About Us

Jo Wilding BSC FCMIPD – Director

Postgraduate Diploma in HR Management
Certificate in Business Management

Jo has extensive experience as a line manager as well as having held specialist HR and training positions. Working as a Strategic Development Advisor before joining Learning 2XL, she was previously the Employee Development Manager for a large engineering company. Jo started her career as a commissioned officer in the Royal Navy and has held management posts in both public and private sectors.

A post graduate in Strategic HR Management, Jo has in-depth knowledge of learning and development strategies and is an experienced trainer.

Joanna Vear BA MCMI - Associate Trainer

Joanna offers a pool of management and training expertise and experience in both the private and public sector. She began her career in the financial market leading customer service and sales teams and later managing marketing initiatives to support members’ benefits in a Friendly Society. More recently, she has worked in Education predominantly in schools training and advising on the effective deployment, performance management and continual professional development of the wider workforce.

Sian Goodbourn – Associate Trainer

City and Guilds Certificate in Learning Support
CPCAB certificate in Counselling Practice
CPCAB Certificate in Counselling Studies
Sian has been working in training for more than ten years in both the public and private sector. Clients such as JPMorgan, North Dorset District Council, and Curves Fitness Centres. Sian Specialises in Personal development, business skills, customer care, and IT. Sian is passionate about learning and joined as an Associate in 2005.

Alan Manie - Associate Consultant

Chartered Occupational Psychologist
Associate Fellow of British Psychological Society
MSc, Occupational Psychology, Birkbeck College, London University
MTech, Operational Research, Brunel University
Alan enjoys applying his knowledge and experience to help organisations and individuals develop and grow.  He works in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, facilitating major events, coaching and mentoring individuals.  He had a career in operational management before becoming the Director of Human Resource Development for a major American organisation for 10 years becoming an expert in leadership, management, team building , change and performance.

Susan Payne BSc – Company Administrator

Part 2 Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators
HNC Business Studies

Susan is a vital member of Learning 2XL.  She handles all the course bookings, company finance, and manages the office.  She has experience of conference organising, working in the retail sector as Company Secretary, and in NHS administration.

Amanda Beech BA CMIPD – Associate Trainer

Postgraduate Certificate in Education

Amanda has been a training professional for over 20 years, having held management positions in both the public and private sectors since 1978. In 2000 she founded Learning 2XL and is a previous Managing Director. She specialises in people management training, action learning and focus group facilitation whilest balancing 'semi-retirement' and running Longmead 'Farm for Families' working with social services and the voluntray sector.

Alison Gadd - Associate Trainer

Centrex Trainer Development Programme, Bramshill (NVQ)

Certificate in Education (Post Compulsory) Canterbury Christchurch University

Member of the Institute For Learning . LSCB approved/CRB checked

Alison worked for Dorset Police in a variety of roles for 30 years including as a practitioner and trainer of Child Protection and Criminal and child interview skills.  Since 2009 she has delivered Safeguarding training on-site to whole school staff, together with writing and leading specialist courses at all levels of Safeguarding involving professionals across a wide range of occupations.

A strong advocate of the term “Safeguarding is everybody’s business”, Alison has a knowledgeable but also relaxed training style, linking practical examples to current legislation and guidance.