Testimonials and Case Studies

TESTIMONIAL: Improving a client’s presentations to build their sales – September 2022

TESTIMONIAL: “Surprising, refreshing & exactly what I hoped for” – September 2022

John - within hours I'd started to hear a few great comments from those who attended your workshop - particularly my team who found it surprising and refreshing to have a session delivered in that way. Thank you! It's exactly what I'd hoped for.
Charlotte O'Reilly, Head of Internal Comms & Engagement, British Red Cross

CASESTUDY: Helping an international charity prepare its speakers for a Virtual Festival – September 2022

An international UK based charity was planning an ambitious week long virtual Festival for its internal audiences. I was invited to run a 50 minute virtual session two weeks earlier, to help speakers and hosts preparing their presentations. By revealing how TV news bulletins are constructed, I left participants with 'takeaways' that would help them open their event with impact -- manage a Q&A with chatty speakers -- and ensure that their event ended on time. Responding to my Feedback survey, all 12 said they would recommend it -- scoring it 8.9/10 for effectiveness. One participant wrote in the Chat afterwards: "Even on a train with dodgy internet, this has been fantastic. I've learned so much and am feeling really excited for the festival now and more confident to host my session."

TESTIMONIAL: Media Training that’s bespoke, not cut-and-paste – August 2022

TESTIMONIAL: Helping UK civil servants deliver virtual courses – July 2022

Hear from a UK government official who booked me to train her team -- and one of the people I trained.

TESTIMONIAL: why having a journalist MC interviewing the winners adds emotional power to an Awards Ceremony – May 2022

The photographer at at the Seahaven Business Awards 2022 tells me how my journalistic approach added power to the event.

CASESTUDY: helping nervous executives, in sensitive public sector roles, appear in the media – May 2022

A public sector organisation, which often faces criticism and scrutiny, wanted to build the confidence of two new executives who needed to be accountable through the media. Over a series of meetings, I discussed their specific needs with their Comms Director, before compiling a bespoke three hour event for them. During this, they took part in a series of light-touch activities that helped them understand what would happen before an interview, during an interview, and what the differences might be between different types of interviews. We watched examples and discussed them. Using a professional BBC camera crew, I interviewed them each, twice, with plenty of time to play back and to discuss their performance — not just with me, but their Comms Director and our cameraman. Both had arrived looking nervous and appearing a little defensive. They both left smiling. The organisation have asked me to retain anonymity because of the nature of their work, but here is what they said as they left: “It was so much fun - and if, like me, you’re nervous, you need it to be fun. But it was meaningful too. I now feel reassured and confident.” “It’s been really positive - and it’s been fun. My takeaway is to be myself. I’d definitely, 100%, recommend it.”
Anonymous, as request of client, because of the sensitive nature of their work.

TESTIMONIAL: feedback from a CEO after my How To Make Your Webinars Interesting training – May 2022

Loved it! Everything that John said made sense and it was all broken down into bite size pieces without any waffle. I loved the fact that it was so interactive too and there was plenty of time for reflection and writing down actions you need to take in the moment so to speak.. Nothing would have made it better for me.
(Anonymous) feedback from CEO after workshop

CASE STUDY: great feedback after my training on how to deliver a webinar – May 2022

A senior clinician at an NHS Trust in Kent was wrestling with an online presentation. I worked with him to focus on stories rather than slides, images rather than data, and a conversational tone rather than a monotone delivery. Four days later he emailed me this: "I thought I would let you know that Friday's talk went really well, in that I enjoyed it, I had lots of appropriate interaction, and got great feedback afterwards, so couldn't have asked for more, really! Thanks again for your time and input! I have sat through a virtual conference today, and have to say, it was a masterclass on what not to do, so I will be pushing people towards you!"
Senior NHS Clinician, Kent

CASE STUDY: Selling a product with a TV programme – April 2022

An international logistics company was bidding for a multi million pound contract from a UK government department. The civil servants told them: “Okay, impress us and our stakeholders with a presentation. You’ll have 45 minutes.” The international logistics company decided to think big. They ditched any notion of a powerpoint followed by a Q&A. 
And they decided instead to produce a 30 minute news programme. It would showcase their product, telling its story and demonstrating how it would actually work. Their own team leaders would be interviewed by a former news reporter, opening the floor for a Question Time interrogation from the government department and stakeholder audience. I was proud to be the Presenter/Reporter of that programme — crafting the reports, working out the questions, conducting the live interviews ... all the while working with a great team of TV producers and directors. Here’s what the client told us afterwards: “We were blown away — your professional news production was seen by all as the icing on the cake.” For confidentiality reasons, I can’t tell you the name of the client or the government department involved, but the TV production was by Jon Hunt at https://flyingreporter.co.uk, the Directing was by Neil Baldock of https://www.cuefanfare.co.uk, the Technical Team was provided by Ben Harper and Claire Wilkie of https://www.limitlessbroadcast.tv, and the camerawork was by Nic Small of https://www.shootfirst.tv