This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
01603 716852

tailor-made solutions...inspirational...integrity...responsive customer service...strong relationships...encouraging diversity...understanding client needs

Proud to be an Export Champion

East of England Export Champion 2020 4Col thumbnail2US2U Consulting have been awarded the prestigious title of 2020 Export Champion by the UK Department for International Trade.

This is in recognition of the international work we have done over the last few years, with international projects and trade visits to the likes of Belgium, Ireland, Canada, USA and across the Middle East - along with the insights our teams can share with other businesses looking to export their goods and services. Read more >>>

News & Events

US2U Consulting Commit to Change The Race Ratio

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

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

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

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

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.

New Addition Strengthens our Sales Consultancy

US2U Consulting are pleased to welcome Steve Thurlow to the team, who becomes our first specialist Sales Performance Consultant.

We are delighted to be able to add this new specialist dimension to our team and range of consultancy services, at a time when sales represents an increasingly integral business-critical functiuon as we all continue to navigate the new commercial landscape that this year has brought us.

Steve's addition strengthens both the Sales Performance Consultancy and Coaching sides of our business - more information on these can be found in the service sheet below.

Rachel Blackburn, Director US2U Consulting, said, "I am pleased that Steve with his many years of experience is able to join the team. In addition to his coaching skills for sales people, for the first time we are able to offer a Bid Management Service for those clients wishing to complete tendering processes to achieve their business goals."

Read our Sales Performance service sheet below, and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more about how we could support your business sales performance as we venture into 2021.

 Developing Your Sales Performance in 2021 - US2U Consulting Service Sheet

Diverse Services for Diverse Organisations

Managing Diversity is one of the core values of US2U Consulting.

When Rachel Blackburn created the business back in 2005, her vision was to offer a one-stop shop for clients to be able to buy a range of management solutions which would make their business or organisation more successful. She based the services around the elements she studied for her MBA with the Open University - Business strategy, Marketing, HR Strategy, Creativity, Innovation and Change. Over time she has also been able to add additional services as team members have brought specific skillsets to the organisation, such as graphic design, logo creation, internet marketing and website design.

This makes our business unique in that we tailor and knit together so many different services to support clients, often over several years. An example of this is shown in the photograph; we worked with the Directors of Raingear Irrigation Ltd on several projects including recruiting a new Business Manager who is pictured in the photograph. Subsequently we worked with him to design their new company logo which supports their integrated marketing initiatives including livery on their vehicles (also pictured). It is always great to see our work in action.

Develop Your Personal Resilience with US2U Consulting

Our own personal resilience can be thought of as 'our ability to bounce back and adapt when faced with difficult, stressful situations' and it is something we have all required at various times during 2020.

It is also a skill that can be learned and developed, and one that can be applied to all manner of personal, professional and social challenges and situations.

At US2U Consulting, we have combined our team's training and experience in dealing with Mental Health matters with our extensive range of consultancy and change management services to produce a unique 'Developing Personal Resilience' toolkit to help you thrive in a changing world.

Our toolkit is built around our '30 Ways to Develop Your Resilience' handout, which is available to read now in the link below.

US2U Consulting Ltd - Developing Personal Resilience Handout

Incorporating these practical tips, we are experienced in introducing Mental Health policies, procedures and training to clients across various sectors, and offer various associated services that will make a positive difference to any organisation and its workforce.

A more resilient workforce will ensure you are best placed to overcome the challenges that the pandemic will present throughout 2021 as a team, as well as helping you to capitalise on the opportunities that will be unearthed within your industry.

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more about how we can help you become more resilient.

Trading through a Pandemic - Business Update

Over 6 months on from the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, at US2U Consulting we are really pleased that we have remained open for business throughout, having continued to support our clients across the UK and internationally with their priorities.

Our flexible and creative approach to the challenges of Covid-19 has seen us continue to make a positive difference, and it is great that the Autumn has seen our team get back out on the road engaging in more face-to-face activities, thanks to the reopening of many of our clients' workplaces. (After all, 'us-to-you' is what we are about!)

Some of our successful adaptations over the last 6 months have included:

 We are delivering socially-distanced Leadership and Change Workshops in Covid-secure workplaces (see an example in the photo). We are adapting activities and exercises so that we still meet the objectives but in a safe way, recognising that a lot of management teams have not been working together face-to-face for some months and are keen to get more interaction to develop the way they are leading their teams through this level of unprecedented change.

 We are delivering options for face-to-face coaching and workshops online or on-site depending on preference and locations. This is enabling us to deliver some international projects which is great as we are 2020 'Export Champions', as appointed by the UK Department for International Trade earlier this year.

 Our office is Covid-secure in line with current UK government regulations and we have been pleased to welcome people to this safe space for one-to-one coaching - and we always get positive feedback as rural Norfolk is a great place to learn.

 We have taken this opportunity to produce two open online learning courses - Producing a Robust Business Plan and Influencing Skills to Achieve Your Goals

 We are helping clients adapt and manage their 2020 challenges including ensuring appropriate levels of support for mental health and wellbeing, communication strategies when some people are home-based, and encouraging and more proactive approach to encouraging diversity in the workplace.

While we will all continue to face work and social challenges in the coming months, US2U Consulting are always available with our wide range of tailored services, ready to make a positive difference to any organisation.

View our services here or contact us to find out more.

Rachel Blackburn joins Norfolk Chamber panel to discuss Diversity & Inclusion

US2U Consulting Director Rachel Blackburn was invited onto a Norfolk Chambers of Commerce virtual panel to discuss the topic of Diversity & Inclusion on Thursday 17 September.

The four-person panel discussed the region's approach to this issue - offering practical takeaways that organisations can implement to ensure they and their staff are following best practice - and answering questions from the audience. The webinar was held in light of the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement that began earlier in 2020.

Feedback was very positive from attendees, who praised the 'enlightening' discussion. One audience member wrote "thank you all for your contributions and insights - really pleased I joined", while another wrote to Rachel, "thought you did a great job today - brilliantly articulated philosophical, procedural, practical and personal points, adding much needed insight and focus to the discussion. Thank you."

To find out how US2U Consulting can help you become up to date with your Diversity and Inclusion practices, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We'd also love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

Click here to watch the recording of the panel discussion