‘I am so grateful that people make it work exists. My journey with Richard and the team began as soon as I stepped into the role of Executive Producer at English Touring Theatre and our work together has formed a huge part of my understanding of our sector, our organisation and my role within both. It’s true that at times I have referred to them as People Who Make Us Work, but with huge warmth – their probing questions and encouragement have helped to support so much of our thinking during a time of evolution for the company.’

SOPHIE SCULL, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AT ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE

Image – 2018 A Streetcar Named Desire – Joe Manjón & Kelly Gough

‘To me, Richard, and his practice at people make it work, can be summed up in one word: generosity. I followed up on a generous invitation to have a 1h free coaching session following a training session Richard facilitated, and 8 years later I can safely say that that 1h was the start of a relationship that has helped change the course of my career, and empowered and enabled me to critically examine how I think and do what I do every day. Thank you for showing me again and again through your ways of working the value of generosity and demonstrating how transformative it can be. Here’s to the next 20 years!’

LILLI GEISSENDORFER, DIRECTOR, JERWOOD ARTS

Image by Yinka Ilori

‘Happy 20th Birthday to people make it work! What an exciting time to be harnessing the wealth of experience and learning from the past twenty years and to be exploring timely new horizons and generating new perspectives on the Culture Reset programme. I hugely admire Richard’s energy and ambition for cultural organisations to access the best, dynamic and inclusive resources and support. No-one can better understand or be more supportive of the sector’s work to nurture, support and cultivate high quality and impactful change and leadership during this transformational time.’

SANDEEP MAHAL, DIRECTOR, NOTTINGHAM UNESCO CITY OF LITERATURE

‘I had great privilege in working with Richard as a consultant on a project in Cambridge and so also feel a part of the people make it work family. I think the work the organisation does has been transformational for so many. The growth of the network of people now involved in the company and its influence on strategic ways of thinking, operating and imagining is testament to the success of the approach and the authentic nature in which the organisation led by Richard engages with the cultural sector. I’m sure it’s not always been easy! I always feel I can pick up the phone to him, whether it’s a significant issue or a small query and he will always make himself available and if he can’t help he always knows someone who can.’

KULLY THIARAI, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, LEEDS 2023

Image: Lizzie Coombes