The company boasts a number of accolades including winning Best Coaching Programme from The Training Journal for 2008/2009 and Regional winners of a National Training Award for coaching and partnership for 2009/2010 presented at The East Midlands Conference Centre.

Positive thinking

Originally the CECO client base was mainly from the financial services sector.  They have since diversified into the retail, manufacturing, education and insurance sectors, training a large number of people to be professional coaches as Neil explains.  “To date CECO has trained and presented to over 6,000 new coaches, coached over 1,200 individuals at senior level and trained over 400 business leaders to coach inside their organisations.   We work with top level managers in businesses and pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality, professional service at all times.”

In the current economic climate, Neil and Vicki redefined their marketing strategy to compensate for the cut in spending by investment banks.  “We decided we were not going to join the recession as it didn’t sound much fun,” explains Neil.  “This was a deliberate strategy and completely altered our frame of mind to one of positivity rather than doom and gloom and is reflected in the contracts we won.

“Through a persistent contact strategy we are also finding that the banking sector is re engaging with us as organisations recognise the need to keep and develop key personnel, rather than rely on the cheque book.”

Skills development

Neil contacted the regional Business Link service for information about the Train to Gain initiative and to discuss CECO’s marketing strategy.   “We wanted to develop our website to enable us to sell products and services online such as distance learning modules of the ILM programme, our various books and to develop an interactive web presence,” explains Neil.

 “We also wanted to understand more about areas such as search engine optimisation and social networking.  Our local Business Adviser was a great help and provided details of fully funded workshops which were part of the eBusiness Programme.”

Their Business Adviser was able to help CECO identify and successfully apply for, Leaders First grant funding to help develop Neil’s marketing skills as he explains, “The new skills helped me to work on developing a new web presence for CECO and to take full advantage of social media networking.  We have also put a strategic marketing plan in place for future growth.”

Celebrating success

With Neil and Vicki continuing their professional development, the company has signed up to the Skills Pledge, a public commitment to investing in the skills of its workforce. Neil has been awarded a Professional Diploma in Executive Coaching from The Institute of Leadership and Management whilst Vicki has achieved a Post Graduate Certificate in Coach Supervision from Oxford Brookes University

“I think we could be the best kept secret in coaching,” says Neil.  “With the new marketing skills we are in a great position to raise awareness of what we can offer and to celebrate the awards and accolades we have achieved.”

 Neil’s top tips for business:

• You simply cannot operate a boom strategy or sell boom packaged products in a bust market.
• Review your strategy and take action immediately.
• Maintain a positive outlook and frame of mind, it will pay off.
• Seek help.  As a business we have always funded ourselves, there is some great advice and help available if you take the time and effort to seek it out.
• Keep in touch with your business adviser and let them know how your funding has helped

These awards are organised on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills by UK Skills so we’re delighted to have been recognised for our work with Britannia – which recently merged with The Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) – for a successful company-wide coaching programme.

We have a long-established relationship with Britannia and the training programme won last year’s Training Journal Award for Best Coaching Programme so it’s very gratifying to have our work together further recognised.  Let’s hope this success continues to the National Finals.

Developed in partnership with The Corporate and Executive Coaching Organisation (CECO), Britannia’s coach training strategy equips senior managers with essential knowledge, skills and underpinning coaching philosophies – unlocking employee potential and putting training, development and a coaching culture at the heart of the business.

Karen Moir, CFS’ director of organisational development, said: “We are delighted to have received this external recognition. Our people are our greatest asset and, a fundamental part of our business strategy is to create a great place for our people to work, grow and develop. By investing in our people we believe results will follow and our accredited coaching programme is a great example of this. 

Held on Tuesday night – 21 October – at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham – The National Training Awards celebrated businesses and individuals achieving success through investment in training.

ITV Central Tonight presenter Sameena Ali-Khan presented Britannia and CECO with the ‘East Midlands Training Award for Partnership and Collaboration’. In congratulating all the winners, Sameena said: “This year’s recipients have set the benchmark high.  Each and every one of them has proven that in today’s current climate, high quality training is an integral part of both personal and business development.”

The awards were organised on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) by UK Skills. Commenting on the awards, Kevin Brennan MP – Skills Minister, said: “It is more important than ever that we continue to support and invest in the training of our workforce, helping individuals develop their skills as well helping businesses stay competitive and prepare for the upturn.  This year’s winners demonstrate the diverse range of training taking place within the UK and the benefits it is delivering to organisations and employees.”

Simon Bartley, Chief Executive of UK Skills – which manages the National Training Awards – concluded: “The winners in the East Midlands have demonstrated that training is an investment not a cost and that it can transform companies, careers, and communities.  I congratulate them all on what they have achieved.”

 –Ends–

 Photo: Collecting the award presented by ITV Central Tonight presenter Sameena Ali-Khan (far right) are; Vicki Espin (centre) – co-founder of the Corporate and Executive Coaching Organisation (CECO) and, left to right, Suzi Goodall, Liz Barnes, Kelly Platt, Sue Marriott and Adrian Powell – head of leadership and development at CFS.  

Notes to Editors

For case studies or more information please contact: 

• Andrew Torr – The Co-operative Financial Services Press Office – 01538 397855.
• Kate Moloughney, UK Skills kate.moloughney@ukskills.org.uk 0207 429 2827

About The National Training Awards

The National Training Awards (NTA) identify and celebrate organisations and individuals that have achieved really outstanding business and personal success through investment in training.

• Run on annual basis, The National Training Awards are free to enter and open in January.  Entries close in April.
• The National Training Awards includes the following categories:  Large Employer (250 +), Medium Employer (50-249+), SME (49 and under), Training Provider, Partnership and Collaboration and Individual.
• The ‘Now is the Time’ category was launched in 2009 to encourage employers who have invested in training during the recession, to share their experiences and get public recognition to their commitment to training and re-skilling. 
• The National Training Awards are organised on behalf of the Department for Business, Skills and Innovation (BIS) by UK Skills.  The National Training Awards support the training delivered by organisations working on the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• The National Training Awards support the Skills Pledge.

About The Co-operative Financial Services: 

The Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) is part of The Co-operative Group, which is the world’s largest consumer co-operative with around five million members, over £14 billion turnover, and core business interests in financial services, food, travel, pharmacy and funeral care.  The Co-operative Group has over 5,300 retail trading outlets, including Somerfield.