HELLO 2021 & GOODBYE 2020!

By Clare Smale who is the director of Inspired2learn based in Wiltshire which offers executive coaching and training & developing coaches, including ILM coaching and coach supervision qualifications.

As the year starts to turn – how are you feeling about 2021? 

I like the way a new year feels like a fresh opportunity and perhaps that is going to be more important than ever in 2021. I want to focus on opportunities that are most important, such as family, friends, colleagues, health and well-being. 

Connections and community are two words that come to mind looking ahead, both for work and at home. Spending time in our glorious Wiltshire countryside is also going to be important to me in the year ahead, as no matter what the year might bring, there is always a walk, cycle ride or view to be enjoyed and refresh the spirit.

What are your business goals for the coming year? 

To be at our best professionally, so that we can looking after our clients and colleagues and deliver the best possible products and service. We are an SME, so our personal energy, motivation and continued professional development needs to be in good shape if we are going to be effective in our customer support, product delivery and business development planning.

Will you be introducing any new products or services? 

I am setting up a Coaching Mastermind Group in 2021 - details will be on our website soon and we will be rolling out our new ILM level 7 Coach Supervision qualification programme

Will you be looking for any new local suppliers in 2021?

We will possibly be recruiting a Virtual Assistant and also a new face to refresh our website SEO support.

Are you looking to invest in yourself as a business owner or company director in 2021 in any way? 

This year I completed a post-graduate professional Coach Supervision Certificate qualification from Henley Business School. This year I am following this up with continuing CPD events with Henley.

I also receive regular coach supervision myself to ensure I am critically reflecting on my coaching practice.

Looking back across 2020 – name three highlights for you and your business? 

1. Raising £2,000 for the charity Julia’s House Hospice in Devizes and Cancer Research UK – I rode 1,080 miles in Wiltshire as an alternative to the real organised group Lands’ End to John of Groats bike ride I was due to complete, which was cancelled in the first lock down. I’ve been very grateful for sponsorship from inspired2learn, colleagues, clients, family and friends.

2. Responding proactively to the challenges of remote training delivery by adapting a wide variety of our activities to on-line platforms. This enabled us to maintain business continuity and offer a responsive and adapted learning experience for our clients.

3. Both our daughters are nurses in the NHS and we are extremely proud of their front-line work during this Covid-19 period.

Looking back across 2020 – were there any lowlights? How did you face them?

There have been times when we’ve felt physically restricted by the wider measures to protect us during the pandemic. Instead of meeting a variety of people and travelling around the country in a normal working week, like so many people we’ve been working on-line at home for many months now. 

However, we are lucky to have such a wonderful natural environment on our doorstep and we’ve explored corners of Wiltshire we’ve never been to before. 

It has been very disappointing to be one of the ‘Forgotten Ltd’ and not to be recognised by the government as a worthy business. The only way of dealing with this has been to focus our energy into what is in our control and get professional advice from our accountants.

Who, in your business community have been the shining stars of 2020? 

Sarah Caulfield-Ware of CW Consulting in Devizes is a real star looking after our social media and newsletters.

Barbara Leatham Photography was lovely to work with and produced some great photos for use on our website and social media

JS Weeks & Co Ltdour accountants who have been very helpful advising us on our financial strategy at the start of the Covid crisis

Any special offers for 2021 you’d like to mention? 

UFN we are continuing to absorb VAT for individuals who are not VAT registered and are paying out of their own pocket.

And finally: 

A very happy 2021 to everyone!

For more information visit www.inspired2learn.co.uk