It's getting to that time of year, so even though it's clearly a ridiculous notion here are my top fifteen independent trainers and training companies in Sussex for 2009 in no particular order.
1. Francis Briers
Representing Integration Training (I will trial modesty and not nominate myself) let me head the list with an exceptional trainer and Brightonian Renaissance-man known to some as "The Rev". Francis is simply one of the best trainers I have ever come across on every level - the feedback I get about him at Integration Training public events (e.g, with the Chamber of Commerce in November) is consistently above brilliant. This Autumn he became the only trained facilitator of The Samurai Game in the UK. He is also an ordained interfaith minister (hence "The Rev"), a trained actor and chocolatier. Show-off :-)
2. CreativityWorks
I might disagree with what Martin Shovel says about non-verbal communication but I like how he says it. CreativityWorks video "Creating a New Mehrabian Myth (meooowww) has had 20 billion hits today alone. Underhand joking aside it's really very good and worth a look.
3. People Who Do
New chaps on the block with a solid grasp of time management - a pleasure to be around and share radio time with. While they may technically be competitors I wish them luck. Their site is here.
New chaps on the block with a solid grasp of time management - a pleasure to be around and share radio time with. While they may technically be competitors I wish them luck. Their site is here.
4. Roffey Park
Bastion of the Sussex tradition of innovative training Roffey Park continue to provide top class courses. This year they have delivered and hosted all kinds of training including workshops with embodied training maestros The Strozzi Institute - recommended.
5. Antony Shave
An ex Royal Marine and McKinsey man, Anthony has produced a good series of management training videos and helps people grow their businesses. Congrats on the baby too mate :-)
6. MasonLaPorte Conflict Transformation
Using mediation, conflict resolution and NonViolent Communication to bring peace to Lebanon, Sri Lanka and the WhiteHawk estate. These guys rock - soft skills trainers beyond comparison. I love their motto too "We like to work with people who don't like each other."
Using mediation, conflict resolution and NonViolent Communication to bring peace to Lebanon, Sri Lanka and the WhiteHawk estate. These guys rock - soft skills trainers beyond comparison. I love their motto too "We like to work with people who don't like each other."
Andy Mason of MLCT is also an associate with Integration Training (I could have nominated any of the associates but will leave it at too - sorry Dawn, Clare, Adrian and Anthony)
7. Silicon Beach
No list would be complete without a nod to my arch search engine optimisation -nemesis and local computer and Six Sigma specialists Silicon Beach. No link for you Colin...OK OK...it's Christmas...and all the outgoing links to competitors here have destroyed my SEO anyway :-) link
8. Taravajra and Chris Hoyle/Tejamitra (Clear Mind Training)
OK, I've cheated here and put two top Sussex mindfulness trainers in as one. Happy to see this approach passing over into the mainstream. Some of Taravajra's public training courses are here.
9. IMA
Local NGO trainers IMA International train around the world but are based right here in Sussex. Nice bunch.
10. Clare Evans
Never seen her train but love her book on time management.11. Working Together Project
Providing local charities with free or low price training. Recommended. Find them online here.12. Red Zebra/ Foundation
Creative and colourful team building and leadership for businesses and community. And they live with the Levellers)
Not to be confused with the new Brighton immigrants the also wonderful Red Foundation who train social enterprises and specialise in social media. (Yes I cheated again and got a recession busting 2-4-1 here too)
13. Chris Tero
I saw Chris do an excellent team building with drums session at Henley earlier this year. His CSR work is also innovative.John hosts the innovative systems work of Barry Oshrey and is a man of great heart and integrity. Look into his upcoming Power Lab.
15. Alma Neville
Alma is the "room angel" of the Newfield European coaching programme out of Amsterdam. An accomplished coach and trainer in her own right she holds the unsung support role of a training room with a the greatest of grace............
There are of course many people who may also be wonderful trainers who I have not yet seen train in Sussex so can not recommend yet, and after all it's just an opinion here- play take it lightly if you're not on the list. My friends Andrew Cain, Claire Walsh, The Sussex Stress Consultancy, Smart Foundations, Learning Labyrinth, Claudine Rain, Paul and Sarah Hopwood, Martin Saville, Oddball, Shaun Young, Roger Mills and Harish Davda are all people I hear great things about too for example. If you want to be on the list next year - drop me a line and invite me to a training - I'd be happy to reciprocate.
What strikes me looking at this very incomplete list is that we have a wealth of talent in Sussex. I think this raises every one's game and it's a great place to work in (and buy) training.
