Kent Trainers directors receiving their Kent Business Awards Finalist certificate in the 'Best New Business' category.

Kent Trainers Limited is a private limited company, no. 5830872, registered office Athelbrae House, 10 Linnet Avenue, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6XQ

Kent Trainers was formed in June 2006 by a group of training professionals who have provided training courses for numerous corporate, public and voluntary sector organisations primarily in the South-East UK since 1993, including Business Link Kent.

Kent Trainers offers a wide range of effective, affordable training programmes to help you develop your people and grow your business. Maximum delegate number per course is twelve to ensure an effective learning environment.

Trainer Profiles

Principal Trainer & Director - Mike Clayton

Mike is an experienced trainer and performance coach, with a background in project management and management consultancy.
Mike’s record of successful innovation and his real passion for creating peak performance in individuals, teams and organisations ensure depth, excitement and high quality outcomes to his work. Mike’s programmes create profound and lasting change.

Formerly a Senior Manager at Deloitte Consulting, with 13 years’ international consulting and project management experience, Mike has a PhD, is an NLP Master Practitioner, and is affiliated to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

As a consultant Mike specialised in the delivery and integration of complex change in a diverse range of private and public sector organisations.

Working in and leading a wide variety of highly successful teams has given Mike valuable insights into organisational change, team-working, and leadership. He presents a personal point of view and real tools from 13 years of consulting and management experience.

Mike is a director of the charity Theatre Exchange, a governor of a primary and of a secondary school, and is a former trustee of a national children’s charity and treasurer of a London housing co-operative.

Principal Trainer & Director - Sally Jones

After gaining a degree in English from London University, Sally Joined BP in their Human Resources function. After 6 years as a Human Resources & Training Manager at several BP sites across Britain, Sally resigned her established career to follow her life-long ambition to be her own boss. She has managed a ‘portfolio’ career for many years since, thriving on variety and change. She is the founder of several successful businesses including an interim management & training agency, an on-line trading emporium and a relocation company – as well as being an HR consultant and a published author.

Her main love is training - specialising in practical solutions to everyday challenges in the workplace. Focussing on communication skills, Sally likes nothing better than involving herself in the day-to-day operations of organisations, large & small, in both the corporate and voluntary sectors.

She worked with Business Link Kent delivering a number of open and in-house courses for them for more than 8 years. When they announced they were withdrawing from the open course market, she formed Kent Trainers with other BLK trainers.

Sally is an active volunteer with a variety of roles but she is most proud of the project she voluntarily managed which raised over £40,000 within 12 months.

Principal Trainer & Director - Keith Merrin

Keith is a highly skilled trainer, sales coach and Human Resources Consultant. He has worked with a large number of diverse companies delivering innovative training solutions and providing HR support to the recruitment process.

His skills were developed over a twenty-year career with Barclays plc. He has used his energy, focus and planning skills effectively within both the training, sales and business management roles and within the Human Resources arena of recruitment and selection.

As a a qualified Saville & Holdsworth level C Assessor, Keith has the expertise to train and select in a range of fields and interacts well as part of a team.

Keith is accredited to use Belbin® Team Roles and can work with teams to help them understand an develop their strengths. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

Keith has designed and delivered large scale training programmes for various clients. He has trained managers from a number of local Councils, delivered sales and customer services training at Bluewater, Western Europe's largest retail shopping complex, and recruited staff for a number of large call centres.

Trainer - Senior Management Programme - Rupert Merson

Rupert joined BDO Stoy Hayward in 1985 and has been a partner since 1994. As both an accountant and an HR professional, Rupert is unusually well qualified to help businesses solve the problems of people management and organisational design – including development, resourcing, remuneration and performance management. An experienced consultant and facilitator, Rupert has worked with businesses from a broad range of sectors and countries, including in particular professional practices, service businesses, owner-managed and family businesses.

Rupert publishes frequently in the national press. He has published a series of books on key management roles. He is in demand as a conference speaker and has spoken at conferences in Europe, America, and Australasia.

Rupert is a Fellow of London Business School where he teaches an MBA elective on the Management of the Growing Business. Rupert has also held a series of senior internal management roles including until 1996 that of partner responsible for Human Resources at BDO Stoy Hayward. He currently chairs the international firm’s Human Resources Committee, and sits on the firm’s Partnership Council, taking responsibility for partner issues, including admission, appraisal and remuneration.

A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Rupert is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and holds a certificate in general management from Harvard Business School. Rupert has a first class honours degree and a university prize from Oxford University.

Trainer - Janice Donaghue

A generalist HR Practitioner having run her own business since 2003, after 15 years in HR, Operational Management, Account Management and Sales in the fashion industry (footwear and clothing). Specialises in offering practical support and advice to small and medium sized businesses to ensure minimum legal requirements are met, but also to maximise the performance of employees. This is on a retained or project basis, but always aiming to build long term solutions through on-going relationships.

She likes to be able to make a difference to businesses that lack the resources or specialist knowledge to manage their employees effectively, and believes her background helps her to understand the commercial realities of running a business and propose solutions that meet both the needs of the organisation and the people.

Trainer - Lucy Britton

Lucy Britton has worked in the public and private sectors with a track record of innovative design in the training and development field. She ensures that training and consultancy programmes support business strategies and results in improved individual and business performance.

Her experience is derived from her years as a manager, as an HR specialist, and as a Training and Development Consultant.

Lucy holds an IPD certificate in training, BSc Institutional Management degree and is currently studying for a Certificate in Business Coaching with the University of Newcastle.

Trainer - Michael Coleman

Michael has over thirty-five years experience in business and consulting. He held leadership positions in the International Group of a “Big Four” Management Consultancy and Accounting firm including the role of Director of Training – Europe. He has worked with major national and international clients developing and delivering business solutions in both the private and public sectors. Michael’s successful major consulting assignments have included Business Strategy, Finance, Information Systems. Human Resources, People Development and Training. He has run his own Consultancy and Training practice for the past 12 years.

Areas of expertise:

    * Management of professional services operations
    * Wide business, selling and commercial skills
    * Personal skills assessment & development
    * Professional development programme design & delivery

Trainer - Suzanne Shaw

Having worked throughout the world for over ten years as a Regional Manager and Operations Manager for two of the largest tour companies, Suzanne then moved on to become a European Training Manager based in Europe.

Having gained hands on experience within a very diverse range of cultures and abilities, she relocated to Kent in 2004 to incorporate her knowledge of business management with training.

Suzanne is able to bring her real life experiences alive with her ability to be creative as well as informative. She branched out recently to work for herself as a training consultant and brings with it a passion and enthusiasm she believes is crucial to a training environment.

Trainer - Elaine Bolton

Elaine is a learning and development professional with over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors, at both operational and strategic levels. She is highly successful in providing a wide range of learning and development interventions, including workshops, coaching and facilitation to meet individual, team, departmental and organisational needs. She has excellent inter-personal and relationship management skills across all levels of an organisation.

Elaine brings energy and enthusiasm to her development sessions and ensures they are highly practical by incorporating many proven tools and techniques. These include action learning, accelerated learning, ‘Brain Friendly Learning’, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, coaching, facilitation and learning that appeals to learning style preferences and multiple intelligences.

Elaine is highly qualified to support her skills and experience – BA (Hons) in Business Studies, Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Training, Diploma in Performance Coaching, Diploma in Life Coaching, Masters Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Level A in Occupational/Personality Testing, Certificate in Counselling and Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Trainer - John Collings

John is an experienced trainer specialising in SAGE products and Microsoft Excel. He has been delivering training in these areas for 13 years.

Trainer – Jackie Barrie

Jackie founded her own marketing communications agency in 2001, helping business owners and entrepreneurs to promote their products and services effectively. She also provides consultancy services to main board directors of global corporations.

As well as being a hands-on copywriter, graphic designer, web designer and information designer, she is also a skilled facilitator and trainer. Her workshops are information-packed, interactive and fun.

Prior to starting her own business, Jackie was a Senior Manager in a £multi-million, multi-national organisation, where she led marketing and creative teams and managed projects with great success.

Jackie has a multi-disciplinary BA (Hons) from the Open University and is a qualified NLP Practitioner.
 

Trainer - Leilani Mitchell

Leilani is a qualified Transactional Analyst; she is also endorsed to train and supervise using TA. Leilani has worked with personal and professional development for twenty years in a variety of settings. Initially working in sales Leilani progressed into management before commencing her training in TA. She has subsequently worked as a corporate trainer, facilitator and coach. She also runs a successful private counseling and psychotherapy practice in Sussex, working with individuals, couples and groups with a range of issues. Leilani is co founder of The Link Centre – a training centre offering Counseling and Psychotherapy training based in Sussex. She is an associate trainer for Kent Trainers

Trainer - Jo Battershill

Jo is a successful training and development professional and has run her own business for twelve years assisting organisations in developing employee performance. Jo’s passion is ensuring that individuals reach their full potential within organisations through interventions including coaching, facilitation and workshops. Clients include Wentworth Golf Club, Corney & Barrow Wine Bars, Kimberley Clark, Cisco Systems Inc and the Camelot Group Plc.

Prior to opening her own business, Jo worked in Canada within the hotel and catering industry. She was employed in operational management roles for organisations including Hyatt, Hilton, Commonwealth Holiday Inns of Canada and Trust House Forte.

Jo brings a wealth of experience, enthusiasm and passion to her training and development interventions and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Trainer - Janet Aspley

Janet is a staff development professional with more than twenty years’ experience of helping people to learn in an organisational context. After building her career in the Civil Service, she worked as a consultant in a range of public and private sector organisations including Body Shop International, The Highways Agency and Kingston University. She currently combines consultancy with a role as Staff Development Advisor at the University of Sussex.

Janet has a degree in History from the University of Cambridge and an MA in Fashion and Textiles. She is qualified as a trainer and has an Advanced Diploma in Counselling & Interpersonal Skills awarded by the University of London.

Trainer - Julia Anyan

Julia is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and holds a CIPD Diploma in Training and Development. She has worked in training for about 8 years and prior to this in customer service roles.

A lot of Julia’s experience has been in the water industry, specifically contact centres, however her experience in broadening out to both the public and private sector. She has during this time been an Assessor for Customer Service levels 2 and 3 in addition to coaching and assessing all levels of the Institute of Customer Service (ICS) awards. She is still an active member of the ICS.

Julia’s unique writing and delivery style and the many creative ideas she incorporates into her workshops keep participants involved and interested. Her presence creates a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere in which real learning takes place.

Trainer - Felicity Dwyer

Felicity Dwyer is an experienced trainer and facilitator, and has been a successful freelancer since 2003. Her background is in the media and not for profit sectors, as a manager and, prior to moving into management, as an editor and feature writer.

Felicity specialises in management and personal development training. In addition to her management experience and qualifications, Felicity has trained in counselling, reflexology, coaching and NLP. She has a longstanding interest in wellbeing, stress management and the value of work/life balance, and is particularly interested in supporting individuals’ personal growth.

She also works as a consultant writer and editor, and has written guides to training needs analysis, work experience and leadership.

Trainer - Leanne Davies

Leanne is a qualified learning and development specialist with experience in training management, design and delivery.  While managing her own HR Management and Development Consultancy in South Africa for seven years, she was awarded a Regional Achiever Award by the Women’s Business Association.  She recently relocated to the UK to gain international experience in the field of learning and development.

She is a confident and energetic facilitator who loves learning as much as sharing knowledge and skills with others.  

Trainer - Sue Cooper

Sue Cooper has been an IT trainer since the mid 1980’s and has gathered a wealth of experience in a wide range of software.  She formed her own company in 1991 to offer IT solutions and training in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.  Her training style is always lively interactive and practical with discussion, demonstration and exercises, ensuring that all three learning styles are covered. The continued success of the company can be measured by its repeat business from clients and referrals.

Working closely with the clients Sue is highly regarded in the industry and regularly consulted on all aspects of training including Training Needs Analysis, development of bespoke systems, creation of templates, development of training programmes and materials for bespoke systems.  Her client base includes companies in both the public and private sector

Trainer - Paul Dunn

Paul is a highly regarded motivational trainer with significant track record of gaining behavioural change in blue chip corporations.  He has extensive global experience in leading, coaching, facilitation and delivery of theory in to real practise.  He also is an acknowledged expert in adult learning theory and application. Paul has over 20 years experience as a trainer, coach, and facilitator managing large, diverse projects across the world with major organisations in both the public and private sector.
 

Trainer - Phil Johnson

Phil is a dynamic, motivational group leader/facilitator/trainer/coach with a significant track record of converting theory to hard results. He has extensive experience of developing people coupled with a common sense and practical approach.

Phil has in depth knowledge of how businesses operate having been a Manager in the Corporate Banking arena for many years. He has also run his own businesses and has significant experience with voluntary business organisations such as The Prince’s Trust and Education Business Partnership
With over fifteen years training/facilitating experience he is always determined to make a difference. He is an accredited in Myers Briggs assessor and a Celemi partner. His specialism’s include Performance Management, Finance and Commercial Awareness.

His strong sense of humour ensures that participants have a lot of fun whilst learning.

Trainer - John Martin

John’s career began in Insurance Claims and progressed to the Head Office of CGNU where he was involved in strategy at a national level. He is experienced in the design, delivery and evaluation of effective and innovative training solutions that have delivered measurable benefits of over £5million above expectations.

John is equally at home delivering and facilitating large groups as well as giving individual coaching and support. He has a high energy, interactive style that is designed to ensure the maximum participation and learning from delegates.

Since completing his MBA John has worked with many different organisations including  local government, construction and manufacturing industries.

In addition he works as an actor, director and voiceover artist – recording for such clients as Waitrose, Fidelity Investments and Fusion  and appears regularly on BBC Radio Kent.

 Director - Administration and Operations - Kate Merrin

Kate’s background is in the Health Service having spent over 20 years working as a medical secretary in London Teaching Hospitals, Harley Street, and most recently for the Primary Care Sector. She continues her association with the Health Service, training staff in all aspects of compliance regarding Confidentiality, FOI, and Chaperoning in General Practice.

In addition to her role with Kent Trainers, she has been involved over the last eight years in the administration of the training company founded by Keith, liasing with clients to assess their specific requirements and undertakes recruitment for a number of blue chip companies.

Kate will be your first point of contact if you ring in or email with your booking requirements.

Director - Finance, IT Systems and Company Secretary - Richard Jones

After graduation as a Chemical Engineer, Richard spent the first 14 years of his career with BP at various locations, firstly in engineering and manufacturing roles and latterly in purchasing, supply-chain management and business management in BP’s head office in London.

In 1998 Richard resigned from BP to join Sally developing their various businesses including an interim management & training agency, an on-line trading emporium and a relocation company.

Richard maintains a keen interest in technology and has developed and built the IT systems used within Kent Trainers, including the website.

Within Kent Trainers Richard is responsibility for finance, IT and is the Company Secretary. Richard will be your point of contact if you have any questions about finance.