Building confident, engaging presenters in a post-Covid world
Equiping the team with practical presentation skills, renewed confidence and a stronger sense of connection
Client: STEP Scotland
Industry: Commercial services & business support
Key result: a more confident, capable team of presenters who communicate with clarity and conviction, strengthening both individual performance and collective impact
The Challenge: overcoming anxiety and stage fright
STEP Scotland delivers presentations, workshops and conferences to hundreds of small businesses each year as part of the Business Gateway contract. As in-person presenting increased after Covid, several team members felt anxious and underconfident about presenting live, despite being highly knowledgeable and experienced in their roles.
Presenting was becoming something to avoid rather than embrace, limiting both individual confidence and team effectiveness.
“Thank you very much for delivering a really engaging and memorable course. I look forward to putting what I’ve learnt into practice.”
The Solution: equipping the team with the right tools
Mel Sherwood designed and delivered a two-part presentation skills programme for seven team members. The first session focused on practical theory: structuring presentations, engaging audiences and creating clear, visual content. The second session allowed participants to put learning into practice in a safe, supportive environment, with constructive feedback throughout.
Mel’s warm, encouraging style ensured the sessions were motivating rather than intimidating, helping participants feel comfortable stepping outside their comfort zones.
“Mel’s always very cheery, bringing a positive aura which rubs off on the team.
I would recommend her training to anybody.”
The Results: boost in self-confidence with team-building
The training led to a clear and lasting boost in confidence, with team members now presenting more comfortably and effectively at meetings, conferences and business events. Participants reported improved presentation structure, clearer messaging and stronger audience engagement.
Unexpectedly, the programme also became a powerful team-building experience, strengthening trust and support across the group. Feedback described the training as engaging, memorable and immediately applicable, with many participants keen to continue developing their skills.
“I picked up a lot of good hints and tips in the first session and it was really useful to put them to practice in the second session”
Conclusion: enhanced presentation quality and reinforced culture of mutual support and encouragement
STEP Scotland now has a more confident, capable team of presenters who communicate with clarity and conviction. By investing in presentation skills, the organisation strengthened both individual performance and collective impact, ensuring their expertise is delivered with confidence wherever their work takes them.
“Excellent training session, I think that that tone and engagement level was spot on”
“Thank you - I enjoyed this course. Hope this is not the last great piece of feedback in your inbox! ;)”
Want to empower your team to speak with more confidence & impact?
Contact Mel Sherwood today to explore a tailored programme for your organisation!