We are a specialist training company focussing on negotiation skills.
Our lead trainer Simon Horton has been teaching for nearly 15 years. He has taught hostage negotiators, some of the largest law firms and banks in the world, and many other household name organisations. He has taught all the way through from graduate level up to boardroom.
He is also a Visiting Lecturer at Imperial College, London, and is the author of The Leader’s Guide to Negotiation, published by The Financial Times.
Before teaching negotiations, he spent 12 successful years as a consultant in the financial services sector.
“Well presented, thought provoking, stimulating and fun.”
David Goldberg, QC
“Absolutely Outstanding.”
Jonathan Jay, M.D. at Nationwide Alliance of Business Owners
“My coaching with Simon was invaluable. He’s a great sounding-board offering practical guidance, building confidence and helping to allay those niggling questions of ‘can I do this?’. Highly recommended!”
AJ, Head of Local Strategic Communications, Office for Security & Counter-Terrorism
“Very practical tools which have immediate application. I love the fact that we were challenged by Simon and made to leave our comfort zones. I didn’t expect to learn so much or for the learning to be so beneficial or to enjoy it so thoroughly. Simon was a brilliant trainer. “
L&D manager, Daily Telegraph
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to you for your session on Negotiation last Saturday. The feedback was simply amazing! It was a privilege that you were able to join us. “
Jan Matern, Director of Emerge Venture Lab at Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Said Business School, Oxford University
“Relevant, informative and very enjoyable. Excellent course leader”
Manager, magic circle law firm
“The day was well planned. The exercises were extremely powerful and the tools that I acquired over the course of the day I have found easy to apply in my everyday life. The course is practical, insightful and challenging and lasts long after the day has ended. “
Shachi Shah, Director of Structured & Investment Products, Deutsche Bank.
“Great overall experience. Lots of practical things to take away and implement. Thanks very much”
Manager, Dresdner Kleinwort Investment Bank
“I knew it was going to be good, but I didnt expect it to be this good”
Chief superintendent, police force
“Great course and really great trainer. Completely relevant to my role. Learnt so much, very much exceeded my expectations”
L&D manager, IPC Media
“Simon was very engaging and entertaining, it was a very interesting presentation, my expectations of it were exceeded”
Solicitor, Shearman & Sterling
“The whole training has been very useful for my business. Simply excellent, exceeded my expectations. “
Simon Jordan, marketing consultant
“Very well run and professional, a great course with lots of useful content. “
Manager, Dresdner Kleinwort Investment Bank
“Stimulating, practical and motivating. Highly recommend it”
Manager, Blick Rothenberg
“This program was a powerful learning experience and what I learnt will help me in my job to a considerable extent. I would totally recommend this course”
Area manager, Greene King
“Great fun and highly engaging, I would highly recommend this workshop. I assumed the course would not be long enough but the day was enough to achieve my goals and exceed my expectations.”
Field manager, Whitbread Breweries
“I tended to dismiss this sort of thing but the 2 days were great fun, very revealing and absolutely inspiring”
David Beaumont, film industry consultant.
“I would say that the course I have just undertaken with Simon is probably the best course I have been on to date. I felt inspired and will definitely put into practice the skills I have learnt”
Jon Watts, Project Manager, Avon & Somerset Police
“I have recommended this course to everyone I know! Simon was incredibly helpful and informative, and I learnt so much”
Manager, national charity
“Thanks, absolutely brilliant. Making negotiation sexy is a challenge. But you did”
Chris Lawrence, Director, JBP PR & Parliamentary Affairs
“The coaching ensured I achieved a deal way above my walk away in a new contract negotiation recently. For a modest fee, I ensured that I will be paid £11,000 above what I had envisaged over the coming 12 months. Highly recommended.”
Lionel Jones, Programme Delivery Manager
“Exceptionally useful, exceeded my expectations, it has been brilliant. Too many ‘take aways’ to mention. Simon has been brilliant. His style is inspiring”
L&D manager, IPC Media
Problem
A household-name Japanese electronics manufacturing company was hit hard during a downturn in the economy because people rapidly cut back their high-street spending at the same time as the yen surged in value with respect to the pound and the euro.
Solution
Consequently, the F.D. and CEO of the European subsidiary company (15,000 employees) instigated a ‘cost-busting’ programme across all employees. The idea was that all supplier contracts were to be re-negotiated for a 20% cut in costs without any drop in service level.
Approach
We were asked to design and run an “Advanced Negotiation Skills” course for the company. In discussion with the programme sponsor, we identified a dozen key individuals to come on the course. We interviewed them to understand the kind of negotiations they were involved in and the recurring issues they face and we designed and ran a bespoke programme for them with follow-up coaching as part of the package.
Results
The follow-up coaching took place over the two months after the programme and, unfortunately, this straddled year-end, which meant that the individuals did not have enough time to conduct the re-negotiations to the extent that was originally planned.
Despite this, savings of over £200,000 were identified as attributable to the programme. This was on an initial investment of £20,000 and so repaid itself 10 times within two months.