Marina Makes Waves at US2U Consulting!

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Published: Tuesday, 11 July 2023 15:08

US2U Consulting were pleased to recently welcome recent University of Oxford graduate Marina Popp to the team, who joined us as an intern for some valuble work experience within the Management Consultancy industry. Below are some reflections from Marina following her time with us:

Having spent a week at US2U Consulting, I have learnt a lot about the consultancy world and the opportunities and challenges that arise from the space. I have outlined what I've learnt under five key points below:

1. My work experience has been very insightful about the skills needed to be a successful consultant. These include (but are not limited to!) resilience in the face of setback, flexibility, responsiveness, willpower and energy, both in terms of time and distance.

2. Having written and edited an AI Policy for the business, I am now up-to-date on current regulations on AI, as well as on the benefits and risks associated with its deployment.

3. Handouts commonly used by the business for inspirational sessions have been really useful when it comes to understanding key skills and how to implement them. For example, I have learnt about the effects drastic change may have on someone, and how they can navigate that change in a positive way.

4. Working on certain projects of US2U Consulting with the 'cleantech' sector, such as its new partnership with Cambridge Cleantech, has introduced me to this buzzing, entrepreneurial space.

5. On a personal level, I have learnt to be open when it comes to taking feedback, and always learn from my mistakes. Drafting content for the website means that I have been flexible in changing my approach as appropriate.

Thanks for having me, US2U Consulting!

Developed in the UK, Sold to the World

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Published: Monday, 19 June 2023 22:01

We are thrilled to have been re-appointed as an Export Champion by the Department for Business & Trade for 2023/24. The Department for Business & Trade is the UK Government department for economic growth. It supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities around the country.

Our role as Export Champions is to inspire other businesses to grow through exporting, drawing on our experience of entering various international markets in the last 12 years.

As a UK-based business, US2U Consulting recognises that exporting is fundamental to getting our economy back on track. Our goal is to make a positive difference across various international markets by exporting our leadership development services.

In particular, our Executive Coaching, Transformational Change and Teambuilding Services have made a significant impact in businesses in various territories from Canada through to Ireland and Dubai. We also work with UK-based businesses on specific projects to support development of their scaling up and overseas business development strategies.

Andrew Mitchell CMG, Director General, Domestic and International Markets and Exports, Department for Business and Trade, said "Export Champions play an integral role in the Government's Export Strategy - a partnership with business to encourage trade with every market in the world and realise our ambition to reach £1 trillion in exports in goods and services by 2030."

Rachel Blackburn, Founder and Director of US2U Consulting (pictured) said "We are excited to be part of this inspiring initiative; we can all play our part whether directly, or as part of the supply chain, to make an impact on this ambitious target for 2030."

Feel free to drop Rachel a line if you'd like some advice! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Celebrating Pride Month 2023!

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Published: Saturday, 17 June 2023 22:59

Encouraging Diversity has always been one of US2U Consulting's core values. We always incorporate key messages into our client projects as appropriate. This may include helping clients create or refresh their company values to drive a positive, inclusive culture or delivering specific sessions to enable managers and staff to stay up to date on relevant legislation and language that can be used or avoided in the workplace so that people feel comfortable.

Always up for a challenge, to celebrate Pride Month 2023 we decided to make a Pride Flag Cake! It has three layers so we think that it is relevant to ask ourselves three questions:

1) What are we doing well regarding creating an all-inclusive culture?

2) What can we do differently or better to achieve this?

3) What are we going to change?

Please get in touch to ask us to support your Diversity and Inclusion Stategy - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

3 Not Out! US2U Consulting Sponsor Horsford Cricket Board for a Third Year

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Published: Wednesday, 24 May 2023 18:48

US2U Consulting are very pleased to continue our sponsorship of local Norfolk cricket club, Horsford CC, for the third year in a row - with our sponsorship board at their Manor Park ground.

Our sponsorship began in 2021 at the ground where Horsford Cricket Club play their home games - and which also hosts Norfolk CCC matches at national county level. We then decided to continue our sponsorship for a second year, before now adding a third.

It is great to be able to support local initiatives and organisations and to encourage local sport in the region. Visit www.horsfordcricketclub.co.uk to view their fixture list and get down to a game! Horsford CC play at Manor Park, Holt Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR10 3AQ.

Pictured is US2U Consulting Director Rachel Blackburn with our sponsorship board.

Ryan Vickers, Sponsored by US2U Client Boniface Engineering, Clinches Podium Finish

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Published: Tuesday, 23 May 2023 18:57

Congratulations to British Superbike rider, Boniface Engineering-sponsored Ryan Vickers, who clinched his first career podium finish in the British Superbike Championship at Donington Park on Sunday 21st May 2023.

Ryan has been sponsored by Thetford-based Boniface Engineering - a long-standing US2U Consulting client - for a number of years. He finished second in the opening of three races at the Donington Park leg of the Championship, after over 100 races in the competition.

Through Boniface Engineering, US2U Consulting have been following Ryan Vickers' progress for a few years. We even scripted and produced a series of video interviews with Ryan last year, to mark Boniface's 40th anniversary year of trading. Watch these here!

Congrats, Ryan!

Pictured is Ryan Vickers with Mike Boniface, and the British Superbike podium trophy.

US2U Consulting Podcast Spring 2023 - Gender Equality in the Workplace

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Published: Monday, 17 April 2023 20:56

For our latest US2U Consulting Podcast episode, Founder & Director Rachel Blackburn sat down with our Spring 2023 Intern, Jess Connolly, to discuss the topic of Gender Equality in the Workplace.

Watch the episode and let us know your thoughts. What are your experiences of Gender Equality in organisations you have worked in? Have there been improvements made in this area in recent years?

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more about how US2U Consulting can make a positive difference to your organisation.

Intern Jess Connolly Shares Her US2U Consulting Experiences

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Published: Tuesday, 04 April 2023 12:26

Earlier in 2023, Business Management student Jess Connolly joined US2U Consulting as a Marketing Coordinator & Client Services Intern, working across several client projects and US2U Consulting initiatives.

Jess is currently in the final year of her degree at the University of East Anglia - at US2U Consulting we are proud to support and offer work experience opportunities to people considering Management Consultancy as a career.

We recently caught up with Jess to hear from her about her experiences being part of the US2U team in Spring 2023 - and what she is able to take back and apply to her studies and future career from her time with us. Watch this below!

During her time with us Jess was also part of the US2U team that attended the Broadland and South Norfolk Business Awards Ceremony at Carrow Road. She also featured in our Spring 2023 episode of the US2U Consulting Podcast, on the topic of Gender Equality in the Workplace. Watch this podcast episode here.

If you excited to learn more about our industry and are interested in exploring work experiences at US2U Consulting, then do This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

US2U Consulting Celebrate 17th Anniversary!

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Published: Saturday, 01 April 2023 09:48

US2U Consulting were pleased to celebrate 17 years of successful and profitable trading and making a Positive Difference to our clients on 1st April 2023.

Since our founding in 2006, we are very proud to have worked with hundreds of companies from across the UK, Europe and the world to help them tackle and solve some of business's biggest challenges - as well enabling them to reach new levels of success for their teams and staff.

In fact - US2U Consulting also received praise for our 17 years of commitment to our work and clients from the judges of the March 2023 Broadland and South Norfolk Business Awards, following our nomination:

"The service provided by US2U is of a professional and high standard and project managed by Rachel individually, who is clearly committed to her client base and available for consultation 24/7. A desire to improve the client's business on each project came across strongly.

"Rachel works with clients and embeds her expertise within the organisation to help them progress. Excellence in service is evidently core to the business and importantly, the brand values have been personally tailored and the company has a clear vision in terms of agreeing what projects to take on and if they fit with the core values.

"Excellence in service for US2U goes beyond the organisation itself and this is evident in Rachel's involvement with the CBI and DIT trade missions."

Thanks to our clients and suppliers who have worked with us during these times, as well as those who have been part of the US2U Consulting team during this journey.

Here's to continued successes!

(P.S. the photo is of some M&M's in US2U Consulting colours, from M&M's World in Times Square, New York - we believe in playing hard as well as working hard!)

US2U Meet with the British Consulate General, New York, March 2023

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Published: Thursday, 30 March 2023 20:04

Kerwin and Rachel Blackburn were pleased to meet Toby Usnik (pictured, left, with Rachel) - Head of Communications at the British Consulate General in New York recently to discuss potential opportunities for our services in the US. Our meeting took place in the iconic location of Grand Central Terminal, New York (pictured below).

Whilst Toby currently works for the British Consulate General in New York, he has a commercial background and was able to share positive insights into the Executive Coaching market. We are planning our US strategy so please get in touch if you have contacts who would benefit from our services in that part of the world.

Linked to this story is that the British Department for Business and Trade have asked US2U Consulting to be an Export Champion for the fourth consecutive year. Part of this role is to advise other businesses on their international strategies.

Our first year of being awarded Export Champion status was 2020 - read about this here.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out how we can assist with you export strategies.

US2U Consulting at the Broadland and South Norfolk Business Awards Ceremony 2023

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Published: Wednesday, 08 March 2023 14:09

US2U Consulting attended the Broadland and South Norfolk Business Awards 2023 on 7 March, hosted at Norwich City Football Club.

US2U Consulting had been nominated for the award in 'Excellence in insurance, Financial and Professional Services'.

We were proud to be one of the top 3 finalists in that category and therefore pleased of the achievements our organisation has accomplished.

Throughout the evening there was food, drink and lots of networking taking place. It was a pleasing evening with a fun atmosphere, celebrating the success and hard-working teams of Norfolk businesses.

Jess, our intern who has recently joined US2U Consulting to gain some work experience within the consultancy industry, also attended the evening (pictured alongside US2U team members Rachel Blackburn and Jan Baynham).

Jess said the event was "insightful and eye-opening, learning about some of the most successful businesses located within Broadland and South Norfolk, as well as being able to attend a fun evening hosted at an exciting location."