who we are
The four directors
We each bring specific expertise to the company, and take the lead in building and developing a particular dimension of our business. We also share many of the skills and all of the values that are key to our success.
We each hold membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development and are accredited to administer and interpret a range of diagnostic instruments.
We ran our own individual training businesses before we formed indigo. We share a background in the public sector, both as senior managers and training professionals, with first hand experience of leading and managing people, directing operations and projects, managing the training and development function, and leading teams through periods of major change.
David Elliott
David is the one in indigo we turn to when we need just the right newspaper article, an appropriate picture, the most relevant business survey – he takes the lead in research for the company. His specialist topics are performance management and efficiency; performance appraisal; motivation; creative problem solving and career and life coaching. David has extensive experience as a consultant in organisational development and has written self-tutor and open learning materials.
David has been a manager in all sorts of organisations - retail (his family business), a government department, a management training college, and not forgetting a tour of duty at a nationally renowned prison hospital.
He also makes good use of his creative talents, whether coming up with new ways of presenting training materials, drawing cartoons or designing his garden.
Judith Jewell
Judith is managing director of indigo. Her particular interests are management and personal development; mentoring; team building and team development; creative thinking, writing and business skills.
Judith is author of the business skills book Brain Fitness @ Work Hamlyn, published in 2003. Available from amazon.co.uk - click book for details
She has also been an invited speaker at several conferences. |
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Judith started her working life in the Department of Health as an auditor - not considered one of the most popular professions. But it did provide plenty of experience of systems, of management, and in dealing with difficult situations. Judith has trained as a Redwood trainer in Assertiveness and is a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Auditors. She likes to get involved in things - she is a magistrate on Kingston-upon-Thames bench, an Executive Member of Kingston Racial Equality Council, and a Governor of Roehampton University, as well as more creative pursuits like cooking and eating adventurously.
Elaine Smith
Elaine keeps indigo’s finances on track - she is our company secretary and financial director. Her main areas of interest are management and personal development; organisational change; equality and diversity and trainer training. She has considerable experience developing and training trainers and training managers in UK government departments.
Elaine had a successful career in the Metropolitan Police Service as a senior manager and HR professional where she led the Met’s personnel development strategy for some 15,000 managers and support staff. She is a qualified NVQ Assessor and has trained as a trainer in Assertiveness and in Equal Opportunities.
Elaine is passionate about music and dance - she is an advanced level teacher in the dance fitness movement and trains teachers in this field, so that her passion is passed on and the movement flourishes.
Chris Williams
Chris has the lead role in the company for marketing. His main areas of interest are leadership; the growth and development of teams; organisational change and coaching. Chris has worked with a number of high level teams, helping them to focus on strategic plans and organisational change.
Chris started his working life at the sharp end of the Benefits Agency and left that organisation as a senior manager and training specialist. He then worked as a lecturer at the then Civil Service College (where all four of us met) and then spent two years as Training Director for WorkSpace International Ltd, the knowledge management specialists. He is a visiting lecturer in leadership and management at the National School of Government, and Roffey Park Institute. When Chris is not working he might be found on a stage - acting or performing in a band.
Our associates
We are delighted to be able to draw on the expertise and commitment of a group of highly respected and accomplished training and development professionals. They each run their own successful businesses, and bring an added diversity to our team from their different backgrounds. They share our values, our passion for learning and development and our commitment to the highest quality.