Meet the Team at Merrill Consultants
Merrill Consultants has a reputation
for delivery and excellence.
Valerie Merrill
Owner/Trainer
With over 35 years in training I have a wealth of experience and knowledge in bespoke and Microsoft software.
I have been an Interim Training Lead on projects for TFL, West Coast Network Rail as well as organising relocation and reskilling projects for Hertz.
I work with companies to achieve the best results and return on investment by choosing the right learning intervention with the right people.
I have managed teams of trainers and worked with companies to achieve their goals in learning and development.
I deliver classroom training, webinars, deskside support and Floorwalking. I develop online training materials in Captivate both for systems and information/communication purposes.
I can be a one-stop shop for all learning and development needs.
Stuart Merrill
Owner/Trainer
I am a very I.T. literate computing professional with a solid hands-on technical background. This includes project management, business consultancy, systems analysis/design, the management of large and small software development projects and IT Training/Floor walking/End User Support.
I am an outgoing, friendly, logical and factual communicator who works well under pressure – highly self-motivated and possessing strong drive and determination. I am a reliable, conscientious and dedicated individual with a strong work ethic; importantly, I also have a good sense of humour. I enjoy problem solving and helping other people.
I have delivered training via the classroom, coaching, 1-2-1, Webinars (the Internet), and developed e-learning packages. My technical background enables me to quickly learn and understand new bespoke systems. I have been heavily involved in Microsoft products since their inception and have trained in all Microsoft desktop applications to all levels.
Prior to my training career I was a senior manager in the corporate environment where I managed and led teams and delivered against tight timescales. I have co-ordinated rollouts where I have produced the project and communication plans and worked with senior management to deliver a smooth transition into steady state in a timely manner.
I.T Trainers
Wayne James
With a background as a systems manager and a wealth of IT experience and knowledge Wayne is an Associate consultant delivering IT Training Courses. These include (Microsoft Access/Excel), Crystal Reports, Active Server Pages, Visual Basic for Applications and Web Development (database driven websites).
His VBA courses are always in demand and highly successful.
Andy Sopel
Andy is an experienced and successful I.T. SharePoint & Media Trainer covering industry standard and bespoke products in a classroom, seminar, virtual (via Webex/Lync/OCS) or on a 1:1 basis. A Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) as well as a Certified Lotus Professional (CLP)
Adept at training new / low level users and “technophobes” as well as power users with an ability to put complex technical concepts into easily understandable analogies. Able to deal with all levels from M.D’s & C.E.O’s to the shop floor. Experienced in developing TNA’s & courseware, TTT, working on pilots & rollouts and delivering presentations to large audiences as well as 1 to 1’s. We have worked with Andy for over ten years and we met on a project for the Immigration Office.
Katy Alderton
IT Trainer & Excel Consultant; Power BI Trainer; Classroom Training and Online Training Course Specialist. With over 30 years in Learning & Development Katy is a trainer extraordinaire with experience of corporate, public sector and private sector organisations.
People Skills Trainers
Jo James
Over two decades of building six and seven-figure businesses, in competitive industries; restaurants, retail and owning my own recruitment business in the City of London for 10 years, has enabled me to truly understand how business success is born, raised and sustained.
I provide winning Sales, Marketing and Mindset strategies that propel business owners to bring their ideas to life. Helping you to implement simple-to-use yet super-effective strategies to maximise opportunities and significantly increase sales.
It’s tough out there but you don’t have to do it alone – allow me to help you now. Get in touch today and let’s transform your business. What do you want to see happen next?
Alison Matthews
Alison draws on 20 years’ experience in the television and film industry, along with NLP, Coaching, and using actors for role play to provide creative and innovative training and coaching solutions.
Before becoming a trainer and coach, Alison worked in television and film production, for the BBC and many independents at senior level as a Line Producer, Production Manager and First Assistant Director, running large teams and large budgets. Alison studied NLP and Coaching during breaks between contracts, qualifying as a Certified Trainer of NLP and a Coach. She started her business training and coaching within the media industry and for other organizations and individuals, working with Senior Managers, Teams and individuals.
Alison is also a yoga teacher, raw food teacher and coach and a reiki practitioner. .
Simon Manuel
Simon worked as a solicitor for more than 20 years before retraining as a journalist in 2012.
In 2013, he joined Haymarket Network and worked as a writer on the award-winning Daily Programmes for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He subsequently worked as a sub-editor on a variety of magazines.
Simon now runs a content marketing agency, Ink&Dots, which specialises in providing content marketing and training for professional services firms. His clients include solicitors, barristers, accountants, insurance companies and property agents.
Simon has a particular interest in written communication. He has trained hundreds of lawyers and other professionals on writing, in particular, training lawyers how to write compelling articles and blogs.
Michael Eaves
Michael has worked extensively as an actor in TV and film and has gained a wealth of insight into what makes people the way they are and how they communicate and mis-communicate from playing different characters and also observing people in the slow times on set.
He has combined his work for TV and film with working as a corporate actor using role play and forum theatre to enhance the learning experience of delegates. This subsequently led Michael to work as a Trainer and Coach as well, delivering his own workshops as well as those for other people.
Having worked across many organizations, he has developed knowledge of and fluency in the language and issues of a broad range of industries including telecoms, banking and financial of working at all skills levels from Senior Strategic roles to Front Line Leaders in UK, Europe and USA.
Glen Williamson
As a Consultant Sales Director, International Sales Trainer, Speaker and Accredited Master Coach, Glen, CEO Kiss The Fish Training, leads, trains and coaches hundreds of sales professionals and business owners every month to reach new heights of sales performance.
Glen has been working with us delivering classroom-based Sales training and also Virtual Selling Challenges all of which has been very successful.
Sue Gilkes
Your Impact helps IT professionals and other specialists improve their non-technical skills. We can work across the globe in a number of languages, provide trackable ROI, and adapt our training to a range of needs
Sue has worked with us on a number of programmes delivering courses on Planning & Organisation, Conflict Resolution and Performance Management. Always highly rated Sue provides an excellent transformational service.
Emma Mills-Sheffield
Emma is an award-winning independent business consultant who helps business owners to define their growth strategy, develop their leadership capability and run more effective businesses. She helps their employees to become more efficient, productive and resilient.
Her skills have been built from spending over 15 years leading projects, training programmes, workshop facilitation and coaching in industry before going independent. She worked for KPMG, WSP and in the creative and digital industries before setting up Mindsetup in 2019 and has experience across the private, public and voluntary sectors.
Her training and coaching work covers all sectors and for all levels of staff, and she has a particular focus on studying neurodiversity and inclusion to both broaden and deepen her work.
Project Management
Edwina Hughes
With over twenty year’s cross-sector experience in the provision of consultancy, coaching and training, Edwina continues to harness her passionate belief in personal and business development working with individuals and organisations to facilitate their growth and development.
As a business psychologist, current work includes the facilitation of change within the UK division of an international digital transformation organisation. This involves consulting with and providing coaching and training for managers across a range of departments and levels of seniority and experience.
Prior to setting up her own business, she enjoyed an eclectic corporate career spanning finance, business development and marketing in the oil and television industries. Edwina was part of the planning team for The Discovery Channel Europe going on to be Director of Programme Sponsorship.
Debbie Loxton
Debbie is an enthusiastic individual with international experience in business and training.
She has been training clients in IT skills for many years tailoring her courses to suit their requirements, specialising in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Microsoft Project and Microsoft Publisher as well as providing business skills training in Presentation Skills, Train the Trainer, Business Writing, Project Management, Communication Skills and Time Management. Skilled at tailoring training sessions to the client’s exact requirements.
Clients have included financial institutions, colleges, government departments, care industry, United Nations, pharmaceuticals, media, cosmetics, oil and construction industries; and many more…
Admin & Marketing Team
Susan Moore
Susan leads a multi virtual assistance (VA) business offering PA/secretarial and marketing support to entrepreneurs, small businesses and speakers. Brings 25 years’ plus business experience in secretarial support, office management, online research, event organisation and profile raising; sourcing speaking and writing opportunities for B2B clients. Susan won the 2008 Outstanding VA Award and runs workshops for senior PAs who want to establish VA businesses.