Bright Ideas Trust

Charity Growth and Leadership Coaching Announcement.

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Improvement Architecture Ltd. is delighted to announce they are working with the London-based charity The Bright ideas Trust in order to develop a strategic growth plan for the charity.  This will be executed in the North-East over the coming months and has been supported by the Esmee Fairbairn Trust to allow this private-charity partnership to be brought together.

This continues the theme for Improvement Architecture as they run a charity based programme in the North East called 20:20:20 Vision. Graham has coached senior charity people throughout their leadership journey and is starting to produce excellent results, not only on a professional level but also on a personal.

Victoria Dunn, Deputy CEO at The Key stated; Graham has been an amazing coach and mentor. Graham’s honest, refreshing and liberating approach has helped me to understand not only how I can become a better social leader, but a better person, providing me with his knowledge, expertise and tools to help me to think outside the box when approaching both professional and personal problems. I would highly recommend working with him!

Grace Dunne, Regional Manager for the Anne Franke Trust confirmed;  I’ve found Graham’s coaching extremely beneficial, both for my professional and personal development. I feel that the work we did together, looking at the tools and techniques really helped me when applying for, interviewing for and getting an internal promotion. It has also been a real help to have his coaching and support as I have taken on new responsibilities at work. I’m so glad that I saw this opportunity and applied for it, and would highly recommend it to other charity professionals.

Sinead Burke, Communications Manager for Gemarts stated; Working with Graham/Improvement Architecture over the past 8 months has been hugely positive. In the short term, working through the programme has given me new tools and techniques to assist in my day to day work. In the long term, it has helped me identify key aspects of my own character and leadership style which can both help and hinder, giving me the information I need to better manage this effectively and confidently lead others. The time and thought Graham has put into developing each of the mentees was clear when we all got to meet at a peer to peer session. Working with a coach is valuable to both the individual and the organisation, and the chance to take part in a fully funded coaching programme is a fantastic opportunity for any charity leader.

Dean Titterton, Chief Executive of North Tyneside YMCA confirmed; What I like most about working with IA is that Graham’s life experiences across a range of industries is hugely valuable and immensely useful. There is a definite sense that we are developing something together. It feels very much like a process of co-creation, not instruction.

Graham’s work within the North-East has come under the microscope of people on the global coaching stage, notably Ben Croft, the Founder of the World Business and Executive Coaching Summit (WBECS), Marshall Goldsmith recently voted the No.1 Executive Coach in the world in 2017 and many other businesses.  Graham has recently been invited to be part of a thought-leadership faculty at an international conference in Warsaw looking at innovation within human behaviours and the triggers behind this.

 

Ben Croft stated;

“After recently launching Ethical Coach where we apply the tools of coaching to philanthropic efforts creates a platform to really change lives.  Our goal is to empower leadership development, accountability, organizational capacity, and performance enhancement for 64,000 leaders a year, who can then extend their reach to an additional 100 children a year.  Given that I was delighted to hear last year that Graham has decided to pay forward with his 202020 Vision (a programme of Executive Coaching for Charity and Not-for-profit Leaders within the North-East of England).  His goal of raising the ambition of these leaders and subsequently young people and children are aligned to our goals of “adding value to the world, and doing it for the good of not-for-profit leaders” and therefore I wholeheartedly give my support to him within this endeavour. “ 

 

Marshall confirmed his support for the venture;

 “After being a successful business leader for over 30 years, Graham latterly has been part of the No.1 Global Executive Coaching team Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching, and the process and tools that this gives him which has resulted in 95% improvement within many global engagements.  Most recently he has approached me to support him with a passionate, courageous commitment to his “20.20.20 vision” which is to pay-forward and bring his knowledge to offer 1-1 Executive Coaching to 20 not-for-profit and charity senior leaders “free of charge” based in the NE England in order to support them in their own behavioural and leadership development.  This will create local leaders who will impact the aspiration of more than 1000 children in the North-East of England by end of The year 2020.  A very worthwhile venture I hope you agree. Life is Good.  Marshall” 

 

Whilst Improvement Architecture Ltd. continue with their high-impact interactions with private and public sector organisations, they are committed to continuing this work with the third sector. If you are interested in growing your organisation or your people, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can develop a bespoke package of support for you.

 

The Team

Improvement Architecture Ltd

 

#SYM2017

The meaning behind our brand name Improvement Architecture.

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Branding is a fascinating subject!

Recently we attended a North-East expo hosted by The Mussel Club. It was a great day of networking with people we know and of course making new connections. Although this was interesting the most prominent thing that I took away from the event was the misperception of our brand. This is something that I was aware of but the event really got me thinking.

Improvement Architecture, our name, is printed at the top of our marketing banner… immediately people assumed we were architects of buildings although further down the banner it does explain exactly what we do. This was not the first time it had been highlighted but it did make me think. Do I restructure the marketing? Do we rebrand or do I simply try to communicate the brand meaning behind Improvement Architecture?  I chose the latter.

The co-founders very cleverly came up with the name Improvement Architecture, based on the concept that they design, build and improve business structures centred around its people and processes. Fundamentally everything a business needs to function, operate and thrive.

I discussed my thoughts with my MD Graham Sleep and asked him for his interpretation. His response is below.

“As a business, we are focused on improvement of a business across its entirety so we knew it had to be part of the name.

Improvement /ɪmˈpruːv.mənt/ bringing into a more valuable or desirable condition

Architecture /ˈärkiˌtekCHər/ the art and science of designing a structure

We felt there were a lot of consultants who fill a “role” within organisations (and organisations who are happy for contractors to fill roles where they cannot get the calibre of talent required), which is not a problem, but not really where we wanted to be. We didn’t feel there were too many who really challenged and generated a change in both the environment (infrastructure, processes and systems) and people’s behaviours required for organisational success. Our focus, therefore, became to design the infrastructures that support integrated business improvement, innovation and growth within organisations and then supported the organisation in the transformation required to get there. Therefore, we now are a key part of senior teams within a number of rapidly growing SMEs and larger organisations. We don’t just talk, we do, and we measure the success of what we do to deliver the ambitions of these clients.

We could have gone down the route of a contracting organisation (and I am sure had more clients), but I never regret the day we concentrated on having fewer clients with deeper relationships who are all growing, and challenging them in getting better and better whilst maintaining a humility to bring people along with them. Recently, a CEO of one of our larger clients introduced me to another MD stated: “every time I attempt to change things (or want to change things) I call these guys to come and sort it out”.

I think this summarises Improvement Architecture very well.

My interpretation is:

“We are a one-stop shop for all business needs. Our consultants have reputable careers, spanning over 30years, their experience knowledge and skill set is unrivalled in the marketplace. They have worked in and successfully grown businesses of all shapes and sizes. They have capabilities to solve problems, work with you and understand exactly what needs to be done. Our delivery methods and meaningful customer relationships are what makes us unbeatable, we are a truly dedicated team and consider ourselves as an extension of your workforce”

 

So, if you have read this and it has triggered any questions, or there is something you are still unclear on, please let me know. We are a friendly team, happy to chat and discuss any issues you may be having. Not only that but, if you are considering options, have uncertainties and would like a sounding board, pick up the phone, pop a message across. We are here to help in any way we can.

 

 

Kaye Collins

Sales and Marketing Manager

The Key -Leadership Coaching

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Graham has been an amazing coach and mentor. Graham’s honest, refreshing and liberating approach has helped me to understand not only how I can become a better social leader, but a better person, providing me with his knowledge, expertise, and tools to help me to think outside the box when approaching both professional and personal problems. I would highly recommend working with him!
Victoria Dunn Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) The Key

The Anne Frank Trust UK – Leadership Coaching

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I’ve found Graham’s coaching extremely beneficial, both for my professional and personal development. I feel that the work we did together, especially looking at the Gallup Strengths Finder really helped me when applying for, interviewing for and getting an internal promotion. It has also been a real help to have his coaching and support as I have taken on new responsibilities at work. I’m so glad that I saw this opportunity and applied for it, and would highly recommend it to other charity professionals.

Grace Dunne, North East Regional Manager, The Anne Frank Trust UK.

YMCA North Tyneside

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What I like most about working with IA is that Graham’s life experiences across a range of industries is hugely valuable and immensely useful. There is a definite sense that we are developing something together. It feels very much like a process of co-creation, not instruction.

Dean Titterton, Chief Executive Officer, YMCA North Tyneside

Roundel Manufacturing -Projected 17% growth for next year.

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“The personal support from MGP advisers made us take the time out of our business to consider the future, then create a plan to deal with it. Their advice was so worthwhile. We now expect to continue our growth (17% projected for the next year) with development into new product sales.”

Roundel Manufacturing Sales & Commercial Director Jim Bebbington.

Henry Colbeck Ltd

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“Without the help and positive support of BE Group, Improvement Architecture and everyone involved in the Manufacturing Growth Programme we would still be struggling to try to understand a very complex process.”

Bill Colbeck, Chairman at Henry Colbeck Limited

http://www.colbeck.co.uk/

Aim Ath Leisure

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“Graham got to work immediately, by sitting down with me, understanding the business and the areas that needed focus. We identified areas of weakness, but also outlined the strengths and achievements which have gotten us to where we are now. “Graham gave us encouragement – we know we have created a good business, and as well as planning for the future we can appreciate where we came from.”

Amy Fettis, Owner, AIM Athleisure