Nicki Davey

Saltbox Training & Events Ltd

Overview

I design and deliver workshops, training programmes and organisational development events for trustees, senior managers, and employees at all levels in charities, ethical businesses, and organisations with a purpose beyond profit.

My main areas of work are leadership development, team development, personal development and organisational development, and I also develop the skills of learning and development/training professionals. My work is primarily about:

• Helping organisations to develop compassionate, conscious leaders who empower and engage others and have the courage to do the right thing.
• Helping teams to improve trust and communication, increase collaborative working, and develop a shared vision and goals.
• Helping individuals to be more effective, including improving communication, building stronger relationships, boosting creativity, becoming more resilient, and having more impact when presenting/speaking in public.
• Helping organisations to involve and engage their people in activities such as reviewing organisational values, developing strategies, or celebrating achievements.
• Helping trainers, facilitators, and learning professionals to transform their training so that it has a greater and more lasting impact.

I use a holistic approach which draws inspiration from nature, the creative arts, and ancient wisdoms as well as using the latest findings from neuroscience and behavioural psychology to create powerful, memorable, transformative courses, workshops and learning experiences. A recognised leader in the field of learning, I am the author of "The Holistic Learning Handbook", a contributor to "Neuroscience for Learning and Development: How to Apply Neuroscience and Psychology for Improved Learning and Training" by Stella Collins, and I regularly write articles for Training Zone magazine.

I strive to help make the world a better place through...

• Developing authentic leaders who have the courage, wisdom, compassion and vision to make a positive difference in their lives, communities, workplaces, or the wider world.
• Promoting understanding, harnessing diversity, and improving communication and collaboration within teams, organisations and communities.
• Helping individuals, teams and organisations to respect and value each other and the planet in all their activities and interactions.

To this end, my work increasingly focuses on helping people to learn in, with and from nature. Nature is a powerful tool when developing individuals, teams and organisations and it is increasingly important for us all to reconnect the nature inside us with the nature outside of us if we are to generate the fundamental shift that is required to create a regenerative, just, healthy, and loving world.

I recently moved to Scotland where my partner and I are rewilding our land to increase biodiversity and create a haven for wildlife. We have planted almost 1500 trees with the support of the Woodland Trust, and in the longer term we will create space to hold nature-based leadership and learning retreats.

“Nicki is a highly talented facilitator and trainer…. she has an approach that energises and engages everyone she is working with or supporting.” Rose Friel, HR Manager, The Soil Association

“Nicki conveys her own enthusiasm to others and stretches them to think differently. She uses her deep understanding of learning, coupled with her own creativity, to keep interest alive and engage individuals in a way which meets their needs.” Sandy Corbyn, HR Business Partner, Dorothy House Hospice

"Nicki is a rare gem...she is deeply motivated by her passion for people, nature, and learning. She combines a tremendous depth of experience and expertise in L&D with wonderful creativity and playfulness and her superpower of connecting people. She truly stands out in how she rejoices in bringing new learning and opportunities to others, and in letting other people shine. You’d be lucky to have an opportunity to work with her!" Eva Ruijgrok-Lupton, Director, Everyday Mindfulness


Clients

Some of the many charities that I have worked with include:

Oxfam, The Soil Association, Centre for Global Development, CLIC Sargent, Rethink, AgeUK, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Royal College of Nursing, British Red Cross, ACOSVO, Autism Independence, Brandon Trust, Development Initiatives, Dorothy House Hospice, Orchard Vale Trust, and Send a Cow. I also work with many housing associations/supported housing providers that are also registered charities including Abbeyfield, Housing For Women, North Somerset Housing, St Mungos, Stonewater Housing, CURO Housing, Thera Trust, and Willow Tree Housing Partnership.

In addition to charities I work with public sector organisations (including City College Plymouth, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, Devon County Council, Somerset County Council, and University of Bath when living in the South-West, and with NHS Lothian and Newcastle University since moving to Scotland) and with with commercial organisations who have a purpose beyond profit (including Triodos Bank, Yeo Valley, Pukka Herbs, and The Organic Herb Trading Company).


Qualifications

2021 Deep Transformation (Gaia Education)
2019 Theory U Presencing Programme
2019 Time to Think Foundation programme
2014 Master TetraMap Facilitator accreditation
2011 Embodied Learning course
2010 Tetramap Facilitator accreditation
2008 ILM Certificate in Leadership and Management
1995 - 1996 CIPD Certificate in Training & Development Merit
1984 - 1987 BSc (Hons) Analysis of Science & Technology 2


Experience

I am the founder and director of Saltbox Training & Events Ltd which I set up in 2008 after more than 20 years’ experience of leading, managing, training, and developing people in the charity and social housing sectors.

In 2019-2020 I took a 10 month secondment from Saltbox to work on an interim contract for Oxfam as Head of Leadership Development.

Prior to setting up Saltbox, I was Head of Learning and Development for Carr-Gomm (a national supported housing charity) where I set up a new L&D function and developed and implemented a corporate L&D strategy which led to us securing the Investors in People award.

Before working in L&D I worked in the field of service user/tenant involvement for over 10 years, and before that I worked in supported housing, firstly as a support worker and then as a manager in projects for homeless ex-offenders, people with mental health needs, and people with alcohol dependency. My career in training began through teaching life skills to people coming out of prison and psychiatric hospital, where I discovered I had a flair for helping people to learn, develop and grow, and I have been following this passion ever since.