Green Key Personal Development (Green Key) tailors creative and inspirational learning and development solutions to bring out the best in individuals, teams and organisations. Green Key mission is to “Unlock potential to inspire individuals and teams to achieve and exceed goals and challenges through a foundation of knowledge and skill, trust, support and wellbeing.” They specialise in designing and delivering learning and development solutions in the areas of leadership, management, communication skills, customer service and workplace wellbeing. As we name Green Key our Leadership Development Company of the Year 2025, we gain deeper insight into their offering from Founder and General Director, Rachel Shackleton. Balance, Growth, Development, Wellbeing Rachel Shackleton didn’t always have the goal of working in the field of learning and development. As she says, “I don’t think I chose this industry, it chose me!” My background is in the hospitality business and initially it was working in food, beverage, and banqueting, which I loved. However, my progression in this department was blocked, because in the 1980’s this was very male dominated. Of course, this is different now. At that time, I was offered a trial in the training department of the London Hilton and that was the beginning of my relationship with learning and development. I have never looked back.” “In my career, I have been honoured with opening five 5* hotels in different countries, putting in the systems and training the managers to train their people. From there, I catapulted into founding my own company and working for myself.” Rachel doesn't only specialise in training professionals; she also possesses a background as a health and wellbeing practitioner (medical herbalist, naturopath, and kinesiologist), and soon to be Integrative Medicine practitioner, all of which reflect her deep knowledge and expertise surrounding self-care, health, and wellbeing. Wearing two hats as both a health professional and a business trainer, she combines her training experience in leadership, management, and customer service to support individuals and teams that operate in highpressured environments. Her extensive experience means she knows exactly how to address client needs. Green Key has a rigorous preparation approach that incorporates conversations with the client to understand what they are trying to achieve through the training and the problems that their business is facing. As part of precourse preparation, participants are sent questionnaires which returned provide a detailed understanding of their challenges and needs. Each programme is designed to meet the needs and goals of the organisation, as well as of participants. Cases and exercises are created from live examples that participants have shared. This means learners are working on actual issues they are facing, as opposed to fictitious situations. Additionally, to ensure the application of learning and skills, the Green Key facilitator will discuss how employees will be supported after the training to ensure a structure is in place to encourage performance and behaviour change in their job roles and the daily operations. The business has also designed an extensive library of on-demand e-learning courses that are available through a yearly subscription. Courses are creatively put together using infographics, case studies, role play, and assessment exercises, while also integrating an AI coach. Learners are supported for the duration of their learning journey, and even after the completion of courses with the AI coach. “Using AI intelligently to enhance the learner experience and journey is part of ongoing development, and with time we intend to improve the offering to enhance the learning journey and increase learning effectiveness with the support of AI.” Rachel further explains, “The learner is tested through conversation with the coach who is able to create situations in real-time to engage the learner, helping them with skills that need further development. The learner has this real-time interaction that is not only supporting them, but also their manager who, let’s face it, in today’s world managers often struggle to coach their employees after they have completed a course whether online or in person.” The foundation of Green Key is based on several core values: • True to Ourselves and Our Clients, • Inspirational Solutions, • Customer Orientated, • Passion for Learning and Development, • Wellbeing and Vitality. As Rachel says, “We live what we teach and believe in and live the techniques and approaches that are included in our learning and development solutions.” Green Key also prides itself on its long-term partnerships with clients which are based on trust, openness and respect as well as the delivery of excellence. We are keen to find out what the future looks like for Green Key Personal Development. Rachel reveals, “We are constantly innovating and challenging ourselves to be better at what we do. The day you stop being objectively critical and listening to client and employee feedback is the day you likely go out of business. Staying ahead of the curve is understanding how businesses are changing due to internal and external circumstances and forecasting what they are likely going to need is critical to developing products and services that match those needs. Our AI coach is an example of that.” She is also working with clients on building wellbeing into their company culture, at grass roots level, rather than what we mostly see today where companies are putting a sticking plaster on issues through tick box exercises of policy creation, healthy option in the canteen, neck massage and so on. Masking the issue does not make it go away! “You have to address the cause if you truly want to rectify the situation,” she concludes. “The culture and attitude to wellbeing within the company has to be addressed from the top down.” Company name: Green Key Personal Development Contact name: Rachel Shackleton Website: www.greenkeypersonaldevelopment.com
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