For Coaches

The Coach Business Journey Programme

Starting a coaching business can feel isolating and overwhelming, especially when traditional business accelerators feel too aggressive or "salesy." This low-cost, high-value group program offers a heart-centred yet business-savvy approach, combining expert mentoring with a supportive peer group to help you build a coaching practice that aligns with your true values and purpose.

Ross Nichols hosting the online Salisbury International Coaching Week during COVID.

  • Coaches in business start-up and business development (minimum 4 participants)

  • Many new coaches lack business know-how and feel isolated without peer support to provide second opinions and accountability.  They are impatient for more clients and frustrated that they don’t have the time or focus to grow their business.  They feel overwhelmed by the many business training options available and are reluctant to invest in expensive business accelerator programmes that are more about selling than serving a higher purpose.  Unlike other programmes, the Coach Business Journey Programme is designed specifically for coaches: it’s both heart-centred and business savvy. 

  • The Coach Business Journey Programme is a low-cost programme of coaching and mentoring, delivered by live video conference, that leads and supports new coaches through the business start-up journey in a small, friendly peer group.  The programme is responsive to participants’ needs.  The Programme leader is an ICF-credentialed professional coach and an experienced business mentor. 

  • The Coach Business Journey Programme comprises 9 group sessions, live on Zoom, each of 1.5 hours, at fortnightly intervals.  There is a private Facebook group for peer support and peer learning.  Support is available by email between sessions.  Additionally, each participant has a 1-2-1 session with the Programme Leader.

  • This programme helps you gain clarity about who you are in business - your identity - and the business adventure you want to go on that aligns with your passions and your purpose.  You will learn how to leverage your strengths and set goals that inspire and energise you.  You will understand your personal brand, your marketing style, and how to develop your business.

Apply for the Programme
Apply for the Programme

The Intuitive Business Plan

Building a coaching business shouldn't mean sacrificing your integrity for aggressive sales tactics. The Intuitive Business Plan provides a mindful alternative, blending expert mentoring with deep self-discovery to help new coaches turn their passion into a sustainable practice. Through personalised sessions and consistent support, you’ll replace overwhelm with a clear, authentic strategy that honours your strengths and aligns with your true purpose.

Ross standing by a white board with a table and several women discussing topics

  • Coaches in business start-up and business development.

  • New coaches are well-trained in coaching skills but have little or no training in the business skills to turn this into a paid-for offer.  They are hungry for clarity, confidence and community.  They want support that helps them to understand their identity as a self-employed coach and enables them to start building a business doing what they love.

  • The Intuitive Business Plan is a hybrid of coaching and mentoring that enables you to understand who you truly are and what you truly want in your business.  This process removes self-imposed constraints and allows you to create a unique path for your business journey. 

  • Individual sessions of 1.5 hours duration.  The default frequency is fortnightly intervals to allow you to process and implement your insights from each session without losing momentum.  Support is available by email between sessions.

  • The Intuitive Business Plan enables you to tap into a deeper sense of yourself that allows you to use your natural strengths, talents and preferences to develop your business.  You arrive at the end of the process with a deeper and richer understanding of who you are, where you are going and how you are going to get there. 

Explore the Intuitive Business Plan Further
Explore the Intuitive Business Plan Further

Mentor-Coaching for ICF Credentials

While you might start mentor-coaching simply to fulfil your 10-hour ICF requirement, it quickly becomes a powerful journey of professional growth. We guide you through a structured blend of group and individual sessions that not only prepare you for your credentialing exam but also deeply integrate the ICF core competencies into your unique coaching style.

ICF Credentials and Standards PCC Badge

  • Coaches seeking mentor-coaching towards International Coaching Federation (ICF) credentials (ACC, PCC); and renewal of ICF credentials (ACC).  Mentor-coaching can be provided for groups (minimum 4 participants) or individuals.

  • Your motivation for having a mentor-coach may initially be to comply with ICF requirement to complete 10 hours of mentor-coaching.  In our experience, this soon develops into a powerful learning journey that transforms your coaching ability.  Mentor-coaching helps you to absorb the ICF core competencies and make them personal to you as you develop your coaching style.

  • Each session is based around a coaching conversation between 2 members of the group, some live and some recorded in advance (if using the group option), as a vehicle for developing coaching competencies.  The first session includes the key points of ICF competencies #1 (Demonstrates Ethical Practice) and #2 (Embodies a Coaching Mindset).  The final session includes preparation for the ICF credentialing exam and the process for submission of ICF credential applications.

  • This is a structured programme of 10.5 hrs (7 x 1.5 hr sessions).  If using the group option, the programme is: 5 x 1.5 hr group mentor-coaching sessions and 2 x 1.5 hr individual mentor-coaching sessions.     

  • Participants will improve their understanding of the ICF core competencies and how to apply them; they will notice an improvement in their coaching skills.  They will feel more confident about applying for an ICF credential.  They will have a minimum of 2 recorded coaching conversations evaluated by the mentor-coach.  In most cases, one or more of these recordings will be suitable for the performance evaluation required towards an ICF credential.

Explore Mentor-Coaching Further
Explore Mentor-Coaching Further

Coach Education: Core Competencies – Going Deeper (12 CCEU)

Mastering the ICF core competencies is about more than ticking boxes; it’s about deepening your craft. Core Competencies – Going Deeper offers a rigorous, engaging space to refresh your skills and gain total clarity on the 8 core competencies. Whether you’re preparing for the credentialing exam or renewing your ACC/PCC, this 12-CCEU programme combines expert instruction with meticulous feedback to ensure you walk away compliant, confident, and ready to transform your coaching.

Ross Nichols 1:1 interview with the Head trainer of Animas Coaching Centre (where he did his coaching diploma), Robert Stephenson

  • Coaches who want to earn  continuing coach education units (CCEU) towards renewal of their International Coaching Federation (ICF) credentials (ACC, PCC)

  • This programme is accredited by the ICF for 12 CCEU: 11 x core competence, 1 x resource development.  This programme helps coaches to deepen their understanding of the science and art of coaching and to refresh their understanding of ICF competencies in preparation for the ICF credentialing exam.

  • The programme provides instruction in all 8 of the ICF core competencies to help coaches deepen their understanding of ICF competencies and how to apply them.  There is a requirement for private study of the core competencies before some sessions, and evaluation of 2 recorded coaching sessions.  Participants will also evaluate a live coaching session.

  • The programme comprises 5 group education sessions each of 1.5 hrs duration (total 7.5 hrs in group) and 4.5 hrs of private study, total 12 hrs.     

  • Participants will log 12 CCEUs towards ICF credential renewal.  They will feel more clarity about how to apply the ICF core competencies and be more confident in their coaching ability.  They will also feel better prepared to take the ICF credentialing exam.

Explore This Programme Further
Explore This Programme Further

  • ‘Ross has a unique and very genuine way of working, which takes into consideration who you are and where you are at….you realise what success means to you and you are gently guided to take ownership and responsibility, make choices and create your own business, without magic formulas and six figure recipes for success.  I have very much enjoyed the process and would recommend it to anyone wanting to clarify their purpose and vision; define their brand; discover their strengths; specify the uniqueness of their offer; grow in confidence to communicate their message; grow their personal sense of mission and resilience; and have a dedicated time to think clearly about their business within a supportive group environment.’ - Ana Slva, Coach

  • ‘I honestly can’t thank Ross enough for his expert ICF mentoring.  I looked forward to and loved every session.  I can’t imagine anyone knows the ICF core competencies and ethics as well as Ross does!  His passion for the craft of coaching is contagious and I am so glad I chose him to show me the way to achieving my accreditation.  If I had to describe him in 3 words they would be professional, meticulous and passionate.  Thank you Ross, keep in touch.’ - I honestly can’t thank Ross enough for his expert ICF mentoring.  I looked forward to and loved every session.  I can’t imagine anyone knows the ICF core competencies and ethics as well as Ross does!  His passion for the craft of coaching is contagious and I am so glad I chose him to show me the way to achieving my accreditation.  If I had to describe him in 3 words they would be professional, meticulous and passionate.  Thank you Ross, keep in touch.’ - Lucy Higgins PCC

  • ‘I went to Ross for business development mentoring and I am still feeding off the work we have done together long after.  Ross is a highly trained and experienced coach and all of that comes across in the way he works.  There were no areas of the process I didn’t feel supported in or that Ross hadn’t walked.  His mentoring was caring, precise and highly motivating.  I would highly recommend Ross as a mentor, especially to those thinking of starting a coaching business.’  - Andrew Macklin, career development and workforce strategy professional for the creative and cultural sector

  • ‘Ross has been a huge help to me as my mentor-coach while I have been working towards my ACC credential with the International Coaching Federation. Ross is structured in his approach, knowledgeable about all ICF requirements and coaching competencies and how they need to be evidenced. He is very perceptive, clear, and concise with his feedback and frames it positively. The advantage of this is that I knew how well I was getting on, what I was doing well and what required improvement. I recommend Ross as a mentor-coach for anyone seeking to credential with the ICF.’ - Neil Turnham PCC

The Architecture of Transformation

While our work together may begin with a single challenge, true evolution is multi-dimensional. My practice is built upon four core pillars of excellence, each designed to provide the structural integrity required for profound personal and professional change.

Whether you are developing your business and leadership, navigating a career shift, improving your health and wellbeing, or developing as a coach, there is a path engineered for your specific transition.

Explore the Four Pillars
Explore the Four Pillars

Published Thought Leadership

The Institute of Directors’ publishers approached me to contribute a chapter on Coaching and Mentoring for Business Growth to their annual publication, The Growing Business Handbook.  The following year, they asked me to write about whatever I wanted, so I decided to write about leadership, drawing on my own experience as a leader (and follower) in the British Army and my research into leadership and management in business.  This evolved into 2 chapters: one on Leadership for Performance, the other on Authentic Leadership for Growth.  I am pleased to share these 3 chapters as a useful resource for business owners, leaders, coaches and mentors.

Access the Published Chapters
Access the Published Chapters