About Us
The Academy of Coaching and Training (ACT) was founded by Steve Payne in 2011 to help individuals and organisations achieve fantastic results through personal and professional development. Our methodology mixes coaching, NLP, neuroscience and creativity adopted from the world of theatre. We have a team with a wealth of skill, knoiwledge and experience, ensuring our clients work with experts in their field.
ACT is believes in the necessity for skilled coach training and maintaining hight ethical standards in both the art and science of professional coaching and the coach training industry. ACT is an Organisational Member of the Association for Coaching (OMAC).
Our mission is to help people and organisations realise that they have a choice. We believe, and statistics back this up, that happier, more aligned and purposeful teams produce better results.
Our mission is to help people increase the impact they have by challenging assumed constraints through awareness and installing empowering beliefs, strategies and actions. Our mission is also to help people and organisations realise their full potential through tangible steps and processes that achieve transformational level changes.
Our team

Steve Payne
Course Trainer
Our coaching course is led by Steve Payne. Steven created the Academy’s AC accredited Professional Coaching Skills Training course.
As well as being a much sought-after international executive coach , Steven is also one of very few certified Master Trainers of NLP in the world, and an NLP Classic Code and New Code Trainer accredited by the ANLP. Steven also holds a Master Trainer certificate from the NLP University in California.
Steve originally trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and during his acting career appeared in some of the UK’s best-loved T.V. series.
Steve is also the co-author of the critically acclaimed book ‘My 31 Practices’, which outlines a methodology for personal and professional values alignment.

Suzanne Cave
Course Trainer
Suzanne trained as an actress before moving into the world of coaching and training. In addition to coaching, Suzanne also woirked with the professional story-telling company Narativ.
Suzanne has been working alongside Steve Payne on the AC accredited ACCT for the last year.

James Auden
Course Trainer
James has a degree from Oxford University and worked for many years as a professional actor, working in the West End as well as with the Royal Shakespeare Company. James then trained in Gestalt therapy and coaching.
James’ experiencing working with professional services firms has proved invaluable in developing our executive coaching program.

Renata Aiello
Client Services Manager
Renata worked for many years as a photo-journalist for the main broadcaster in Brazil, GLOBO.
After coming to the UK, Renata worked at NLP Dynamics and trained as a certified NLP Practitioner. Renata is passionate about helping people and believes that customer service is a vital role for any organisation..