ABOUT US
Career Counselling
Proteus Consultancy is one of the leading career counselling and management organisations in London and the UK
WHAT MAKES US PUSH FORWARD?
Our core team is based in London and we have representatives located around the UK from the south coast to Scotland. Since 1989 we have successfully worked with thousands of people to achieve their career objectives and assist them into the right job. We are delighted to be recognised as a leader in facilitating career change for professionals.
Our dedicated core team…. You & Proteus – Protecting your Livelihood
-
Mark Goldfinch ConsultantMark has spent much of his life as a professional communicator of different sorts across numerous channels, including books, broadcast media, presentations, websites and social media. As an Arabic linguist since a young age, he has lived and worked extensively in the Middle East and experienced numerous cultures and societies. He is passionate about helping individuals and businesses communicate themselves better, to enhance their careers and business growth. Mark helps Proteus clients in London, Kent, Sussex and via Skype.
-
Dr Mike Warren Founding Director and CEO
Mike is a proactive director and business leader who is intent on providing, in the most ethical manner possible, discreet and confidential career management services to individuals. His ultimate aim and purpose in life is to ensure that Proteus continues, long after his time, as a legacy for the future so that it can continue to help people with their careers. Mike helps Proteus clients in London, Hampshire, Dorset and via Skype.
-
Bernard Sheridan Consultant (Scotland)
Bernard looks after our clients in Scotland and he has been working with Proteus since 2003. He has an MA in English and Economics and is a Chartered Accountant. In his earlier career he was UK Financial Controller of British Carpets and then joined Price Waterhouse in the UK and in Kuwait as a senior consultant. On his return from Kuwait, he became MD of a Computer Supplies Co which he doubled in size in 2 years and then launched a specialist print company where he employed and trained a team of 20 staff including skilled printers, estimators and graphic artists and built the turnover to £1.5m. He now runs a portfolio career in Career Management and Business Consultancy.
-
David Roden Consultant
David started working with Proteus in 1997 and has experience of business development, executive career coaching and workshop delivery focused on career transitions. He has worked with the private sector, including global financial and pharmaceutical institutions; the public sector, encompassing national and local entities as well as the third sector. He is a seasoned, effective and popular career coach. Energising and insightful, he brings a breadth of knowledge to groups and individuals from all backgrounds regardless of seniority or function. Clients have commented on his accomplished presentational skills and his empathetic approach to workplace issues and stress.
-
Nina Longlands Administrator
Nina has been working in Customer Services and Administration for nearly 20 years and has been supporting Proteus for the last 7 years. She has a BA Hons in Norwegian and Linguistics and used these skills in the early part of her career working with customers such as Ericson and Saab. For the last 14 years, Nina has been a Senior Administrator for Capita, working within their Self Invested Personal Pension arm. In her spare time Nina enjoys trampolining and is a qualified UKCC Level 1 coach. Her organisational skills are second to none and she now uses these to brilliant effect providing more administrative resource for Proteus, running her own Stationery business, coaching and looking after her young family.
-
Peter Wilford Consultant
Peter Wilford started working with Proteus in 1995. He has a background in Human Resources and Training of over 30 years. His wide experience includes financial services in the City (Charterhouse PLC, Noble Group), oil (Texaco), telecommunications (Cable and Wireless) and construction and engineering (Biwater, Trafalgar House/Kvaerner). He ran a niche consultancy providing tailored HR/Training solutions to SMEs and mid cap organisations undergoing change and has managed a portfolio career. As a Career Coach and Job Search specialist he delivers one to one coaching and group support to the corporate and private markets. He is BPS accredited for testing and assessment and is a Fellow of the CIPD.
-
Jason Finbow Consultant
Jason has over 30 years’ experience in IT, spanning enterprise sales, business development, senior leadership and executive committee roles across SaaS, technology and cybersecurity. He is an Association for Coaching accredited Executive Coach, with qualifications in Psychology and Career Coaching, MBTI Step I & II, NLP Master Practitioner and neurodiversity coaching.
Jason combines extensive commercial leadership experience with a human-centred coaching approach, helping individuals and organisations unlock potential and perform at their best. He works with leaders and teams across leadership development, performance, career transitions, organisational change and personal growth. Authentic, energetic and insightful, Jason brings empathy, commercial understanding and practical challenge to his coaching, creating an environment where people can reflect, build confidence and take purposeful action.
“When we say we are empowered by passion, we mean it. I have worked since Day 1 back in 1989 with passion, and dedication to ensure you get the best possible service from us so you can get the best career for you.
DR MIKE WARREN – CEO & FOUNDING DIRECTOR
DR MIKE WARREN – CEO & FOUNDING DIRECTOR
ACHIEVEMENTS
WHAT PROTEUS HAS ACHIEVED SO FAR. WE ARE AMBITIOUS FOR OUR CLIENTS.
CUSTOMER CARE
We pride ourselves on having the highest standard of customer service, which continues even after our client succeeds
20,000 STORIES
We have helped nearly 20,000 people plan and manage their careers better over 25 years, giving us huge experience you can benefit from.
PROGRAMMES CREATED FROM EXPERIENCE
Our programmes have been created from our experience, and we help you choose the right modules for your particular circumstances.
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
Nothing makes us happier than when a client we’ve helped over months – perhaps years – takes the time to give us a testimonial of thanks.
HOW PROTEUS BEGAN
In 1988 Dr Mike Warren started retraining as a Career Counselling and Management consultant after a successful career as a Materials Scientist working for the OECD as a Project Manager.
During his training, later on that same year, he was introduced to Mike Stevenson, an employee of BP, who had an MBA and who wanted to become a management consultant. The two Mikes worked together and success was achieved when Mike Stevenson was offered a position as a management consultant by a local firm three months later.
The two Mikes kept in touch but it soon became clear that it wasn’t working out. The phrase Mike Stevenson used was, “All they want is access to my network.”
“Could I establish my own management consultancy?” was his next question. Again the two Mikes worked together and later that year Mike Stevenson began trading as a management consultant in his own right under the name Proteus Consultancy. In 1989 Dr Mike Warren, having completed his training, joined him and founded the Career Management arm of the business. It was formally established as a limited company on 4th January 1991.
The Management Consultancy arm established itself quite quickly as an umbrella organisation for other independent management consultants and grew to around 15 consultants by 1992. The Career Management arm grew more slowly gradually establishing a professional reputation for its services in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire and at the end of the same year, 1992, it had a staff of 4.
The decision was taken to expand the Career Management arm and a new branch was opened in Kent, near Sevenoaks, and two further people joined the company.
However, trading conditions worsened for management consultancy generally as the early 90s recession took hold and gradually that arm of the business shrank and Mike Stevenson resigned from the business to join Wiltshire Business Link.
Two of the other management consultants, Mr Keith Folkes and Dr Glenn White remained with the business as directors alongside Dr Mike Warren and through their combined efforts the Career Management business went from strength to strength and further expansion saw the business operating throughout the UK, as it still does today, with its main offices moving to London’s Victoria district by the turn of the millennium, where they have remained.
WHO WAS PROTEUS?
-
Proteus
Proteus is a mythical character in Homer’s famous Odyssey (Book IV:412). He was a sea-god and oracle whose ability to change shape at will has become legendary, with positive connotations of flexibility, versatility and adaptability down the millennia.
We view our clients in the same way and truly believe each has the ability to change the shape of their career and their lives if they put their mind to it. We exist to help them in that process.