair. It’s a network built on genuine relationships, not just transactions, and that makes a real difference.

Stepping down was a decision driven by growing client commitments, but it’s a community I continue to value highly.

For me, BPD creates the kind of environment where honest conversations happen, the sort that help business owners step back, reflect and make better decisions about how they grow.

The Future

My focus is on scaling the Flourish approach, so more organisations can access it, from diagnostics and leadership development through to longer-term culture partnerships.

I’m particularly interested in working with founders and leadership teams who are ready to move from reactive growth to something more intentional and sustainable.

Support from BPD and the wider network in connecting me with those businesses will be key, especially those who know they’ve outgrown their current way of working and are ready to do something about it.

This case study was also featured on page 31 of Business Network Magazine (June 2026 edition). Read the full issue here.