Program Overview

Introduction to the Co-working Companies Coaching Programme

The Co-working Companies Coaching Programme has been developed by coaches on the Science and Technology Partnerships and Enterprise Team to provide 1-1 coaching to support the staff in our campus-based community.

What is Coaching?

Coaching is defined as "unlocking a person's potential to maximize their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them."

The Purpose of Coaching

The purpose of Coaching is to have a series of one-to-one conversations with you, with the aim of helping you to explore some work-based/business-related challenges, and allow you to gain new insights and make progress toward specific goals in your working life.

Benefits of Coaching

Coaching can support a variety of development needs at any time, including:

• Getting up to speed with a new role
• Managing priorities
• Career planning
• Stress management
• Returning to work after an absence
  • It can help tackle challenges within your business
  • Gain clarity in decision making and issues
  • Increase understanding on what holds you back
  • Improve communications skills such as assertiveness, influence, and negotiation
  • Build and develop confidence
  • Increase self-awareness on strengths, capabilities, and potential
  • Improve professional relationships
  • Increase ability to manage stress/work-life balance
  • Increase awareness of own feelings/other's feelings
  • Increase ability to plan and prioritize for yourself and others in relation to your organisation's strategic plan and vision
  • Increase ability to direct and support organisational change
  • Develop and define your career goals

The Coaching Process

You will be allocated one of our coaches and offered three Coaching sessions. Coaching sessions last one hour, and can take place on Teams, but preferably in person. Before beginning your coaching sessions, you will meet once with your coach for an introductory session to discuss the topics that you would like to bring to coaching and ask any questions you have about it.

Who Can Apply?

Any staff working for companies taking up office space or hot desks in the Lancaster Environment Centre, cTAP, and the Health Innovation Centre are eligible to take part in The Co-working Companies Coaching Programme. Places are limited and fully funded at no cost to the company. Priority will be given to companies who have not received coaching through the Programme, although applications from companies who have received coaching through previous rounds are welcomed.

How to Apply

Please complete the short application form, indicating the topics you would like to consider for coaching and indicating that you have line manager permission to receive coaching.

Feedback from Coachees

Coaching can help clarify your thoughts and plans and help you see connections across your work in new ways. It shows you that with the right space and support you do have the answers within you.

Partnership and Business Engagement Team Coaches

Amanda Ross

Amanda is a coach, facilitator, science and technology marketer, conductor, musician, and wellbeing champion. Her personal approach as a coach is characterised by her openness and inquisitiveness. She uses her ability to quickly develop a rapport with people, creating a safe space for them to share their problems, hopes, and dreams, and help them to focus and translate these into tangible, achievable, and often life-changing goals.

Coaching Related Qualifications

Amanda gained the Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 in Coaching and Mentoring in 2019 and joined the Lancaster University Coaching Bank, which offers coaching to all Lancaster University Staff. She also has a MA in Applied Research and Consultancy, Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 Leadership and Management, and over two decades experience of working with Small and Medium Enterprises. As part of the University's Coaching Community of Practice, she receives regular supervision and training to keep her practice current.