Search and selection is at the heart of what we do

An experienced search and selection professional, Martin started working life in the Royal Navy, dealing with technical writing, HR, payroll, discipline and grievance. While there he learned the value of a clearly-defined and clearly-communicated process – a skill which very much benefits The Thrive Team’s clients and candidates today.

Since leaving the Navy, Martin has worked as a senior HR and Talent Acquisition professional on both sides of the fence – as a search consultant with major agencies as well as in HR and recruitment management roles with global, world-class organisations in the automotive engineering, marine and defence sectors.

Martin has also achieved fellowship level of the Institute of Recruitment Professionals (FIRP).  He is also a coach and works to European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) requirements.

Ali has many years of experience working with and coaching senior leadership teams. She’s held senior HR positions in organisations including Boots the Chemist, the NHS and the BBC, where she spent 18 months heading up the small specialist team investigating bullying and harassment allegations across the organisation.

Having supported a number of managers and employees on complex cases where mental ill-health was a concern, and having had experience of managing her own mental ill-health at work, Ali has developed a passion for supporting raising awareness of mental ill health in the workplace through training and workshops.

Ali is a is a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, a member of the British Psychological Society and holds a Certificate in Workplace Mediation.  She is also a coach and works to European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) requirements.

Keith’s career, based predominantly in recruitment and training has given him valuable insights into differing workplace cultures and he developed a passion for promoting Wellbeing in the Workplace.

His extensive experience in training, mentoring, managing and developing teams across organisations has given him the opportunity to work with individuals from all walks
of life.

The development of people is a passion, their progress however small the steps, has always been the reward and never more so when he has supported long term unemployed into employment. In many cases he supported individuals who were experiencing some level of mental ill health.

Keith has volunteered at SAFE (Southampton Action for Employment) in recent years and this furthered the desire to support the individuals that were struggling.

Subsequently Keith discovered Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and become a Mental Health First Aider and subsequently an Instructor through MHFA England.

This qualification has enabled him to use his skills to educate others around mental health. Keith is and advocate of dispelling the stigma around mental ill health and enabling all.

Richard has held significant P&L responsibility in a number of advanced technology businesses at board level. A science graduate from Cambridge University with postgraduate qualifications in Finance & Management he has particular expertise in the automotive and transport sectors with a track record in business development including effecting step change growth through innovation and diversification, programme delivery, change management and increasing profitability by identifying commercial opportunities and overseeing cost control.

Experienced both technically and commercially, he has led teams and projects based in geographically diverse locations including Asia, US, across Europe and is proven in understanding cultural considerations and the needs of the marketplace.

Richard is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Institute of Technology, serves as member of the IET Automotive & Road Transport Systems Committee and on the Governance Board of InnovITS. Previously he has been a member of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Electric Vehicle Steering Group and the IET Charging Standards Committee and has been asked to advise government in these specialist areas.

Sarah is a skilled and highly qualified leadership coach, experienced business consultant and accomplished trainer, facilitator and mediator. Following an extensive career in HR, including over 10 years in senior HR roles, she established her own consultancy and coaching business in 2003 as well as serving on the Board of a Mental Health and Wellbeing organisation for a number of years. Now working with individuals, teams, business owners, Directors, CEOs, Board Members, senior and middle managers, she focuses on enabling everyone to maximise their potential.

Sarah is also the creator of the Savvy Conversations^® concept and STREET*CREDS^® framework which helps people have the right conversations, in the right way, at the right time – a skill so crucial to personal and business success in every workplace. She uses this research and experience to work with organisations on their team effectiveness, workplace relationships, communications, motivation, performance management, emotional intelligence, leadership and management skills, unconscious bias awareness, conflict management and workplace mediation.

Sarah is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) as well as Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), Member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, Member of the Association of Coaching Supervisors and Student member of the British Psychological Society. She has a particular passion for psychology and it’s practical application in the workplace and is currently studying for a BSc (Hons) Psychology with the Open University.

Geraldine spent over 20 years working in international marketing before making a change in career direction and retraining as a clinical hypnotherapist and psychotherapist specialising in workplace stress management, with a focus on the neuroscience of the stress response system.  She has gone on to deliver workshops and talks in diverse organisations including ParkNow, a technology division of BMW, and the University of Surrey. She has featured as an expert voice in the media including Men’s Health, BBC News, Metro, HRNews and Glassdoor, and she has been involved in ‘How to Break into the Elite’ a BBC2 programme due to air in June 2019, and ‘The Why Factor’ from BBC World Service.  Having worked in a stressful corporate environment herself, Geraldine is keen to promote stress prevention as the key to good health: it’s not about avoiding pressure but how we cope that makes the difference, and she has an innate belief that everyone deserves to be happy at work – which benefits the companies they work for.  She also works with individuals as a therapist, helping them work through periods of mental ill health to develop long term strategies to cope and get back to enjoying life.  She holds a CIM DipM from her marketing days, as well as a Diploma in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and the gold standard Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma, and works to the CNHC requirements (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council, a government register of complementary healthcare practitioners).

Cara is an ICF Professional Certified Coach. In a nutshell she helps people get better at what is expected of them and to succeed in their roles. In particular, Cara coaches senior individuals to develop their leadership style and gravitas, improve self-confidence, self-belief, decision making, holding difficult conversations, impact and influence, developing an authentic personal brand, networking, emotional intelligence, building relationships and managing teams. She also coaches on resilience and well-being.

Her coaching style is calm, insightful, results-focused and warm; she provides a safe and trusted space for individuals to reflect, be vulnerable, overcome limiting beliefs, focus and develop an actionable plan for what needs to be achieved. Cara will challenge her clients, asking uncomfortable questions so they can see fresh perspectives and how they may be ‘standing in their own way’. She creates a Thinking Environment® for them to think clearly and independently and to elicit breakthrough thinking and new solutions.

Cara has a special interest in Diversity and Inclusion, harnessing the diversity of thought from individuals in teams to foster creativity, innovation and growth. She also believes in ‘Human’ leadership which values care and respect for individuals, ‘humanising’ organisations to engage employees and improve business results.

Cara had a former career as a Chartered Surveyor but developing people not property is her passion! She has been a professional coach since 2009 and coaches in person in London and Chichester, and worldwide via Zoom/Skype.

In addition to Coaching, Cara is a facilitator on Female leadership pipeline programmes for clients including Hewlett-Packard. These workshop sessions are held virtually with participants joining in from across the world. Care also speaks to corporate Networks on topics including ‘Done is Better than Perfect’, overcoming Imposter Syndrome, how to succeed as a working parent and developing your Inner Strength (resilience). She also talks at Conferences, including The Women into Leadership events for Civil Servants.