"Hospitality Skills [John Goleczka and David Allen] delivered bespoke workshops for clients of our recent Tourism Connect accommodation improvement programme.

Their mix of industry experience and practical content proved extremely effective and was ideally suited to the needs of the businesses concerned, whatever their size and stage in the business lifecycle.

John and David were able to de-mystify the management theory and provided invaluable tips for planning and running a successful hospitality business, backed up with supporting materials for future reference. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to any owner-manager keen to manage change and grow their business."

Audrey Taylor
Cumbria Tourism

"'I am delighted to let you know that we won the Lady Inglewood Award for Training and Development at the Cumbria Tourism Awards.

A substantial part of our entry was based around the Management Development Programme provided by Hospitality Skills, which you have been running for the team here at the Roundthorn over the last 18 months.

The program is paying huge dividends, (not only in winning awards!), but in the development of the individuals and the team and in direct business growth. I have been particularly impressed with the time you have taken to get to know our business and the individuals and understand the needs of both, without which the training could not have had the same focus.

Many thanks for your contribution so far and we look forward to continuing to work with you over the coming year."

Graham Carruthers
Roundthorn Country House
Penrith, Cumbria

"John assisted us in 2008 with a series of meetings and workshops.  The time we spent with him was invaluable as he helped us focus on different areas of the business.  We had been addressing some of these but with a lack of direction, so not being very effective.
John helped us with analysing and controlling our costs, stock control, sales and marketing and a review of our product offering and standards.
With his assistance we were able to prepare a more accurate forecast of revenue and sales for 2009 and determine our potential profitability.  We also took greater control of expenditure in our bedrooms and kitchens.  We had an in depth look at our marketing and devised a strategy for 2009.   We can now see, as the year draws to an end, that John's advice helped us focus on our business for 2009 and helped us become busier and more profitable.
Based on his recommendation we also entered the HRS National Hotel Awards, culminating in us winning a category award for customer service.
He has continued to provide support through 2010 in a challenging environment.
With John's knowledge of the hotel industry, even spending a few hours with him will be very rewarding for any hotelier. "

Jonathan and Caroline Kaye
Proprietors
Cedar Manor Hotel & Restaurant, Windermere

"I have known Dave since April this year through the Profit through Productivity Programme, being delivered in conjunction with The Mersey Partnership and The Best Practice Forum.

Dave has acted as a mentor for me and provided high quality information, materials and support as a business coach with experience in the hospitality sector specific to The Gateway Conference Centre.

As a not for profit organisation, Dave has tailored his advice and guidance specifically for this sector and has conducted himself throughout the mentoring process in a professional, supportive and empathetic manner.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Dave Allen to other not for profit organisations, in a coaching/mentoring capacity."

Nigel Byrne
Centre Manager & Company Secretary
The Gateway Conference Centre, Liverpool.

"Thanks for the work you did with us earlier this year in helping us to really get a handle on issues of financial management within the various strands of our business.  This was unfamiliar and uncertain territory for us, but your natural ability to come alongside us, in a way which conveyed your genuine humility and interest in us, was very encouraging.  We grew in confidence and you have brought us to a point where we really feel confident that we have built a system which gives us good quality financial information.  We have come a long way - and we do not underestimate your role in moving us forward.  Thanks John, we feel sure we'll meet again. "

Gold Award winner North East Bed & Breakfast of the year 2010.

Jeff and Jill Sutheran
Proprietors
St Cuthbert's House Seahouses, Northumberland. 

"We have been incredibly fortunate to have had the support of Dave Allen over the last few months as a business advisor provided by the Profit through Productivity Programme.

Dave has helped us to develop business plans, manage stock control systems, redesign our web site, revise management and staff systems and provided a host of other advice.

He provided us with the tools needed to manage the business more efficiently and was a constant source of advice and support.

Not only was he a wonderful mentor he has become a friend and we are pleased to recommend his services for any other businesses requiring advice in the hospitality industry."

Glynn & Kwez Heywood
Proprietors
The Mercury, Westhoughton.

"My business coach was Dave Allen. I benefited greatly from his knowledge and expertise, the business has certainly moved on because of his encouragement and support. I doubt that I would have taken the steps without his support and watchful eye.

Dave was flexible with the business and was extremely supportive when needing to change times at short notice.

Could not have asked for a better coach. "

Susan Hughes
Owner
Seaview Guesthouse, Southport.

"We are a small family run Hotel in South Manchester. In April 2008 we took part in the Best Practice Forum “Profit through Productivity” programme in conjunction with the North West Regional Development Agency. Part of the scheme was to be offered the services of a Business Coach and we were very fortunate that the Coach we were allocated was Dave.

In our sessions with Dave we covered a huge amount of ground including staffing issues, cost control, customer service, appraisals, web site optimisation and many besides.

We were a little nervous about the kind of person we may have coming to visit us and my husband was quite sceptical about the whole thing but Dave more than exceeded our expectations in every way.

He’s extremely friendly, approachable, smart, diplomatic, enthusiastic, helpful, knowledgeable, reliable, efficient and professional.

He helped us in so many ways and presented ideas in a positive, not critical way and he always got back to us when he said he would. We really cannot find anything negative to say about him.

It goes without saying that we would not hesitate to recommend Dave to any organisation looking for business advice."

Mike & Joanna Wormald
Proprietors
The Lennox Lea Hotel, Sale, Manchester.

"I have known Dave Allen for over a year in the capacity of personal business coach.

During that period he gave me both invaluable advice and reassurance with regard to the direction of my business.

He immediately put me at ease and actively listened to all of my suggestions for driving the business forward.

He was a total professional and very comfortable in his role as business coach.

He had a tremendous range of knowledge to include Marketing, Selling, Business Planning, IT, and cost control.

His advice was completely relevant to the business and he was very focused on critical areas.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Dave Allen as a business coach and I think that future clients would be both lucky and privileged to have him on board."

Ann Maddison
Proprietor
Simonburn Tearooms & B&B.
Rural Entrepreneur of the Year 2008

"I found the training sessions with John of great benefit. Many things we went over were common sense but I hadn't thought of it myself, or hadn't spotted an easy way round things. John taught us that costing out our expenses would help to evaluate our business properly, e.g. monitoring our costs, revenues and profits. I think before we took part in the training sessions we hadn't taken the Guest House seriously as a business and so may have been setting ourselves up for failure.

The training was beneficial but the most important things that have made a difference are the little things. I learnt to always take credit card details at the booking stage and to quote our cancelation policy, as previously we had suffered no-shows. But the single most important thing was DETAIL; paying attention to detail. It’s the little things that make a difference.

I could list many things that John helped us to introduce. For example, keeping track of our occupancy figures, and making our website as appealing to potential guests as possible, but the list is endless. I know if ever I need advice John would be there. He has answered my distressed emails more than once! Thanks John!"

Lesley & Rob Parnell
The Sea Lynn Guest House
Morecambe

Editorial for Wirral Citizens Advice Bureau:

Wirral CAB engage Business Coach to conduct Appraisal Training.

"As we know after 70 years the Citizens Advice Bureau is still as vital and relevant as ever. One of the reasons for this longevity has undoubtedly been the ability of the service to change with the times. At Wirral CAB the change has been significant and handling that change effectively is seen as key to the future success of their service.

As part of that process Business Coach, Dave Allen has been engaged by Wirral CAB to conduct training sessions for managers, supervisors and staff to introduce a new appraisal system.

Jill Cox, Business Development Manager says,

"In a dispersed organisation where the workforce has a good deal of autonomy, managing individual performance is vital. At Wirral CAB, we wanted to put in place a Staff Personal Review to bring consistency to the reporting systems and ensure that the career potential of each individual is developed to the full."
"To deliver the Programme we brought in Dave Allen, an experienced business coach to ensure consistency of training for all members of staff. I am more than pleased with the feedback confirming the sessions were both enjoyable and informative”. I would be more than happy to recommend Dave for further training in the future."

With over 20 years experience in coaching and advising businesses in hospitality, retail, manufacturing, telecommunications and information technology as well as with charitable trusts and not-for-profit organisations. They have a strong, successful track record supporting businesses, working one-to-one and with teams at all levels and helping them to improve performance.

Working in small groups over a three week period in September and October, Dave Allen conducted the Appraisal Skills Training at Wirral CAB’s Head Office in Wallasey. Starting with Senior Management, Managers and Supervisors and concluding with all members of staff from advice centres and projects throughout Wirral. The aim was to prepare everyone for the Appraisal Programme.

Dave Allen says,
"To me the most important aspect of coaching and training is to meet the learning needs of each individual and be flexible enough to tailor the way information is delivered. We all learn in different ways so it is essential to ensure everyone has a good understanding of the subject matter especially if it involves change. No one likes to be taken out of their comfort zone so having good people skills is essential".
"Working with Wirral CAB has been a great experience for me, and from the extremely positive feedback from the Visit Evaluation forms completed by all members of staff attending, I believe it to have been very successful". "

"…it is due to you that my business has improved in many ways and is continuing to do so. Please use this email to prove to people that what you are saying to them and teaching them does work if they are only willing to grab the bull by the horns and go for it.

I wish you all the very best for the future and please stay in contact. In fact pop in for a coffee any time you are in our area."

Dusty Miller
Balmoral Guest House
Morecambe