Contact us 

We are a team of five and our base is a 300 acre Hill Sheep Farm in the beautiful Rhondda Valley, just 20 minutes from the M4.

Julie

Geoff runs the farm - still a working sheep farm, with a pedigree sheep flock. Geoff's wife Julie established the training business over 10 years ago, initially in the kitchen, then a port-a-cabin and now a custom built timber office.

The two businesses work as a 'symbiosis' as we utilise the farm as a practical skills venue. Our training clients love to see farming activities all around, and the ducks, dogs, horse, geese and chickens are well used to the attention they get!

This image and billboard is of us as part of the Dynamo Role Module Campaign to
promote entrepreneurship in Wales.

Clients include: WDA, CCW, Groundwork, Man Power,
RCT Unitary Authority, BTCV, Working Links, Employment Services

Other Associates

JULIE M THOMAS MBA BSc Hons, Dip ESB.
The consultancy team is headed by Julie, an innovative and creative thinker, who is an accomplished public speaker. She was very successful in the direct sales field, often delivering presentations to conferences of 1000 delegate colleagues. Enthusiastic and Professional, she appears in a corporate P.R. video, and has had many letters and articles printed in both National and Agricultural press, and has featured on several radio programmes.

Originally a college lecturer, Julie has a firm foundation in training and is a Registered Instructor in Management with Lantra Awards. In her role as a Registered Tutor with the English Speaking Board (ESB) she delivers training courses and judges public speaking competitions. Holding the ESB Diploma in Oral Skills in Management, with a distinction in Oral Presentation, is a measure of her ability to entertain and motivate an audience. She holds TDLB D32/D33 Assessor Awards and recently completed her MBA.

She specialises in rural business, and is very active within the Agricultural industry. She currently delivers consultancy for Agriplan Cymru under the Farming Connect initiative, specialising in diversification and marketing , as well as beef and sheep systems.

NICHOLAS HEINS, MSc. FRICS
Nick has over 27 years experience in the property / landed profession as a Chartered Surveyor and Auctioneer. However, having a life-long interest in nature, heritage and environmental conservation issues, he took the opportunity in 1997/98 to obtain an MSc in Environmental Conservation Management at the University of Glamorgan.

Following this he acquired practical experience in the voluntary sector with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and holds Lantra certificates for Chainsaws, Brushcutters & Trimmers and ATV’s. He is experienced in Horticulture, and Environmental Management, holds First Aid at work certificate, and is an in-house instructor for STB on woodland management, invasive species, and many H and S issues.

He joined the ‘Simply the Best’ team in 2000, and supervises and project manages the on going Lantra Awards training programme for our corporate clients. He is a first class instructor who gets involved with the trainees and develops their skills well. He is both popular and is respected by trainees, and his calm assured manner and reliability are greatly valued by all the team members.

KATHY SEARLE, BA (Hons)
Energetic, professional and self-motivated, Kathy is a confident and creative trainer, and has significant experience of working in both the private and public sectors. Since graduating from university her highly evolved skills in personnel management include staff recruitment and training.

She is qualified (FAETC / TDLB D32 & D33 Assessor Awards) in devising, delivering and assessing training courses; and has demonstrated her abilities in a variety of roles working with both children and adults within educational and professional environments. She is an in-house instructor on Job Search Skills, CV Development, Basic Skills and Mentoring.

With her first-rate organisational skills and initiative, Kathy has also taken on the role of Administration Manager ~ to keep Julie in check! Computer-literate, with excellent co-ordination and strong interpersonal skills, she organises the daily running of the office with an efficient and professional manner. An outgoing, down-to-earth person who enjoys being involved with whatever is going on, she also enjoys extra curricular activities, such as School Governor, PTA Chairman and voluntary tutor in Basic Skills, all of which enhances her proficiency at dealing with people of all levels. Kathy has an appetite and zest for life that leaves most people breathless, and never fails to motivate or enthuse clients.

GEOFF THOMAS
Geoff’s practical skills and talents make him an excellent technical trainer. Originally trained as an electrician, he spent many years “on the tools” within the Electrical Industry, and has worked on domestic wiring, street lighting and industrial installation. He was a technician and part time college lecturer until he returned to his Farming roots; he now farms the 300 acres of Caerlan, running a large flock of sheep, many of which are pedigree.

As a farmer he is extremely capable and adept at skills such as carpentry, plumbing, welding, fencing, machinery repair and maintenance, building maintenance, and construction skills. He also has specialist skills such as shearing, dry stone walling and showing stock.

Geoff is computer literate and working towards his ECDL, and his an approved Instructor with Lantra Awards. Geoff’s quiet, unassuming manner and instinctive ability to train and teach gets the best out of novice trainees. Day to day planning and long term management of both the farm, and its use as a training venue, make his dual role of instructor and farmer challenging but fulfilling.

Away from work Geoff was a School Governor at Williamstown Primary School, and Chairman of the South Wales Mountain Sheep Breeders Society. In addition, Geoff regularly stewards and judges competitions within the Young Farmers Movement, and is a past County Chairman of Glamorgan YFC.

Our other associates include:

JAN EVANS, BHSI. Jan is the equestrian expert, and offers riding tuition, schooling and all things equine. She also holds D32, D33, D34 qualifications and can deliver BHS courses& Lantra Awards approved courses in equestrian skills. With 40 years in the saddle (she went from pram to saddle!) and 20 years experience of training for BHS and NVQ students, she practices what she preaches and has just qualified a horse for Trailblazers National championships at Stoneleigh. She specialises in one to one tuition, her reputation for inspiring and creating rapport with clients demonstrates her natural coaching skills. She is currently working towards becoming a BHS examiner and a LIST 4 dressage judge.

ALISON DENTON, BA (Hons), PGCE. Forthright and professional, Alison compliments the team with her ability to motivate within a training environment. Originally head of the History Department of a large comprehensive school, she now enjoys teaching Politics to ‘A’ level students and works as an examiner and specialist consultant, as well as developing ideas for ‘Simply The Best’ and advising us on educational issues. An extremely talented horticulturalist, Alison has designed and implemented new gardens styles for colleagues, and has won many prestigious flower arranging competitions. Without a doubt her green fingers complement her intellect and quick thinking ability.

JILL AUSTIN is our ATV, and 4 x 4 driving instructor. Firm and professional she uses her advanced driving skills to methodically coach her trainees.

STUART FRY is our Lantra instructor for Dry stone walling and all environmental courses. His expertise in these fields is renowned, and his work is often featured in the Western Mail. Stuart brings realism and humour to his training.

BARRY LYONS is our Lantra instructor for chainsaws. He is an exceptional trainer, whose professionalism is inspiring.