+spark is fuelled by a passion to see people succeed – in their career, team, business – and partnering with them on that path.
I’m Sarah Radford aka the spark!
Though I didn’t know it then, my spark ignited when, six months after a cloudy morning spent on a Scottish beach in April 2010 writing what I grandly called a life-plan, I was made redundant from a full time Marketing Director role (photo of actual beach moment captured by passing friend!).
That led to a choice to follow what I had identified would make my heart sing, rather than sink, and I have subsequently built a thriving consultancy, coaching and development business.
Over the course of my career, I have worked in senior roles at companies like LEGO, nelsonbach, HarperCollins and Pearson - marketing everything from games to natural remedies, books to BTECs! And it was through leading high-performing teams, at these and other organisations, that I realised how invested I was and how much I enjoyed encouraging individuals to unfurl their wings and release their potential.
Having run trainings and workshops for clients as diverse as Lloyds Banking Group and UNICEF, and mentored individuals and businesses as part of my consultancy work, it was during Covid-19 that I was asked to be responsible for the training and development of the team I was part of.
From those privileged interactions with each team member, the coaching aspect of my business has grown as ex-colleagues have sought my ongoing assistance and recommended me to their friends, colleagues and organisations.
I am excited to support you, or your team or business, in whatever way I can - an experienced and committed safe pair of hands partnering with you in building a creative solution to make your situation, whatever it is, easier.
PS If you’re curious, the format for my ‘life-plan’ I came up with on the beach, is a now a well-worn tool I encourage clients to work through to this day:
What do I love about my job/life right now?
What do I want less of in my job/life?
What do I want more of?
What steps can I take to make the more happen?