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
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.
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.
Project Management
Mike Hodkinson
As a highly resourceful, versatile and expert “context based” Microsoft Office IT Trainer (virtually or face to face), Mike Hodkinson coaches and empowers others so they can maximise how they can work more effectively each and every day. In addition Mike is an accredited Project Manager, who can deliver all levels of IT training, taking into account related business / project management processes to an advanced level.
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…