Blackburn have twice had Beacon Status for education and we’ve won national awards and praise for their support for schools and adult learning in the borough. Through a network of children’s centres the borough provide nursery education, flexible, high quality childcare, access to family health services, family support services and adult learning and training opportunities. The centres also run a wide range of activities and events for children and families ranging from play sessions to support with job hunting.

I began working with Blackburn several years ago when I was tasked with coaching a team of newly appointed Children’s Centre Managers. This was a yearlong project providing executive coaching support for managers who were entering a transitional period of role change. The project was so well received that it prompted these managers to request training of their own in coaching skills. Along with a strategic partner, The Performance Solution, we provided the managers with an accredited executive coaching skills course.