Lasting Transformation

This is what our clients say about their experience of working with us:

United Response was extremely fortunate in being able to appoint Shān as our interim Chief Executive. She quickly, but thoroughly, assessed the organisation's need to bring about important managerial and process changes and set about developing an action plan to turn them into reality. Her ability to both form good working relationships and command the respect of senior colleagues and Board members has been very impressive. Shān has achieved a great deal in the last year and on behalf of the whole organisation I want to record how much we appreciate all of her hard work and commitment.
Maurice Rumbold, Chair, United Response

As a senior team, we were really impressed with how quickly and calmly Shān picked up on the key issues we were facing as an organisation and her thoughtful and measured analysis of what needed to be done. Shān is an incredibly good person to work for – she listens, she coaches, she challenges; she is open to debate and discussion, she is encouraging and she is personally supportive. At the same time she is always ambitious and driven to get results and we found ourselves strongly motivated to follow her lead. Shān is inspiring to work for and all of us felt we had learnt a great deal from her.
Senior Directors Team, United Response: Vicky Greig, Diane Lightfoot, Jill Lanham, Sarah Battershall, Clare Million

Shān Nicholas has carried out two crucial assignments for me – one as Interim Chief Executive of BAAF, and one, carrying out a review of the Cafcass policy function. Both assignments were completed to an exceptionally high standard. Shān showed through her work that she is a highly skilled senior manager, experienced and able in working in complex managerial and political situations. In her policy review, she combined a grasp of central government issues with knowledge of national and local service delivery issues. In both these roles, she was solution-focussed, enabling both organisations to move forward in these crucial areas of development for them.
Anthony Douglas CBE, Chief Executive, Cafcass

Shān started as Interim Chief Executive when Swanswell was facing a number of challenges. She grasped the situation immediately, becoming effective from day one. She supported the Board in finding a merger partner and steered the organisation through due diligence to successful merger. My job as Chair was made significantly easier by Shān’s calm and efficient approach in even the most difficult circumstances. She made what had been a very testing time for me into an enjoyable time of learning and building new relationships, and worked with me and the Board to bring the best possible outcome for Swanswell.
Dr Alice Maynard, Chair of Swanswell

Shān was outstanding in the role and her performance went well beyond what one would normally expect from an Interim Chief Executive. She knitted together a new management team which she inherited and also dealt effectively with a significant change programme. In addition she developed the business and was instrumental in winning the End Child Poverty organisation for CPAG. She handled her relationship with the Trustees well, quickly gaining their confidence and their support for the various changes we were making to the organisation.
Chris Boon, Chair of the Child Poverty Action Group

Shān was Interim Chief Executive of YWCA (England & Wales) for a year at a point when the charity faced a number of very challenging and complex problems. She played a key role in focusing the team on the critical issues facing the organisation. Shān's insight and ability to quickly diagnose and address problem areas gave YWCA the foundations it needed to move forward at what was a very difficult time. The charity benefited immensely from the excellent work that she did. In my career I have come across many CEOs and I would rank Shān amongst the best.
Christine Freshwater, Chair YWCA (England & Wales)