Testimonials

Testimonials

Our clients are always willing to talk to prospective clients. Please contact us if you would like details.

Rooks Rider. Marketing director.

We have worked with Firm Beliefs for more than two years. Our original brief to Sara Dixon was to encourage and progress the development of key individuals to make them "business minded people" as well as increase their productivity as lawyers. This personal development programme has resulted in increased individual success but also in the contribution these people make to the firm. The highly successful initial programme of "mini MBA's" has created a stream of individuals within our firm who are both business focused and greatly aware of the needs of clients. In the last year Firm Beliefs have taken on a "business consulting" role with the firm as a whole and are working with Heads of Department and Heads of Business Areas on performance programmes for their teams. Our investment and partnering with Firm Beliefs has resulted in a business wide focus on key strategic issues and a drive for change across all business areas. Working with Firm Beliefs has stimulated necessary change at both individual and firm wide levels. Many firms of our size and structure will face a difficult future in a changing legal market - Firm Beliefs have created a platform from which we, as a firm, view development in the future as a strategic challenge - not as an uncertain journey.

Crill Canavan, Managing Partner

"Sara was excellent; she has a relaxed and engaging style which, combined with a flexible approach, maintained our interest and involvement throughout the training which was tailored to our firm. A sound investment in time & money. Jane Martin, Managing Partner, Crill Canavan"

Coplan Estates, Director

"As a business we knew we had to tell people about ourselves, and we weren't sure whether we needed marketing, PR, or communications expertise. Steve understood the issues and came up with some really practical, cost-effective and innovative answers. He just gets it. " Nick Doyle, Director, Coplan Estates

Corpra, Director

Steve really gets to know an organization very well. He becomes almost part of it, and gets passionately involved while maintaining an objective stance. He has a great understanding of both hard and soft management skills. With his experience, insight and passion he is able to articulate key messages clearly and considerately and helps people to understand the need for change." Neil Mclocklin, Director, Corpra

Alzheimer's Society, Northern Region

"I have known Steve professionally since the late 1990's and through several charitable organisations. I have never hesitated to turn to him for advice and help with a whole range of communication, media, strategic, teambuilding, personnel and organisational redesign issues. He never fails to grasp the issues we are wrestling with quickly; his clear and objective actions take the organisation forward and he is always really well received by staff and volunteers alike. He is the first person I think of when the going gets really tricky!" Maggie Williams, Director Northern Region, Alzhiemer's Society

Consultancy: People development. Niche practice.City. Partner

We actually understood what they were getting us to do. The consulting process was not something which we handed over to somebody else. We did it too.

Consulting: marketing re-focus. Niche practice. Provincial.

Rather than just do the marketing plan for us, Firm Beliefs made sure we did it with them. We now know what to do ourselves. For once, a consultancy process which is more than just a bill and a document!

Working with lawyers - by non-lawyers

I have always had difficulty working with lawyers. Firm Beliefs worked with me and my colleagues as we developed our business with the lawyers. They made us achieve a smoother ride with the lawyers! Nobody else has managed to do that!

In-house skills development. Small practice. Provincial. Partner

I had skills sessions with Firm Beliefs which ended up with me doing something practical and effective, rather than me just sitting there for 2 hours and then going back to the office and filing the papers on a shelf. We got value for money. That does not often happen with other trainers. Indeed, Firm Beliefs made sure we knew how to evaluate our return on investment in them.

Consultancy programme - strategy formulation. Medium-sized provincial firm. Partner.

I have been a lawyer for many years. I am good at giving advice. I have always been bad at taking it! With Firm Beliefs, we understood the business development advice they gave us because they taught us its value as they worked with us. And everything they taught us turned out to be practically sound and valuable. I like the idea of the consultant training us as well!

1:1 mini MBA: medium-sized regional firm: Solicitor

I had felt undervalued at my existing firm. Firm Beliefs, through their mini-MBA programme, enabled me to develop my skills. In particular, I began to appreciate the nature of internal politics and became more analytical about how to place myself on the radar of the important people in the firm... I began to think differently. The sessions reinforced my interest in leadership and culture. I changed my perspective on my own job (I am a businessman that practices law).

In-house skills development: medium-sized city firm: partner

I was invited to take part in the programme with other partner-level colleagues. The programme was personalised, one-to-one, flexible, and it was delivered in small, manageable chunks. The sessions were very intense as they were 1:1. I was totally in synchrony with Sara, and I found it to be a very effective use of time. Sara's style is caring, warm, empathic, and energising. I was not in a group scenario so could be open and honest without fear of peer evaluation. The content of my programme was general (finance, management systems, HR and marketing) but it was adapted to my needs. The networking session very valuable. My behaviour changed as well in certain situations - I learnt to think differently. For me, the benefits were that I boosted my confidence, the programme reinforced my interest in marketing, I got second opinion on my marketing ideas and my colleagues noticed improvements. Most importantly, my bottom line performance really grew. It helped that others in the partnership were also on the programme as now we have a general understanding of our own business and a shared interest and mutual will to continue to develop the firm and our teams so as to take advantage of the changes in our profession.

1:1 mini MBA: medium-sized city firm: Partner

A good degree, professional exams and solid PQE do not give you everything you need to run a successful practice. Firm Beliefs identifies and develops the essential business and management skills needed to launch you to where you want to go, allowing you to stand out from your competitors. I simply wouldn't be running my own department now without the training provided by Firm Beliefs.