What Acorn Coaching & Development does

Acorn Coaching & Development is a UK-based management development consultancy headquartered in Kendal, Cumbria, founded in 1998 by Keith Longney and operating as Acorn Coaching and Development Ltd (company number 03037180). The firm provides coaching, leadership development, executive coaching, team coaching, succession planning, and project team coaching to senior leaders, executive teams, joint ventures, and project teams across the nuclear, construction, infrastructure, and specialist engineering sectors.

The company's core product set comprises Coaching for Performance, Leadership Development, Team Coaching, Raising Project Performance, Collaboration services, the Next Generation / Rising Stars Programme, First Line and New Leaders training, and Outdoor Experiential programmes. Its underlying methodology is grounded in two proprietary frameworks: the Five Dimensions of Teams model (covering Primary Purpose and Leadership, Structure, Team Members, and Impact and Learning) and the Collaboration Questionnaire, a diagnostic instrument measuring nine collaborative behaviours and used to track ROI across multi-year programmes. Services are bespoke and human-delivered by a core team of named associates, with no software, API, or AI-driven product surface.

Acorn generates revenue through professional services and consultancy engagements structured as project-based or multi-year programmes (ranging from 6 months to 6 years) with large enterprise clients. Distribution is exclusively direct consultative sales targeting senior leadership, HR directors, and programme directors; demand generation relies on referrals and repeat engagements within the UK nuclear decommissioning ecosystem (NWS, Sellafield, Jacobs, NIS, Dounreay) and major construction clients (Kier, Morgan Sindall, BAM Nuttall, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska). Marketing is content-driven via website insights, case studies, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Name

Acorn Coaching & Development

Legal name

Acorn Coaching and Development Ltd

Website

https://acorncoaching.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Acorn Coaching & Development is a UK management development consultancy, founded 1998, providing team coaching, leadership development, and executive coaching to senior leaders and project teams in the nuclear, construction, infrastructure, and engineering sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Leadership Development & Executive Coaching (BPAHAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA), Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA), Talent Management & Leadership Advisory (Succession, Performance, Culture) (BPACAJAH), Strategic Leadership & Business Acumen (EDABAAAC), C-Suite & Senior Executive Coaching (EDABANAA)

Keywords

• Leadership development
• Team coaching
• Executive coaching
• Management consultancy
• Succession planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Kendal

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Services and Consultancy Engagements: Acorn generates revenue through bespoke consultancy engagements, coaching programmes, leadership development programmes, team coaching, and training interventions. Engagements are typically structured as project-based or programme-based consultancy contracts with organisations in nuclear, engineering, construction, and infrastructure sectors. Programmes range from short-term interventions to multi-year engagements lasting up to 6 years.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Acorn Coaching & Development is a UK management development consultancy that designs and delivers bespoke team coaching, leadership development, executive coaching, and performance coaching programmes for senior leaders, project teams, and organisations in the nuclear, construction, infrastructure, and engineering sectors. Its work is anchored by two proprietary frameworks — the Five Dimensions of Teams coaching model and the Collaboration Questionnaire diagnostic — and ranges from short interventions to multi-year engagements lasting up to six years.

Product overview

Acorn Coaching & Development is a management development consultancy (not a software company) offering coaching, training, and leadership development services. The core offering consists of Coaching for Performance, Leadership Development, Team Coaching, and Collaboration services, supported by the proprietary Collaboration Questionnaire diagnostic tool. Additional programmes include Next Gen/Rising Stars Programme for succession planning, First Line and New Leaders training, Raising Project Performance, and Outdoor Experiential programmes. The company's methodology is grounded in the '5 Dimensions of Teams' model covering Primary Purpose, Leadership, Structure, Team Members, and Impact. Services are delivered to individuals, teams, and organisations from graduate to board level across diverse industry sectors including nuclear, construction, engineering, and infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coaching for Performance

Quantifiable outcome

• PCM programme at LLWR completed four years ahead of schedule, saving the taxpayer over £20 million
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nuclear Waste Services (NWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcorn has worked extensively with Nuclear Waste Services (formerly LLWR - Low Level Waste Repository) on multiple programmes including the RACER (Repository Asset Care Enhancements and Remediation) programme appointed in 2021, and the PCM (Plutonium Contaminated Materials) programme. Acorn's role is to support collaboration between NWS and Jacobs (delivery partner), establishing team culture, common purpose, values, and collaborative behaviours across the programme.
• NIS Integrated Engineering (NIS Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcorn has an ongoing relationship with NIS Integrated Engineering and the NIS Group (which includes NSG Environmental), supporting executive team development, succession planning, and leadership coaching. NIS works extensively with the nuclear sector including Sellafield and NWS sites in west Cumbria. Acorn has also supported NIS's involvement in key nuclear decommissioning projects.
• Kier ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAcorn was appointed by Kier Construction to support the senior leadership team on the HMP Glasgow project (valued at over £680 million). The engagement focuses on creating and developing a unified senior leadership team responsible for establishing a collaborative culture that cascades throughout the project. Acorn has previously worked with Kier Operations Director Matt Collins on the RAF Wyton project when he was with Skanska UK.
• Cumbria Overseas Aid Trust (COAT)minorOthersAcorn has supported the work of Cumbria Overseas Aid Trust (COAT) since 2017, both with financial contributions and practical assistance including administrative support for the charity. COAT has been operating for over 30 years and supports projects in some of the world's poorest regions.
• Kinamba Community ProjectminorOthersAcorn has been supporting the Kinamba Community Project in Rwanda for four years. The Project, founded by Meg Fletcher, offers support to war widows, genocide orphans, and vulnerable people in the Kinamba community. Acorn contributes through financial support and personal engagement - Keith and Claire Longney, and Pippa Mitchell, travelled to Rwanda in October 2023 to visit the project. Acorn is also sponsoring the education of Josepha Nyinawumuntu.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lane4: UK-based performance and leadership consultancy providing team coaching, leadership development, and psychometric diagnostics to enterprise clients. Most direct comparable to Acorn in terms of size, geography, and team-coaching methodology.
• Talking Talent: Coaching and leadership development firm serving enterprise clients with executive and team coaching programmes. Comparable in methodology and target audience to Acorn's coaching-for-performance and team coaching offerings.
• Performance Consultants International: UK-headquartered coaching and leadership development firm offering one-to-one executive coaching and team performance programmes. Directly comparable boutique scale and target buyer (senior leaders and executive teams).
• Oxford Leadership Group: Provides executive coaching, leadership development, and team performance programmes to global enterprises. Closely aligned with Acorn in methodology and enterprise focus, with overlapping leadership and team coaching IP.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global leadership and talent consulting firm offering executive coaching, leadership development, and team effectiveness services. A large incumbent that competes for the same enterprise coaching and leadership budgets as Acorn but across a much wider portfolio.
• Right Management (ManpowerGroup): Global talent and career management consultancy within ManpowerGroup offering leadership development, executive coaching, and team effectiveness solutions. Overlaps with Acorn's enterprise leadership and coaching offerings at greater scale.
• DDI (Development Dimensions International): Global leadership development firm offering leadership training, executive coaching, and team performance solutions. Broader incumbent that overlaps with Acorn's leadership development and team coaching practice areas.
• Blanchard (The Ken Blanchard Companies): Global leadership training and coaching organisation offering leadership development programmes and executive coaching. Comparable product set at much greater scale, often competing for the same enterprise learning and development budgets.
• FranklinCovey: Global leadership and effectiveness training company offering leadership development, team programmes, and executive coaching content. A larger incumbent competing for the same enterprise leadership development budgets.

Regional players

• Roffey Park Institute: UK-based leadership development and organisational research institute offering leadership programmes, coaching, and team development. Comparable regional peer in leadership development space, though primarily known for open-enrolment programmes rather than bespoke enterprise team coaching.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acorn-coaching-development
• Instagraminstagram.com/acorncoaching
• Xx.com/acorncoaching

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Acorn Coaching & Development