"I had the pleasure of working with Simon in July 2019 during the Oxford Global Summit for Young Leaders - a conference which my team and I organised together with Byron College in Athens, Greece.

Simon's lecture was outstanding. He captured the students' (as well as the faculty's) attention with his dynamic and interactive style of teaching. He truly listens to the audience and makes his teaching personal and stimulating! Fantastic teacher and speaking expert. Heartily recommend."

Ti Xu, Physicist, Educator, Entrepreneur, Innovation Programme Manager - January 2020

"Simon has run presentation classes at New College of the Humanities for four years. His seminars are consistently amongst the most popular and useful parts of the student experience at NCH.

The NCH model is very unusual for a university in that it blends a conventional academic programme with development of the capabilities that will be required by students on graduation.

Simon's counsel on the development of this model has been invaluable. He is a good friend of the college."

Matthew Batstone, Co-founder, Director, Convenor for Professional Skills at New College of the Humanities, London, UK

"Your training at Rosendale [Primary School, West Dulwich, London] was excellent and massively improved my public speaking. It has helped develop my communication skills in ways that go far beyond addressing audiences.

The training equipped me to speak, both publicly and privately, with greater assurance and poise. Simon's approach has helped me structure and express my ideas in a concise and clear way.

Even four years on, it remains the most useful training I have ever had at work - the impact on my career has been huge."

Joe Halloran, Computing Teaching and Learning Consultant, London clc [following Simon's School Staff training - 4 years later!]

"Very many thanks for keeping a captive audience of 200+ teenagers enthralled - I have had a stream of enthusiastic praise for the session to pass on to you!"

Maria Trafford, Teacher of English, The John Lyon School, Harrow on the Hill, London

"It was a very interactive session and Simon really knew how to engage the audience. It was surprising how many girls wanted to volunteer to participate in his speaking exercises - a testament to Simon's ability to make a connection with the audience.

He is a talented teacher and knows how to make people listen. I am always looking for speakers who can genuinely present well and engage audiences and Simon did not disappoint.

I will certainly invite him back. The learning was effortless and fun."

Kerri Fox, Head of Sixth Form, Wycombe Abbey School

"[Simon] Large numbers of students went out of their way to thank me for inviting such a fantastic speaker in; they learnt a huge amount about public speaking and were gripped by both the material and the warmth with which it was delivered.

The only downside was that the teachers to whom these students went afterwards were made aware that there was little chance of providing such an exciting and enriching experience in their own lessons, so instead spent most of them listening to the students discuss Simon's talk. Thank you."   

Dr Langdon, Head of University Admissions and the Sixth Form Lecture programme, Kingston Grammar School

"Simon made an immediate connection with our students, got on their wavelength using humour, and challenged them to perceive themselves as others might. 

An excellent and stimulating session."                      

Ian Sheldon, Head of Chemistry & Director of UCAS, Bedford School

"[Simon] I thought that it was really useful and certainly will have taken the boys outside their subject specific comfort zones. Given the high proportion of scientists in the room I thought that you did a really excellent job of getting them to engage with the room, make eye contact and so on.

I don't think it is possible to over-emphasise the softer side of interview technique and I also know that teachers will always focus on content rather than delivery in practice interviews so I think that this session fills a really important gap."                                                                                            

Charlie Fisher, Head of Oxbridge, Bedford School

"Simon's story, which takes his audience on Simon's journey to winning the UK & Ireland Public Speaking Championship, had the boys gripped. By using the boys to illustrate his techniques which can improve communication, his message about the importance of communication really hit home to the boys.

His follow up session with the students looking to apply for courses at Oxford, Cambridge and other competitive courses and institutions gave vital interview techniques, many of which I wish I had known in the past. He will certainly be back to speak to the boys again."                                              

Seth Bolderow, Head of Sixth Form, The John Lyon School, Harrow

"[Simon] Just brilliant... the Year 11 said it was their best ever presentation from a speaker."

Philip Bowen, Deputy Headmaster, Bromsgrove School

"Simon led two workshops for our Oxbridge candidates. He really made them think about how they engage with their subject and helped them to improve their interview technique. The pupils learned much and were inspired to continue their own preparation.

Many thanks again for your help."

Mark Beet, Head of Modern Languages, Bromsgrove School

"Charismatic, clear, motivational."

"I think it was the best Head of Year we've had this year."

"Friendly, interesting, inspiring, funny, motivating... Most probably the best Head of Year during my time at the school."

"Definitely a very memorable HOY but it also had significance to our lives. It was extremely good and the whole audience felt like they were involved. Interesting, inspirational and memorable. Thank you."

"These tips are particularly useful in GCSE English Speaking and Listening Tasks (as I had to participate in one of these a couple of days after the Head of Year session)."

"When will you find this helpful? English GCSE Speaking & Listening exercises; at sports events when as captain of a team, I have to give a speech of thanks to the organisers; French oral, by helping me to control my breathing, pronounce my words clearly and not allow nerves to get the better of me."

"It's given me a completely different view about giving talks and how to act whilst in an interview. Simon was funny, interesting and a gripping talker... A great talk which I have learnt much from."

"Simon is inspirational... Thoroughly enjoyed the session and would love to talk to Simon again. Showed me the way in which I would be interested in pursuing my career. Moving doesn't describe it!"  

Fifth Formers' comments following Simon's Keynote, Bromsgrove School

"Simon, Thank you for a very enjoyable session this afternoon - in fact, one of the most enjoyable sessions I have been to in my teaching career! I am sure the pupils learnt a huge amount and will keep your great advice in mind when giving presentations in future."

Sarah Ascough, Head of Year 11, Bromsgrove School

"I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your talk on Monday in our Head of Year session. I think it's safe to say everyone really found what you had to say interesting and useful as we've never had it put to us that way before."                                                                                                             

Emily, A Fifth Former

"[Simon] Many thanks for your incredible session at the literacy conference earlier this week. I really took away a lot from the session and am looking forward to being able to try employing some of your techniques in September."                                                                                               

James Canvin, Participant, Teach First Literacy Conference (on Teacher training)

"[Simon] I wanted to write and say how excellent your session was - it was very inspirational and I know it was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone."           

Wendy Jacobs, Headteacher of Rosendale School, West Dulwich, London (on Staff Training)

"It was an intimately 'Bromsgrovian' talk with helpful memories of his schooldays for today's pupils and pertinent examples from his own experience.

In a moving ending, he told the Upper Sixth to be bold but above all to be the best Bromsgrovians."           

Philip Bowen, Deputy Headmaster, Bromsgrove School (on Simon's role as Speaker at the end of year Commemoration Day for the whole school July 2013)

"Simon is a highly accomplished public speaker and a remarkable teacher. I had the great privilege of working alongside him (technically, I was his supervisor) for several summers back in the late nineties in the context of university-level summer programs.

He never failed to inspire his students and his peers with his intelligence, his creative clarity in front of a crowd, his sense of humour, and his unflagging can-do attitude.

Simon is a team player and an absolute pleasure to work with on any project. Highly recommended!"

Tim Weed, Writer, Lecturer, Consultant and Director of International Education and Arts Programs, USA