Leaders First Collective | HW Leadership Consu

Welcome to The Leaders First Collective

Singularly, we bring our experience to provide leadership and business coaching and consultancy to CEOs and their teams in SME companies, Education organisations, Public sector services, and charities. As the Leaders First Collective, we offer so much more in terms of customised support for all companies, business leaders, and groups of staff.

Our Industry Experts

Heather Whitehead

Managing Director of HW Leadership Consultancy Ltd

Heather is a trained Psychologist, former prison governor, prison group director, and HMPPS Gold Commander. She has extensive experience leading at the most senior levels in the public and private sectors, in complex and commercial operations.

Duncan Simcox

Managing Director of DS Consultancy

Duncan previously worked in both Commercial and Operational industries as a Managing Director of a number of UK businesses and latterly as General Manager of the EMEA territory for a large corporate business.

Why Work With Us?

In working with us together we can change the dynamic and value of a group program. It’s not just “double the coaching”, but what we offer often creates a different kind of learning environment.

The advantages of working with Leaders First Collective are clear when you meet us but here is an insight:

Broader Expertise & Perspective

We come from diverse industry backgrounds, enabling us to bring a broad and well-informed perspective to our work. Our combined expertise spans strategy, mindset, sales, and operations, allowing us to address challenges with a balanced and multifaceted approach.

Drawing on this experience, we deliver practical business guidance and develop tailored strategies across key areas such as pricing, marketing, and systems. In addition, we place strong emphasis on the human element of business, providing support to build confidence, navigate uncertainty, and cultivate effective leadership.

Real-Time Collaboration & Challenge

· We always challenge each other’s viewpoints constructively and model healthy debate and decision-making

· We offer alternative solutions on the spot in a hands on and tailored way.

More Individual Attention whether small or large groups

In group settings, one coach can only focus on so much at once. With Leaders First Collective:

· One can lead while the other observes group dynamics

· Our breakout support becomes more effective and we facilitate discussions more effectively.

· Quieter participants are less likely to be overlooked

· We keep sessions more dynamic (less lecture, more interaction)

· We manage energy dips (one can step in if momentum drops) and quieter participants are less likely to be overlooked

· If one us is unavailable, needs to focus on a specific participant or specialise on a certain topic, the other can maintain the flow of the program.

In Summary

Working together we don’t just add capacity, we create interaction, diversity of thought, and a more dynamic learning environment. The biggest advantage is not quantity, but the quality of insight and engagement that emerges from our collaboration.

Participants get more well-rounded advice and avoid “one-size-fits-all” thinking, they feel more seen and supported. Most importantly anyone who works with us get to see how two experienced professionals from diverse backgrounds think through complexity and issues and not just provide a text book style final answer.

Coming Soon...

The Leaders First Collective Business Circle is a professionally facilitated peer development space for business owners and leaders.

It is designed to provide structured thinking time, professional challenge, and continuous development alongside a small group of trusted peers. This is not about networking or business development. It is about leadership, decision making, and staying sharp in the role of running a business.

The Business Circle creates a regular opportunity for business owners to step out of the day to day, reflect, learn, and work through real challenges in a confidential and supportive environment

What It Is

A confidential, professionally facilitated peer development group
A structured 90 minute monthly session using an action learning approach
A small, curated group of fewer than 10 business owners
A space to step out of the day to day and think clearly about business and leadership challenges
Continuous professional development in business management and leadership
A professionally held environment facilitated by experienced business leaders
Optional access to a private online portal or forum for peer connection and shared resources

What It Is Not

Not a networking group
Not a sales or business development forum
Not a coaching programme
Not a professional association
Not a training course with generic content

There are no pitches.

No selling.

No pressure.