Testimonials
I was instrumental in providing customer service which enabled multi-national companies, normally outside of the CIS tax regulations,to check if their current projects were included. This saved the companies from unexpected tax bills because they had failed to treat their contractors as liable for CIS deductions. Many companies were referred to me from other areas of the country for advice.
'Martena has been responsible for providing excellent advice & customer service to a large number of multi-national companies' D.McGregor, Large Business Service, Birmingham
I was responsible for the re-organisation of the Performance Management System for the clerical staff. There had been no promotions within the office for several years due to failure to encourage the staff & management to maintain proper records.The effect of this was that the office was seen throughout the other departments as a 'dead-end' job & was constantly trying to recruit-unsuccessfully. A review of the staff CVs resulted in a 25% promotion success within 12 months & the same the following year. Together with promoting a positive image this resulted in a waiting list for transfers- eliminating the need for time consuming & costly recruitment drives.
' She is very self motivated. She has developed, encouraged & coached a large percentage of the staff towards promotion. She has the ability to support both management & staff with practical answers.'
R.Clements, Birmingham
APC consultant provided leadership skills training for 2 new managers on communication, planning resources to meet targets, using assertion not aggression & techniques for managing people.
'the trainer is very good at seeing matters from different perspectives. With her guidance I am developing my own questioning skills and long term planning strategies'
'She provides clear direction but has persuaded me to develop and make changes with confidence, knowing I have support. Her practical, wholesome approach has stopped me going insane when dealing with the staff and management on more than one occassion'
Lorna, Team Leader, Birmingham
'She has good communication skills at all levels and all feedback has been extremely positive'
A.Pardoe, Senior Management Board, Birmingham
The re-organisation of the Inland Revenue & Customs & Excise resulted in the amalgamation of 3 offices into one building.The restructure & liasion required to accommodate this, together with the tact & diplomacy needed to persuade very senior staff to adjust to the smaller personal space was accomplished in a very tight deadline.The logistics of alterations & removals defined by lease terminations & finances further complicated the amalgamation. The changeover was achieved successfully by generating a lot of co-operation & goodwill to meet the completion dates.
'I would like to thank you on behalf of the Board of the Inland Revenue. In particular I would like to thank you for your involvement in the recent merger of the Large Business Service. I know that you worked hard to achieve a smooth & efficient changeover'
David Garlick CBE, Director Large Business Service, London
Mentoring new business start-ups on organisation, time:cost analysis, marketing support, confidence
'Martena has an articulate, open & friendly communication style. Her comments are incisive & direct & relevent. She is supportive & encouraging when presenting the next challenge.'
Rachel Mallows, Business Link Assessor
I would like to express my appreciation to A Positive Choice for the business training. I set up my company only 11 months ago and, as I had no previous experience, your support has been invaluable to me. It has been particularly useful deciding on my market priority, assessing profitability and managing my time more effectively. I was very unfoccussed. I can now see a clearer path. Our meetings are a source of encouragement and a forum for airing my concerns about which I have received consistent and practical help.'
Claire Seely Glass Design, Northampton
'thanks for being supportive, constantly encouraging and very practical'
Ryan Bayes, Chilli Jobs Recruitment, Northamptonshire
'Up until now I had never thought about business coaching. I honestly thought my business was too small and in this economic climate it was not appropriate. My session gave me great perspective on where I need to be and how I would get there. I got some great ideas and solutions and a clearer outlook on what I could do next. I would recommend anyone to try business coaching whether your company is large or small'
Jonathan Taylor Osteopathy, Northampton
Martena as a Coach
Pre-retirement coaching to client on financial planning & lifestyle changes:-
'you were both easy to talk to and to listen to. Your summaries of the sessions were very good indeed. You grasped things I had already forgotten I had said'
A.M Field Force, Leicester
Self Confidence coaching on 'being unable to say no when I didn't want to do it', lack of self esteem due to childhood trauma, procrastination on health issues
'I feel so much more in control of my life. I find it easier to say 'no' now when I am uncomfortable'
T.A. Richard Horne, Northampton
'Thank you how you helped me see sense out of the confusion in which I found myself. You enabled me to redefine the boundaries. Your helpful exercises were able to help me look at my life from a different angle'
Reverend F.L, Leicester
'I did a lot of thinking about how to address the issues but it stopped there- thinking about it was all I ever managed to do. With your coaching I have now taken action. Knowing you would be in touch spurred me on'
D.B Barclaycard, Northampton
Coaching on personal stress during divorce which was seriously affecting professional ability
'before I began the programme six months ago I felt I had no real direction in my life. I began to believe I was fighting a losing battle. I have now managed to turn this around completely, which I can only put down to your help. You taught me to view things from a more practical viewpoint and take control again'
S.A Clerical Manager, Birmingham
Coaching on work stress from conflict and work/life balance issues from restructuring of department
'I have learnt so much about myself. Martena has been an invaluable and trusted listener and has given me some valuable tools to put my work life back into balance-just that-balance!
She has enabled me to achieve a new found confidence which has pervaded all areas of my life-work, personal, family. I would recommend her to anyone------I have bought the house!-----I can sleep again ! I had my interview this morning and I have the job, Yey!'
Y.K Northants Police.
'I was experiencing a very harrowing, stressful time at work, which was affecting me professionally & personally. I was unable to discuss this due to confidentiality. Without discussing the actual issue Martena talked me through different scenarios and key indicators helping me to be more constructive and have a better perspective. She is very calming, logical and sincere and can readily empathise with people borne out of her own life experiences. Martena is ideally suited for stress management'
J.L Northants Police
File Gallery