Skills Shop

Skills Shop Providing bespoke flexible health and safety training onsite or nearby to minimise disruption.

Skills Shop takes the headache out of your training by putting you in control. You can choose the time and location of your training so you can get back to running your business.

Last Wednesday was Dad and Daughter Day.We went to the cinema to watch Toy Story 5.The cinema has recently been refurbis...
05/08/2026

Last Wednesday was Dad and Daughter Day.

We went to the cinema to watch Toy Story 5.

The cinema has recently been refurbished and when I booked the tickets, there was a choice.

Standard seats.
Or deluxe.

Reclining seats. More room. Drink coolers.

I went deluxe.

And it got me thinking about something I’m building.

I don’t really do “standard”.

Yet when it comes to running a training or coaching business, we’ve somehow accepted that standard means having five different bits of software doing five different jobs.

A CRM over here.
An LMS over there.
Another system for projects.
Something else for paperwork.
Then we spend our time joining it all together.

That’s one of the reasons I’m building Navigator.

I want the deluxe version.

One operating system specifically designed around how coaches and trainers actually work.

For me, deluxe doesn’t mean adding loads of fancy features.

It means removing work.
Information entered once.
Systems talking to each other.
Admin happening automatically.

Issuing all the paperwork for a training course? One click.

Because the real luxury isn’t software.

It’s having more time to recline, sit back and spend an afternoon at the cinema with your daughter.

That’s what a good business system should give you back.

Time.

Do you agree?

Last Monday (27th July) , I drove 32 miles to Gosforth in Cumbria to deliver Emergency First Aid training for a returnin...
04/08/2026

Last Monday (27th July) , I drove 32 miles to Gosforth in Cumbria to deliver Emergency First Aid training for a returning client, Paria at The Wild Olive.

But delivering a good course doesn’t start when the first person sits down.

For me, it starts well before that.

• The slide deck needs checking.
• The equipment needs to work without a hitch.
• The scenarios need to make sense for the people in the room, not just come straight out of a textbook.

And you need to leave enough time to actually get there without arriving stressed and flustered.

That last one turned out to be particularly important.

My SatNav decided the best route to Gosforth was straight through the Cumbrian mountains.

I’m glad it did.

The scenery was breathtaking.

Open roads, mountains and some stunning views gave me time to think and set the tone for the rest of the day.

And perhaps there’s a lesson in that too.

Good training should feel relaxed and natural when it’s being delivered.

But that doesn’t happen by accident.

The better the preparation behind the scenes, the easier it is to concentrate on the people in front of you.

Because they shouldn’t have to see the preparation.

They should just experience a course that works.

Have you attended a course recently?

Preparing for our trip to Florida has been fairly straightforward.• Flights booked• Accommodation sorted• Travel insuran...
16/07/2026

Preparing for our trip to Florida has been fairly straightforward.

• Flights booked
• Accommodation sorted
• Travel insurance done

Then we bought AirTags...

Apparently you have to give each one a name.

This is where things went downhill...

Our luggage is now officially called:

🧳 Sue Case
🧳 Lu Gage
🧳 Holly Day

And my personal favourite, courtesy of my daughter...

🧳 Carrie On

I'm not sure whether to be proud or worried.

The scary part is we'll probably remember those names more easily than the baggage carousel number.

Now every time I open Find My it looks less like a tracking app and more like the guest list for a family barbecue.

Please tell me we're not the only ones who do daft things like this.

Have you ever given an object a silly name?

Or have you got an even better luggage pun?

For years I've tried just about every CRM and business system I could find.Most promised to make life easier.Instead the...
15/07/2026

For years I've tried just about every CRM and business system I could find.

Most promised to make life easier.

Instead they gave me endless menus, sidebars, dashboards full of widgets and more things to manage than the business itself.

So I stopped looking.

Instead, I started building the system I actually wanted to use.

It's called Navigator.

The idea is simple.

When I open it each morning I don't want dozens of reports, charts or notifications competing for my attention.

I just want to know one thing.

**What needs my attention next?**

Everything revolves around a single Focus pane.

One clean workspace.

One clear next action.

No complicated CRM.

No endless navigation.

No clutter.

Just the work that moves the business forward.

As I complete each action, Navigator quietly brings the next one into focus.

It's becoming the operating system that runs my entire business, from enquiries and projects through to training delivery, renewals and finance.

I'm building it first for myself.

Once it's proven in my own business, I'll open it up to other trainers and coaches who run their businesses on WordPress.

If that sounds like something you'd like to be part of, I'd love you to join the early adopter list.

👉 [https://sendfox.com/lp/m2pyw6](https://sendfox.com/lp/m2pyw6)

I'll be sharing behind-the-scenes updates, design decisions and giving early access before the public launch.

Sometimes the best software isn't built by a software company.

Sometimes it's built by someone who's spent years living the problem every single day.

What CRM / Software do you use to run your business? Let me know in the comments below.

Florida Countdown: T-minus... not long! ☀️🌴The family has officially entered holiday mode, which means one very importan...
08/07/2026

Florida Countdown: T-minus... not long! ☀️🌴

The family has officially entered holiday mode, which means one very important job...

Trying on hats. 🪣😂

Apparently, everyone needs the perfect hat for Florida.

Now, I've always believed there are two types of people:

• Those who can pull off a bucket hat.
• Those who think they can.

I'm still undecided which category I'm in! 🤣

I'll let you lot be the judge...

Be honest... does the hat stay, or is it heading straight back in the suitcase? 😄

Over the last few months I've been quietly building something.It started with a simple frustration.Why does running a sm...
07/07/2026

Over the last few months I've been quietly building something.

It started with a simple frustration.

Why does running a small business require so many different systems?

• Website
• CRM
• Projects
• Documents
• Bookings
• Learning

None of them really talk to each other.

So instead of looking for another subscription...

I started building the software I wished I'd had when I started my business.

• Not another CRM
• Not another productivity app

A business operating system built on WordPress.

I'm using it every day to run my own business and, rather than waiting until it's "finished", I've decided to build it in public.

I'll be sharing the wins, the setbacks and the thinking behind every decision.

If that sounds interesting, I've created a Founder List for anyone who'd like to follow the journey.

https://sendfox.com/lp/m2pyw6

I'd love to have you along for the ride.

In just 60 days, Lynne, the kids and I will be heading to Florida for our first family holiday in four years.Funny enoug...
03/07/2026

In just 60 days, Lynne, the kids and I will be heading to Florida for our first family holiday in four years.

Funny enough, the number four seems to be a bit of a theme.

Four years since our last proper holiday.
Four weeks in Florida.
Four weeks of slowing down, recharging and making memories together.

Running a business can easily become all consuming. There is always another email to answer, another proposal to send or another job to finish.

But I've learned something over the last few years.

Success isn't just about building a business. It's about building a life that your business supports.

The moments our children remember won't be the extra hour spent behind a laptop. They'll remember the days by the pool, exploring somewhere new, laughing together and creating memories that stay with us long after we've unpacked the suitcases.

One of my goals has always been to build a business that gives me that freedom.

Thanks to the way Skills Shop is set up, I'll be able to step away from the office without everything stopping.

If you're looking to book workplace training or want to chat about building an online course, you can still get in touch while I'm away. The systems are in place, enquiries can still come in and work can still move forward.

The only difference is that, for four weeks, my office will have a slightly better view.

Instead of sitting in Cumbria, I'll be answering emails from a table by the pool in Florida.

I won't be working all day. Family time comes first. But if you need me, I'll still be around.

Here's to slowing down, recharging the batteries and making memories with the people who matter most.

Only 60 days to go. ☀️🌴

Business Space Available to Rent | Derry St, Barrow-in-Furness via Skills Shop Holdings Limited.We have two first floor ...
03/07/2026

Business Space Available to Rent | Derry St, Barrow-in-Furness via Skills Shop Holdings Limited.

We have two first floor business spaces available to rent on Derry St, with the option of an additional store room if you need extra space.

Available:

• Small Office (3m x 3m) - £295 pcm
• Large Multi-purpose Room (8m x 5m) - £495 ppm

• Store Room (2.5m x 2m) - £40pcm
Available to rent alongside either the small office or the large room.

What's included?

• Gas, electricity and high speed broadband
• Shared toilet facilities
• Flexible short or long term agreements available

Please note:

• All rooms are on the first floor
• Access is via an external rear staircase
• There is no lift access

We're looking for professional tenants who will complement the other businesses within the building. Suitable identification, references and other checks will be required before any tenancy agreement is offered.

If you're looking for a practical, affordable space for your business, we'd love to hear from you.

Send us a Facebook message with a little information about your business to arrange a viewing or find out more.

When my head’s full of too many tabs, too many tasks and too many “I’ll deal with that later” thoughts… I stop. One of t...
18/06/2026

When my head’s full of too many tabs, too many tasks and too many “I’ll deal with that later” thoughts… I stop.

One of the simplest resets for me is a 2 mile trip to Walney beach with the family and the dogs.

No agenda.
No fixing.
Just being present.

There’s something about standing there, looking out at the offshore wind farm, that puts everything back in proportion.

And if you squint hard enough, Orlando is only about 4,200 miles away. Not bad for a daydream from Cumbria. 😄

Most people try to think their way out of feeling overloaded.

That usually makes it worse.

Sometimes the better move is to step away, breathe, and get your brain out of the office for a bit.

A short reset like that often clears more than another hour at the laptop ever will.

What’s your go-to when everything starts flying around your head?

The best ideas usually come after a bit of frustration.For me, that was sitting there juggling CRMs, calendar booking to...
16/06/2026

The best ideas usually come after a bit of frustration.

For me, that was sitting there juggling CRMs, calendar booking tools and a few other bits and pieces, trying to make them all work together… and still feeling like the whole thing was stitched together with hope and sticky tape.

That’s a big part of why I’m building Skills Shop Navigator.

It’s an all-in-one solution for trainers and coaches who want to run their business without paying hundreds a month for separate premium tools that never quite feel joined up.

What I kept seeing was this:

1. Too many systems
2. Too much friction
3. Too much time spent managing tools instead of delivering great coaching

Navigator is designed to make things simpler.

Clear pathways for you as a trainer or coach.

A smoother experience for your clients.

And less faffing about in the middle where things usually get messy.

It’s also a WordPress plugin, which means it works with your own website and your existing users. That matters, because it keeps people on your site, builds on what you already have, and helps you keep driving traffic back to your own space rather than someone else’s platform.

At the end of the day, the goal is simple:
help trainers and coaches spend more time doing what they love, which is delivery, and give clients clearer steps towards the results they want.

If you’d like to be notified when a demo version is ready to try, click the link below.

Would this be useful in your business?

Address

2-6 Derry Street
Barrow In Furness
LA142EF

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Skills Shop posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category