Nikki Cinderey
L&D Business Partner
Kirkliston,Edinburgh
Summary
Values-led Learning & Development Business Partner with over 25 years' experience partnering with leaders to strengthen organisational capability through strategic learning, leadership development, coaching and organisational development.
Translates organisational priorities into practical, people-centred solutions that build confident leaders, develop capability and create lasting organisational impact.
A natural connector who builds trusted relationships quickly, understands operational challenges and designs inclusive learning that's practical, relevant, engaging and embedded into everyday practice.
Experienced in leading complex learning projects, developing leadership, coaching, mentoring and graduate development pathways across sectors including: Professional and financial services, civil engineering, NHS, local government, life sciences and charity sectors.
Brings a collaborative, hands-on approach, combining strategic thinking with practical delivery and a proven track record of delivering high-quality results.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
14
14
Qualifications/accreditations
Work history
People Development Advisor (maternity leave contract)
Story Contracting (Scotland)
Blantyre, South Lanarkshire
2026.01 - 2026.10
- A trusted partner to the Head of People, People Partners and operational leaders to understand strategic priorities, identify capability needs and translate them into practical learning and development solutions that support organisational change, improve performance and deliver lasting impact.
- Conducting learning and training needs analysis (LNA/TNA), designing and implementing engaging leadership development pathways and practical learning solutions aligned to the firm's direction of travel and operational needs, including a proposed new 'Inclusion and Wellbeing' programme and structured development and support pathway for newly promoted colleagues.
- Responsible Early Careers, supporting all 34 current Graduate Apprentices (GA) throughout their four-year programme, leading recruitment for the 2026 GA and Summer School intakes, and coordinating GA development placements and events that develop their professional skills, leadership capability, EI and resilience.
- A trusted adviser and 'go-to' colleague for leadership development, coaching, mentoring, GA guidance and team development. Build trusted relationships and support leaders to develop confident, capable and high-performing teams.
- Uses stakeholder insight, operational knowledge and Power BI data to identify priorities, shape recommendations, evaluate impact and support evidence-based decision making, continuous improvement and future workforce planning.
- Subject Matter Expert (SME) and Project Lead for Story's firm-wide Mentoring and Coaching programme, leading LNA/TNA, designing, implementing and embedding mentoring and coaching frameworks, governance, practical resources and toolkits, and facilitating phase one training for coaches and mentors across all business functions.
- Designed and facilitated Line Manager development, Insights Discovery workshops and team development, enhancing existing offerings, to strengthen leadership capability, collaboration, communication, emotional intelligence and team effectiveness.
- Work alongside operational teams to understand the realities of frontline roles, ensuring learning is practical, relevant, accessible and relatable to day-to-day work on site.
- Champions a culture of continuous learning using learning evaluation, stakeholder feedback and Power BI reporting to measure effectiveness, drive continuous improvement and embed learning into everyday practice.
Learning & Development (L&D) Business Partner & Coach
Hymans Robertson LLP
Edinburgh/Glasgow
2023.10 - 2025.12
- Partnered with senior leaders across multiple UK business units to understand strategic priorities, identify capability needs and translate these into practical learning solutions that supported the achievement of business goals and improved colleague performance.
- Led learning and training needs analysis (LNA/TNA), designing, delivering and evaluating leadership, management and professional development programmes that built capability and strengthened organisational effectiveness.
- Designed, launched and embedded an 18-month Graduate development programme for an initial cohort of 35 graduates, creating structured development pathways that built professional skills, accountability, commercial awareness and future leadership capability.
- Managed the end-to-end delivery of the firm's 12-month 'Future Leaders' programme for recognised 'top talent', coordinating suppliers, communications, facilitation and evaluation to deliver an outstanding learner experience and measurable impact.
- Delivered over 60 hours of individual and group coaching to managers and colleagues at all levels, strengthening leadership capability, confidence, performance and career development.
- Partnered with senior leaders to design and embed the firm's Exceptional Client Service (ECS) programme, making customer-focused behaviours habitual, and reinforcing the values-led culture through practical, engaging learning experiences.
- Designed and facilitated a broad portfolio of blended learning in transferable skills such as coaching, curiosity, emotional intelligence, resilience, strategic & critical thinking, problem solving, growth mindset, career development, meeting effectiveness and mental health awareness, while promoting digital learning through the firm's Learning Management System (LMS).
- Built trusted relationships across the business, influencing priorities, shaping practical learning plans and championing a culture of continuous learning, coaching and knowledge sharing.
- Designed and facilitated interactive team development workshops for groups of 5–100 colleagues, strengthening collaboration, communication, psychological safety and team effectiveness.
- Developed Hymans Business Book Club into a thriving learning community, increasing membership by over 30%, securing bestselling authors to participate in live events and creating opportunities for peer learning and knowledge sharing.
- Actively contributed to an inclusive learning culture through the firm's Neurodiversity Network, as both a member and advocate, while bringing external ideas, research and best practice back to enhance learning, inclusion and organisational capability.
- Managed multiple concurrent projects, balancing strategic priorities with operational delivery and collaborating across business functions to ensure initiatives were successfully implemented, embedded and continuously improved.
Lead Facilitator, ICF ACC Coach & Client Manager
Robertson Training
Bannockburn, Stirling
2017.11 - 2023.10
- Partnered with Boards, senior leaders and clients across the life sciences, hospitality, retail, charity, local authority and NHS sectors to understand strategic priorities, conduct learning needs analysis (LNA/TNA), designing solutions that strengthened capability, performance and culture.
- Worked alongside Robertson Training's Directors, contributing to strategy, business development, client growth and the design of innovative learning solutions.
- Proudly represented Robertson Training as a professional ambassador at conferences, networking events and client forums, building trusted relationships, identifying new opportunities and securing significant new business, repeat consultancy projects and long-term client partnerships.
- Secured and developed long-term strategic client partnerships, including a four-year leadership development partnership with NHS Lanarkshire, beginning with consultancy and TNA, before designing and leading a 12-month Leadership Development programme for North Lanarkshire Pharmacists. Delivered four annual cohorts, with approximately 70% securing promotions soon after completing.
- Designed, delivered and evaluated training across multiple sectors, specialising in leadership, coaching, resilience, communication, emotional intelligence, change management and performance conversations, using psychometric tools including Insights Discovery, DiSC, Agile EQ and Lencioni Five Behaviours.
- Lead Executive Coach for one of our largest global clients, coaching the Senior Leadership Team and providing development to their internal coaching pool which we'd accredited, embedding a sustainable coaching culture and developing internal coaching capability.
- Coached and consulted with senior leaders using evidence-based coaching approaches, psychometrics and facilitation techniques to support leadership development, change, team effectiveness and individual performance.
- Developed and shared thought leadership through articles, learning resources, client communications and professional networks, promoting continuous learning, strengthening professional credibility and enhancing client engagement.
Director & Senior Facilitator
Monarch Training & Coaching Ltd
Kirkliston, Edinburgh
2014.03 - 2018.11
- Founded and successfully led my own L&D consultancy, partnering with organisations to design and deliver leadership, coaching, and team development solutions across a range of sectors.
- Built long-term client relationships through consultation, TNA, coaching and practical development solutions tailored to directly align with strategic priorities.
- A catalogue of successful work projects is available on request.
L&D Consultant
Lloyds Banking Group
Edinburgh
2005.09 - 2014.03
Training & Development Manager
Rubicon Outbound Call Centre
Tannochside, Glasgow
2003.09 - 2005.09
Customer Service Representative & L&D Consultant
Standard Life Assurance Company
Edinburgh
1997.09 - 2003.09
Customer Service Representative
Clydesdale Bank Plc
Edinburgh City Centre
1995.06 - 1997.09
Saturday Sales Assistant
Boots the Chemist plc
Edinburgh
1994.01 - 1995.06
Skills
- Strategic L&D Business Partnering
- Leadership development
- Organisational development (OD)
- Change management
- Leadership, executive & performance coaching
- Learning & training needs analysis (LNA/TNA)
- Designing and implementing development pathways & career frameworks
- Stakeholder engagement
- Influencing
- Consultancy
- Public speaking & presentation skills
- Networking & relationship building
- Cross-functional collaboration & partnership working
- Learning design, facilitation & evaluation
- Project management
- Data-informed problem solving & decision making
- Team development
- Creating inclusive, psychologically safe workspaces
- Blended and digital Learning & learning technologies
- Microsoft office suite
- AI tools & copilot
- EI & compassion
Certification
- ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
- Barefoot Business & Personal Coaching Programme
- COSCA Certificate in CounsellingSkills
- Transactional Analysis (TA101)
- Transactional Analysis (TA) Diploma Foundation Certificate
- NLP Practitioner
- TAP Diploma in Learning & Facilitation Skills (Level 5)
- CIPD Certificate in Training Practice (CITP)
- NVQ Training & Development
- Insights Discovery Practitioner
- TalogyEIP3 Practitioner
- Everything DiSCPractitioner
- Agile EQ Practitioner
- LencioniFive BehavioursPractitioner
- Associate Member, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
- Active participant in leadership, coaching and learning communities
Personal
- Samaritan Listener, Mentor & Duty Leader
- Lifelong learning (personal and professional)
- Volunteering (Crisis, Lodging House Mission (Lhm360)
- Beach dog walks, fitness and running
- Founder of a local support group for parents and carers of Neurodivergent young people
- Full & Clean UK Driving License
Affiliations
- The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
- International Coaching Federation (ICF)
Timeline
People Development Advisor (maternity leave contract)
Story Contracting (Scotland)
2026.01 - 2026.10
Learning & Development (L&D) Business Partner & Coach
Hymans Robertson LLP
2023.10 - 2025.12
Lead Facilitator, ICF ACC Coach & Client Manager
Robertson Training
2017.11 - 2023.10
Director & Senior Facilitator
Monarch Training & Coaching Ltd
2014.03 - 2018.11
L&D Consultant
Lloyds Banking Group
2005.09 - 2014.03
Training & Development Manager
Rubicon Outbound Call Centre
2003.09 - 2005.09
Customer Service Representative & L&D Consultant
Standard Life Assurance Company
1997.09 - 2003.09
Customer Service Representative
Clydesdale Bank Plc
1995.06 - 1997.09
Saturday Sales Assistant
Boots the Chemist plc
1994.01 - 1995.06