Act Positive is a training company which will engage you, inspire you and enable you to think and feel differently about what you do.  As a people focused business it stands to reason that our people have to be likeable, positive and excellent at what they do.

The business is built on the belief that training should provide an opportunity for real change to happen. We are passionate about creating learning experiences embedded in a continuous cycle of development located in the reality of your workplace.  Our team is committed to doing whatever it takes to help you achieve great results.

We are specialists in learning

Act Positive is a training company with a difference.  There are many good training companies who aim to deliver skills training or coaching.  Often what makes them good is their specific experience and sector knowledge as it relates to the issue to be addressed.

Act Positive is different because it is a learning company.  We are specialists in no single industry or issue.  Collectively, we have significant experience in many sectors and roles.  We recognise that wherever people work, whatever job they do or challenges they face, we are still human.  We all display attitudes and behaviours that set the tone for any situation.  We engage with learners to think, feel and do something about the situation and challenges - and we do this using drama.

We are specialist in drama for learning

Beware!  Not all companies using drama are the same.  Some are founded by actors who are experienced in drama but understand little of the corporate world; some are training companies, clear about the realities of the public and private sector but unaware of the opportunities and pitfalls associated with using drama as a learning tool.

Act Positive has the specialist education, knowledge and experience of facilitating drama.  We know what works and what doesn't.  We have tried and tested courses and programmes that have NEVER failed.  The use of drama is not an exact science.  We pride ourselves on being alert to and responding to learning needs in the planning of and during the sessions.  We use the best approach for every situation.

Act Positive has an on-going professional development programme for our actors and facilitators.  We know how people learn and we believe in achieving great outcomes for everyone. 

Meet the team

Katharine Roff - Founding Business Partner

Katharine is the company manager and creative director.  She has an honours degree in drama and significant experience of facilitating drama based training for diverse groups of people internationally. A specialist in the art and science of communication, Katharine is a qualified trainer of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), a proponent of accelerated learning and emotional intelligence and a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Interesting fact:  Katharine used to work as a costumed character - Rusty the Metro gnome - at the world renowned Metro Centre.

Karen Langdon - Business Partner

Karen is head of training and strategic director.  She has an MPhil (with distinction) in Critical Management and has worked with managers and leaders internationally - especially in countries with a strong oral tradition.  Karen has been a senior tutor at the Small Business Centre at Durham University, worked on the strategic development of business support and in recent years developed her own consultancy.  She was admitted to the Institute of Teaching and Learning in 2001.

Interesting fact: Karen spent two years riding a motorbike wearing a fetching lilac and white shell suit when she worked with young business owners in Africa.

Roger Hancock - Company Secretary 

Roger founded Act Positive with Katharine in 2005 having spent 25 years as an educationalist in schools and as a county drama adviser. He previously ran a successful training business and then took a second retirement to begin a new chapter with Act Positive.

Interesting fact: Roger is an awarding winning Bridge player - in French!

Dawn Wolfington - Logistics

Dawn is head of making everything work smoothly.  Dawn qualified with an honours degree in drama and is experienced in book keeping and customer relationship management.  Dawn works with us as an actor and is often the person who will answer your call.

Interesting fact;  as a lass, Dawn took flying lessons in a light aircraft.  Her instructor felt that her enthusiasm exceeded her skill and suggested she find an alternative career.

Our Extended Team

All our actors and facilitators are professionally trained, most are members of Equity and bring their own varied work and life experiences to the roles that they play with us.

Photographs on this page courtesy of Rob Burrell and Skills For care