Goldmark Training provides leadership and management training to public and private sector organisations across the UK and internationally. Our programmes are developed and delivered by Tahira Hussain, a BABCP-accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and TEDx speaker with 19 years of experience in social work, mental health, housing, and community development.

We specialise in working with organisations in housing, health, social care, local government, and the charity sector — though we also deliver training to private companies and education providers. Our courses combine cognitive behavioural techniques with practical management skills, equipping participants with tools they can put into practice immediately.

Understanding how organisational values translate into day-to-day leadership behaviour. How to model the culture you want your team to operate within, and how to address behaviour that falls short of those standards.

Establishing clear, achievable team goals that align with wider organisational strategy. Participants learn how to create objectives that motivate rather than overwhelm, and how to track progress without slipping into micromanagement.

The practical realities of team leadership — building trust, establishing credibility, maintaining consistency, and supporting individuals with different working styles and needs.

One of our most requested topics. Participants practise preparing for and delivering performance conversations, giving constructive feedback, managing emotional responses, and addressing underperformance. All exercises are based on real workplace scenarios drawn from the sectors we work with.

Structured approaches to performance management that balance accountability with support. Covers supervision best practice, setting performance expectations, and early intervention when performance dips.

Developing the ability to think beyond day-to-day operations. Participants explore how to contribute to organisational strategy, prioritise competing demands, and make decisions that balance short-term pressures with longer-term goals.

A module specifically designed for staff moving into their first management role. Covers the transition from practitioner to manager, establishing authority without losing peer relationships, and building confidence in a new identity.

Practical coaching techniques that can be used in everyday leadership — during supervisions, catch-ups, and informal conversations. Participants learn how to develop their team’s problem-solving ability and reduce dependency on manager-led decision-making.

Creativity and Innovation
How to encourage fresh thinking within your team, create space for ideas, and respond constructively when things don’t work. Covers techniques for structured brainstorming, challenging the status quo, and fostering a culture that welcomes new approaches.

Understanding what drives individual team members and how to create conditions where people do their best work. Covers intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, recognition, and the relationship between autonomy and engagement.

Leadership is ultimately about people. This module explores what it means to manage with empathy, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence — leading in a way that builds loyalty and respect rather than compliance.

Using cognitive behavioural techniques, participants examine their own thinking patterns, stress responses, and leadership habits. Understanding yourself is the starting point for everything else in this programme.

Drawing directly from Tahira’s TEDx talk “I’m Not Racist But…” and years of equality and diversity training delivery. This module goes beyond awareness — participants explore how bias influences everyday decisions including recruitment, delegation, and whose contributions get valued in meetings. They leave with practical strategies to interrupt those patterns in their own leadership.

How to structure feedback so it lands effectively. How to prepare for conversations you’ve been avoiding. How to respond when the person in front of you becomes defensive, emotional, or disengaged.

Exploring participants’ own confidence levels, identifying where self-doubt holds them back, and building practical strategies to lead with more assurance — particularly in high-stakes or unfamiliar situations.

Understanding different communication styles and learning to adapt your approach depending on the person and the situation. Covers assertive communication, active listening, non-verbal communication, and de-escalation.

Most training that fails to create lasting change relies too heavily on information transfer — people hear useful ideas but never practise them in conditions close enough to their real work.

Our approach is grounded in cognitive behavioural principles — the same evidence-based methodology Tahira uses in her clinical psychotherapy practice. The core idea is straightforward: changing how people think directly changes how they behave.

In practice, this means every session balances short, focused teaching with structured application. Participants learn a technique, practise it through sector-relevant scenarios, receive feedback, and refine their approach before they leave the room. By the end of a session, participants have done the thing — not just heard about it.

We also incorporate reflective practice drawn from mindfulness and self-compassion approaches. This gives participants space to examine their existing leadership habits honestly — identifying what’s working and what’s getting in the way — without the defensiveness that often accompanies performance-focused feedback.

This combination of cognitive behavioural technique, practical application, and supported reflection is what separates training that produces a momentary enthusiasm spike from training that changes how someone actually leads six months later.

We offer flexible delivery to suit your team’s needs, location, and schedule:

In-Person Training

Delivered on-site at your location anywhere in the UK. Ideal for teams who benefit from face-to-face interaction, group exercises, and the energy of a shared physical space. Particularly effective for topics like difficult conversations, team dynamics, and inclusive leadership where reading the room adds real value.

Live Online Sessions

Fully interactive virtual sessions with breakout rooms, live exercises, and facilitated group discussion. These are not recorded webinars — they are structured, engaging sessions that maintain the quality of face-to-face delivery. Suitable for geographically distributed teams or organisations with limited availability for full-day in-person sessions.

Blended Programmes

A combination of in-person and online delivery. Many of our clients start with an in-person workshop and follow up with a series of shorter online modules over the following weeks. This format works well for embedding learning over time and allows participants to apply skills between sessions.

Bespoke Programme Design

Most of our clients request tailored content. We adapt modules, case studies, scenarios, and delivery format to reflect your sector, your organisational culture, and the specific development needs of your team. Whether you need a half-day workshop on difficult conversations or a twelve-week leadership development programme covering every module listed above, we design it around your requirements.

Duration: From half-day sessions to multi-week programmes

Group Size: From small cohorts of 6-8 to department-wide rollouts of 30+

Certification: All participants receive a Certificate of Completion for CPD records and internal training tracking