About us

Alison has a Speech and Drama background and trained at the prestigious Dartington College of Arts in the early nineties, before completing an English and Drama degree (Joint Hons) at Lancaster University in 1997, which is where she met Janine. 

After graduation, Alison worked in the Youth Service and in Teaching, before founding her own Speech and Drama Training business, which ran for 17 years. 

Latterly, Alison spent 9 years with English Speaking Board (International), Ltd, as an assessor and also in Business Development. This role involved the writing of accredited communication-based qualifications,  consulting, the writing and delivery of CPD training and tuition, and frequent international travel across Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Most recently, Alison traveled to Beijing with Kim to run an intensive LAMDA course at a school there.

As well as founding 'Speaking Solutions' with Janine, Alison also works as a consultant for 'Noisy Classroom' an organisation that specialises in the delivery of critical oracy in schools, predominantly through the development of debating skills and public speaking training. 

Passionate about making communication skills accessible to all, Alison's infectious enthusiasm and supportive manner empowers even the least confident to develop confidence in their abilities to deliver engaging, dynamic presentations. 

In her spare time, Alison is a trustee for the Multiple Sclerosis charity AIMS, which she founded with her husband in 2018. 

After gaining a BA (Joint Hons) in English and Drama, Janine continued in education to gain a teaching qualification before moving on to work with learners of all ages and abilities. 

Her work has been a journey through education from many different aspects, including directing a Theatre-in-Arts Company exploring GCSE & A Level texts and devising and delivering training.  After varying teaching posts, for independent, mainstream and SEND education providers, she currently delivers consultancy in presentation skills, communication, speech and drama and educational programmes.  

Drawing from her wealth of experience in devising programmes of education and syllabuses in Communication, Citizenship, Drama, English Language and Literature, and African Griot Culture, in her role with AGIDA CIC.  Janine is a founder member of ‘Speaking Solutions’ and is enjoying every moment.

Janine also continues to enjoy her work with the English Speaking Board (International) Ltd, an awarding body, offering examinations in communication, debating, employability and interview skills, as an examiner and moderator. 

Janine believes communication builds confidence and is a great advocate of breaking down barriers, to enable all, to have their say in a respectful, confident and empowering way and her experience is the essence of what makes her approach and understanding unique and accessible. 

Kim specialises in speech and drama training and is a professional actor. Having started acting at the age of 9, Kim has 20 years of experience in the performing arts, and she is just as passionate about teaching the subject as she is doing it! 

During her childhood and teenage years, Kim worked her way through LAMDA grades in Solo Acting, Verse & Prose, and Musical Theatre, gaining a distinction grade in every exam she ever took. She is passionate about transferring these skills to her students.

After spending many years of her childhood in local youth theatre programmes, Kim gained a place with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain in the Summer of 2012, and subsequently went on to train as an actor at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, and Guildford School of Acting where she gained a First Class Honours degree in Acting. 

Kim is devoted to teaching the individual, and she strives to celebrate the individuality of her learners. Not every student learns the same way, and they have different strengths and weaknesses. Kim sees this as something to be fascinated by, and prides herself on the close teacher/student relationships she builds with her students as they learn. Kim teaches Public Speaking, Verse and Prose, Acting and Musical Theatre for Speaking Solutions. Most recently, she travelled to Beijing to deliver an intensive LAMDA course with Alison.