In 2017, Simon was made redundant from his corporate role as a Training & Recruitment Manager.
Immediately he got to work, retrained, registered socoach.co.uk and built a website, got a first aid course booked in at a Café in Cheshire and then off he went to places he never expected to achieve.
What started as SO Coach has since gone from strength to strength and transformed into Cheshire First Aid.
Simon says:
"I have never had a business plan. My only mission is to make every course we deliver as powerful as possible. Make every course special, memorable, helpful and have a great laugh along the way.
I want people to book again and come back. To do that every contact we make has to mean something, has to create a moment of magic.
We'll always try and ensure that our courses aren't boring, they aren't predictable and that they leave a lasting impression.
I would love it if they saved a few lives too (and they have, loads of lives).
Whether it's Mental Health First Aid, First Aid at Work, Paediatric First Aid or Baby First Aid, the impact can be life-changing and lifesaving.
My biggest hope is that Cheshire First Aid will be in business tomorrow, making a difference and I promise to do all that I can to make it happen.
Amy joined the business in 2021 and I realised I had a massive problem, she is a better first aid trainer than I am, she is amyazing."
Meet Simon
Simon's favourite quote is:
'Little by little, one travels far'
J. R. R. Tolkien.
I love it because it is so true, when I focus, I fly.
I have been a hairdresser, a farm hand, a sales executive, a supermarket manager, an NVQ assessor, a bar tender, an L&D consultant, a recruitment manager, a business coach, a first aid instructor and now a Counsellor-in-training.
I am known for my 'dad jokes' and that will never end, I promise it won't because I can't, it's my biggest addiction. I am dependent on them and they help me through life.
My other quest is to try to make nobody see me and leave without feeling happier. It doesn't always work, I will keep doing my best though.
I am 40+ now (and some) and I still have no clue what I want to be when I grow up.
My experiences in the past are the reasons why I am a Mental Health First Aid Instructor. I have experienced suicide thoughts & behaviours.
My life has been full of depression, anxiety and self-medication, all whilst hiding behind the façade that is the 'Lee Evans' lookalike.
Smiley, extrovert and oblivious to my mental health illness. I was in a period of poor mental health and help via a Mental Health First Aider would've been life-changing.
I’m now a Counsellor-in-training to support my passion and motivation for mental health and I am relentless in my pursuit to educate people about the complex and misunderstood subject.
Please get in touch, it would be awesome to hear from you...
Meet Amy
Amy is Amyazing.
She says 'mate' loads.
I qualified as a Paediatric Nurse in 2001 and have worked in the lovely jubbly NHS for over twenty years.
Whilst being busy doing lifesaving and stuff, I worked within many areas of new-born and child health including Intensive Care, Surgery, Emergency Transfers and the Stabilisation Ward.
My expertise, before I became a First Aid Instructor, concentrated on education, staff development and training, including the creation of a simulation programme which improved the standard and quality of care delivered. I was well chuffed with it and feel so proud of all I have achieved.
It is amazing to be a qualified First Aid Instructor and now be working for Cheshire First Aid delivering many different courses including Paediatric First Aid and Baby First Aid.
I have developed the Baby First Aid sessions from scratch. I make sure that they are fun, educational and are designed with the whole family in mind.
The aim of all the sessions I deliver is to give anyone looking after babies and young children the skills needed to save a life. I want to share as much as I can, whenever I can.
Mate, I would love to hear from you...