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What Our Customers Say...
  • Very good day. Many thanks for all your input. You have set up a lot of future ways of working. 

    Head of Education – Spitalfields Festival

  • Everyone found the course useful and I was very impressed by the way you took the time to interview participants before the course so that you could tailor the content to our needs.

    Dominic McDonald – Head of Public Engagement, Science Oxford

  • Thank you for a most useful tailor-made session. I think all will have got something out of it. Thanks for your help.

    Louise Atkin – Palace Theatre, Mansfield

  • Trainer’s knowledge on all areas was very good. I particularly liked the fact that it was very participatory and trainer truly facilitated to a very high degree!! Well done.  

    Irene Muchunu – DFID Nairobi.

  • Mark helped me examine issues in a very helpful, imaginative and non-judgemental way – a very positive experience.

    Jonathan Williams – Composer.

  • You have established a reputation in our business for providing training that has a high impact while being very enjoyable.

    Training and Development Manager – Balfour Beatty

  • I can honestly say this training was one of the most refreshing and helpful courses I have experienced. The over-all experience left all the management team here with a hunger and enthusiasm to implement the new training and a desire to improve other areas in a similar vein.

    Vanessa Black – Managing Director, The Phone Room

  • Thanks also for your great input during the course. I really enjoyed your sessions, you really brought the issues alive. It was lovely working with you, let’s hope there is another opportunity soon.

    Faye Phillips – Manager, IMA International

  • Since your programme of two-day workshops, our team leaders and track chargemen have shown a marked improvement in their ability to make decisions and take responsibility for themselves as leaders. Their teams have become stronger, more focused and motivated.

    Geoff Warren – Training Manager, Balfour Beatty Rail

  • A very enjoyable, informative course which has given me clarity and understanding and a wide-ranging skills toolbox from which to call upon when I need it most.

    Course Participant – Science & Technology Facilities Council

  • There has been a better understanding. We are better connected and more on the same wavelength – the benefit of not being on the back foot.

    Course Participant – Southern Railway

  • The course was made light hearted so I think it is easy to take in more information. Very interesting and informative

    Course Participant – Theatre Royal, Newcastle

About Us

Big Difference Arts is Mark Arnold, Adrian Phillips and Jonathan Nash.

 

Mark ArnoldMark Arnold

Mark set up Big Difference Arts after working for over 20 years in marketing, line management and education.  His inspiration came through leading a large aid agency in Pakistan’s North West Frontier. Working with Afghan refugees and war-ravaged people in Afghanistan, Mark’s mission was to develop Afghan leaders to take control of a wide range of medical, vocational training, agricultural and small business programmes.

Mark found that by encouraging people to take responsibility and providing the support they needed, something amazing happened – the leadership team became a high performance engine. People used their initiative and grew in confidence and creativity. Projects blossomed and the results produced were celebrated by all the stakeholders.

On his return to the UK, Mark found that he was able to apply the principles proved so successfully in Pakistan and Afghanistan to developing people in a wide range of  arts organisations such as BBC, Wales Millennium Centre, Royal Court and Theatre Royal, Newcastle.  

Mark Arnold is a successful organisation development, management training specialist (CMI and ILM qualified at all levels) and qualified executive coach. With a lively, dynamic training style, Mark works with all cultures, creating an engaging and enjoyable forum in which every participant is fully involved. A successful music composer and performer, Mark has also developed a number of innovative programmes which make use of music and drama to create a fun, energetic and successful learning environment.

 

Adrian PhillipsAdrian Phillips

Adrian Phillips spent the first ten years of his career as an actor before entering the world of Arts Marketing and Training. He helped to set up The Phone Room Ltd., running their group sales, box office and training services. He writes for Arts Professional and is a regular speaker at conferences, seminars and workshops. Adrian offers arts venues both training and consultancy in how to build closer links with their customers. He also offers a tailored group booking service to arts venues. Adrian’s clients include BBC, Royal Shakespeare Company, Edinburgh Playhouse, Clear Channel Entertainment and Theatre Royal, Newcastle.  Adrian also runs www.tunatheday.com which delivers a free daily music track to its users.

 

JonathanNash

 

Jonathan Nash

Jonathan Nash has been involved with theatre and the performing arts for over 25 years – as a Box Office and Front of House Manager – always on the front-line of customer service. An authority in the area of disability awareness and access, he audio-describes theatre and opera performances for blind and partially sighted patrons. He also works as a production manager on corporate training projects and is a part-time Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the County of Oxfordshire. Jonathan advises arts venues on disability issues and leads the Disability Toolkit.