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.

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.

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.

An International Coaching Federation ACC certified coach, Alison is inspired by helping people effect positive change – through their careers and their personal lives. Her approach is supportively challenging, non-judgmental and always positive.

As well as her coaching expertise, Alison’s own career path and life experience contribute to her credentials in these areas. Her 20 year consulting career includes over ten years in executive search; coaching and advising senior professionals on how to achieve their career aspirations. She built and ran her own search business in the City and has enjoyed many fruitful life transitions of her own.

Elly is a qualified Mental Health First Aid Trainer and is passionate about helping to reduce the stigmas and discrimination that surrounds mental health, and supporting people to live positive and meaningful lives. With 12 years experience as a registered nurse working in the UK and abroad, Elly enjoys meeting different people through delivery of her Mental First Aid courses, from senior managers of international organisations to self-employed personal trainers.

From early on in her professional life she had had an interest in overall well-being which has resulted in her always thinking about people holistically whilst caring for them, but on a personal level has too experienced a period of mental ill health herself and, unsurprisingly given the statistics, has many close friends and family members that have been affected either directly or indirectly by mental ill health. 

Elly personally enjoys all things health and well-being related, taking regular exercise and enjoying being out and about in nature. Socialising with family and friends is also high on her priority list and this year she has taken up learning the piano with a goal to be able to play jingle bells by Christmas for her 3 year old son.

Marion is an award-winning coach and trainer.  She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and is actively involved as Chair of her local branch.  Marion draws on her experience in HR working at a strategic level in a range of industries and sectors to ensure that all the work she does is supported by a strong business case.

She works are as coach one to one with managers to drive their growth and performance, and has a particular passion for facilitating workshops to help managers develop their coaching skills so they understand the benefits to them of implementing a coaching culture. 

She is a Motivational Maps Practitioner and licensed to deliver DISC personality profiles.  Both of these are powerful tools to enable individual and team self -awareness and effective working.

Marion is an accredited mental health trainer with MHFA England, working to raise awareness of mental health.  This interest has evolved from the dual perspectives of wanting to increase recognition of the business case for supporting those with mental health issues, rather than treat the symptoms; and recognising the wider importance of raising awareness of the challenges of living with mental ill health – both for the individuals and those supporting them.

Adrian came to Mental Health training after spending the majority of his career holding senior management roles, delivering high end hospitality for major blue-chip companies and organisations of all sectors. While doing this work he regularly witnessed how the demands on individuals negatively impacted their mental health as well as having his own lived experiences of poor mental health, and supports organisations, particularly those in the charity sector, as well as individuals, to develop their skills around mental health and to reduce stigma and discrimination in the workplace.

In 2018 Adrian moved to delivering the MHFA training full time and is approved to deliver the full suite of Adult MHFA courses and the Youth MHFA 2-day course. He is passionate about the topic and has trained over 500 delegates so far. Alongside this Adrian delivers ‘Lived Experience’ talks for organisations on his own journey with mental ill health.

Adrian advocates that both self-care and a strong understanding of the risk factors for poor mental health are key to thriving in all areas of life and work, this in tandem with education around mental health is essential to reducing stigma and discrimination, this ethos carries into his personal life where he manages his own mental wellness through running, he has now completed 75 marathons or ultra-marathons including the challenge of running 52 of them in 52 weeks.