Why Did Switch Direction Start?

If you’re an HR manager or director, I’ll bet this sounds familiar: your phone pings, your inbox fills up, someone’s at your door with yet another “quick question” (that’s never quick). And in between all of that, you’re supposed to find the time to make big, strategic decisions about people and performance.

The truth is, helping people change their behaviours, work more effectively together, and actually enjoy what they do is no small task. And when you’re searching for the right training provider, you don’t want the same tired theory that never quite sticks. You want real-world training, delivered with energy, that sparks actual change.

That’s why Switch Direction exists. But how did it all start?

Like many good stories, this one begins with a setback.

I’d been working at Call Connection, a company I’d poured my energy into, when suddenly the news came: redundancy. One day you’re employed, the next day you’re not. It’s a jolt that leaves you wondering, “What next?”

So, I went home. I sat down around the kitchen table with my wife and our two children. Over cups of tea, instead of sulking about what I’d lost, we started talking about what we could build.

That conversation turned into scribbles on scrap paper. We sketched out logos (some more artistic than others), brainstormed names, and asked the children what they thought the business should stand for. It wasn’t a corporate branding agency, it wasn’t a consultancy—just a family, gathered around a table, creating something new.

And that’s how Switch Direction was born. The name itself captures what we were doing: taking a new route, making a conscious change, and helping others do the same.

From the very beginning, I knew Switch Direction couldn’t be like every other training provider. I’d sat in too many stuffy, PowerPoint-heavy sessions where enthusiasm went to die. The kind of training where everyone leaves with a folder that’s never opened again.

We wanted to be different.

Our mission became clear: to deliver training that is dynamic, people-focused, and, most importantly, fun. Not “forced fun” with awkward icebreakers, but genuine, practical sessions that stick because they’re memorable.

That’s why our approach is interactive, story-led, and rooted in real workplace challenges. Whether it’s leadership development, communication, customer service, or building confidence with digital skills, we make it relevant to your world—not just a textbook.

Fast forward to today, and Switch Direction has grown into a trusted partner for HR leaders across industries. We’ve worked with businesses large and small, all of them facing the same core challenge: how to change behaviour in a way that lasts.

Here’s why HR managers keep picking up the phone to us (sometimes between those constant interruptions you’re dealing with):

• We’re people-first. We understand that employees are humans, not statistics. Training has to connect with them emotionally as well as professionally.
• We make it practical. Your people leave with tools and techniques they can use immediately—not theory that gathers dust.
• We keep it engaging. Sessions are designed to be energetic and fun, so learning doesn’t feel like a chore.
• We follow up. Real change happens after the training room. That’s why we build in aftercare, so the impact continues.

At the heart of it, Switch Direction exists to help HR leaders like you feel confident that your investment in people is paying off—not just ticking a box.

That first night around the kitchen table has shaped everything about how we run this business. It was about family, collaboration, creativity, and optimism in the face of uncertainty.

And in many ways, that’s exactly what your teams need when they’re going through change: support, a chance to contribute, and the belief that something better is possible.

When you bring Switch Direction into your organisation, you’re not getting a faceless training provider. You’re getting a team that cares, that listens, and that treats your people the way we treated that first brainstorming session—with openness, honesty, and a healthy dose of humour.

If you’re an HR manager or director who’s tired of training that doesn’t stick, or you’re juggling too many priorities to keep re-explaining the same behavioural expectations to your teams, let’s talk.

Book some time with me to find out how we can help you switch direction, spark change, and make your workplace the kind of environment where people thrive.

#SwitchDirectionStory #EmployeeDevelopment