Celebrating 15 Years of US2U Consulting

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Published: Thursday, 01 April 2021 14:30

Since 1 April 2006 we have turned over several million pounds of business, worked across most sectors of industry, education, several other parts of the public sector and the third sector. Twenty two team members have contributed to the company's success including five interns who have used the opportunity to develop their skills and springboard their careers. We have also worked across 16 countries and been awarded Export Champion status by the UK government.

Our mission has been to guarantee to make a positive difference and we have been pleased to do that at business, team and individual levels. It's always great to see how our clients have been able to develop their efficiency and effectiveness to deliver their products and services to their clients and customers. Supporting the community through sponsoring local events, buying equipment, speaking at various events and supporting young people with careers advice has also always been important to us.

Having traded profitably and through a recession and now a pandemic we wish to say a huge thank you to all who have contributed to our sustainability. We are pleased to celebrate 15 Years from our new location at Ivy House (spot the ivy in the photo alongside our birthday cake!).

Lifelong Learning: Rachel Blackburn featured as a notable Open University Case Study

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Published: Monday, 29 March 2021 11:45

US2U Consulting Director Rachel Blackburn has been featured as a star Open University Business School alumna case study, as the world-renowned educational institution looks back on the successes of some of its former students.

In this interview Rachel reflects on her early career days, and how the educational opportunities provided by the Open University opened doors to fulfilling career opportunities that might not have been accessible otherwise. It was also her MBA qualification gained through the Open University that ultimately gave her the confidence to establish her first company, US2U Consulting. She was recognised for this achievement in 2016 - being awarded an Open University Business School Student and Alumni Award - and her MBA continues to open doors around the world as people recognise the value of a degree from a leading British educational institution.

"My studies gave me a management and leadership toolkit. By the time I finished, I had a deep understanding of how businesses work, how to manage a business and best practice in business ... I left having the confidence that I could help any business with these concepts. I wouldn't have had this confidence without my MBA.

"I now use these concepts every single day to help businesses and clients ... I have used the skills I learnt to help hundreds of other businesses to become successful and generate income. People appreciate the fact that it's a British MBA ... it's opened up many doors for me, particularly in the Middle East."

Read the full Open University case study here.

Rachel's commitment to lifelong learning is a core US2U Consulting value, and something that allows our team to make a positive difference to any organisation. Find out more about our services.

The Psychology of Making Buying Decisions - US2U Consulting Webinar

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Published: Tuesday, 16 March 2021 12:40

US2U Consulting Sales Performance Consultant Steve Thurlow is delivering a webinar, hosted by the Cambridge Network, on the topic of buying and sales psychology, on Wednesday 14th April from 11am - 12pm.

The webinar explores how people make buying decisions in a world of complexity and information overload. Fortunately, the psychology of making a major decision is consistent. It doesn't matter if it's personal or business, or if it's an individual or group decision - the mental processes we all go through are the same.

Discussed in a B2B sales context, this webinar will provide insights into the phases of the buying process, how to recognise them and how to match your sales approach to achieve maximum impact.

Click here to learn more and sign up. The webinar is free to Cambridge Network members, and £10 to non-members. To find out more about how Steve and US2U Consulting can improve your sales conversions as we look forward to post-lockdown reopening and Covid-19 economic recovery, contact us.

Take a look at the US2U Consulting Podcast Sales episode featuring Steve below:

US2U Consulting launch updated Sustainability Policy for 2021

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Published: Monday, 15 March 2021 11:39

We are pleased to share our updated 2021 Sustainability Policy, which we have adapted from our previous Environmental Policy to reflect our multifaceted approach to achieving environmentally- and socially-responsible business practices today.

This policy sets out our '3 Pillar' approach of combining Economic, Environmental and Social considerations to our work and that of our clients. It also includes some of the recent initiatives we have committed to, including Change the Race Ratio which aims to increase racial diversity among UK businesses, of which we are one of 75 founding signatories.

We have also recently committed to the SME Climate Hub, a network which aims to help small and medium sized businesses curb their emissions in line with the UN's Race to Zero Campaign, while also gaining a competitive advantage.

Read our 2021 Sustainability Policy below:

US2U Consulting - Sustainability Policy 2021

Emotional Wellbeing Career Coaching Programme

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Published: Tuesday, 09 February 2021 14:24

This service has a positive impact on the Careers and Emotional Wellbeing of Women, enabling clients to move forward in ways that they did not think possible.

Delivered by Tina Neve MCIPD, an Emotional Wellbeing Career Coach, the approach is open, engaging, holistic, empathetic and supportive. She provides a trusting, collaborative space to focus, in a world full of time pressures and distractions. There is the surface level "what's going on?" and then there is "what's really going on?". This is where feelings, emotions and our inner voice have a massive part to play.

The results you can expect working with Tina are:

• A new sense of who you are, what makes you tick and how this relates to your career. This information literally changes lives.

• The confidence to talk about what you bring to the table with head and heart aligned. When you are being authentically you - this is so much easier.

• A vision for your future career, knowing that it will align with your whole life.

• The confidence to move forward without wasting time or worrying that you are making the wrong decision.

• Insight and understanding on how you can position yourself to flourish at work, not just survive until Friday or your holiday.

Testimonial:

"Tina is a great listener whose natural warmth and empathy combine with a wellspring of experience. Tina's seemingly limitless toolkit of techniques has helped me to understand what I really want from my career. Working together, we have identified opportunities that I could not see before." - Former client

Service Delivery:

Tina can work on a 1-to-1 basis remotely via Zoom, as well as face-to-face (when circumstances allow).

Typically the programme comprises of six sessions, each lasting around 1.5 hours. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

US2U Consulting Commit to Change The Race Ratio

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Published: Friday, 05 February 2021 09:12

US2U Consulting is pleased to be one of 75 businesses to have committed to Change the Race Ratio, an initiative launched by the CBI and other leading organisations with the aim of accelerating racial diversity in businesses.

We are excited to have taken part in the UK's first ever Race Equality Week, 1-7 February 2021 - a week where organisations across the country are uniting to address race in the workplace and drive transparency, accountability and action. Find out more here.

To play our part, we have become a signatory to Change the Race Ratio as we believe a diverse and inclusive workforce is now imperative to making a successful business. Learn more at changetheraceratio.com.

Please contact us to find out how US2U Consulting can help you enjoy the benefits of greater diversity in your organisation.

US2U Consulting Podcast - Developing Your Sales Performance

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Published: Thursday, 14 January 2021 17:43

Welcome to the latest edition of the US2U Consulting Podcast. In this socially-distanced edition, Rachel Blackburn talks to new US2U Consulting Sales Performance Consultant Steve Thurlow about the Sales Consultancy services we offer, providing some key tips that businesses can take away to improve their sales conversions in 2021. Watch below or on YouTube: US2U Consulting Podcast - Developing Your Sales Performance

Contact us to find out more about how we can help you achieve your business goals this year.

Which other topics would you like to see us cover in our podcast?

Elevate your Career in 2021 with US2U Consulting Coaching

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Published: Monday, 11 January 2021 11:43

The unprecedented change we have all experienced over the last year has prompted many people to re-evaluate their priorities and reflect on their career aspirations - often deciding they would like to get more from their career, develop a new skill set or pursue a passion. At US2U Consulting we are well placed to help you with this process and ensure you are aligned with your professional goals and engaged in fulfilling work as we continue to adapt to the changing work environment.

As we begin 2021, we are pleased to welcome Mark Fuller MA, FCIPD (pictured) to the team, who joins as our first dedicated Career Coaching Consultant. Mark is a resourceful and vastly experienced HR professional who has worked in both the public and private sectors for over 40 years. He is a qualified career coach with extensive experience of working with colleagues who are facing significant career change, and is committed to supporting individuals in unlocking their full range of abilities. Read his full biography here.

We offer a tailored One-to-One Career Coaching Programme, which will generally include:

• Initial Career Discussion

• CV and LinkedIn Profile Assessment

• Career Coaching sessions (including Interview Preparation, Role Play and Networking Advice)

• 3 months of Ongoing Support

Could our personal Career Coaching service be your key to a more fulfilling career? Read our full service sheet here, and email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more.

Rachel Blackburn joins East of England CBI Council

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Published: Wednesday, 06 January 2021 10:31

US2U Consulting Founder and Director Rachel Blackburn has been elected to join the East of England CBI (Confederation of British Industry) Council from 1st January 2021. The CBI's mission is to promote the conditions in which businesses of all sizes and sectors in the UK can compete and prosper for the benefit of all. It speaks for about 190,000 businesses - together employing around a third of the private sector workforce. The businesses comprise the UK's largest network of FTSE 100 companies and large businesses, as well as mid-caps, SMEs and trade associations.

Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE DL, President of the CBI, said, "Congratulations on joining the CBI's Council, everyone here greatly values the contribution our Council members make. For 2021 with the UK business community facing real challenges from Brexit to overcoming COVID, your voice will be more important than ever at the CBI. Your contribution to the CBI Council will have a real impact and influence on our work and I hope over your term we are able to share some vital insights and intelligence that help both you and your business develop and grow. Thank you for your time and commitment to this important role."

Rachel said, "As we plan for 2021 it has never been more important for business and government to proactively work together to lift our productivity, renew our infrastructure, solve our skills gap and invest in new technology. Having been a management consultant for over 20 years working with a wide range of businesses in the UK and overseas, I am looking forward to the opportunity for US2U Consulting to play a leading role in influencing the policy landscape at a local and national level. I also recognise that I enable the East of England CBI Council to strengthen its Diversity and Inclusion practices."

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss any specific points with Rachel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

US2U Director joins Open University Diversity & Inclusion Webinar Panel

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Published: Monday, 04 January 2021 14:53

Rachel Blackburn was on the panel for the Open University's webinar asking "How can business schools help create more racially diverse businesses?" on Wednesday 2nd December 2020.

As an award-winning Open University and MBA alumna, with incisive insight into and experience of working in the subject of Diversity and Inclusion, Rachel's suggestions and practical advice were well received by the audience.

Watch the recording of the webinar here.

Dr Terry O'Sullivan, Senior Lecturer in Management at The Open University Business School, commented how Rachel "was reasurring about the practical relevance of many of the concepts she had met in her studies - particularly some classic ideas about culture and change management ... Rachel also acknowledged the sensitivity of work in this area. Part of the difficulty of conversations about racism at work is that staff may have to relive traumatic experiences."

Pictured is Rachel at the Open University awards ceremony at the OU campus in Milton Keynes where she received her award in 2016.

To find out how US2U Consulting can help your organisation stay on top of the latest business trends and challenges as we begin 2021, contact us.