Victor Freeney – Head of Stakeholder Engagement,Thames Water

“I have a number of new people in my team some of whom are not based in the office. I wanted to arrange some events that would allow people to get to know each other whilst at the same time ensuring that they had a practical element to them with something tangible that we could put into practice on a day to day basis.  Nick has worked carefully and enthusiastically with the team over a number of sessions and we have really moved on together as a result. We have undertaken exercises looking at the preferences we each have in the ways in which we undertake our work. Everyone has said how useful they have found the sessions and what a difference they have made to the way we now work together. We have plans for a further session to build upon this great start.”

Mary-Rose Gavin – Training Manager, Leadership and Management Development, Princess Alexandra Hospital

Nick has run several leadership programmes for us at our NHS Trust, and has been a pleasure to work with, and delivers the business results we are seeking. He is very personable, and builds great rapport with the participants on the courses; one participant commented “Nick did a brilliant job … he certainly has a passion for leadership and it comes across in his style”

Paul Gonzales – Senior Microbiology Manager, Princess Alexandra Hospital

“I was one of the fortunate individuals who attended a 12 week course that Nick has run on Management & Leadership Skills at our NHS Trust. Through his personal examples of both good and bad management practices, his ability to empathise with his audience and his tailoring of course content to NHS goals and objectives, Nick has managed to motivate a wide range of key health workers, from keen would-be managers up to harried section leads. I am very grateful to have learned a wide range of management skills and have realised my leadership potential under this very personable, energetic and knowledgeable professional. I hope to attend another of Nick’s courses sometime in the future and highly recommend him to anyone who wishes to become a more effective manager and leader.”

Philip Thomas – CEO, Cannes Lions

“I have sent numerous of my staff on Nick’s training courses, and the feedback is always the same: relevant, interesting, fullfilling and fun. Nick is an expert trainer and has a deep understanding of aligning business needs with personal goals. There is a good reason why he is such an outstanding trainer: he genuinely likes people, and wants to help them achieve their very best outcomes.”

Richard Baker – Managing Director, MEED, Dubai

“Nick is one of the most professional and enthusiastic people I have worked with. I could mention a number of his attributes, but to me there is only one thing that matters. Every single group of management trainees that I have put through the Nick Toombs experience have come back as stronger managers, more enthused and most importantly better equipped to help drive the P&L of the business. This is true with teams in London and Dubai.”

Tracey Gray , Performance Director , Emap

“If you are looking for a trainer to work with your people to deliver great management training, in an enthusiastic, fun filled, passionate way that delivers results, then Nick is your man. He worked with me over a number of years and his commitment and passion to deliver what was best for the business was unquestionable.”

Mimi Wong, Office & Facilities Manager – MEED & AME Info – Dubai, UAE 

“I had a pleasure of attending one of Nick’s Management Leadership courses in Dubai in 2008. It was not my first management training but it definitely was the first one that I, along with ALL other delegates, truly enjoyed and really looked forward to participating and learning every single day. It’s obvious Nick is very passionate with what he does. He’s very knowledgeable, professional, personal, and positive which is refreshing and inspiring to everybody who was lucky enough to participate. Not only was the course interesting, informative, engaging, and practical, but also really enjoyable at the same time. My role has changed and am currently working for a leading UAE Bank but I still apply what I took away from Nick’s class everyday and I’m very grateful. I’d love to attend his coaching session again one day and would definitely recommend him to any company that values the importance of effective and result-oriented training & development programmes”

Bianca Opris,  Advertisement Manager , Emap Inform

“Nick Toombs headed Emap’s Management Foundation Program that I took part in over the last couple of years. Nick’s courses were a very good mix of theory and practice. I found that Nick has an amazing ability to fine-tune himself with the participants in his courses and get the most out of them. Throughout the different modules of the MFP course, I felt I always went away having learnt something that would stay with me. I am soon moving to a new company and should I need a trainer for my new team, I already told Nick I’d be in touch.”

Alexander Schwendtner , Head of Product Development , Emap

“I have attended one of Nick’s management courses and I can safely say that this was among the best tuitions I’ve ever had. Nick combines cutting edge theory with hands on practical examples in a way that keeps the audience focused and excited, archiving real change. I would highly recommend Nick to any organisation that takes training and people development seriously.”

Charlotte Bowskill , Sale Manager , Emap Communications

“Nick was in charge of the Management Training Programme which I took part in over a 2 year period. Every course with Nick was lively, informative and gave me the base to kick start my management career at Emap. Without his inspired training I wouldn’t have put all my learnings into practise. From many of the courses, I found it easy to implement my learnings immediately and Nick was always on hand for follow up help or advice if I needed it. I think of Nick as a great mentor and inspirational trainer, but also a friend. I would highly recommend Nick to any company who has the requirement to train groups of people in the processes of management.”

Nazan Birant , Client Services Manager , Emap

“I work for Brad one of the businesses within Emap and was fortunate enough to be nominated to attend the Management Foundation Programme (MFP) which is a series of in-house workshops running over a 12 month period to support Managers in gaining confidence and expertise in managing and leading a team. The workshops covered a wide range of areas a Manager needs to have competence in, from Leadership (an outdoor experience I will never forget!) Coaching, Recruitment, Appraisals, Change Management and High Performing Teams. Nick was our Tutor for this programme and his enthusiasm, sense of humour and depth of knowledge on a range of subjects made it a highly enjoyable and unforgettable experience. Every workshop had great practical tips and techniques that were particularly helpful in my day to day role as a Manager. Nick has the knack of making people feel relaxed but also builds their confidence in a challenging and fun way. I would have no hesitation in recommending Nick for any Management Development activities and only wish I could attend some more of his workshops!”

Mike Hind – CAP, Leeds

“When Nick was the in-house Management Training guy at Emap I had the benefit of his expertise during several courses he ran on communication styles and interpersonal relationships in the workplace. His personable, informal style means a lot of his knowledge is slipped into you under the radar, making the learning experience enjoyable as well as impactful in the long term.”

Lucy Walsh – Drapers,  Emap

“I was lucky enough to have Nick as my trainer when I first became a manager in 2005. Each course Nick held was fun, informative and I always came away with a feeling like a light had just come on. Nick was great at getting us to use real life examples of issues we faced as managers every day and the suggested solutions have always be incredibly useful and often ones that still I draw on now. Managing people is the best part of my role and I think I am good at what I do, much of this is down to Nicks great training. I’ve been promoted twice in 3 years so he must be doing something right. I would ,without doubt, recommend Nick as a fantastic trainer and hope that I will experience one of his courses again myself.”

Angus Leslie Melville – Editor, Infrastructural Journal

“As editor of Infrastructure Journal, I approached Nick to provide me with advanced presentation skills coaching to assist me with public speaking – which was becoming increasingly central to my role. I found this to be hugely beneficial and since that initial course, I have returned for further training and passed on some of my team members to pick up the tricks of the trade from a master.  Top qualities: Great Results , Expert , Creative”

Matina Zoulia – Head of Commercial Development, Emap

“Nick trained both myself and members of my sales team while at Emap. He is really knowledgeable but, more importantly, he is able to impart with that knowledge. The effort and attention to detail that Nick puts in each training session is evident on the fact that you remember what you are taught well after the training session and you also have the practical tools to use it “back at the camp”.

Suzanne Locke, Online Editor, MEED, Dubai

“Nick has a very appealing and down-to-earth way of training. You don’t get bombarded with paperwork; neither do you get dragged into role-playing if you’re not keen. His tips on mentoring and coaching were excellent. A great trainer when time is tight and he has a lot of material to get through!”

Daniel Gunner, Operations Director, DeHavilland

“Having attended myself and sent team members on management training courses run by Nick, I can say with confidence that Nick’s enthusiasm, coupled with a practical approach to learning, led to an first-rate experience for all those who attended. Nick has a way of getting the best out of people and always creates a bond between a team of colleagues who began the day often as mere acquaintances and left as a close-knit group and better at their individual jobs. In my experience, training is difficult to be excellent at. Nick is.”

Ed Poultney, Editor, AME Info

“I was lucky enough to take part in Nick’s management leadership programme for Emap Middle East in Dubai. Having begun the course fairly cynical of similar initiatives, Nick’s style of training, and extensive knowledge of the subject’s left me feeling lucky to have been able to participate. I learned a lot both about myself and my own management style, as well as coming out of the course with techniques that were easily adaptable to day-to-day workplace scenarios.”

Nigel Collett, Director of Royal Society of Medicine Support Services Ltd

“We brought Nick into the business to re-vitalise management training and the delegate feedback was first class with everyone expressing that they had taken on board new key skills that were relevant to their day to day business. The session was so well received that we are planning future training needs with Nick in 2010.If you are looking for some one to energise your team – Nick is your man”