Testimonials
The greatest pleasure is seeing our clients meet their own goals and exceed their expectations. Here are some of the kind words that a few of our clients and suppliers have said about the team at Protégé Management Limited.
"Sussex Enterprise and its partners commissioned Protégé Management to design and deliver two workshops and supporting services as part of a LEGI funded Procurement Project in East Sussex. The aim of the workshops was to help SMEs in the Hastings area understand how to win public sector business, and to motivate and enthuse them to look at the public sector as potential customers.
We were very pleased with the professional approach that Protégé took to managing this project. They successfully achieved this programme even though they were working with tight timescales. The workshops described the procurement procedures very well especially from a public sector point of view. It was great to work with Protege Management, and I know that the workshops helped a lot of the businesses to realise the benefits of public sector procurement."
Kim Vicki Andersch,
Project Manager,
Sussex Enterprise
"The workshops provided us with an excellent opportunity to engage with potential providers, the level of quality of both the PQQ and tender submissions increased as a result of the training provided by Protégé Management."
Kim Medhurst, Procurement Strategy Manager, WSCC
"Thank you very much for running the "Picture This" workshop for us at the Marsh Academy. Having reviewed the pupils' feedback I am delighted with the way the session worked to inspire and motivate them. Territory Mapping gave them an opportunity to express their aspirations in a new way and to identify the route they will need to take to get there. A number of the pupils have already expressed an interest in developing their ideas further with us, and it is thanks to your work that we will be able to help them set off on the right path. The session was a resounding success and we look forward to welcoming you next time."
Jason Martin, Gateway Director, South Kent Enterprise Gateway
"We found the workshops really helpful. The facilitator really understood good bid writing and passed on many helpful tips and suggestions. We also had a very amusing section on on presentation skills! We were made aware of the common mistakes people make which can prevent them from being shortlisted. We at Sussex Oakleaf found that the workshop was a great start to our sucessful bid. Of course the bonus is that we can use the learning from this on other tenders too."
Tracey Faraday-Drake Chief Executive Sussex Oakleaf Housing Association
"As a Procurement Manager for a Local Authority, I encourage all our suppliers to have good processes and procedures in place, in most cases this is backed up by the ISO 9001. It is a credit to an organisation like Protégé Management that they have achieved this accreditation. I feel that it can only aid the training they deliver to Small Businesses as they will be able to highlight the positives of undertaking such an accreditation and also explain how to deal with the issues to note along the way. Congratulations to all of you at Protégé."
Janet Barrett, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
"We are delighted that Protégé Management has achieved ISO9001 certification, a reflection of their commitment to quality. We have found Protégé's Directors a pleasure to work with; they are energetic and passionate about their work. As our customers they often give us valuable feedback and suggestions on how we can improve ourselves as suppliers, this is always received by us in the same positive way it is communicated. We look forward to working with Protégé in the coming months as they grow and develop their business further."
Karen Tyrrell Sales & Marketing Manager, Portsmouth Technopole
"Thank you for an interesting presentation and excellent procurement master class at the recent Public Sector Food Procurement event. The procurement master class in particular worked really well and was of tremendous benefit to the food producers and suppliers who attended.
I was impressed by your knowledge of the subject, and the passion in which you delivered this information, relating to your experiences of the food sector. I look forward to working with you again on future food procurement events, to help small local producers and suppliers win public sector contracts."
Melissa Love, Public Sector Procurement Project Manager, South East Food Group Partnership
"Thanks to Territory Mapping CIC the excellent presentation and interactive Territory Mapping session at the Beacon for Growth Conference held in Exeter in November 2006. The Territory Mapping process was extremely well received by the 250 delegates who attended, and I had some very positive feedback following the Conference. Paul delivered the presentation with energy and enthusiasm, and by using his coaching experience and skills he made sure that all the delegates were able engage with the Territory Mapping process, and benefit from the session."
Sue Baker, Project Director, Beacon South West
"Territory Mapping delivered a ‘business vision’ workshop to approximately 30 people on behalf of the South East Hampshire Enterprise Gateway. With the support of a number of coaches working with small groups, our delegates were provided with the opportunity to think freely about their businesses and business ideas without the constraints and worry of having to write a formal business plan. This creative approach sits comfortably alongside the work of the Gateway due to its inclusive nature. Participants came from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances which, in its own right, contributed to an exciting and productive day for all concerned. Participants left the workshop feeling invigorated about their businesses and ready to move forward."
Roopa Master-Coles, SE Hampshire Enterprise Gateway
“We were delighted with the 'Winning Public Sector Business' workshop organised and delivered by Protégé Management. It has encouraged Guildford Borough Council to further consider ways that we can support businesses in the Borough and thereby continue to support economic growth. The delegates all seemed to enjoy the day and were inspired by Paul’s knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm. Protégé marketed the course to local businesses and administered the bookings with efficiency, which helped me tremendously. The training was professionally delivered and tailored to the needs of local businesses and the Council. We look forward to working with Protégé in the future."
Andy Carr, Tourism & Business Partnership Manager, Guildford Borough Council
"Thanks to Protege Management for an excellent couple of days Winning Public Sector training. The businesses who attended learnt so much which they will be able to put into practical use straight away. Paul's down to earth approach focussed the delegates' attention on where they can make the most difference to their business, and highlighted the possibilities of trading with public sector bodies. Having our procurement manager there to answer questions was a bonus too. I look forward to receiving news about the work the delegates have gone on to do!"
Kate Crawford,
Economic Development Officer
Winchester City Council
"Protégé Management has been one of our primary intermediaries for the Business Link Organisational Leadership Management Programme in Wiltshire. They have consistently met tight deadlines and delivered quality results which have contributed to the success of the programme.
Under Karen Bladen's leadership, the company has performed over 50 management interviews and has also successfully delivered training and coaching services to a number of companies under the OLM programme. She has provided excellent liaison and communication - keeping all parties appraised of progress. I would certainly recommend Protégé and look forward to working with them in the future."
Sarah Wearing, Project Manager - OLM, Business Link Wiltshire
"Thanks to Protégé Management for the excellent Winning Public Sector workshops, both days were really well received by the businesses attending. The presentations were really informative and delivered with energy and enthusiasm. By including our Procurement Manager in the day made the course and the content were relevant and tailored to Eastleigh Borough Councils procurement process. The subjects covered were exactly what was needed highlighting the public sector as a huge opportunity, and encouraging local businesses to grow through winning public sector business."
Teresa Smith
Economic Development Officer
"Thank you both for an excellent workshop yesterday, I thought the day went really well, Paul’s presentations were really informative and his presentation style ensured the businesses were able to take in what was a lot of information. Certainly from where I was sitting the businesses seemed to be gaining a lot from the day. Both myself and Gravesham’s Procurement Manager thought the topics covered were exactly what was needed and pitched at the right level, showing the public sector is a large marketplace and illustrating how we do business which will hopefully meet our dual aims of strengthening our indigenous businesses (and opening their eyes to new opportunities) and also enhancing our own supplier base."
Martyn Saunders
Gravesham Borough Council
"Protégé Management Limited have been proactive for a couple of years now in getting local authorities to focus on the benefits of procuring locally and this was demonstrated when they hosted a workshop for Economic Development Officers and Procurers in Hampshire in September. A well-structured workshop enabled all parties to consider their roles in developing the local economy and everyone got to explore areas of ‘best practice’ to evaluate.
We are impressed with Protégé’s expertise and professionalism and thank them once again for taking a lead on such a key issue"
Procurement Development - Hampshire County Council
"Paul Cooper of Territory Mapping CIC delivered two sessions recently for the Women in Enterprise programme, a jointly funded Reading Enterprise Gateway and Social Enterprise Berkshire project. The 3 hour sessions were extremely well received by all those taking part. Through the territory mapping process, the participants were provided with the opportunity to express their business ideas in an open and relaxed manner. This inclusive approach meets the objectives of the Enterprise Gateway. The delegates came from diverse backgrounds and levels of business experience, but they all left the session enthused to move forward with their ideas for business creation."
Shemila Tharani, Director, Reading Enterprise Gateway
"Both Mark and I enjoyed the course and took away lots of golden nuggets that will, undoubtedly, help us win tender business."
Ian Lockwood, Commercial Director, Taylor Made Computing Solutions
"As a small business owner I found myself swamped by the growth my company had made in a short period of time so I began to research and look for training options. I attended a networking meeting and was introduced to the business leader’s scheme. I was offered a review and assistance to identify the areas of development required.
I discovered that a tailor-made approach would benefit my business skills and assist in our progression.
At this point I decided to follow the path of Executive Coaching and met Paul Cooper of Protégé Management Ltd. We then embarked on a series of coaching sessions organised and geared around my company. I found these sessions challenging and stimulating as they encouraged me to think out side of the box and to challenge my well trodden paths. I found Paul to be a dynamic and visionary person who facilitated interesting discussion as well as taking discussion outside the comfort zone in a motivational and thoughtful way.
I found the process to be dynamic moving my business thinking onto the next step in actions and strategy continuing to hone my general business acumen.
Susan Hartley-Raven, Director
Hartley House Montessori Ltd
"Thank you for a brilliant seminar on Saturday. The seminar worked really well and was well received by the Small Businesses in attendance. I was grateful for the opportunity to take part in the seminar and interact with those businesses, as the subject matter allowed and questions were raised. I feel this was an innovation and worked better than a Council Question and Answer Session. Your knowledge of the subject and the way in which it related to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council was fantastic. I gained a great deal of information and knowledge from the seminar personally and will be briefing the Council's Strategic Management Team, Procurement Board and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Supplies Group on this success, and I mean success. Please accept my thanks for a job well done and I look forward to working with you again on the 23 March and in April."
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
"We were very pleased with the results of the Protégé Management 'Winning Public Sector Business' workshop. It has helped the Council begin carrying its side of the Small Business Concordat and thereby supporting economic growth in Test Valley. Moreover, our delegates' feedback has been resoundingly positive. They were inspired by the Protégé's knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm, and the 'clarity and quality of the new ideas put forward'.
We consider the training was professionally delivered, engaging and tailored to the needs of local businesses and the Council and look forward to working with Protégé in the future as a bridge to supporting our local small businesses and voluntary sector organisations."
David Gleave, Economic Development Officer
Test Valley Borough Council
"Territory Mapping is an excellent and innovative way to ensure that your team is aligned and on message, so we decided to use it as the basis for our first two day, off site, senior team business away day. At the end of only one day, we had unanimously agreed our vision and strategy under Paul's expert guidance and coaching. What was so good about the process was the insight it gave us into each other's thought processes and ideas. It helped us to quickly agree the key action points we need to deliver in order to develop our future strategy and continue growing our business. Every one of us would highly recommend Paul and Territory Mapping to any company considering using this process in their own business planning. We will definitely we asking Paul to come back and help us again in the future."
Karen Browne, CEO, William Murray Public Relations
"As a SME owner and operator my time is limited. When we found an exciting opportunity with a large University in London, there was simply no time to get all the paperwork together. Knowing of Protégé Management's expertise in preparing and submitting tenders to the Public Sector, we utilised their professional support service to guide our submission through the complex tendering process with fantastic results.
Karen, our dedicated consultant and mentor, provided us with great guidance and advice, and project managed our bid to completion. Her approach to understanding our industry sector, appreciating our business needs and time constraints was second to none. I knew that I could contact her at any time and be provided with prompt, reliable, expert advice.
Thanks to Protégé Management, our tender was well received by the university and we now face an exciting time of business expansion through contracts with the Public Sector."
Ian Bartlett, MD, Planet Duplication Limited
"Paul impressed me with the first time we met with his direct approach and ability to force issues to be confronted rather than dodged. I still leave every session with my head thumping from mental fatigue, so from that alone I know he is still pushing me beyond my comfort zone.
My whole outlook on the company has changed since we took Paul onboard, with the enthusiasm for the challenge restored to that of the early days when we first formed the business. This change has also been reflected in all our staff”."
Richard Spinney – MD, Henderson Green
"Karen's work in promoting the needs of small businesses in Hampshire has had a significant impact amongst the Local Authorities of Hampshire in their awareness of practical measures of support. In particular, I would point to Karen's work on local purchasing which has led to the signing of the Hampshire County Council SME Concordat and the imminent signing of further agreements by other Local Authorities in Hampshire."
John Rees-Evans, Head of Economic Development
Hampshire County Council
"Your mix of research and training has been excellent in terms of allowing the companies to get out there and try, while changing hearts and minds through the research. Protégé Management has done an excellent job of promoting the workshops and recruiting and delivering. The success of companies in your early training speaks for itself. Following your initial success the strategy board for City Growth Portsmouth was pleased to announce an increase to allow a second phase of training. Your outputs in terms of companies trained form a major plank of the outputs delivered by City Growth to date and have been excellent value for money."
Susan Kirkwood Taylor
Project Manager, City Growth Portsmouth
"I have been using Protégé for eight months now and am repeatedly surprised at the number of different ways they help us. Their professionalism is exemplary and they are not afraid to admit where they need assistance or where we would be better served elsewhere. Paul has been coaching me for just over six months and is the single reason why I feel much more confident as a director, much more skillful in my handling of employees and peers and much happier with my work/life balance. Even my wife and children thank him for his work with me! If I were ever to try and put a figure to the return on investment we have made with Protégé, I think they would seriously consider charging us more! I don't think we could be more satisfied, but know that in 3 months time, they will have raised the bar again."
Henry West, Spearhead Marketing
"Working with Karen has been great for the schools. They have been given the opportunity to work with such a wide variety of businesses, from an organic farm to an executive travel service and this has raised pupils' understanding and awareness of our local labour market as well as possible career choices. The other advantage is that the people volunteering from these companies are often the people who have founded them so they are able to give the students an insight into every aspect of starting up and running a business and their enthusiasm and drive is passed onto students. Schools have a responsibility to engage their students in Work Related Learning and Enterprise activities, neither of which is very effective without the input of real businesses so volunteers from the FSB go a long way in helping schools with this agenda. Working with our Karen has been extremely helpful both in co-ordinating communications with members and in promoting working with schools and recruiting volunteers."
Jenie Macindoe, Solent Skill Quest Ltd (SW Hants Education Business Partnership)
"Karen is superb, and she is always on the end of the phone for ready comment. If only other press officers in similar organisations could be as efficient and helpful! Karen's commitment has provided noticeable results. She is always willing to provide case studies, or to put us in contact with relevant experts. I would rate Karen as one of the top ten PR people I deal with on a constant basis, which is no mean thing, bearing in mind we receive hundreds of e-mails, calls and letters every day."
Ron Wain, Business Editor, Southern Daily Echo, Southampton
"The training was great - very informative - only downside was I wanted more!"
Kim Brown - Chief Executive,
The Hampton Trust, Basingstoke
"Professional course for professional people"
Neil Rossiter, MD, Blueprint Foods Ltd
"The course was one of the best that I have ever attended. A tremendous amount information was covered in a short time, but with the type of presentation that Paul gives, and the patience that he shows, all subjects were made interesting and easy to follow.
I have attended similar courses in the past and found that these seemed to be aimed at demonstrating the knowledge of the presenter and not aimed at passing information on. This certainly was not the case with this workshop."
Sylvia Williams, Willclean Cleaning Services
"Completely new to the public sector bidding process, I now feel confident to search, approach and submit tenders "
Marie Curry, Director, The Glass Centre
"Highly recommended to SMEs looking for business opportunities"
Annette Welfare
National Education & Training Consultant
"Very well done - lots of areas/topics covered, many tips/hints provided, relaxed and comfortable environment"
Claire Wolstencroft, Social Business Solutions
"Have definitely increased my knowledge and awareness of public sector procurement"
Toby Shaw, MD, Ascend
"Excellent - Clear, User friendly language - well structured, delivered with Humour and Drive/Pace"
Katherine Devitt, Pharos Consultancy
"Paul assisted us in identifying potential problems for our business looking both inwardly and outwardly, and by addressing the three key issues of – where do we want the business to go?, will the staff be fully ‘on board’ with us?, and are the Directors and Associates Directors communicating effectively? – and through his coaching, we developed a strategy for the next 5 years. It is amazing how positively our staff have responded. We are still in the early stages and yet just an awareness that something positive is happening has brought the team closer."
Rob Pratt, Henderson Green
"A wise and professional coach, Paul has helped me shift some significant blocks to my business development. As a direct result of Paul’s coaching I am pursuing new markets with vigour and already getting results.”
Kate Daniels, H+D Consulting
"I found Paul's coaching to be amazingly productive; it brought great clarity of focus to my current challenges. He has a natural manner and ability to put clients at ease whilst enabling them to get swiftly to the heart of the matter."
Karen Galley, Transport for London
"Inspirational; diverse and professional in his approach, but with a deep understanding of business and people issues. Very insightful"
Helen Hayward, IBM UK
"Direct, fun, open and professional. A very committed and focused coach"
Avril Millar, The Lab Experiment
"Paul has a light touch with great integrity and certainty. He has a fantastic coaching mentality with deep knowledge of business at all levels."
Kitty Fitzherbert
"A fun guy whose approach to coaching is reassuring to the coachee and immediately puts one at ease."
Kate Tingey
News
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Protégé talks to "Growth Point" Magazine [pdf] 
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