Jo Richings

Jo Richings is one of the most energetic, inspiring mentors that I have encountered in many years of business. She took responsibility for assessing our company’s needs in terms of where we felt the new direction should be taken. Jo neatly processed the steps we should take as individuals, as well as a team, and gave us clearer insights to the moves we should be instigating to get to the goals we jointly set. It is now 12 months since Jo first started to guide our thoughts and we are extremely happy with how that professional enthusiasm has fed through to all the members of our team, to achieve a good transition towards new directions and horizons for our company. 

- Christine Marshall, Chairman, , SW Food and Drink

Jo Richings is one of the most positive, enthusiastic and motivational people I've ever had the pleasure of working with. We worked with Jo during our transition from daytime cafe to evening Brasserie and 7 day a week cafe restaurant. As a family business it can be easy to get side tracked and lose focus on the important issues with no one person in overall control. 

​Jo was brilliant at helping us honestly identify our objectives, make quick rational decisions about how to achieve them, and then help us get organised and motivated to reach these goals. These included hiring a new evening kitchen team, bringing in a lot of new organisational systems to allow the business to run smoothly when we’re not there. Jo won’t accept prevarication or woolly thinking, if you’re passionate about getting your business organised and profitable she’s a top class individual to help you get there. 

- John Drysdale

Having completed various leadership feedback style courses over the years, 360 feedback with Jo is by far the most engaging, and empowering experience. Jo’s ability to open your eyes, with new ways of developing is second to none, her enthusiasm makes the whole process enjoyable and worthwhile.

The 360 experience offers great insight into where you are successful and the areas of development with honest and open feedback from your peers, direct reports, and line manager. It is not just a survey and tick box exercise as Jo’s personal approach before and after the feedback enhances the experience. I would recommend this experience to anyone who is keen to understand how to develop and progress.

- Dan French, Property

I've worked with Jo for 8 years since joining the Romans Group. With the benefit of being able to look into the business and with all her experience from working with other companies, Jo has been a great asset to helping us develop our peoples' skills Working at all levels in the business, she is able to cut through the 'noise' that frequently masks the root cause of problems or issues, and not only provide clarity of the solution, but a means to achieve this solution. 

People within the business who have worked with Jo, and who stay the course, always report back that the work has been beneficial to them as individuals and ultimately to the teams they work with which in turn results in improved quality and service delivery to our clients.

Jo works with structured, proven models and is always insistent on measuring the output of the efforts applied, be these commercial or otherwise. The fact that we keep engaging with Jo year after year is testament to the value she adds to our organisation as well as the results she delivers. 

- Peter Loverdos, Group Operations Director

Jo has worked with Romans Lettings, part of The Romans Group (UK) Ltd for several years. Through coaching she has skilfully challenged the Senior Management team on their behaviours and has contributed significantly to changes we have made which, without her involvement, would not have taken place. We have expanded the business in recent years and Jo has made a huge contribution to this process. I would have no hesitation in recommending the services of Jo Richings. 

- Peter Fuller , Merger & Acquisitions Director

I have been working with Jo for almost 12 months. She quickly learnt my character and was able to identify the attributes necessary for me to perform my management and leadership roles. Importantly, she has provided me with tools to assist with these functions.

Jo has worked with the company’s management board for over 6 months, during a significant transitional period. She has helped identify the aspects of the business that are working well and those that need attention - allowing us to bring to the fore issues that might otherwise have remained hidden. She has been able to play a significant role in facilitating a reworking of the company’s vision for the next five years and what steps need to be taken to achieve this. 

- Owen Jones, Director

Management Coaching

I immediately connected with Jo, she is extremely personable and will tell you how it is. Jo has a way of making people aware of their strengths and weaknesses by cutting straight to the point. I have gained a lot of ideas to improve my team and the things I do as a person, not only in my work life but also with my family. I particularly enjoyed the DISC analysis, as it made me realise how I like to be managed, so that I can communicate with my team and line managers to get the best out of what they do. Suffice to say, the month after our last session, my office had the best month of the year and I don't think it would have been without Jo's suggestions on how to get the best from all members of my team. I loved the way Jo made me feel, I always felt positive and ready to make a difference! 

- Andy McElligott (Manager), Romans

Since 2008 Jo has worked consistently for all areas of our business and we have always received very positive responses. Areas of work that Jo has been central to include:

* The development of a five-year business plan to grow turnover in our Planning business from £2m to £5m in 5 years – the plan was achieved in 3 years.

* Ongoing coaching with senior directors to increase personal performance – with some fantastic results.

* Running the first day of our monthly induction – great feedback.

* DISC profiling – this has helped in our decision making process.

* Sales workshops – great results.

I would recommend Jo to any individual or company who wants to use a coach to make a difference to their business and the people who work for it – as long as Jo still has time to work for us!!

- Peter Kavanagh., CEO. LRG

Jo has been a huge support in the growth of my business. I worked with Jo at a previous employers so she was the first person I contacted when I started the business 8 years ago. I knew she would be able to provide the support and skills I needed to be able to take a step back from the day to day running of the company and see a greater strategic picture.

I have been working with her for the entire 4 years of the company and have now started to cascade her support further down the management structure. She has been invaluable to me. 

- Robert Loaring, Managing Director

Jo has provided coaching and support for almost a year and in that time has been amazing. Her attitude is second to none and her enthusiasm, energy and positive attitude are incredibly inspiring. It is impossible to end a session with Jo and not feel like you could do whatever you set your mind to. She also quickly gets to the nub of any issue you may have and allows you to find the answer by supporting your thought processes and asking the right questions at the right time. Jo will encourage you to work in ways which are more productive and which save you time and energy, but she also really values non-work activity and emphasises the importance of valuing yourself and your own time. If you are thinking of taking on a business coach, don’t look any further than Jo - she sets very high standards and then exceeds them. 

- Nick Cork, Managing Director