About Alan Matthews

Alan Matthews is an expert in all kinds of training, and the founder of Train of Thought, a successful training and coaching business.

Over 17 years of training and coaching experience

I have spent most of my adult life involved in teaching, training and coaching, helping thousands of people to improve their management and professional skills, as well as developing their personal skills, to help them become more confident, assertive and focused.

I have designed and delivered both "soft skills" courses and highly technical courses, and I've run Train the Trainer courses for over fourteen years (although the names have changed with the fashions - T4T, Training for Trainers, Train the Trainer, Facilitator Development...)

I spent 13 years at Deloitte, one of the world's largest professional services firms. I designed and delivered many of their core technical programmes and then moved into skills training, becoming head of the Skills Development team for the UK Tax Practice. I ran courses for them all over Europe before leaving to set up my own training and coaching business in 2003.

In a previous life, I was a Primary Teacher and taught English as a Second Language to 4 and 5 year olds. ( And, although there are significant differences between teaching young children and training adults, it's surprising how similar they can be ).

I've written numerous articles, booklets and ebooks. I've also appeared on the radio several times.

Effective, practical training with enthusiasm, humour and rapport

I'm known for my sense of humour and a practical, down to earth approach. I blend theory and practice to give people a real understanding of what works and why.

My training courses are engaging, inspiring and effective.

I'm a keen guitarist. I've played in public since I was 17 ( yes, this is me ).

I also like drawing cartoons, as you'll see on any of my courses ( no, I didn't draw the one of me, I'm not that good ).

I support Middlesbrough, so I know how a lack of basic skills can hold people back!

I'm married and I live in Solihull in the West Midlands.