Client comments:

"Wanted you to be one of the first to know that we were successful in our G4A bid! Thank you so much for all your support and guidance!" Sarah Worth, Director, Highly Sprung

"Thanks for today - I feel very relieved and amazed by how much we achieved. A huge step forward!" Helen Legg, Director, Spike Island

"Thank you Debbie. You have been very much a part of the Playhouse’s success in securing future funds."  Michelle Carwardine-Palmer, Executive Director, Salisbury Playhouse

"A quick note to say a big thank you for such a vigorous, convivial, thoughtful, reflective, well-constructed event. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be there." Amanda Jones, Director of External Relations, Crafts Council

"It was a no stone left unturned process, which at times was very difficult and demanding, but which resulted in my feeling very well equipped and thoroughly knowledgeable about managing and developing as a small arts organisation...It left me very excited about what I do for a living!” Sarah Worth, Director, Highly Sprung

"Thank you Debbie for being so marvellous and facilitating another key planning day" Michelle Carwardine-Palmer, Executive Director, Salisbury Playhouse

"Better than Clore and a lot more lively" Board member, Devon Guild of Craftsmen

"... thank you for...a very enjoyable day which I think means that it worked. I liked your role, oscillating from being one of us to that of the facilitator. Chatting with folk as we left those sentiments were universal...it was good to be able to walk away with...specific action points...[but] personally it was the ethos and strategy of the day rather than specific actions that were most important to me. I reckon that problems and opportunities will come in equal numbers but we can’t be sure where and as Napoleon said “Plans are useless, planning is indispensable”. I think that is precisely what we were about." Michael White, Chair, Devon Guild of Craftsmen

“QuickSmART has made a massive difference; I feel like a leader now. The programme has been like fairy dust. We now have strategic objectives and focus, clarity of purpose, we have a vision, we are clear about the structural changes and the future of my position.” Jan Robinson, Project Manager, Festival of Diversity

"I feel re-energised as an arts leader and I now want to put my energies into developing my company in a more focussed and strategic way. Thank you"  Participant, QuickSmART programme

"The [conference report] is great...It’s wonderful that you’ve got it tied up so quickly. Thank you again for all your help in the conference. It was wonderful to work with you." Julie Crofts, Administrative Director, Conservatoire for Dance and Drama

"We spent some time with the Associate Director of Marketing at Manchester Business School. She said our business plan was one of the best she has ever read for a company our size. So it is thanks to you for all your help and support on this!" Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director, Graeae Theatre Company

“Well, what can I say? Yesterday went really well….in fact, I don’t think that it could have gone any better. Everyone was incredibly impressed with your facilitation and really felt that you had got the very best out of us. We’d love you to continue the process of disseminating the plan with us and doing some work with the staff team.” Jane Rice-Bowen, Chief Executive, Circus Space

“Thank you so much for yesterday. It was a really successful day and I think that it will provide us with a great launch pad for developing the Business Plan and the organisation.”

“Just been through the notes and they are brilliant. You have really managed to capture everything…that is some skill! The wonderful thing is how overwhelmingly positive the notes are and how on message everyone is already.”

“The Board were very positive about the plan. They thought it told a story, was exciting, brought together the varied elements of the company's work, and was the most mature presentation of us they had seen.”

“Thank you so much for yesterday – it was great – left me confident and inspired and motivated.”

“It’s a fantastic piece of work. The process has been very important for the development of the company and they have a great respect for your professionalism and the rigorousness of your approach.” Arts Council England

“Random, instinctive and philosophical thinking is really coherent clear thinking strategy in disguise. You helped us unmask the first so that the second could make the case for RFO status and thousands of pounds of funding.” Nick Walker, Talking Birds

"Thank you again for this morning; it was really very revealing and uplifting, a bit like having a cheerleader down the phone."

Smallholding courses:
"It has given me a real insight into the practicalities of keeping animals and will help us with our decisions for purchase".

"Really enjoyed the course and found it of great value."  "Excellent location and lovely food".

"Really warm, friendly and welcoming, lovely hosts." "It was very well run and very informative. Thank you."

"We have been meaning to email you as we wanted to say thanks again. We have been discussing our smallholding plans every moment that we can and, each time we do, we realise how much we learnt on our weekend with you. It really was amazing how much you packed into the weekend! Catching and holding the badger faced lambs was a particular treat. Our weekend in Devon confirmed for us that we really want to pursue our smallholding/self-sufficiency dream."