Strategic Facilitation & Consultancy for Higher Education Teams

How I can help

Whatever's going on in your team I'm confident that we can figure it out together. 

I facilitate away days, workplace mediations and Action Learning for PS teams in UK Higher Education. Book a call and let's make a plan to support you and your team.

How I Work

Team Development & Strategy Sessions

Half-day or full-day sessions for teams who need dedicated time away from operational delivery to think strategically, improve collaboration, or navigate change.

What this looks like:

• Pre-session consultation to understand context and desired outcomes
• Facilitated session (2-4 hours or full day) with structured activities and open dialogue
• Space for teams to surface tensions, align on priorities, or plan collaboratively
• Post-session summary and follow-up support

Recent examples:

• 2 half-days with senior leaders from Admissions, Recruitment, and Marketing functions working on cross-functional collaboration during admissions cycles
• Half-day with operations team preparing to lead through major change project, focusing on proactive leadership and bringing junior colleagues along
• Away day for Faculty Professional Services team on professional development and change resilience during restructure

Participant feedback: "Really enjoyable for everyone and I learnt a lot from it. Loads to take forward and definitely feel like we got the planned outcomes out of the day. Lots to build on!"

Investment:

• Half-day session (2-3 hours): £1,500 + travel
• Full-day session: £3,000 + travel
• Multi-session programmes: from £4,500

Action Learning Programmes

I facilitate structured Action Learning for leadership teams and managers, helping them learn from each other's challenges and develop coaching mindsets.

What this looks like:

• Series of 6+ sessions over 6 months with consistent group
• Participants bring real challenges, receive peer coaching using Action Learning methodology
• I facilitate initially, then transition the methodology so the group can continue independently
• Builds reflective practice, coaching capability, and peer support

Recent examples:
1) Facilitated 6-month Action Learning programme for 12 regional engagement managers at an HE service provider. Participants developed coaching skills and the quality of their questions became "much more potent and thought-provoking." They now use the methodology in their ongoing team meetings.

2) For the last 5 years I've been facilitating on the South East Action Learning Programme (SEAL). It's a consortium programme that brings together women in PS and Academic leadership positions (G8+) from universities across London and the South East. Participants consistently reflect finding more confidence, finding their voice and rediscovering their sense of ambition.

Investment: From £5,000 for 6-month programme

Workplace Mediation

I facilitate workplace mediations in teams where a key relationship has broken down. I take a trauma-informed approach to support courageous conversations.

What this looks like:

• Combination of 1:1 pre-mediation preparation support and joint conversation
• Both parties are supported to plan how to approach the conversation in advance
• On the day of mediation there is a joint meeting to bring the two parties together for a facilitated conversation (preferably in person)
• If agreement is reached we discuss who it can be shared with and what the next steps and review processes are
• I meet both parties on campus the next day to support their return to work

Credentials: I trained with TCM Group and hold a National Certificate in Workplace Mediation.

I blend this training with my broader trauma-informed coaching approach and I've found that the issue has been resolved in the initial preparation/conflict coaching stages more often than I've had to go through the full mediation process. 

Investment: From £2,500 depending on scale and complexity

Listening & Insight Work

When teams need to understand what's really going on: especially during change, after difficult surveys, or when trust is low.

What this looks like:

• Combination of 1:1 interviews and facilitated group forums
• Safe, confidential spaces for people to speak honestly
• Written report with themes, insights, and recommendations for leadership
• I hold space sensitively, even when conversations are difficult

Recent example: Following challenging staff engagement survey results, facilitated 3 forum-style sessions (6 people each) plus 12 individual interviews. Delivered report to Senior Leadership Team with recommended ways forward.

Investment: From £2,500 depending on scale and complexity

Who I Work With

Professional Services teams in all types of HEIs (Russell Group and Post-92 universities), including:

• Senior leadership teams 
• Groups of 6-120 people (I adapt approach to group size)

The most common request: "Help us take time away from day-to-day pressures and make space to think differently."

Specific scenarios where I help:

• Cross-functional teams needing to improve how they work together
• Leadership teams navigating restructures or significant change
• Teams processing difficult feedback or low engagement scores
• Groups wanting to build change resilience and professional development culture
• Senior leaders preparing teams for complexity and ambiguity

What Teams Come to Me For

 What makes me different:

I know HE intimately - 13 years working in the sector plus five years coaching senior PS professionals means you don’t need to explain the context

I bring a person-centred, reflective, optimistic approach - Participants consistently describe feeling "inspired, thoughtful, optimistic" after sessions

I build longer relationships when it serves the work - Not just one-off interventions

I hold space sensitively, even in hard conversations - Whether it's difficult survey feedback or restructure anxiety

What Clients Say

"Fiona holds space very sensitively."
—  Participant, Leadership Development Session

"Thanks again for yesterday. It was really enjoyable for everyone and I learnt a lot from it. Loads to take forward and definitely feel like we got the planned outcomes out of the day. Lots to build on!"
—  Head of Professional Services Team

"The quality of questions participants asked each other became much more potent and thought-provoking through the Action Learning work."
—  Engagement Manager Programme Lead

How We'd Work Together

Step 1: Initial conversation (no charge)
We'll talk about what you need, what's happening in your team/service, and whether this is a good fit.

Step 2: Proposal
I'll send you a simple proposal outlining approach, outcomes, and investment based on our conversation.

Step 3: Pre-work
For longer engagements, I meet with key people to understand context and dynamics. For shorter sessions, a planning call with the team lead.

Step 4: Facilitation
I design and deliver sessions that balance structure with space, activity with reflection, and challenge with support.

Step 5: Follow-up
You receive summary of outputs, agreed actions, and any frameworks we used. For longer programmes, ongoing support is built in.

Investment Guide

Single Away Day or Strategy Session:

• Half-day (2-3 hours): £1,500
• Full day: £3,000

Workplace Mediation: £2,500 

Action Learning Programmes: £5,000-7,000 for 6-month programme (6+ sessions)

Listening & Insight Work: £2,500-4,000 depending on scale (interviews + forums + report)

Multi-session Team Development: £4,500-6,000 for 2-3 sessions over several months

Plus travel expenses where applicable

All prices include preparation, facilitation, and post-session resources/summaries.

My Capacity

I typically take on 1-2 facilitation projects per month alongside my coaching practice. This allows me to give full attention to each piece of work rather than rushing between engagements.

For 2026 I have capacity for:

• 2-3 sustained Action Learning or listening programmes
• Regular team development sessions with teams I already know
• Selected one-off away days or strategic sessions

If you're interested in working together, book early - especially for Action Learning programmes which require consistent monthly slots.

Next Steps

Email me at [email protected]. 

I'm happy to have an initial conversation to understand what you need and explore whether we're a good fit.

Your Guide

I’m Fiona Bicket, the creator of the Hidden Curriculum of HE Professional Services Progression and a specialist self-belief coach, facilitator and workplace mediator for Higher Education professionals.

I spent 13 years as a Professional Services manager in UK Higher Education, working across multiple institutions and functions. I understand the complexities and eccentricities of HE and the types of pressures your team will be experiencing.

Even before I became a coach I was usually the person in any team who was responsible to designing and delivering the departmental Away Day or facilitating workshops. Over the last 5 years I've facilitated professionally for all sorts of teams in all sorts of circumstances so if you're not sure what you need, email me and we can make a plan together.

I get the sector because I've been in the sector.