Testimonials from our clients

"Syd Strike Training offers a first class service, providing regular contact and updates, flexibility and excellent client care. Syd's personal style is unique. He is engaging, captivating, fun and relaxed. He is able to create an environment in which people want to learn. The offer of additional support and guidance, free of charge is an added bonus!"
Satpal Kaur-Thompson, Learning & Development Manager (Non- Legal), Thompsons Solicitors LLP

"Thank you Syd for your inspiring input and for a memorable weekend. Thanks also for the customer care presentation slides which we will use to follow up the learning back at work."
Stephen Powell, Head of Human Resources, United National Bank

“Syd has worked with me over a three year period providing an effective change programme that included training our managers and team leaders in leadership and soft skills, performance management, executive coaching, group coaching and motivational coaching. I was really delighted when he supported the team to deliver what can only be described as a unique team building event involving all departments in the factory including the senior management team, resulting in key performance actions that were implemented back in the factory. Syd’s training has successfully improved manager’s  skills  and his work has been valuable in furthering our aim of staff engagement. I am very happy to recommend Syd Strike Training Solutions.“
Joanne Dicks, Human Resources Manager, Warburtons Limited, Stockton

 “I am always happy to have Syd stay at the hotel whether he is delivering a course or staying as a guest, he has an amazing positive impact on the team. To me Syd is Mr Motivator”
Tom Doyle, General Manager, Jurys Inn Islington

“Thanks Syd for your support and for your flexibility.  You have an amazing ability to provide training support when I need it, sometimes at short notice, on a wide range of topics and  your trainers always receive excellent feedback from the delegates.”
Kathy Carr, Urology Disease Manager, GlaxoSmithKline (Durham and Teesside Area)

“I can highly recommend Syd Strike Training courses. Not only is the enjoyment of the team evident but also much of the material has been absorbed and used frequently.”
Joanne Turner, Customer Services Manager, Freightliner Limited

"Several of our team have attended Syd Strike’s Selection Interview Skills sessions and we have found that the content and style is just perfect, equipping our interviewers with new skills and answering many searching questions.”
Sarah Flynn, HR Business Partner, Charteris PLC

Syd Strike provided an outsourcing training service for us over a period of two years during which time he successfully conducted a training needs analysis, delivered excellent management and staff training and sourced several quality free training courses. I am very happy to recommend Syd Strike Training Solutions.
Phil Evans, Managing Director, Croda Distillates Limited

Training
"We have received team building, presentation and communications training from Syd for the majority of our staff.  The feedback from all of these courses has been excellent with staff being able to actively demonstrate the new skills that they have acquired in the workplace."
Outplacement Support
"The training Syd provided has helped our staff identify and tap into their knowledge and skills and how to present their achievements in CV’s and job applications.   I was particularly impressed with how Syd delivered positive thinking and the impact it had on the team, he provided excellent tools and mechanisms to help staff, keeping them positive and helping them have the confidence to apply for positions."
Maxine Elstob
Operations & Development Manager, NHS Commercial Support Unit North East

"We needed to arrange some first line manager training courses urgently and Syd Strike Training achieved this within two weeks of our request. The trainers were experienced and sensitive towards our employees needs, as we employ a mixed nationality workforce. The feedback from our employees was extremely positive."
Mick Phillips, General Manager, John Baarda Limited

“Many thanks for the event last week. We learned a great deal about leadership and it gave us all some things to think about. We have already begun putting some of the lessons we learned into practice.”
Sue Rowland, Practice Manager, Guide Post Medical Group, Northumberland

“Syd Strike’s performance audit was exactly what we needed to help us plan and execute relevant training that has made a significant improvement in our leadership skills and we are now achieving all of our KPIs."
Scott White, Head of Operations, Serco National Traffic Control Centre, Birmingham

“Syd has supported me in my HR work for several years now and I have witnessed first hand the positive effects of his motivational and performance assessments, followed by some excellent management and leadership training that has made a powerful impact on performance.”
Margaret Marsh, Human Resources Director, Guildford College

“My experiences of Syd Strike’s training courses have been both enjoyable and unforgettable. Syd is a true professional and his fun, skilled and engaging approach reaches out to even the most cynical of delegates”.
Racheal Timbers, CIPD graduate member

“The trainees… enjoy the Syd Strike style of training and are always happy to attend more courses."
Larry Guy, Training Manager, Tetley GB

Bisham Abbey – Team Building Retreat
"Just a quick note to thank you on behalf of the Education team for your excellent facilitation of the above course.  As we both detected during the 2 days a real buzz was generated both during the formal and informal aspects of the retreat. You are aware from your feedback how successful everyone rated both the course content and your delivery."
Brian Whaley, Head of Community Facilities (Education), Sport England

"We have found Syd’s ability to engage with a variety of people, his grounded approach and the way he helps learners to put things into a work context particularly effective."
John Ward, Learning & Development Manager, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council

"Syd’s own work experience and his particularly positive and enthusiastic delivery style have significantly contributed to this progress.  He makes the sessions fun and enjoyable, he has a gift of making the theory interesting as well as practical (and certainly no ‘death by power-point’) but equally ensures the important messages are not avoided and are clear.  Syd also challenges thinking and behaviour in an honest but not confrontational way.

This programme and particularly Syd’s skilled techniques and guidance has provided everyone undertaking it, the opportunity to recognise how much their individual and collective behaviour affects the culture of the service and the behaviour of the people they work with and manage.  The success we have had so far has been in improved relationships with our teams, improved communication, creating a service that is more innovative, that recognises and appreciates the need for change.  This has also been a contributing factor in increasing productivity and delivering continuous improvement."
Melissa Mallaby, Financial Services, Corporate Services, Benefits Service Manager,
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
Management Training Programme

"......., within the Directorate there were some areas that have developed innovative and creative ways of working and had good leadership resulting in motivated staff who have managed the changes well.  As a result Housing Benefits were working significantly above the requirements of the standard. Housing Benefits were exceptional in how they have managed change having developed their own purpose and values and adapted to Worksmart.  The manager / Team Leader programme appears to have enhanced this along with a change of leadership. The 'Festive Fun' day had just occurred and people felt it was a good way of improving team working and breaking down barriers."
Benefits Department, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
IIP Feedback

“As a fairly new HR professional, this course really opened my eyes to the challenges faced by HR Managers on a daily basis. What I found particularly useful was the down-to-earth and practical advice in tackling these challenges, specifically in terms of balancing the general day-to-day operational HR with a more strategic vision. The course was clear, well thought out and really met my needs”.
Racheal Timbers, CIPD graduate member
HR Managers’ course:

"Several of our team have attended Syd Strike’s Selection Interview Skills sessions and we have found that the content and style is just perfect, equipping our interviewers with new skills and answering many searching questions.”
Sarah Flynn, HR Business Partner, Charteris PLC

"Many thanks for the training that you carried out for us last week.  I enjoyed the parts of the course that I was able to participate in and certainly the delegates I have spoken to so far feel they have benefited from the course."
Kay Dempsey, SRB Business & Education Co-ordinator, Cumbria Tourist Board

"Just wanted to record my thanks and appreciation for the training course last week. It takes some talent to keep some of my guys interested for two full days. Touching base this morning with them all reminded me that they all got something from the training, which was one of my aims. I hope we get chance to bump into you again some time."
Dave Mee, Environment Agency – Wales

"Call centre training plays a vital part in the process of providing an efficient and professional service during times of extreme flooding and Syd makes the learning fun and practical. The team always enjoy Syd’s style of training and can easily apply what they have learned when they begin working in the Flood Incident Room."
Yasmin Mahatay, Environment Agency, Central Area

"Whether Syd is delivering courses with our team members or managers the result is always the same, they leave more motivated, more knowledgeable and wanting to know when Syds next course is."
Deborah Ayres, Corporate HR & Training, Jurys Inns

“Syd Strike leadership training is exceptional. I can highly recommend his leadership programmes.”
Marisa Willingham, Strategy & Development Manager, Manor of Groves Hotel, Golf & Country Club, Harlow

“I would have great pleasure in recommending Syd Strike Training Solutions, through my successful dealings with the company.”
Edward Gallier, Corporate Training Manager, Jurys Doyle Hotel group

"I would like to thank you for the training you have provided for our support staff at the City of Sunderland College. The Team Building sessions and Customer Care sessions were very effective as they encouraged participants to focus on the positive aspects of working together.  Examples of comments from evaluation forms were:

• “ I enjoyed the group activities very much.  They were fun but you could then relate them to work and it made you think.”
• “Learning ideas the fun way”
• “Being able to think through how I behave in my work situation “
• “Useful ideas and tips “
• “Different ways to approach people and situations”

Pat Ternent, Staff Development Manager, City of Sunderland College

"Just a short note to say big thank-you for last weeks Performance Management workshops held here at the Swallow Hotel, Rotherham.I know we discussed the potential of the programme prior to us going ahead with the training, but even I was amazed at how powerful the sessions were! …

Action has already been taken as a direct result of the sessions, particularly in the coffee bar area.  The Bars Manager has taken on board the comments that were made and is currently reviewing the daytime shift patterns, as well as the purchase of equipment to increase efficiency and staff visibility behind the bar…

So, as you can see, we have been really busy already! I look forward to receiving all of the ideas which came out of the three workshops so that we can really get stuck in!

Many thanks once again Syd, it was great working with you again."
Maria Elliott, Personnel & Training Manager, Swallow Hotel, Chollerford

"I am writing to thank you for the highly enjoyable Complaint Handling course you ran for the front staff recently. Everyone without exception, found them beneficial and they are putting the model into practice"
Joy Sowerby , Royal County Hotel , Durham

"Thank you both for all the hard work you put into making the week-end an oustanding success. I know that I speak for the whole party when I say that the entire experience was an excelletn format for enjoyable learning"
Dennis Reed , Branch Manager , General Portfolio

"I especially appreciate the training given in the area of 'handling meetings'. Not only the content, but the manner and presentation of your teaching on this subject has proved invaluable, and perhaps the use of video-playback deserves a special mention in this context. I would whole-heartedly commend you to any future prospective clients."
Peter T Davies, Director of External Training , Elim Bible College

Three Rivers Housing Association – Staff Conference
" Thank you so much for your excellent presentation of our Annual Staff Conference yesterday. Since arriving at work this morning.  I have received many positive comments about both the content of the day and your own personal style.  Many staff think that the day ‘flew over’ – a sure sign that interest and enjoyment levels were high."
Jane Duncan, Operations Manager, Three Rivers Housing Association