Testimonials from People Who Have Progressed through our Business Development Programme

I came from a background of bar work and office work, I had never represented a company before or even considered that I would be ableto sell or promote a client or service, so for me to embark on an interview for a sales and marketing company was a new challenge. However once I saw the professionalism displayed by the team within the Coulson Organisation, I was impressed and I felt that if I could learn, I could succeed.

I started working at the Coulson Organisation in December 2005 I spent my first week in an office in Amsterdam which made me realise the scale of the opportunity the company offered. I had no prior experience in the industry but took a lot of confidence from the comprehensive training programme that took me from my first day in the company, through their business development programme, with one to one support and education from the Managing Director and his colleagues. I really liked the idea that I could progress at my own rate and I didn't have to wait to get ahead. I found this refreshing after working in so many companies where you had to have been working at a level for an arbitrary amount of time before you qualified for a promotion.

On top of financial rewards for my own hard work, I was given more opportunities to travel and develop my own skills, with coaching in a live environment by people who had been through the same experiences that I was facing. I was always aware that when I needed help I had a comprehensive support network to fall back on and frequently we travelled to other offices and meetings to learn best practice and improve our skills at every level of the Business Development Programme. Everyday was an education and I still feel I am learning today.

I moved through the promotional structure of the company from the ground level to Ownership within 18 months, I now own my own company, which is moving from strength to strength with continual support from the Coulson Organisation network. I would never have dreamed when I answered the advertisement that I could have achieved the things I have since I joined the company. Not only have I developed my abilities in management and presentation skills but as a result of running my own business I now enjoy a lifestyle that very few people in their fifties, let alone their twenties could hope to have. The opportunity that I was offered and took has changed my life and will continue to do so as we develop both nationally and internationally over the coming years.

Ben Laws
Managing Director

My time with the Coulson Organisation initially commenced in October 2006. Prior to this I was a retail manager for a well known shoe retail company. I enjoyed my time within the retail industry however soon began to realise that the financial potential in the industry was not what I aspired to and that I would have to wait for others to progress or move on before I could get my next promotion. I decided I wasn't prepared to wait and started looking for another career avenue to explore.

I discovered the Coulson Organisation by chance. The advertisement I responded to “Fun + Hard work = Money” really summed up what I was looking for.

The first thing I noticed about the business was the incredibly fun and enjoyable environment. I was also very impressed by the selfless support offered by everybody I met. This was the complete opposite experience I’d had to my job in the shoe shop. The ethics of the company and the people I were now working with gave me confidence that I was now finally on the right career path. I especially loved the fact that this business offers a fast paced environment with the opportunity to progress at your own individual rate.

My initial progression was incredibly quick within the business however I did come across challenges. The challenges I faced were due to the fact that I had no previous experience working in the industry and still had a lot of skills I was yet to develop. The financial rewards together with the fact I had the support of my colleagues and the Coulson Organisation Managing Director meant that I was able to overcome these challenges quickly.

The skills I have now developed have not just helped me with my career but also my personal life. I have had the opportunity to travel to many different cities and countries and now that I have completed the Business Development Programme I have access to much larger opportunities and find myself having the lifestyle I always wanted.

I am not just grateful for the time effort and money invested into me but also the little bit of luck I had on discovering the business.

Having finished university in 2008, I wasn’t 100% certain on which career path I wanted to take.I did know that I wanted a long term stable career in which I could progress and develop my skill set at my own pace whilst actually working my way up through a company.
When I started in June 2008, my main goal was to develop and improve my communication skills and with the coaching and support I received, this didn’t take very long and I was promoted to the Business development in just four weeks.
Over the following two years I developed my coaching and training skills to pass through levels two and three of the BDP.
I have recently completed stage 4 of the Business Development programme where I have learned all areas of recruitment, administration and finance and have now moved onto the fifth and final stage.
I am very excited about completing the programme and being given the opportunity to manage my own location in the near future.

Dave Carruthers
Assistant Owner