Here is a selection of feedback from clients who have received support from Testing the Water. The clients have given their consent for this feedback to be shared:
What did you find useful and valuable?
“I met Cathy at the Advanced Technology and Innovation Centre and thoroughly enjoyed working with her on skillset development as part of business coaching. Cathy helped me frame and understand how to contribute better to my day-to-day work and tailored the sessions to address my needs. The sessions were both valuable and enjoyable, I highly recommend her and look forward to a future opportunity of working together again.”
Yasmin Elsahar, Carelight
“I cannot speak highly enough of my personal experience with these coaching sessions. Cathy has a great ability to understand professional and personal situations, deconstruct them and provide an alternative perspective – which then helps understanding and planning for the way forward. I have found this hugely beneficial. Thank you Cathy!”
Nigel Finney, Hive Composites
“The discussion and analysis of business specific situations. Introduction of new skills (e.g. transactional analysis) to help to develop my role and position in the business.”
Nigel Finney, Hive Composites
“Cathy has helped us better think about our business long-term goals and how our personal objectives can be realised. She also helped us better understand a more effective approach to HR and recruitment.”
Anthony Dickens, NLife
“Getting the four directors together and asking exactly the right question to get to the heart of the issue.”
Andy Powell, Andibee
“The link between business planning and personal issues – especially the visualisation vision section was unique. Good practical insights and sharing.”
Ruth, BBC
“Picture exercise – help me understand the full extent of my business proposition and reflected on the bigger picture and helping me raise questions that I had not thought of before. Financial buoyancy exercise – understanding how others perceive me and the skills that I can share and name.”
Angela, BBC
“Reflections on ways to self manage, ideas of there being 8 core competencies and areas of focus is the greatest ‘gift’ – a relief!”
Jo Miles, Change Consultant
“The research overview and drawing my vision which allowed me to see the direction I wanted to go. Also the energy exercise and people exercise.”
Gill Andrew, SAP Trainer
In summary, how have you experienced Testing the Water questionnaire and session?
“The experience has been very positive. Cathy has introduced insights and techniques that I would not have been aware of without the coaching.”
Nigel Finney, Hive Composites
“Extremely positively. The value added is irreplaceable.”
Yassin Mamade, Neo-Fit
“The coaching has been great and really helped us to think more clearly about our business and its future.”
Anthony Dickens, NLife
“The sessions were really positive and Cathy’s incisive questioning has helped us to find the right direction for our business and even won over those of a sceptical disposition!”
Andy Powell, Andibee
“Very positively. I feel more confident about how I am going to move forward and more aware of my strengths and development areas.”
BBC employee
“A great experience – really helped me to recognise areas I need to focus on and that I don’t have to do everything quickly, it’s ok if it takes a while to get established.”
Mandy, BBC
“Inspiring, thought provoking. Thank you!”
Angela, BBC
“Incredibly useful and helpful. If someone gets you to face hard questions, it works…. Sharing your thoughts with others really crystallises them.”
Amanda, BBC
“I found it very good – it gave me energy.”
Jeanna Nasa, Former BBC employee
“Found the day positive and reflective.”
Norma Lucoy, Associate Director
“It was very good in terms of pushing me to think about what I really want.”
Catherine Bassett Holt, self-employed
Overall feedback:
“Hi Cathy and Rob. Just wanted to say that I thought the course was fantastic. I found it incredibly helpful. The plan that you got us to set down yesterday really helped to clear my head. I did something off your list to raise my energy levels and have found myself a months work lecturing in law this morning . It works!”
Amanda Faber, BBC
“Hi Cathy and Rob. Just wanted to say a very big thank you for yesterday’s course – I rather rudely dashed out to catch the shuttle bus without thanking you both properly! It was an excellent day, I really enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. It’s given me a lot to think about to help keep me on the right track. Good luck, it would be great to see Testing the Water become one of the core courses offered by CareerLink Plus.”