andrea@confidentconversations.co.uk
About Andrea
You want a straightforward, no nonsense, practical approach that helps even the most reluctant delegates engage and learn.
People often arrive at training sessions unsure of what to expect. They’re thinking about the work waiting for them, wondering if it will be worth their time, sometimes even questioning why they’re there at all.
That changes quickly.
Andrea speaks their language. She brings real examples, real situations and a grounded approach that people recognise straight away. As the session unfolds, people begin to see themselves in the conversations, the scenarios and the stories.
That’s when the shift happens.
People start to engage. They join in. They share their own experiences.
They realise the impact they have and what they can do differently.
And yes, there’s usually a bit of laughter along the way too.
Many leave asking for more of the same in future learning sessions.
You want to know that your investment is worthwhile and that any training actually delivers the outcomes you need.
You want something that engages people at every level, even those who arrive unsure, sceptical or reluctant, and that can be adapted to your organisation and your audience.
You want a professional who can connect quickly, hold the room and help people recognise the impact they have, even in the conversations they’ve been avoiding.
And you want to work with someone you can trust. Someone with experience, credibility and a track record of delivering in real-world environments, not just talking about theory.
Above all, you want learning that is practical, down to earth and immediately usable, especially when the subject matter is sensitive or complex.
Because your people need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
From absence and performance conversations to domestic abuse disclosures, from menopause awareness to suicide prevention, these are the conversations you hope you never need,
but may frequently have to have.
Since February 2000, I’ve worked with a wide range of clients across multiple sectors, and I’m proud to be invited back time and again.
My background is in HR within the transport industry. As a qualified and experienced coach, speaker and published author, I design and deliver development that supports people to handle the full range of conversations they may need to have.
My style is pragmatic, down to earth and straight-talking. A Northern woman at heart, I help people get comfortable with the uncomfortable, shining a light in the darker corners and tackling the things that have been quietly avoided.
I started my career supporting leaders with people management conversations. As the world of work evolved, and through my own life experience, my work has broadened.
The focus remains the same. Conversations that matter.
Now that includes more complex and sensitive subjects such as mental health, menopause, domestic abuse and suicide risk, along with my specialist work in Dual Risk. These are areas where managers, HR professionals and frontline practitioners need both confidence and clarity about how to respond, and an understanding of the duty of care they hold.
I’m as comfortable helping someone address a performance issue as I am supporting them to navigate a disclosure of coercive control.
Over the years, I’ve worked in some challenging environments and with a wide range of audiences. From large groups of managers in commercial organisations to frontline practitioners supporting people in difficult situations, my approach remains practical, grounded and directly relevant to real life.
I bring a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to even the most complex subjects, and I care deeply about the difference this work makes.
Every organisation, whether public or private, needs to stay resilient in turbulent times.
That means having the right people in the right roles, with the confidence to say the right things, in a culture that is supportive, engaging and grounded in trust.
Because conversations shape everything.
They raise standards, improve practice, build engagement and, in some cases, even save lives.
At an individual level, people need the ability to connect. To create psychological safety. To speak up, ask questions, raise concerns and handle what comes back.
That takes confidence. And sometimes it takes courage.
We all need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable and be able to talk about things that matter, with people who matter.
Professional curiosity remains one of the most under-used skills across all sectors. When people learn how to use it well, they begin to see what’s really going on and respond more effectively.
I am also the founder of Dual Risk Training.
This work focuses on the intersection between domestic abuse and suicide risk, and why so many victim-survivors find themselves at risk from both.
Coercive control creates the psychological conditions that drive suicidal thinking. Entrapment, hopelessness, shame and a loss of self. Until we understand that connection, we miss what is really happening.
This is some of the most important work I do.
Whether I’m working with an IDVA supporting someone one to one, or a leader responsible for a team, the principle is the same. Helping people recognise risk, stay in the conversation and respond in a way that makes a difference.
If your people are dealing with customers, clients or tenants day to day, they need to be prepared, professional and confident in those interactions.
If you’re supporting managers and leaders, they need to be able to handle conversations about absence, performance, mental health, menopause and, at times, distress or suicidal thinking.
These are not rare situations. They are part of real working life.
And your people need to be ready for them.
I offer a range of practical, down to earth learning options, from short sessions to more in-depth programmes, all designed to build confidence and capability in the moments that matter.
I also speak at conferences and events, helping organisations raise awareness and understanding of complex and sensitive subjects in a way that engages and resonates.
People need to feel more confident, more capable and better equipped to handle what they are seeing and hearing.
Because when we avoid these conversations, things don’t improve.
When we face them, with the right skill and support, outcomes can change.
We can even save lives.
Previous clients have said things like THIS about me …
“Andrea facilitated the course with confidence, compassion and a deep passion for the subject. She easily engaged the audience with her natural personable style which made the course very easy to listen to, appreciate and understand.”
“Over the past 10 years I have always enlisted the support of Andrea to work within our businesses. Why? When you are placing trust and faith in people to deliver the correct message, with the correct passion and knowledge, delivered in a well structured and methodical way you want excellence. That is why! Thanks Andrea for your expertise, patience and ability to bring the best out of people.”
“Andrea is a true professional and a fabulous trainer and coach. Andrea provided a series of interactive and engaging workshops to a number of our management team with ranging capability levels. She engages the audience not only through the topic and her in depth knowledge, but also through appropriate challenge with a touch of humour. Highly recommended if you are looking for true facilitated learning and not a topic presenter.”
“Highly recommend Andrea for our much needed training and opening conversations as a group. As a small group of people working voluntary in the community we found the workshops raised questions we might otherwise find difficult to ask in other settings and gave much needed confidence in having conversations with those we engage with.”
“Andrea was commissioned to deliver ‘Crucial Conversations’ workshops. She received exceptional feedback for both content and style. Andrea is a knowledgeable and engaging trainer, able to deal with challenging groups and provide a powerful and fun learning experience.”
If you are ready to have a chat about your needs and see if we are a good fit for working together, drop me a line to arrange a no obligation discovery call andrea@confidentconversations.co.uk