Beccy was working in managed serviced centres, doing policy work and project management. She had a moment in her life where she simply decided that she needed to focus on what she loved. In October 2021 Beccy’s business won Digital Business of the Year at the Kettering Awards Ceremony and was also a runner-up for Small Business of the Year 

Since 2011 Beccy has independently been teaching voice, flute, and piano in schools and theatre colleges. In 2018 she launched ‘Beccy Hurrell Voice Academy’ with the primary aim of getting the best out of people’s voices. Beccy’s business is based in Kettering though she teaches students both nationally and internationally. Her students range from a mere 4 years old to singers in their 80’s. She loves working with new people to unlock new aspects of their voice, accessing new sounds, and seeing their confidence grow. Similar to business coaching, Beccy encourages growth and development and bringing out the best in people.

Beccy says…

“Although I was aware of business coaching and knew what it was, I truly never thought it would do anything for me!  I recently completed a Master’s Degree, and it was this that really got me thinking. I was investing time and money to improve my voice and further my understanding of my industry, so why wasn’t I investing in improving business too?

I met Rupert at the Kettering Business Network where he explained how ActionCOACH helps local businesses. Having coaching was at this point in the back of my mind and it was later that I wanted to find out more. During a BNI meeting, I also met Rupert’s wife and fellow business coach Angela and we discussed Rupert’s style of coaching and it was then that something clicked, I knew it was exactly what I needed to kick me into action.

The first steps…

I started attending Rupert’s fortnightly ActionCLUB meetings and also the quarterly GrowthCLUB workshops which plan your business for the quarter ahead.

What I like about ActionCLUB is the focus and the different perspectives it brings to different challenges and subjects. Although the sessions are structured Rupert’s coaching style is not dictating; he will let you go off in a direction you need to go.

Business coaching gives me the time to look at basics, look from the bottom up, assess my procedures, and helps ensure the right tools are in place.  I also like the networking aspect during the sessions, so you get different ideas and share thoughts. I feel I have a team around me that helps me look at things in a way I wouldn’t have done before. The sessions also help me review strengths and weaknesses in my business.

GrowthCLUB kicks me further into action. What I like most of all, is the sense of knowing what my goals are, having a direction and I have an impartial person in Rupert to talk them through with.

If someone asks me, what is Rupert like? I would answer that he’s very direct, but this is good as you know where you stand, his style is that of a typical project manager, he’s good at ensuring things get done!  Then his nurturing side comes out and he will go over and repeat areas you may need help with and always checks in with you afterward. His follow-up is really good and this is what keeps me accountable. I like the checks-ins and the habit of submitting daily frog sheets (to report on tasks I am completing). Rupert will keep an eye on me and let me go in the direction I need though he will be on my tail if I waiver, exactly what I need to keep me focused!

I have found the Big Friday Finish sessions to be a brilliant value-added bonus. They tend to be the Friday before ActionCLUB and they really hammer home what you are learning but in a different way. I find that repetition really embeds the learning into your mind.  The finance one was particularly phenomenal, it made complete sense to me and I’m not great with numbers!

Looking to the future…

Coaching with Rupert has made me look at the future of my business. It’s making me think about difficult questions that I know I need to address. I like this because they are questions that need to be asked. I think fear can stop businesses from moving forward and we need a business coach to help us with those scary thought processes. I would say that creatives, in particular, need that person to help them as they generally work alone.  For example, I have no system in place for new enquiries or sessions when I am not around; what if I got sick? What if I want to expand? Who will continue the business? Working with Rupert has really got me thinking about the next 5 years and we are currently working on my 5-year plan. This is both scary and exciting at the same time, but I know I have Rupert there walking the walk with me.

I think one of the main barriers people have to utilise coaching is the financial investment. I will say this, if you want to grow your business, you need someone on the outside, you need that impartial person looking in.  Think about it, even professionals like singers and athletes have coaches. If you are going to learn to run, you need advice or a coach, if you want to learn an instrument you find a teacher to help you, why don’t you do the same when it comes to your business? To keep growing and developing you need coaching to get everything into a good place.

I’ve worked in business settings and used numerous processes in the workplace that I have totally forgotten about, and yet they are sometimes so obvious.  Business Coaching can sometimes be as simple as opening my eyes to what Rupert refers to as the BFO (Blindingly Flashingly Obvious). There are loads of things I already know and used in other people’s business yet haven’t used them in my own!  Rupert’s questions ensure I am reminded of these processes and make sure I am using the right tools to grow my business. One example is dealing with KPIs in other businesses and looking at break-even points, and yet before coaching, I had never done this in my own business.”

A note from ActionCOACH Rupert Turton

“Notwithstanding everything Beccy is doing in her business, one of the biggest wins was when she announced at the start of one of our ActionCLUB sessions that she had spent time with her children and not felt guilty for stopping work!

Beccy came to Action Coach with an established business but she knew could do more. She also understands coaching as that is part of what she does, particularly with professional performers who are looking to move to the next level, so we sometimes find ourselves comparing coaching techniques which is interesting for me as well. It’s not just the clients who learn from ActionCLUB!

We are currently looking at how BHVA will develop over the next 5 years and the big plans Beccy has which is just marvelous to see.  Anyone who knows Beccy will know that she is a very bubbly and energetic person which is why her students enjoy her classes so much. She also brings her positive energy to ActionCLUB making our sessions productive but also fun and enjoyable.”

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