Helen Elizabeth France

Consultancy: National Occupational Standards and QCF

Helen has 25 years experience in all aspects of the NOS development and qualification formulation process, including NOS Project Design and Management; Occupational Mapping; Functional Analysis; set up and running of Expert Work Groups; consultation process design; data collation, analysis and report writing; QCF unit writing; credit and leveling (including that for SVQs); qualification design and production of qualification support materials; Assessment Strategy development and post project promotional activities.

Helen has been a successful self-employed consultant since 1995, trading as Helen France Associates. Her clients include SSCs/SSBs, Awarding Bodies, Industry Authorities and Regulatory Bodies. Since 2007, her many clients have included:

• Habia where she has undertaken numerous NOS, qualifications, research and business support activities.  All projects were delivered on target and to budget. Helen has also supported internal staff development.
• The IMI Automotive Skills where she is currently involved in NOS and qualifications incremental review work and associated credit and leveling activities for SVQs.
• Ofqual where she is an Associate Consultant currently involved in Diploma assessment scrutiny work. 

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Mick Breare

Consultancy: Endorsement support and TQS

Experience: Mick was one of the original 18 Consultants  working with the CFE to develop, test and assess applicants for the Training Quality Standard and as a result, has a real depth of understanding of the Standard, how to write applications and what the Assessors are looking for.

• Successfully supporting training providers, both private and FE Colleges to obtain part A and B of The Standard since February 2008, including several Colleges who have been simultaneously going through a merger process. 
•  A former Performance and Quality Manager, Mick’s first consultancy success was as the author of Sport England’s unprecedented double award winning TNT Government Partnership Award entry which was celebrated at the London Hilton on 26 June 2002.
• Mick is currently working with various training providers regarding their TQS applications and current projects include writing 2 part Bs, providing support for another 3 plus several part A applications.

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Sonia Birch

Consultancy: Business Coaching and Inspirational Leadership

Experience: Sonia has over 20 years experience of working in sport and leisure industry – working at the sharp end of leisure operations in both the private and public sector to strategy & skill development, business coaching and management training.

After successfully setting up her own independent chain of Leisure Clubs in the North West, Sonia worked for SkillsActive as a national manager.  Since 2007, working as a consultant to industry her clients include:

• Victoria Leisure, where she leads a customer service & management training programme which has increased membership sales and retention figures by 45%.
• Bedfordshire County Council, where she worked as part of a team on consultants on their framework of approved suppliers to deliver team coaching and development programmes to Senior Managers going through a ‘change programme’.  This contract achieved a’10 out 10’ top rating.
• The British Equestrian Federation where she currently delivers Performance coaching to selected Foundation Squad members.

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Warwick Andrews

Consultancy: Governance, NOS, QCF reform and funding applications.

Warwick has spent almost 20 years in the vocational education and training sector as a practitioner, advisor and development specialist. A large proportion of Warwick’s work has been applied within the sport, coaching and leisure industries; complementing his research and development activity in skills, qualification and workforce development across a range of sectors.

Warwick has worked as an independent consultant for four years. He started in the further education progressing into the higher education sector as programme lead for sports science. Having also worked for sports coach UK (as Head of Education and Training) and as a regional manager for SkillsActive prior to embarking on his consultancy career, Warwick has considerable experience of the active leisure and learning sector and the broader vocational education and training market.

• Commissioned as (‘expert’) advisor for sports coach UK for the review of the coach educator, coach assessor and verifier training and resources; July 2010-Dec 2010)

• Conducted a workforce audit for Badminton England; including workforce planning and sustainability plan; Feb 2010-Oct 2010.

• Led the review of the National Occupational Standards for Learning and Development (including the assessor and verifier standards); led the consultation and provided the research and recommendations for the new qualifications for assessors and verifiers (quality assurance personnel) – March 2009-March 2010.

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Meet some of our consultants

Find out more about some of our consultants, their experience and specialities.

Click on the consultant's name below to find out more about their experience and specialities, or find out more about their area of consultancy.

• Warwick Andrews
  Consultancy: Governance, NOS, QCF reform and funding applications.
• Sonia Birch
  Consultancy: Business Coaching and Inspirational Leadership
• Mick Breare
  Consultancy: Endorsement support and TQS
• Helen France
  Consultancy: National Occupational Standards and QCF
• Celia Godsall (OBE)
  Consultancy:  Governance.
• Di Horsley
  Consultancy: Business Coaching and Inspirational Leadership
• Sue Hunter
  Consultancy: National Occupational Standards and QCF
• Kate Mundle
  Consultancy: Governance, Funding Applications and Benchmarking
• Hamish Mcinnes                                              Consultancy: Governance and Business Coaching.     
• Dave Roe                                                                                                      Consultancy: Funding, Governance, Leadership
• Geoff Carroll                                                                                                      Consultancy: National Occupational Standards and QCF
• Nicky Lawson                                                                                                     Consultancy: Standards and Endorsement support
• Marie Sefton                                                                                                      Consultancy:  Governance, Leadership, Business Coaching

Find out more

If you would like to use our consultancy services, fill out this form with your requirements or visit one of these pages for more details:

• Business Coaching and Inspirational Leadership
• Preparing funding bids
• Benchmarking and Return on Investment
• National Occupational Standards and QCF reform
• Governance
• Ensorsement support and Training Quality Standard (TQS)
• Health and Safety

If you are a consultant who wants to join us, find out more about our active consultancy register.

Active consultancy enquiry

Active consultancy application 

How to become a consultant on the Active Consultancy register

We have developed a register of consultants in order to support our partners and their demand for additional specialist resources. We are well placed to bring together consultants, with specific expertise, to our market.

In order to ensure that the right information is given by the best people, all consultants must apply to the register, undertake a quality assurance process and pay an annual fee to be listed. This entitles you to advertise your services through the SkillsActive website and be promoted locally by National Skills Academy and SkillsActive for project referral.

All applications follow a two part process:

Part one - the written submission

All applicants must complete an application form, detailing the consultancy offer(s) they provide and what skills and experience they have.

• What specific areas of consultancy expertise do you cover?
• What is your main background of experience in these areas?
• What professional qualification or skills do you have in these areas?
• How long have you been practicing as a consultant in these areas?
• List three examples of your work we can contact as a reference via email

An assessment panel will review all submissions and succesful applicants will be invited to interview.

Download an application form for Active Consultancy here

Part two – assessment briefing

An assessment briefing will be undertaken by a panel from SkillsActive to confirm the following areas:

• Understanding client needs
• Legislative context of works
• In-depth knowledge of specialism
• Professionalism and communication skills

Successful applicants will then be required to pay an annual fee to be listed and to remain on the register.

Find out more

To find out more about becoming a consultant on our register please contact us on 020 7632 2000

Health and Safety

We recognise that health and safety in the workplace is important for any employer. They need to ensure they are compliant with law, but sometimes don't know where to start or how to achieve this.

Our consultants can assist you in delivering on your health and safety requirements and ensure that your organisation is compliant with legislation.

We can work with you in the following areas:

• Company health and safety audits – assessment of requirements for the company to be in legal compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Company health and safety policy statements and procedures manuals.
• Accident reporting and investigation.
• Emergency response procedures – fire and evacuation.
• Risk assessments.
• Workplace risk assessments.
• Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) risk assessments.
• Display screen equipment risk assessments.
• Fire workplace risk assessments.
• Health and safety training.
• Induction training.
• Employee consultation and communication.
• Environmental advice.

For further information contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 0207 632 2000 to:

If you require help on different areas to those listed, or you would like a quote and availability please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . She will get back to you within ten workings days.

National Occcupational Standards and QCF reform consultancy

Our technical consultants can help awarding bodies, training providers and employers map training to nationally recognised qualifications, to create high quality skills and training opportunities.

By the end of December 2010, all accredited vocational qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will need to sit on the new Qualifications and Credit Framework if they are to be eligible for public funding.

Vocational qualifications in the active leisure, learning and well-being sector are undergoing a radical change, with the number of qualifications available reduced from close to 1000 to around 300. The changes come amid a wider reform of vocational qualifications across all sectors. The vocational qualification reform programme will see qualifications across every industry streamlined, so that they are easier to understand and access.

For further information fill out our enquiry form or contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or on 0207 632 2000.

We offer a consultancy service to help training providers who wish to go through the application process to gain SkillsActive endorsement for fitness or playwork, or the training quality standard (TQS) part B.

We are unique in our role in setting standards and approving content and courses. We offer a bespoke in-house service in support of our endorsement offer, to give training providers key one on one consultancy, prior to making their submission. Contact us for more details.

What is TQS?

The Training Quality Standard (TQS) is an assessment framework designed to recognise and celebrate the best organisations delivering training and development solutions to employers.

To find out more visit the Training Quality Standard website.

How can SkillsActive help?

SkillsActive fully supports training providers attaining the TQS Part B mark, since this underpins the move towards higher quality training and therefore better skilled workers in the sector. We provide a consultancy service for training providers who wish to go through the application process. 

Our consultancy can help training providers produce a thorough and detailed submission by:

• giving an outside point of view about how clearly the information in their application describes: their strategy, resource allocation, measuring results and their understanding of employers and stakeholders
• helping prepare for the validation visit including: how to effectively use validation evidence and advice on preparing external stakeholders for the visit
• giving advice on how to meet the criteria for TQS Part B and link training provision to local sector specific issues in sport and fitness.

To discuss the various options available please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or call us on 0207 632 2000