Who we are
John Ackerley, MSc, BEd, EMCC EIA (Senior Practioner)
Owner & Principal Consultant
John is a highly experienced consultant with over twenty-six years of applied practise in the fields of education, coaching, mentoring and leadership within the context of sport.
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John is a skilled educator. He is a qualified teacher, specialising in physical education. John is also a higher education lecturer, teaching leadership and coaching and mentoring practise at Manchester Metropolitan University and elite coaching practise at Sheffield Hallam University to sports professionals and coaches. John has also educated internationally having worked in the USA, Asia, Africa and South America.
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John is an accomplished and experienced executive coach/mentor. John has a master’s degree in coaching and mentoring, accredited globally by the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC) at senior practitioner level. John coaches/mentors numerous individual and team clients within corporate and elite sports performance settings. Current and recent clients include, The Football Association, the Brazilian National Football Federation (CBF), Malawi Football Association, Denmark Football Association, Thailand Football Association Technical Director and MK Dons, Sporting Director.
“Excellent. Our meetings are really insightful. Overall, John has been able to clarify specific aspects of my approach to the team and also promote further discussions in terms of the reach and possible tools to use as a coach and leader.”
(Cleber Xavier, Assistant Coach, Brazil Men’s National Football Team)
Further, John has educated and supervised mentors, executive coaches and teachers. He is highly experienced at developing, implementing, and evaluating coach and teacher education programmes, having done this successfully as part of his role at The Football Association. John has developed executive education and coaching programmes as an expert consultant for large corporates, such as, Bidpath Global and is currently a FIFA Expert in technical leadership, providing training and supervision to FIFA mentors and Technical Directors globally. Additionally, John is skilled at directly delivering training and action learning to coaches and mentors in the fields of education and executive education, such as his recent work with University Academy 92.
Underpinning John’s coaching and mentoring expertise is his experience as a professional sports coach and coach educator. John holds numerous UK national governing body coaching awards. Being a level 4 qualified coach, John has coached The FA England Partially Sighted National Football Squad to a world ranking of third. John has also coached elite children between the ages of 8 and 18 within boys, girls and disability performance environments within the UK. In addition, John has coached and mentored children and adults within grassroots clubs both in the UK and USA.
Further supporting John’s executive coaching and mentoring is his experience as a strategist and business leader. John is a successful business owner, having established his growing consultancy, Summitpeople Ltd. John has been a CEO for an award-winning County Football Association and Regional Manager and National Manager for the Football Association. He successfully achieved continual performance improvement through the education and skilful mentoring of many senior leaders within The Football Association and County Football Associations in the UK.
“I have been working with John for several months on a 1 to 1 basis. He is able to connect quickly with clients and provide insightful and professional coaching relevant to the environment I currently work within. It’s without doubt I have developed my thinking and leadership qualities from the experience so far.”
(Liam Sweeting, Sporting Director, MK Dons Football Club)
Finally, John is also a scholar; he believes in a growth mindset and the human drive for self-actualisation. Further, he uses this belief to establish relational and engaging learning environments where individuals can grow and discover for themselves. John uses these beliefs to inform his own continual growth. John’s research to date includes, leadership, coaching and mentoring and inclusive education.
John has helped me become more self aware, expand my thinking and unlock extra (hidden) potential. I love our regular sessions as we shape and evolve my personal development plan. Leading can often be lonely and isolating, so these sessions are critical to me. Thanks for everything to date John, I'm truly grateful and look forward to what lies ahead.
(David Brindley, CEO, Bidpath)