We’re proud of the high levels of service that we provide, and the long term relationships this has allowed us to build with our clients over the past decade. Indeed, we still continue to work with our very first client, despite having no contractual tie-ins. Consequently, most of our new business comes from the word-of-mouth recommendations of people we’ve helped previously.
But don’t just take our word for it. We think our reviews speak for themselves. They’re all totally genuine, so we’re not afraid to let you know exactly who said what. And what’s more, we don’t offer any incentives for positive reviews, we just ask people nicely to give us honest feedback.
If you’re based in the Derby area, you probably already know someone who knows us.
So, just go ahead and ask them yourself what we’re actually like to work with!
Knowledge and experience has been invaluable
Sarah has supported our company for the past year, her knowledge and experience in regards to HR has been invaluable. We will continue to use Loates HR Consultancy in the future. Thanks Sarah.
Trusted voice of advice and experience
Working as an extension to the team, Sarah has been a trusted voice of advice and experience to my growing business. She has given me the support and guidance I needed to expand my workforce through clear and straight-forward direction. I find Sarah to be knowledgeable, flexible and approachable.
Most professional, excellent service
I found Sarah from Loates HR Consultancy to be most professional from the start of her intervention until the end. Sarah made a difficult situation as simple and straightforward as possible for me as the owner of a small/medium sized business with limited HR resources and experience. The level of anxiety for me and my team was reduced by Sarah’s intervention which was fair to all parties whilst safeguarding the business within the realms of employment law. I would recommend Sarah and her company to any employer who needs HR representation, advice and support. Sarah can be relied upon and I will certainly be using her excellent service should the need arise in the future.
Extremely professional
I have known Sarah for over 8 years and when Calor required some additional support for its talent programmes and Development Centre, I had no doubt that Sarah at Loates HR Consultancy could provide the high quality assistance that Calor would expect, and Sarah quickly arranged and secured the high quality assessment support we had requested. This support worked very well and the assessor was able to pick up the responsibilities quickly and was extremely professional, with both the depth and breadth of experience that added value to our process. We would certainly look for Loates HR Consultancy to support us in the future.
Sensible, logical and pragmatic
Sarah has been our HR adviser for 4 years. Sarah works as part of our team and brings her great personality, excellent knowledge and track record of experience to the business. We have always found Sarah’s support and advice to be sensible, logical and pragmatic and have no hesitation in recommending her.
Loates HR Consultancy have been so supportive
Loates HR Consultancy have been so supportive. Taking on that first employee can be so daunting, but Rosie and team really laid everything out for us so we were very clear what processes we needed to follow and also what paperwork we needed to get in place. We look forward to working with Loates HR Consultancy as our company develops further – thank you!
Loates HR Consultancy are very much part of our team
Loates HR Consultancy are very much part of our team, providing good clear advice just when we need it. They provide the perfect HR solution for any SME.
Professional, sensitive and supportive
Professional, sensitive and supportive, a great addition to our management support team
Professional, sensitive and practical
We were recently referred to use Loates HR Consultancy and have been pleased with our HR consultant’s professional, sensitive and practical approach to her HR advice to support us with our HR and employee queries.
Impressed with their professionalism
We used Loates HR Consultancy to carry out an assessment of our current HR polices and to provide a solution to ensure we are compliant. Rosie and the team were thorough and efficient in providing the material we needed to ensure this was the case. There were several discussions and amendments to the documents but the steps taken to reach the final product were quick, easy to understand and well documented. I have been impressed with their professionalism and consequently, I have referred several clients to the team.
Fantastic interactive/inclusive teaching style
Deb have now used Loates Management Training to deliver 3 management coaching sessions, each of which has been very well received. Sarah has a fantastic interactive/inclusive teaching style which really gets the best out of the group and helps to underpin the core learning. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Loates Management Training to others, they are professional, and deliver effective, fun training sessions – a breath of fresh air.
All the staff involved gave glowing accounts
During post-recession business expansion it was felt that senior managers would benefit from some training in leadership, time management, personal impact and self-awareness skills. Using Sarah’s HR experience and training abilities it was possible to combine this with a search for potential future directors. All the staff involved gave glowing accounts of the way Sarah has improved their management capabilities. Even the management training doubters were won around! Output from the staff exercises and insights from Sarah have been combined with staff performance appraisals to identify directorial talent. We will not hesitate to use Sarah’s services again when we need them.
Sarah helped our senior staff with HR and management training. All feedback from staff was positive and I’m sure it wasn’t just because of the chocolate rewards used in some of the exercises! Her training and insight has aided us in targeting potential future Directors of the company and empowered other staff in their management roles.
We all found the training valuable
We all found the training valuable and it was delivered in a cheerful / professional way that made it interesting and not boring as some courses can be.
Excellent training
Having worked with Sarah previously, I didn’t hesitate in contacting her when a requirement arose for some management training. From our initial contact, Sarah picked up very quickly on what was required and went on to provide excellent training to the whole of our staff. She pitched the training perfectly and demonstrated her knowledge with aplomb when answering questions during the sessions. All feedback on Sarah’s training was very positive. Thank you Sarah!
Extremely efficient and quick to respond
We have been working with Loates HR Consultancy on a range of projects over the past couple of years. We have always found them to be very welcoming and are always committed to meeting our requirements. We have found them to be extremely efficient and quick to respond and we have been delighted with the overall result.
Responsive and professional
I have known Sarah and the team at Loates HR Consultancy for six months and during this time Sarah and her team have played an integral part in supporting us in our HR function. Sarah took time to quickly understand our business and developed a plan to review key documents. The team at Loates have provided their support and services to our charity on a pro bono basis, which we are especially grateful for as it is a challenge for us as a charity to buy in this specific function, although it is key to the professional running of the charity. The team are responsive and professional and we hope to have their continued support and expertise for the foreseeable future.
Informative, fun and engaging
Sarah’s training sessions are informative, fun and engaging. She has been very accommodating and flexible, tailoring her courses to our needs and managing our last minute requests with a smile on her face! I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.
Loates Management Training are very easy to deal with and extremely accommodating, tailoring training material and content to the clients needs. Courses are delivered in a clear and concise manner making the content easy to understand and are excellent value for money, Highly recommended.
Great delivery style and so knowledgeable
You’ve got such a great delivery style Sarah and so knowledgeable that I think everyone should come on your courses! I am your number 1 fan!
Comprehensive and engaging
We recently had the privilege of attending one of their training workshops on the subject preparing for GDPR. The workshop was incredibly well planned and delivered in a comprehensive and engaging manner, the workshop included the supply of valuable assets and documents for attendees to take away and use within their business. I have come away from this workshop feeling far more knowledgeable and prepared for the new GDPR legislation.
Full of insight and research
If you’re going to get conned into a seminar on GDPR it might as well be one that is full of insight and research that you’d spend 100s of hours on yourself ! And then a bonus of spreadsheets and templates to make your life so much easier leading up to May !!
I can thoroughly recommend this training and trainer
Having been on two GDPR training sessions which failed to inform how to implement it, this training from Sarah Loates of Loates Training was all and more that you could ask for. Clear, concise, interactive, step by step, Q&A to show exactly how to implement all that is needed to be compliant. Added to this was a toolkit of templates and slides/information to ease the process, given on an encrypted pen stick. Leaving the session armed also with the facility of after support, I can thoroughly recommend this training and trainer.
Very professional, friendly and always on hand
We first heard of Loates HR Consultancy through a client of ours, and they came highly recommended. After now being one of their clients for 7 months we can see why! The Loates team are very professional, friendly and are always on hand to give advice when needed. They have also developed various documents for us and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Loates HR Consultancy are helping us to take our business to another level!
The training was brilliant
The training was brilliant – took away a lot of information. Tell Sarah she scored 5 star all areas – polite, professional, knowledgeable and I wouldn’t change a thing
Professional, understanding and a great listener
Again another big thank you to Loates HR Consultancy for the support they have given Austin Community Enterprise Limited. This is our first time working with a HR consultant and we are very pleased with the support that she has given us, she is professional, understanding and a great listener. Her extensive knowledge has helped to gained us a positive outcome.
Informative and very useful
The training was a mixture of learning material, case studies and example activities.
I found this course very helpful for my day to day duties within my role, it gave me a better understanding of how to approach and deal with any such issues which may arise in the workplace and has given me the confidence to handle them efficiently.
Sarah Loates (the course trainer) gave us as a group opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and gave sound advice on the course topic.
I would certainly recommend Loates Management Training to others.
Thank you
Fantastic course
I found the course very interactive and there was a real open forum for discussion with clear ‘learning points’ throughout. The team felt energised from the session which enables us to come us with some realistic action points from the sessions. Fantastic course, what I found most impressive what how it felt like the session was being run by someone who really understood the organisation.
Excellent, Personable and Professional!
We have been partnering with Loates HR Consultancy for several months now. Our HR consultant’s advice and support is second to none. It’s great to be able to discuss people challenges and have her external perspective; she acts as a true business partner. The whole team at Loates HR Consultancy are great and we value their input greatly. Highly recommended!
Putting the Fun in Fundamentals
Brilliant workshop learning about various Human Resources policies and the importance of having them, even in small businesses. It was very interesting from start to finish and educational without being boring. Would highly recommend this workshop.
Quality Management Training !!
I arrived at training centre feeling a bit apprehensive but was trained by a HR Jedi giving me a boost in confidence and greater understanding of HR practices, The training consisted of Case studies past experiences and example activities.
I found this course very helpful for my day to day duties within my role, it gave me a better understanding of how to approach and deal with any difficult issues which may arise in the workplace and has given me the confidence to handle them efficiently and proactively.
Sarah Loates (the course trainer) was very engaging and I felt tailored the course to my needs I was given the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and go over sections that I felt I needed more training on, Sarah at all times remained her very bubbly self which gave me the opportunity to gain the maximum from this course.
I would definitely recommend this training as I believe this to be beneficial to any line manager. I would certainly recommend Loates Management Training to others.
Thank you for your patience and sound advice 🙂
Thanks Sarah!
Enscite asked Sarah to run a workshop on important HR policies required for Small Businesses so that our clients are better equipped to understand some of the HR requirements in relation to this. The session was really well run and both engaging and informative so that our clients went away with better knowledge and having enjoyed their learning experience.
Great job Sarah!
Comprehensive and enjoyable
Sarah provided us with two very comprehensive and enjoyable management training days, designed to further develop the skills of our Line Managers.
The course content and learning styles needed were varied and interactive, encouraging us to work independently and in small groups.
Everyone enjoyed the days and we would definitely use Loates Management Training again for future training needs. Thank you!
Mental Health First Aid Training
A highly informative and interesting course, delivered sensitively yet entertainingly. I now feel way more equipped to deal with mental health issues both in my personal and professional life. A hugely beneficial two days – thank you.
The MHFA Two Day course is superb
The MHFA Two Day course is superb. The Loates trainer delivered the course in a relaxed and enjoyable manner, engaging everybody and making difficult subjects very easy to discuss and learn about. The practical exercises were actually fun but with a serious point, the Hearing Voices one really brought home to me how some people suffer. The course covers depression and anxiety, suicide, psychosis and gives you a framework to use to help people. The course book is huge, well produced and contains more detailed information than you need for the course, you take it away and dip in it at your leisure. Loates training rooms allowed for small group work and large discussions with large screen and good sound.
This course opened my eyes to what people go through, and that many people are affected. Everyone was open which added to the learning atmosphere. I recommend this course to everyone, all levels and all roles. The more we talk, the stronger we all are.
Professional, Knowledgeable & Friendly
The advice and information I received when dealing with Loates HR Consultancy was informed, knowledgeable and relevant. It was delivered in a friendly and professional way ensuring that I came away with everything I needed. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this company to others.
Mental Health First Aid training; a great investment.
I recently attended the 2-day Mental Health First Aid training at Loates Management Training and am really pleased I did. Sometimes it’s hard to allow yourself two days ‘off work’ and invest in your own development, but I’m glad I did. Apart from increasing my knowledge about mental health, the training has given me the confidence to approach staff about mental health, the focus to further invest in mental health awareness and – as a great bonus – the importance of self-care was a great reminder.
P.S. The training room in Loates’ new facility in Darley Mills is fantastic too – onsite parking and a stroll in the park at break time.
A Good Day’s Training!
Loates Management Training were approached to provide 2 in-house half day training courses on ‘Recruitment & Selection’ to staff and trustees involved in this practice. Throughout all correspondence, Sarah has been very professional, helpful and took time to understand what we as an organisation required and what we are about.
The training itself, was relevant to us as an organisation, highlighted best practice and current law and used a mixture of presentation and interactive sessions to assist our learning. It was very well received by all involved, was informative and challenged all to think about the practices we use. It was also a lot of fun!
Overall, we are extremely pleased with the training provided which we also feel was good value for money. The Liversage Trust would have no hesitation in using Loates Management Training again for any further needs.
Informative and interesting course
Sarah provided training to a group of line managers in our business with the aim of giving them more confidence in dealing with everyday situations which they come up against. Sarah delivered the training in an informative and interesting way and engaged the managers which made the day go by in a flash. Sarah was also very flexible with timings in order to accommodate the different shifts. I would recommend Loates Management Training to any business.
A great training session
I just wanted to say thank you to Sarah for a great training session yesterday for Timms Solicitors partners, associates and the management team. We thoroughly enjoyed the session and the energy in the room was brilliant. I have learnt a great deal about my team and they have learnt about themselves and how to manage their behaviour in the office and gain respect from the staff. I must say I was very proud of the way they all engaged and the contributions they made. Thank you so much for bringing out the best in us.
High Quality Professional Training
I attended the Mental Health First Aid course held by Loates Management Training last week, I was impressed by the quality of training delivered, the course content was excellent and the reference material we took away was of a very high standard.
The venue was perfect the room was well ventilated and roomy and all the IT worked first time! Result!
I would also like to mention Loates’ team – they welcomed us and kept us well fed and watered throughout the course, they were professional courteous and delightful.
I would have no issue recommending this excellent HR consultancy for any training needs.
Fantastic!
I had a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere when I attended the mental health first aid course. The lunch was wonderful and tea and coffee was always available. I would recommend Loates Management Training every time for your training needs.
Excellent Course
Loates Management Training have fantastic offices in Darley Abbey Mills, which were perfect for holding the training course.
The course instructor was very knowledgeable and delivered the 2 day course well. The course itself was informative, it helped increase awareness of mental health, the importance of having positive mental health, and the difficulties people can experience when they have poor mental health.
Having completed the course, I’m now better equipped to spot poor mental health and know how best to approach and support this in the workplace.
Boosted my spirit and made me laugh lots!
I have attended numerous training sessions with Loates and always find them to be an engaging and relevant trainers. My last session on ‘How to rebuild employee trust and morale’ was a worthwhile couple of hours that boosted my spirit and made me laugh lots! Now I am looking to see what other sessions you offer!
Really helpful webinar
I found the content of the webinar really helpful in making suggestions to tweak our performance review process. As a business we are in the early implementation stages of carrying out performance reviews so it was a very timely session. Employee engagement is one of the key issues to the business succeeding. The webinar gave us an opportunity to do some little breakout exercises which gave us an opportunity to reflect on how we could help to develop our colleagues. With this being more of a workshop session we also have the opportunity to interact with others on the session. It was interesting to learn of the challenges others had and how they were trying to resolve them.
The trainer is clearly a bookworm and made a number of suggestions regards to reading material to consider. My Audible account is now down to zero credit and Amazon have delivered some bedtime reading.
Thanks Loates for running this session; I found it really helpful.
Extremely Helpful
With being new to the company, and having zero HR knowledge, Loates really helped me understand what I needed to know. The HR consultant was extremely helpful and would also get back to me in an acceptable time manner. I would highly recommend using Loates HR to anyone.
Outstanding
From the initial query regarding this course to its delivery, I couldn’t fault anything. The pre-course information and joining instructions were given in good time and everyone from Loates was friendly, professional and made you warm to them immediately. The course itself was fantastic, the manual and workbook will be used for years to come as it has so much information in it and will become my reference guide for a lot of things. The trainer was brilliant and put everyone at ease for what could potentially be a harrowing course and the attendee interaction was excellent too. Would highly recommend this course and Loates Management Training in future
Don’t be afraid
This course was offered by Loates Management Training and I’m very glad I booked onto it.
This course is a must for those that feel they are afraid to approach and offer support to a person with a mental health issue for fear of ‘getting it wrong’.
The course builds on your strength as a listener and teaches skills to support and help those around you whether at work or at home or even yourself when you are struggling with every day problems and pressures.
Efficient, reliable advice
We have worked with Loates HR Consultancy for a number of years now and they are always quick to respond to any queries we have. I am always confident that the advice / service we receive from Loates HR Consultancy is accurate, timely and professional.
Professional, approachable and knowledgeable.
Loates has provided support on a range of HR matters. Our HR consultant’s knowledge and expertise is clear. We value her ability to weigh up a situation, considering the needs of all parties. She is objective and fair at all times. She provides a friendly and professional service, responding quickly and effectively to any matter. We have found the support provided by Loates invaluable for our business operations.
Professional and very knowledgeable
Loates has provided support on a range of HR matters. They always respond so quickly in a helpful and concise manner. The consultants are very helpful and has the right approach. I would highly recommend Loates HR Consultancy.
Excellent Service
Loates has been a huge help to our company especially as we experienced managing employees for the first time and trying to navigate all the challenges that come along with that. The HR consultant answered all my questions and helped me through some difficult situations. I’ve also attended a couple workshops led by Sarah who is wonderful at communicating and clarifying the sometimes complicated HR issues. 100% would recommend.
Mental First Aid at Work Training Course
The Mental Health at Work Training was really useful, with practical skills to help both in and out of the workplace. The course was very engaging and I was made to feel comfortable and supported while covering the course material.
A good start
A good start to mental health issues. I work with a lot of people with social anxiety and was hoping to gain more info on this topic but understand it may be a bit niche. I have definitely upskilled by attending this course.
An eye opening but great course and a huge support throughout from both trainers
The course was great – Both trainers were very knowledgeable on subject and full of empathy for offers of experiences within the training session.
Can’t wait to complete more courses through Loates – thanks again.
Excellent training
I found the mental health first aid training excellent, it was delivered sensitively and professionally, everyone’s points of view were considered and respected. I would thoroughly recommend this training to other voluntary sector organisations.
Essential and well delivered training
This training is essential for managers and employees who need to have a clear understanding of Mental health and practical structured ways to support their team.
Mental Health First Aid does exactly that.
I really benefited from the trainer’s open-ness and professional knowledge coupled with the group discussions and learning gained from other candidates in different industries was extremely valuable.
It has really helped me identify new ways of working and supporting the health of my team. This course, just like physical first aid gives clear guidance on immediate support that can be applied in a multitude of scenarios.
I would recommend this training for at least one person in every workplace.
Very understanding and knowledgeable
Hi I really enjoyed this course and the course trainer is very understanding and knowledgeable. It was very nice to talk to people outside my work with no judgement. The only criticism I have is the course was a bit short. I could be on that course for the whole day and get more out of it although I have learned a great deal with the course. I intend to have more courses like this one in the future. A big thank you to Loates.
Really good and interesting and very useful
The webinar was perfect for me the content was really good and interesting and very useful. The interaction just by message was better for me than being on camera. Thanks for a good course.
Great training
Considering the topic of mental health first aid the consultant made the training informative, yet it was also an enjoyable experience. They made it inter-active and wasn’t just following a power-point presentation. I have come away with a huge amount of knowledge to take back to my workplace.
Really useful tips
I really enjoyed the session and found some really useful tips that will help me in the future. The trainer was engaging and shared some personal experiences which was brave and helped to illustrate the points.
Really helpful
I love the half-day session. I was fully engaged throughout. The trainer knows how to bring the material to life and provide a thought-provoking session.
I would certainly recommend this session.
Great tutor, venue and course
The fabulous tutor was very knowledgeable and involved all the group in discussions and exercises which made it all very enjoyable as well as informative. Great venue as well.
Valuable
A great workshop, very much brought to life by the trainer’s bubbly personality, her personal willingness to share her journey which was infectious on the groups openness.
Much insight around stressors and the ability to cope with them, which provided for some valuable take aways. With having a slightly more informed insight into Stressors and Coping Strategies (MSc), I did wonder whether the presentation might have benefited from a little academic insight in the intro ie What stress is. Generally the 2 categorisations of coping mechanisms ie Problem Solving and Emotional regulation. But all in all very insightful, enjoyable and useful.
Absolutely amazing! Her knowledge, skills & passion for teaching mental health awareness is out of this world.
I recently attended a 2 day mental health first aider training program.
All the team were friendly & welcoming into their lovely, modernised training suite set in the gorgeous Darley Abbey Mills.
The trainer was absolutely amazing! Her knowledge, skills & passion for teaching mental health awareness is out of this world.
The training consultant was so flexible & attentive to our needs. I have a disability & she went the extra mile to make me comfortable by organising a parking space right outside the building, providing me with an erganomic chair & more opportunity for mobility so we weren’t sat down for long periods of time. This was all done discretely by asking me what they could do to help by email & I witnessed her asking others if mobility activities would help them also. (It was a red hot day for training & I think all appreciated it). I observed her modifying the activities to meet others needs too; as & when they arose.
They encouraged & provided equal opportunity for all to share their own experiences. She listened to all with genuine interest & helped us to see how our experience fitted in with the mental health first aider action plan.
Fresh water, fruit & other snacks were on our table to help ourselves to, throughout the day. Plenty of breaks were provided with a lovely buffet lunch too.
I highly recommend the course & this particular training provider.
Thank you & well done to the whole team, you’re all amazing!
MHFA Training
What could have been PowerPoint overload and an emotionally difficult couple of days was handled brilliantly with excellent delivery by the trainer, who used a combination of the course content and her own experiences to create an engaging and inclusive environment for everyone. I would 100% recommend this course delivered by Loates to every business!
Fantastic Course!
The course was held by Loates. There was a fantastic presenter, who made the entire course enjoyable with her vast knowledge of management and ability to make the course fun for all!
I would definitely recommend it to all.
Great Training Session!
Sarah and the other trainer work well as a team and they delivered an exceptional session regarding conflict resolution and mediation skills. They provided us with a lot of information, but also kept everyone engaged by doing group activities. What I enjoyed the most was the fact that it wasn’t just another boring reading of PowerPoint Presentation, but a wealth of knowledge and engagement from both trainers. No question too difficult and a day well spent!
Thank you for equipping me with a lot of knowledge and I look forward to seeing you soon!
Highly recommended!
Sarah and the trainer created a tailored training programme to meet our business needs, which was great! The courses were full of insightful information and we left equipped with useful tools and techniques to implement into our businesses. The courses were engaging, inclusive and fun!
Fantastic
A fantastic trainer, the content and input is always insightful and practical and I look forward to courses with Loates. These courses have boosted my confidence as a new manager.
Great Educational Course
I participated in a 2 day training course for a qualification as a MHFA first aider. The course was really good, well delivered and a success, I feel confident in being able to deliver what was taught and given to me within my work role and in general. Thank you Loates!!
Excellent training
I attended the 2 day Mental Health First Aider training ran by Loates. There was excellent communication and information leading up to the course. The course itself was very interesting and informative with lots of interactive opportunities over the 2 days. Training room was very comfortable and lunch and refreshments provided on each day was fantastic. For anyone thinking about completing this course I would definitely recommend the course and the trainer was fantastic. We will definitely be booking on another delegate.
5 star course
The course was 5 star, the trainer put us at ease from the first minute and delivered the course superbly. she gave us time to take on board the information and didn’t try to bombard us with information.
every session of the course was explained and all the delegates got involved and active in the day.
I enjoyed the course and now have some knowledge to use when helping people with their issues. Nothing was too much trouble for the trainer so brilliant.
Must also add that the shortbread supplied was not only delicious it was M&S too.
I would recommend this course to anyone thank you for all your work in training people up to help those with mental health issues
Thank You
MHFA
Overall very impressed. The course was well taught by the trainer who was knowledgeable, funny, open and kind. I would recommend to anyone for the simple benefit to further their understanding of the invisible struggles of yourself and others around you. I feel more confident to be able to spot people who are struggling and more able to approach them to be of assistance where possible. The atmosphere made it feel like a safe space and meeting people and hearing others’ views and stories was also beneficial to the learning experience.
Thank you!
MHFA Refresher January 2023
Huge thanks to Loates for running a very informative and positive MHFA refresher course. Great content and course structure.
Excellent training
I recently attended the 2-day MHFA course and it was a pleasure to have the instructor for the 2-days, you can tell that she has been delivering training for some years as she was very knowledgeable and comfortable in delivering the course subject matter. I envisaged the course to be very intense and PowerPoint driven but this was not the case there was plenty of interaction on the course with other attendees and chances to discuss our own experiences which really helps in linking everything together from the course content. Plus any instructor that brings a goodie basket will always be welcome. A thoroughly enjoyable course thank you again.
You were approachable and made the group feel welcome
I really enjoyed the course, and you were excellent in your delivery of the course material. You were approachable and made the group feel welcome and at ease. I gained some valuable knowledge and feel confident in encouraging conversation in situations I may face in my personal and work life. Overall, although some of the topics discussed were quite intense, I had a positive experience and would recommend more people attend the course to raise awareness.
Excellent, flexible and accessible support for a growing charity
Trent Rivers Trust has been working with Loates for nearly a year. They have steered us through an update of HR policies and a re-organisation process as well as being there to talk through a number of HR related issues. For a small growing charity without internal HR, their support has been hugely beneficial to me as a CEO navigating my organisation through a number of HR tasks and issues. I have found the Loates team to be available, clear in their advice and providing what I have asked for quickly and professionally. I would wholeheartedly recommend working with Loates to other organisations similar to mine.
How did we manage without them?
I have found the team at Loates to be nothing short of brilliant. I always get a really quick response to emails and the tone is always calm and confident, which immediately makes me feel better about whatever HR drama has cropped up in my day.
Their in-person support at meetings is invaluable. I’m sure they have seen it all before, but they make us feel that whatever is going on at our company really matters to their company.
If the person I normally deal with is not available, any of the team are able to pick up the issue and continue the excellent level of service, which suggests really good in-house communication.
I’m a bit scared to think that we used to run our company without the support of Loates – what were we doing?!?
Amazing
I attended the two day mental health first aider course , with Loates. The teacher was amazing , very knowledgeable and understanding . would highly recommend this training.
Prompt and efficient service
In our time using the services of Loates, we have always found the team to be very responsive to queries coming back to us in a very quick timeframe and providing excellent advice and support for all HR matters, both by email or virtually in meetings.
Always on hand to help
Loates HR have supported us through a complicated TUPE process. I had the pleasure of working alongside the HR consultant to get the process initiated and safely over the line, she was an absolute godsend! Always professional, positive and supportive – I know I’d have struggled without her. So thank you for all your help and guidance.
Informative and engaging
Loates training sessions are informative, and engaging.I found this course very useful for my day to day role , it gave me a better understanding of what authentic leadership is about and how to approach and deal with issues which may arise in the workplace and has given me renewed confidence to handle them effectively.
Loates Management Training courses are delivered in a clear and concise manner making the content easy to understand , Highly recommended.
Enjoyable, knowledgeable and skill developing training
The training had me engaged throughout. A lot to take in but all very interesting and useful. Especially liked ways to manage difficult conversations and looking at the storm model and update my own methods! Very much liked the three steps to accelerate trust as a tool. Thoroughly enjoyed ‘The menti metre’ as it was great looking directly at results in the moment to get an example of shared beliefs and understanding how important our own values are when being authentic leaders! Great course and would recommend it to others.
Very interesting and helpful
I found this course to be incredibly valuable in highlighting the significance of knowledge. The content was both engaging and informative, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Sarah, our instructor, was delightful and effectively communicated complex concepts. I am eager to take more courses offered here in the future.
Great conversation starter
Well executed course, which provided well thought out and informative group work during course, as well as many discussions later during scheduled breaks. Much to think about.
Great!
Excellent subject matter, presented and delivered wonderfully. Sensitive subject (due to wider societal issues) but material was delivered well with good supporting examples and material. Prompted a lot of thoughts and discussions which I believe it a good thing – raises awareness and conscious level. I am a fan of this training! Thank you.
Useful course
This was a useful course covering some well known and less well known issues in discrimination. It’s interesting to see the views on the differences between banter, bullying and harassment. This is a massive subject, quite contentious in many ways and open to much debate but the course aims to set the ground rules and increase awareness in the workplace.
Excellent training with an understanding of the human condition
Working with Loates Training has been very informative within a very friendly atmosphere,
The trainer is able to break down any barriers, and to create an environment which is ideal for learning.
The topics covered have been very relatable and with break out sessions being fun an ensures the involvement of all staff.
I would not hesitate to recommend Loates and their team of professionals for any management training.
Brilliant course
Really enjoying this course. Very informative. The course tutor was very knowledgeable along with being approachable.
Great Course
I really enjoyed this course and the content was just right. A valuable insight into mental health and how it may impact on the individual you are supporting. Signs to look out for, some of which are not obvious. A lot of group work, which I prefer, as you can brain storm together and learn from each other. Some great video’s to watch too.
How to be an ‘active listener’, which is not as easy as it sounds. Role play helped with this. The manual you can access online is a great resource.
What an honour to gain this qualification and to be able to support your colleagues.
Great course
Although having been a manager for many years there is always more you can learn. Also, provides an opportunity to reflect on your own practice and validate you are ‘doing a good job’!. This course did exactly that.
Sarah, the trainer, was fantastic, delivered the course really well, got everyone engaged. I particularly liked the way she asked participants questions without them necessarily expecting it. Very easy during virtual training to be distracted with other work, particularly with the camera off! Sarah made sure she had everyone’s attention, gave everyone the opportunity to contribute and was very knowledgeable about the subject. She utilised participants experience well.
Great course, would highly recommend to new and long standing managers.
Great learning experience, packed with practical applications
What an amazing course. This course provided me with practical working material and structures which are useful way beyond conflict management.
The trainer was engaging and responsive and straight to the point. Clearly knowledgeable she was able to respond to scenarios and guide us on the use of the material.
I have since utilised these methods and they really work.
Management Development Programme – Thank you!
The Loates trainers visited our offices this week for the second run of our Management Development Programme that they have developed for FPCR. We found them to be excellent in their delivery of the training, and very knowledgeable. All of our staff members enjoyed the training and looking to put our new tools into practice.
We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Loates Training to other companies and look forward to welcoming them back in May for the next round of training.
Engaging delivery
Sarah delivered the session via a blended approach, with a healthy mix of PPT, break out exercises and Mentimeter voting. The session was tailored to Pennine Healthcare’s needs, time management was excellent and Sarah’s professional knowledge shone through.
I’m very happy to recommend Loates Training. (The continuous flow of chocolate was an added bonus).
Thank you
The course was really good and I really enjoyed the interaction with the trainer
I think the course was really beneficial for my role in the company, however, I thought it could be a bit longer than we had. I would like to have similar kinds of courses in terms of management to broaden my experience into managing people better. The interaction with the trainer was good and also the references such as the authors and the clips were outstanding. I would recommend people to get into those kind of courses.
Great training and recommended
Great two days training, sessions interactive and led by knowledgeable trainers. Interaction with the attendees and support offered very good and would highly recommend this course to anyone wishing to offer Mental Health First Aid support in their organisation
Would Highly Recommend!
I attended a Mental Health First Aid course with Annie. We were fortunate enough to only have six of us on the course, which really helped with the course dynamics. The consultant was a brilliant trainer, very personable and bubby and very skilled at facilitating the group discussions to ensure everybody participated. The course was well organised and all the communications received pre and post the training have been informative and sent in a timely manner. This was my first experience with Loates Training and it was a really positive one – I will definitely be using them again!
Amazing 2 days training
Really enjoyed the 2 day training course, learnt a lot and it also reaffirmed that ways I was handling situations was what would have been expected of a Mental Health First Aider. .
Small group but this enabled us all to be more open with each other especially as there were some sensitive subjects discussed throughout the course.
The trainer is incredible she is so easy to listen to and has a wealth of expertise that she uses during the course and with this she enabled us all time and space to discuss and share ideas and information.
Loved the fidget toys and snacks shared with us what a great idea.
Just want to say a huge Thankyou.
Superb content delivered perfectly!
I recently did the online MHFA course and it was fantastic, leaving me feeling confident in helping support others and gain a good understanding of all the behaviours and symptoms of different types of mental health conditions.
Some of the subjects were quite hard to listen to but the trainers constantly assured us we could take a break and checked in with us to make sure we were ok, reminding us how important it is to take care of ourselves too.
This approach made us feel like we were in ‘safe place’ to discuss these subjects and had support in a warm learning environment with a bit of fun mixed in!
The structure of the learning was perfect as we had a mix of listening to the instructor, watch videos and do interactive work in small groups.
I felt like I learnt so much and having the chance to practice conversations made me feel much more confident in turning the theory into practice.
I would highly recommend them to everyone!
MHFA Training
I completed my training for this course over two weeks (four sessions) online. It was very detailed and informative. The course was packed with content relevant to Mental Health and the trainers were knowledgeable and very approachable, it was also a very down to earth group.
I felt like I’d accomplished something after the training had finished and I was a lot more confident in knowing I could help someone with the knowledge I’d learnt. I would recommend anyone to do this course.
I would definitely recommend this training
I attended and completed the MHFA training in May 2024 with Loates and found it to be incredibly interesting. The trainer’s approach was friendly and constantly kept all the trainees involved and entertained. I found there is so much awareness on mental health however this training provided a lot more depth and insight into the sign posts and support available. I would definitely recommend this training.
I would recommend
The trainer had an open approach to questions throughout the length of the course and explained the content perfectly. This helped with guidance regarding the participants experiences and knowledge sharing. The course size and timing was perfect with good engagement from participants.
I would recommend.
Great course
I attended a mental health one day course. Our trainer was amazing from when I got there guiding me into a car park place in the rain, the building and office was beautiful the course was delivered in such a great informative way and I learnt so much to take back to my workplace, plenty of drinks and snacks offered, lunch was really nice and the day went so quick.
Thank you Loates and the team for such a lovely day.
Interactive, insightful training
This was an intense course over 4 half days, although there was a lot to learn the trainers kept a good pace and I enjoyed the balance of instruction, interaction and discussion. The training consultants were mindful of the content and advised, pre subject, of sensitive subjects, that we might want to abstain from. The course gave some great advice on questions to ask and how and when to use empathy compassion and advice.
I found the course insightful and I feel much more comfortable in my approach towards colleagues and friends alike, that might be struggling with their mental health. I also learnt some useful practice to ensure my own mental health is safeguarded.
Overall I would highly recommend this course to any company, to ensure there is more understanding and compassion shown to anyone suffering from Mental Health challenges.
A course based on practice, not theory
I had the pleasure to attend training delivered by Loates. The delivery has been superb and the trainer’s practical knowledge makes this learning something I can take away and start applying in my daily job.
The course has been interactive and inclusive, allowing neurodivergent people like myself feel welcomed and at ease, making the learning experience enjoyable, not endurable. The materials have been based on the needs of my organisation and provide great support to my managerial role.
Brilliant Course
A fantastic refresher session for Mental Health First Aiders.
A brilliant trainer, who listened and allowed for all kinds of experience to support the course.
I would recommend MHFA training for anyone, and Loates were brilliant.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
We are a national charity and were looking for bespoke initial management training, carried out online, for first-line managers and those we thought would be likely to move into a managerial role. We trialled Loates HR who designed a programme according to our needs, carried out over three hours every month for 10 months by the very knowledgeable and always positive and engaging trainer.
The programme was very thoughtfully arranged, and the SMT also participated in the programme separately, to sense check the input but also to refresh some of our long lost knowledge.
The trainer was excellent, always held the attention of participants, introduced participatory elements to engage the students and explored existing knowledge and experience.
The content was also first class with lots of great practical learning, linked to contemporary practice, that was always captivating.
I would highly recommend Loates HR for training and we will certainly continue our training and the relationship we have built with the team
Fantastic
One of the best presented courses I have attended in a long while. The consultant’s delivery of the course was brilliant, informative and engaging and definitely not PowerPoint heavy!
Excellent and valuable training
I attended this training course to support my progression into a new role. The trainer Sarah was fantastic, and her knowledge is impressive. The course felt very relaxed and and interactive.
Great training, I’d highly recommend.
Wouldn’t be without Loates HR
I really don’t know how CPW would keep up with all the changes taking place in the world of HR without the help and support we get from Loates HR. The regular updates and prompts are invaluable alerts to changes that affect our business and our team members. And when we need support to update our employment polices to keep in line with legislative changes together with any associated amendments needed to employment contracts, then you could not get a better service than the excellent one provided by Loates HR with the added advantage that you only have to deal with a most pleasant group of people. Wouldn’t be without them.
Fantastic training programme – I’d recommend Loates Business Solutions to anyone!
Thanks to the superb ongoing training undertaken by Loates Business Solutions Ltd. Our senior leadership team have found the management development programme to be of real benefit already, and we’ve only just completed session number two! The trainer has a brilliant, involved and fun way of making you think on many levels, bringing multi-tiered benefits to the management of the business and leaving no stone unturned when it comes to addressing possible difficult self analysis. The structure of the training also fits perfectly with our own Esker philosophy of always looking to establish a positive-sum growth in all areas of the business and beyond! I’m already looking forward to the next one!
Knowledgeable Trainer
Great session. Engaging and informative. Lots of activities for the group to confirm what we had learnt. Would recommend.
Very engaging and valuable activities
A very engaging trainer with years of experience. I never once felt bored or disengaged as the training was a good balance of interaction, discussion and activity.
I’m looking forward to the next session.
Thought provoking, engaging and confidence building
Whilst I have previously attended a Mental Health First Aider course, I very much looked forward to attending to refresh my knowledge and rebuild my confidence in applying that skill set. The sessions, whilst packed full of difficult subject matter, were really informative and delivered in a way that built confidence, provided a safe space to have those open and frank discussions about personal experiences and reduce nervousness around potential scenarios.
An added bonus – the course has helped me to understand how to look after my own mental health as well as being able to be there for others.
A special shout out to the trainer who led our course, engaging and encouraging throughout.
Very good
I found the training very good. it covered the subjects well, and gave a lot of information. The trainer was friendly and included everyone quite naturally.
I sat at the end of the table, and was impressed with how she kept turning to make sure I was included too. There was just the right amount of eye contact with everyone.
The trainer kept making sure everyone was okay, and gave permission to take ‘time out’ if needed.
I enjoyed it.
On another note, the buffet was well above average, really enjoyable, with plenty of snacks and time for drinks. This added something extra to my expectation.
Keep doing what you are doing!
Critical Thinking and Decision Making
The training was a great introduction/refresher about the topic, which is vital for my job as a manager and a decision making social work practitioner.
We were able to work together to share ideas about the area and how it is helpful for all our roles.
I liked the revision of the models available and we can use them in daily work.
I think a whole day would have been good so we could have had a go – I really like courses when I can learn the theory about something and then put it into practice.
Fantastic training!
Brilliant course with a very good trainer!
Other agencies attempted to compete on this hire but they missed the mark
We were extremely pleased working with Loates HR Recruitment. They are responsive and thorough so we felt confident that they understood our requirements and provided us with a stellar candidate. Other agencies attempted to compete on this hire but they missed the mark.
Finding ‘the’ person and not ‘a’ person
Thank you. The recruitment process that we went through worked really well, especially linking our values to finding ‘the’ person and not ‘a’ person. This really helped us with an important role that we have spent many years trying to recruit the right individual. Look forward to the next find!
MHFA Training
Literally the most engaging, enjoyable and informative training session I’ve ever had. Thanks Loates.
Excellent facilitator delivered a highly engaging and sensitive session
The consultant ran a highly engaging and sensitive session on bereavement and grief awareness. She shared a combination of quotes showing insights from people with lived experience, researched models, and tips for best practice, and acknowledged the complexities of supporting others and ourselves when facing bereavement and grief. She invited contributions from attendees and created a safe space for people to share.
The process and organisation is first class
We have partnered with Loates for the transformation of our board. A brand new role of Global Marketing Director to fuel our growth. Sarah led on this with our HR team and new MD to ensure the role and appointee were rigorously assessed, curated, and delivered. This ensured rigour and validity, which subsequently elevated the appointment and onboarding. The process and organisation whenever dealing with Loates is first class, often elevating our approach beyond expectations.
We were delighted with the results
We have worked with Loates Recruitment for three separate recruitment campaigns. The team advised on a suitable selection process and designed and coordinated a full-day assessment centre to support recruiting our CEO. They provided a seamless candidate experience and managed the entire lifecycle from sifting to the offer stage. They are adept at stakeholder management and keep Trustees involved and updated. They were professional, responsive and easy to work alongside; we were delighted with the results.
The most complete recruitment process I have ever been involved in
We decided to ask Sarah Loates of Loates HR Recruitment to help us with our search for the new head of our HR function. Our success is based on our people and it was essential that we got the right person in place to nurture and manage that resource. Sarah invested a huge amount of time to make sure she completely understood the business’s needs and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to present us with a short list of quality candidates for interview. She guided us through the interview process and was always on hand to offer advice. The result was the most complete recruitment process I have ever been involved in, enabling us to fill the post with a candidate of the highest calibre.
An incredibly seamless process
We have collaborated with Loates HR Recruitment on several occasions. Their team is consistently professional and responsive. We recently worked with Sarah and her team to fill an HR Manager role, and they made it an incredibly seamless process. We are thrilled to have appointed a highly capable candidate as a result. We would certainly recommend them to others.
They fully understood our requirements
The team at Loates HR Recruitment were instrumental in the recruitment of our HR Manager. From initial discussions, they fully understood our requirements. What Loates HR did so well was get beneath the surface and ask deeper questions to find us an appropriately qualified individual and also someone that would fit into the firm.
Process and experience of working with Loates was outstanding
As an organisation we engaged with Sarah and the team at Loates to support, guide and advise us through the recruitment of our first ever HR Manager. The process and the experience of working with Loates was outstanding and the resulting recruitment and appointment of Lisa has been without doubt one of our best.
Handled efficiently and quickly
We recently engaged Loates HR Recruitment to recruit an HR interim to cover my maternity leave. As a standalone HR manager, it has been a relief to secure my replacement, and the whole process has been handled efficiently and quickly with minimal input from me.
Professionalism and clear communication at every stage
I worked directly with Sarah from Loates HR Recruitment to appoint our Head of People and Culture; this was a new role which was pivotal to our future business as we embarked on our journey towards a great culture and putting values at the heart of everything that we do. Sarah displayed professionalism and clear communication at every stage of the recruitment process. She kept us informed and engaged throughout the search, consistently providing valuable insight and advice. As a busy organisation with multiple priorities, to have Sarah take charge of the process was invaluable for me to deliver on our operational priorities and goals. Loates HR Recruitment has been a brilliant partner in finding the perfect candidate for our Head of People and Culture role to allow us to adapt and grow for the future. I would not hesitate to recommend their services.
Such a positive session
I enjoyed it because it was such a positive session. I felt rejuvenated to deal with some the issues currently in play, so thank you!
Superb online course
Sarah and her colleague delivered a superb course online over two days which was most enjoyable and interesting. Everything was delivered at a good pace and I found it refreshingly organised for an online course. I would definitely recommend Loates as a top class training provider.
Exceptional Training
Sarah, and the other training consultant have been exceptional trainers — engaging, dynamic, and refreshingly free from “death by PowerPoint”! Their ability to create a seamless flow of content, discussion, and reflection makes each session not just educational but genuinely enjoyable.
Currently, we’re following the Leadership programme, and it has been both enlightening and highly practical. The insights shared have an immediate impact, helping to enhance employee engagement, boost productivity, and foster a true sense of value in the workplace. It’s a relief to discover that professional development doesn’t have to be dull or intimidating — it can be challenging in a positive, productive way, full of engaging discussions and plenty of laughs.
Time truly flies during their sessions, which speaks volumes about their expertise and delivery. I wholeheartedly recommend Loates — their training is not just valuable, but an investment well worth making!
Fantastic MHFAider Training!
A small group of us recently completed the 2-day MHFAider training with Sarah Loates and we were all very impressed with the content and the way it was delivered. Sarah was an engaging and knowledgeable trainer who made complex and sensitive topics feel approachable and manageable. Throughout the course Sarah ensured everyone felt safe and supported, especially though difficult conversations and created a respectful and open environment. Thanks to Sarah, we all left the training feeling much more confident in our ability to apply mental health first aid principles and are better equipped to support others than we were before. I would highly recommend this training and Sarah as a facilitator. Thank you!
Improving our absence management
Sarah recently delivered our Absence Management training and we were thoroughly impressed. All attendees found the session engaging and valuable. The organisation was seamless, the content was accurate and perfectly aligned with our needs, and the quality of the materials provided was excellent. Thank you for delivering such a professional and impactful session—we would highly recommend your services.
informative and practical
Thank you to Loates for their very practical and interactive training in relation to the latest sexual harassment legislation. Great to understand how to capture our proactive work in this area and best support our staff team. Cannot thank and recommend you enough.
fantastic course
Went on a two day training course, the two ladies were very professional and had great knowledge, found the course very interesting and the two ladies made you feel at ease. They taught the group a lot of things that we were not aware of, they also give you a booklet with everything you have been taught to refer to.
Interactive Fun
This course was a good eye opener to what goes on in an investigation and the procedures/plan you have to do/follow to get to the right conclusions.
The role playing scenario was a good way to bring it to life and get to experience how it would go – was also interesting to see everybody’s initial opinions on something then how they changed at the end once you had heard all sides of the story.
MHFAiders for all
The course was very informative and well delivered.
A very friendly atmosphere.
Good videos and course material.
It was informative, supportive, and very well delivered
I recently attended Clare’s Lunch & Learn session on How to Have Mental Health Conversations and found it incredibly valuable. The session was full of practical, thoughtful content that felt genuinely useful and easy to apply in real situations.
What really stood out to me was how warm and informal the atmosphere felt. Clare created such a comfortable space to learn and reflect, which made what can sometimes feel like a difficult topic much easier to engage with.
It was informative, supportive, and very well delivered — I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking to build confidence in having better mental health conversations. Thank you for such a great session!
Thank you for a great course
Very knowledgeable tutor, enjoyed the fact that we are given questions and answers as a group to get other peoples opinions. Also that we do role play to get the feel of a real life event.
Enjoyable training
I really enjoyed yesterday, thank you
Well done Sarah
This was a brilliant service, Sarah was great. Everything was broken down into bite sized pieces which helped us all to understand the processes. Our well being was her priority at all times, which was most appreciated. I would recommend this course albeit a dark subject at times but I can honestly say I learned a lot and it was most enjoyable on such a difficult subject. This course teaches and also changed my mind about mental health especially on how to approach it.
Also the lunch and refreshments are great.
Well done Sarah.
I would highly recommend this course
I recently attended a Lunch and Learn training course, called ‘How to have Mental Health Conversations’ led by Clare. The content was extremely useful and the trainer excellent. Clare’s friendly and approachable with a relaxed teaching style making the training feel effortless. The content was good and Clare was very skilled in tailoring it to real life scenarios that fit my business. I would highly recommend this course.
As our business has grown, the usual HR problems have cropped up. It’s been super helpful to have someone to talk to and get some advice from, either after finding a problem, or in advance to ensure things run smoothly.
The above text was from 8 years ago. It’s 2023 now and we’re still receiving the same great quality of service 👍🙏
Very friendly, and easy to approach, even with the elements of HR that are less nice.
I have, and will continue to, recommend Loates HR 🙂
We would have no hesitation in recommending Sarah and her team, it’s so refreshing to receive such great customer service.
The course itself was engaging, insightful, and incredibly well delivered. I left feeling confident in how to support individuals experiencing mental ill health and clear on the appropriate services to signpost them to.
I would highly recommend Sarah and the team. Their professionalism, knowledge, and care truly stand out.
A huge thank you to our incredible instructors Annie and Sarah for their dedication, expertise and guidance throughout the training. Your passion for mental health advocacy is truly inspiring and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from you.
If you’re considering this qualification, I highly recommend reaching out to Annie and Tayla for further information. They are exceptional educators who genuinely care about empowering others in mental health advocacy.
Sarah devised a bespoke package that was exceptionally engaging, literally kept everyone on their toes all day! We all learnt about ourselves,working with others, our employee branding, our values, and finished it all off with having a courageous conversation, We achieved so much in one day and we all certainly slept well that night. i can absolutely 100% recommend Sarah and her team.
