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Paul Nicholson

Head Coach

Paul Nicholson

He is a seasoned Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), and Member of the Special Group of Coaching Psychologists at the BPS, International Society of Coaching Psychologists and Association for Coaching. 

Paul’s been supporting senior and executive leaders for over 20 years, and during that time he’s worked with people dealing with many different challenges including redundancy, bereavement, restructuring, harassment and organisational conflict. He tends to work with corporate clients in the private sector in the UK and globally. Previously, he has been part of the executive coaching team at Manchester Business School.

He’s known for his compassionate, thoughtful and insightful style, and his coaching philosophy draws on holistic, cognitive behavioural, and positive psychology solution-based approaches. 

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Rachael Lewis

Lead Coach

Rachel Lewis

Rachel Lewis is a Lead Coach at Act 5.

Rachel is an award winning Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), and a Chartered Coaching Psychologist and founding member of the Association of Business Psychologists.

Rachael’s been coaching individuals for over 20 years, working at the most senior levels in a wide range of organisations, from global corporations to SME's. She works across private, public, and charitable sectors and has extensive experience within Manufacturing, Hospitality, Telecoms, Education, Healthcare and the NHS.

She is known for her ability to understand and appreciate her client's situation whilst providing insightful observations which help them to create a renewed sense of hope, momentum and purpose. Rachael is passionate about diversity and inclusion, and her approach has been strongly influenced by her own experiences of parenting and supporting her own neurodivergent children. She is adaptive to her client needs and integrates a wide range of different coaching and counselling techniques.

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Darren Perks

Lead Coach

Darren Perks

Darren Perks is a Lead Coach at Act 5.

Darren is a multifaceted Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), accredited executive coach with the Association for Coaching, Senior Practitioner with the EMCC and member of the International Society of Coaching Psychologists and International Coaching Federation.

He is also an executive coach for London Business School. Darren’s experience extends over 20 years of working at strategic levels within private and public sector organisations, including across international boundaries with senior-client facing teams. He’s known for his sensitivity, empathy and insightful observations, and his ability to engage and enable people as valued, unique individuals. Darren’s coaching style is influenced by his wide experience of working with different coaching approaches and methods.

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Rebecca Stevens

Lead Coach

Rebecca Stevens

Rebecca Stevens is a Lead Coach at Act 5.

Rebecca is a highly experienced Chartered Occupational and Coaching Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. During her 20 year career, Rebecca has supported and enabled senior business leaders in public, private and the third sector to get to grips with difficult challenges and develop their ability to manage and thrive in their roles.

Rebecca’s known for her ability to listen deeply without judgement and ask incisive, thought-provoking questions. She works holistically with her clients, with her kindness, empathy and honesty and a range of coaching techniques helping to create a compassionate and calm and safe environment in which her clients feel safe to share and gradually move through their challenges.

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Kerry Seaman

Head of Client Support

Kerry Seaman

Kerry Seaman is our Head of Client Support.

Kerry has over 25 years of experience in corporate operational management, with her early experience within the human resources teams in the healthcare sector, before moving into operational support roles with specialist coaching and people development consultancies. Kerry is at the heart of all good things at Act 5, and uses her compassion and sensitivity, alongside an extensive range of operational management skills, to ensure that everything runs smoothly and impactfully for our clients.

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About Act 5 Coaches.

There are two core requirements for the coaches who are asked to work with Act 5.

Firstly, they have to be vastly experienced, time served executive coaches who have a wealth of exeprience of supporting clients workiing through difficult and challenging situations.

Secondly, they bring unparalleled levels of the professionalism and expertise as Chartered Psychologists with the British Psychological Society, and being registered and regulated by the Health Professions Council to the highest professional, ethical and personal standards.

Whilst they’ve all carried out extensive training – and continue to do so – they have have their own interests and specialitiies, and as such have professional registrations and qualifications with a range of different bodies. Some of the leading organisations that we’re proud to be associated with appear below.

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What do our clients say?

The help and support was outstanding. Professional at all times but personally very challenging, not allowing the difficulty of the context of conversation to prevent progression. I feel I benefited greatly from the support and guidance offered… allowing me to make life changing decisions with increased confidence and awareness.

Business Unit Director

Defence Sector

Our coach worked with our business over an 18-month period whilst we went through significant change. His work was invaluable in helping our management team navigate through this… a great listener, very flexible and customer focussed.

CEO

Chemical Sector

Paul is an engaging, thought provoking and personable coach with whom I very much enjoy working. He takes a forensic approach which serves to identify meaningful improvement actions, and is then rigorous in keeping me honest in sticking to the plan.

CFO

High Tech Manufacturing

 I was really impressed by my coach Darren. I had coaches in the past and Darren stands out from all of them for being extremely well attuned to the individual and as a result providing very relevant and impactful coaching. He brings together the wealth of knowledge and coaching skill with his unique intuition of being connected with the individual.

Managing Director

Financial Services

I have experienced real transformational benefits that have positively impacted on my work performance, happiness and my relationships both at work and at home.  Rachael has enabled me to find my true self again and overcome significant personal and professional challenges in a constructive, supportive way.

HR Director

NHS

Paul has mentored and coached me over the past 18 months and assisted me to enhance my leadership, strategic and interpersonal skills which I have found invaluable in my new role.

Commercial Director

Construction

It is fair to say that coaching with Rachael over 6 months has improved my confidence, resilience and helped me make some fundamental decisions... Rachael inspires trust and openness and I would recommend her wholeheartedly.

Deputy CEO

Local Authority

The coaching has helped me change my way of thinking, like a guide, and helped me not get overwhelmed and go down the plughole. It's been grounding. It's also helped me overcome my imposter syndrome and recognise the opportunities in the next 6 to 12 months.

Operations & Logistics Director

Retail

Thought provoking, inspiring, restorative - Thought provoking because the questions asked made me think and analyse something to think through situations differently … inspiring because it made me believe in myself more and gave me the confidence to overcome fears …. restorative because it restored my belief in what I can do and accomplish.

Facilities Manager

Education

Rebecca was an amazing coach! Her insightful guidance has helped me analyse and apply feedback, navigate real-world challenges, and develop skills that have helped me grow both professionally and personally. 

Senior Leader

Education

I found my time with Darren truly healing -  it was a time of deep reflection… Our time allowed healing, validation, and consolidation. I have used the tools I have learnt and at times I continue go to my inner child to learn more about myself.

 Thank you for taking me on my journey, thank you for supporting and helping me to overcome its obstacles to get me back on track.

Senior Manager

NHS England

Coaching raised my awareness and helped me work out how to be visible in a useful way. It helped me see that not all disagreements are confrontation. The coaching broke my mental blocks in my head and helped me clear those.

Finance Director

Technology

My first encounter was raw it was at a time where my whole professional integrity was being interrogated, I was emotionally busy (and) caught in a cycle of questioning my inner self…

I found my time with Darren truly healing. It was a time of deep reflection. Our time allowed healing, validation, and consolidation.  

Thank you for taking me on my journey, thank you for supporting and helping me to overcome its obstacles to get me back on track…. to take me in a new direction where I am thriving.

NHS Senior Manager

Health Professional

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