We strive to create lasting change for people in and out of work – Our approach is focused, fun and purposeful. 

Learning from experience

From boardrooms to sports arenas, leading military units and high-performing teams in the private, public, and not for profit sectors - We bring diverse leadership experiences and a talented group of people to our work. Together we help solve problems, overcome challenges and enhance performance.

Delivering together

We’ve partnered with a broad range of organisations from The Football Association, Whitbread and Nestle to Trafford Housing Trust, Age UK and the Health Foundation. Our clients have one thing in common - they’re people focused and decision-makers. They might come from a mix of industries, but they’re all responsible for leading change, making a difference and improving performance.

Our story

We are subject to challenges like any organisation, but we share a passion for the same purpose – to positively impact people’s lives and leadership through great development. We balance our drive for high standards and results with care and consideration for one another.

Unforgiving Minute is made up of John Steele (Founder), Sam Whale (Co-Owner & MD), Katie Laing (Head of Planning) and a talented extended team of coaches, leaders and facilitators.

A shared interest

John and Sam met in 2008 to support the transformation of Team GBs performance at Olympic and Paralympic Games. We shared a belief that growing the leadership capability of people in sports high performance system would directly lead to a greater chance of sustained success for UK athletes on the world stage.

A leap of faith

Recognising we had complementary skills and a shared sense of purpose gave us the confidence to create Unforgiving Minute. Establishing an organisation from scratch was an opportunity to learn, challenge ourselves and positively impact people. We kept things simple, enjoying the opportunity to create something meaningful that could align with the rest of life.

Asking for help

Valuing and drawing on the experience of others has been a big part of our success and enjoyment which is why Katie joined us in 2022. We love creating teams – combining the right expertise and style to deliver our work. We take pride in connecting people and over the past 10 years have created a community of diverse thinkers who share an unwavering commitment to support and develop others.

Seeing results

The most satisfying part of our work is seeing positive change. Watching people successfully take on new leadership challenges combined with teams and organisations having a greater impact is what motivates us. We have seen first-hand the value of our work and believe now more than ever we have more to offer.

Staying curious

We enjoy keeping an eye on the future. In a world that that is rapidly changing our approach is to retain an open mind, question ourselves and seize opportunities to do things differently.