Cross sector sets for leaders

Leadership can be a lonely business.
You’re responsible for everything and everyone.
You need to be ahead of the game, inspirational, reliable and ready.
But who is helping you? Who can you trust?

Joining our cross sector leader sets is a totally confidential, amazingly dynamic way to share problems, discover solutions and move your organisation forward.

Working together to solve problems enables leaders to feel revived and freshly motivated. Our highly sensitive, yet confident facilitators create a secure, confidential and level environment where all participants can contribute.

We bring together handpicked sets of five to eight leaders, from a diverse range of complimentary organisations and businesses. We ensure a balance of status, responsibility and experience. We never bring together rivals, competitors or unsuited cultures.

Participants are selected from commercial, public, voluntary sector and arts organisations.

Cross sector set participants always report substantial personal and organisation benefits from the cross-fertilization.


“It’s a space in which to open the Pandora’s box of your working life, rummage safely with people you respect, gaining the most incredible insights so you don’t even need to consider closing the lid.  A great investment of both my time and the charities' money". 
Nicola Carruthers, CEO Thrive

"Action Learning has been fascinating to me and has given me some beautiful learning and contrasts. The concept is inspiring and intriguing. I have been challenged emotionally and intellectually and developed my responses to new stimulus. The facilitation has been strong and compassionate and the sessions have been fulfilling."
Matthew Shaw, Marketing Director, Bart Spices

"I've been a member of one of Ruth's action learning set for Chief Executives for around eight years and my set has helped inform some of the wisest and best decisions I've ever made.  It has been one of the most valuable learning experiences in my life and recent career" 
Stewart Wallis, Executive Director, New Economics Foundation

"Action learning is a great use of time to develop as a manager, colleague and human being".
Rachel Rees, Head of Communications, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

"Most of us are pretty good at seeing what is going on in any given situation with other people at work or elsewhere, but, this does break down sometimes when the situation we are trying to understand is our own. For me, one of the great strengths of Action Learning is that it somehow allows me to examine my own situation with the acuity I would normally apply to someone else's." 
Pauline Beaumont, Chief Executive, Culture North East


Action Learning: Development solutions for
you, your staff and your organisation