Tailoring Your Support

Not everyone needs the same level of support. At our first meeting, we discuss and advise on which elements are most important or possible in any client’s situation.

Programmes are tailored around the needs of the sponsoring company, and each individual client.

The elements are:

• Guidance in working through the issues arising from the change in career and personal circumstances.
• Thorough career review and assessment to identify professional and personal skills, abilities, strengths and weaknesses, including the use of psychometrics as an aid to the counselling process.
• Assistance in determining personal and career goals, identifying and evaluating options, setting realistic career objectives and preparing a career plan after analysis of all the opportunities.
• Help in composing a succinct CV highlighting skills, achievements and experience.
• Advice on how to approach the various routes to the market and in self-marketing techniques covering both prospective employers and networking contacts.
• Coaching in interviewing, communications and image presentation, including CCTV role-playing, letter writing, etc.
• Development of self-marketing strategy and action plan.
• Guidance on developing a network of contacts to uncover and pursue potential opportunities.
• Assistance in approaching executive search firms, Interim Management providers, specialists in Non-Executive Director appointments, venture capitalists, merchant banks and professional advisers.
• Review of all aspects of self-employment, if appropriate using specifically designed software and our specialist Enterprise Unit.
• Advice on the assessment of offers and negotiation of remuneration packages.
• Continuous consultation to assess progress, fine-tune the campaign, provide on-going support and sustain motivation.
• Duration: The service is open-ended, without time limit and continues until you have achieved a successful transition. On-going consultation and follow-up can be provided while you settle into the new role (probably during the first three months).
• Guarantee: We guarantee to renew the same level of support for a further six months at no additional cost, if, for reasons outside your control, the new position or venture fails within twelve months of commencement.

Key Features

• The Senior Directors Unit is located in a listed town house just north of Oxford Street
• Total flexibility. The service is structured around personal needs and time commitments.
• Unlimited one-to-one counselling, coaching and support throughout the transition process to help you determine your future direction and achieve your objectives.
• Private executive office with senior secretarial support and a full range of services including fax, e-mail, voice-mail, PCs, Internet, personal business cards, stationery, postage, telephone etc.
• Access to top level appointments through Penna's liaison with leading executive search firms as well as our database of current unadvertised opportunities.
• Professional research assistance in targeting and investigating industry sectors and companies, including library and computerised databases.
• Access to Penna's professional staff for industry specific advice, networking and brainstorming and to all our offices, research facilities, seminars and other events throughout the UK.
• Advice and assistance from our Enterprise Unit of "own business" specialists for executives who wish to establish a new business or consultancy, buy into an existing business or organise an MBO/MBI.
• Individual membership of the Institute of Directors with its library and meeting facilities and non-executive director service.
• Top level, fully independent financial advice provided by a leading firm of specialists.
• Training in the use of personal computers and current software, e-mail and the Internet.
• Local health club facilities via the SDU's corporate membership.
• Private health screening and fitness check.
• Regular in-house talks by visiting speakers, the topics chosen to cover areas of interest to SDU clients.
• Image Counselling.
• Participation in workshops focusing on specific aspects and techniques of career transition.