The Action Learning Centre – About Us
Why we do what we do
We set up the Action Learning Centre in 2012 to help people build their resilience, confidence and skills; to improve the world of work; and to help businesses thrive.
We’ve worked with a variety of organisations across sectors in the UK, Europe and Canada. We’ve helped charities become more adaptable, enabled social enterprises to grow in effectiveness, prepared healthcare institutions for change, supported universities to improve performance, and enabled people in the aeronautical industry to be more agile in their thinking.
We know Action Learning is a powerful, productive, adaptable, enjoyable and creative way of working – able to make a lasting difference in and across organisations. It goes beyond problem-solving: it builds reflective practice, leadership, collaboration, self-awareness, sharpens coaching skills, developing more ask rather than tell, and how to support and challenge effectively.
Why Trust Us?
With considerable industry expertise, our team is highly experienced in advanced facilitation, organisational development and team coaching. We’re adaptable, committed to nurturing talent, and able to harness and flex Action Learning’s principles and methodology to your needs.
We’ve helped CEOs develop their leadership skills, worked with individuals to build their facilitation skills, and supported managers with their personal and professional development.
We’re passionate about the benefits and application of this powerful process. Some might say we’re Action Leaning anoraks!
Who we Work With
We work with CEOs who feel isolated and under immense pressure, providing a valuable peer network where they can openly discuss challenges, vulnerabilities, and strategies without judgment.
We support managers and leaders to collaborate across departments to implement new strategies, organisational or change initiatives, helping them find solutions and make smarter decisions to complex challenges together.
We partner with organisations on their development programmes to help embed the learning and apply it within the workplace. By creating a reflective space it ensures that insights gained are not just theories left on the slides but actively integrated into day-to-day operations, driving lasting impact and tangible results/outcomes.
We help communities and social activists tackle complex issues, supporting them to work together as they attempt to change things.
We also run open Action Learning Sets for individuals who want to experience the power of Action Learning outside of a formal organisational programme. These sets bring together people from different organisations and sectors, whether self-funded or supported by their employer, united by a shared commitment to their own growth and development.
They are particularly popular with CEOs and senior leaders from third sector organisations, business owners, and ambitious professionals who recognise the value of having a trusted, confidential space to work through real challenges with a peer group who genuinely understand the pressures they face.
You can register your interest to Join a Set
How We Work With You
Our approach is innovative and dynamic. Using tried-and-tested Action Learning methodology we enable organisational, individual and team development that makes a positive difference in the workplace.
With every new engagement we follow a clear, proven six-step process ensuring what we deliver is aligned to your organisations needs and outcomes.
Explore — We take time to understand what you’re looking to change, gathering information and identifying needs to establish whether Action Learning is the right fit and what success looks like for you.
Design — Working collaboratively with you, we co-design a detailed programme shaped around your data, culture and goals — because thorough set-up makes all the difference to outcomes.
Implement — We deliver the programme, facilitating the interventions and supporting participants to work on real challenges and take meaningful action.
Learn — We help you identify the organisational themes and insights emerging from the work, so the learning can inform and strengthen your wider development activity.
Maintain — We support you to embed the outcomes and build the capability to use and adapt Action Learning independently, so the benefits continue long after we step back.
Review — We help you assess impact, celebrate what’s working, and identify what needs to evolve — keeping you on track and confident in standing on your own two feet.
Testimonials
“Action Learning is an excellent development option that positively impacts on an individual and organisational level. The Action Learning Centre were thoroughly professional, passionate about their work, and a pleasure to work with!”
Jo Lopes Da Silva, Learning and Development, University of Salford