Glynis Hibbeard, Senior HR Manager - Learning and Development, States of Jersey Chief Minister's Department, writes:
 

"The Jersey public sector employs approximately 7,000 people who work in a diverse range of jobs and departments.  Over many years we have taken pride in being able to offer our employees excellent training and development opportunities.

Mike Jacobs has worked with us as a trainer and facilitator since 1991.  He has delivered a range of courses, including supervisory/management programmes for blue collar workers (accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management).  However, his most notable contribution to States of Jersey working has been in relation to Recruitment and Selection.  Mike worked with us to develop a two day Recruitment and Selection course, which combines theory and learning with practical application and assessment of delegate competence.  This course has run successfully for the last twelve years and in excess of 400 people across the States of Jersey have taken part and subsequently obtained their Certificate to Practice in Recruitment and Selection.  In terms of learning and application, I personally believe that it has been one of the most successful training courses that the States of Jersey has run.  The impact on the organisation has been considerable as the standards of interviewing since its introduction have improved significantly.

Mike is also a pleasure to work with.  His infectious enthusiasm and humour feature prominently in his courses and delegates learn in an environment which is both enjoyable and fun."

Neil White, Head of Human Resources, Dartmoor National Park Authority , writes:
 

"Since 2002, Mike has played a fundamental role in the delivery of training and development for Dartmoor National Park Authority.

This has been achieved through a consistent programme of employee development activities including Presentation Skills, Communication Skills, Time Management, Managing Meetings - to name a few.

Mike has also worked closely with us to develop tailored Personal and Management Development Programmes. These have proved popular with staff and have led to projects that have made tangible differences to organisational performance.

Mike's enthusiasm and affable approach ensure his courses deliver, and his passion and belief in the development of people shines through every time.

We look forward to working with Mike and Development Network Associates in the future."
 

Mike Redstone,  Director of Studies with the Management School, writes:
 

"Mike Jacobs is an essential ingredient in the management and leadership programmes we provide.  He has a unique ability to convey knowledge and skills to others with enthusiasm and humour which removes barriers to learning from the outset.
 

Mike draws upon his own reservoir of practical experiences to bring to life the subjects he delivers, whilst at the same time draws attention to the thoughts of the many management gurus that abound, in a way that enables participants to have the broadest and most effective learning experience. He also happens to be a thoroughly nice person who I enjoy working alongside."
 

"The development of the company from small builder to specialist in the disability market required staff with customer care skills and disability awareness at a level previously unknown in the industry.

We were introduced to Mike fairly early on in this process, while we were still on the road to achievement of Investors in People. His intuitive understanding of people and sensitive approach to introducing change has been immensely helpful in changing our "sows ears" into silk purses!  His design and delivery of Customer Care Training was at exactly the right level, and the follow up literature served as a very helpful aide memoir which we return to regularly at team meetings.

Chairman of the NP Group of Companies, Dudley Jehan, says:

"The NP Group, based in the Bailiwick of Guernsey comprises six companies involved in a wide range of wholesale and retail activities focused on supplying materials to the local construction industry and providing home products from its retail outlets. The Group employs over 200 people.

I first met. Mike Jacobs in 1992 and have enjoyed a close working relationship with him. The NP Group is dedicated to training and development of its staff and Mike has acted as our Training Consultant since that time.

Many of our activities have revolved around change management developing a customer focused culture throughout the group. Acting as a facilitator, Mike has gained the confidence of the staff and has been largely instrumental in bringing about significant change.

I have had the pleasure of working with Mike in all aspects of training from facilitating senior executive workshops to developing management development programmes for our managers at both the senior and middle level. Mike has also assisted us in developing a dedicated induction qualification, which is accredited by the Builders' Merchant Federation. It is these types of initiatives that allow us to be at the forefront of training and development and ensures we have a highly skilled and motivated workforce."

All our companies have achieved the standard of Investors in People."
 

Eddie Gorman, Managing Director of LalPac Limited, a software development house based in Chippenham, writes:
 

"Thank you, Mike, for facilitating a brilliant Company Away Day. We set out with you to identify the importance of working together to ensure that our current customers are retained and do not wander off to our competitors. The day highlighted many issues we need to address, discovered a few black holes, and enabled us to focus on the necessary strategy to achieve our objective. Your skills were certainly appreciated. Not only did we learn, but we thoroughly enjoyed it!"
 

Ian Jopling, Head of Environmental Management, Waste and Cleansing, Horsham District Council, writes:

"I have had the pleasure of working with Mike Jacobs of DNA on a number of occasions in the last 10 years and have always found his work to be of the highest quality.

Mike has delivered a variety of training and facilitation packages for me including leadership and team building for groups ranging from directors and senior managers to refuse supervisors.  He also devised, taught and supervised a nationally accredited programme for supervisors and junior managers.  This programme was successfully completed by leisure centre manager, refuse charge hands and office supervisors.

Mike also facilitated several open sessions with refuse and cleansing crews allowing them to air their views and problems.  These sessions were particularly noteworthy far the way in which Mike included all participants winning over even the most sceptical so that they too participated,

I have found that Mike is able to adapt his style to address any audience and always delivers his material in a thought provoking way and with a touch of humour.  I do not know of anyone who has not enjoyed or found benefit from attending either a session or course facilitated by Mike.

I have no hesitation in recommending Mike Jacobs and Development Network Associates and look forward to working with him again in the near future."