Sandown Business School 2025

Sandown Business School LogoSandown Business School Richella

Richella Boggan, co-founder of Sandown Business School, is the winner of the LEO Dublin City Women in Business Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2024. After their win of the Rising Star Award in 2023, we spoke with Sandown Business School about their business journey, challenges and triumphs and their hopes for the future. You can read the 2023 case study here; Sandown Business School - Local Enterprise Office - DublinCity

Winner of the Women in Business Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2024, Richella Boggan of Sandown Business School has been at the forefront of advancing professional coach training since 2022. Co-founded by Richella and Pheona Croom Johnson, the school previously won the Rising Star Award 2023, highlighting its commitment to excellence in coach training, leadership development. Through a strategic blend of personalised training and global best practices, Sandown Business School has positioned itself as a leader in professional coaching education globally.

Strategic Growth Through Integrated Coaching Solutions

In 2024, Sandown Business School achieved significant growth through the integration of its offerings, ensuring that every diploma and programme aligns with the core mission: to develop world-class Professional Coaches and Leaders as Coaches capable of driving meaningful transformation at the individual, team and organisational levels. Key initiatives contributing to this growth include:

Open Programmes – Developing Professional Coaches

Sandown Business School offers a comprehensive professional coaching pathway that meets the needs of individuals ready to enhance their personal and professional development.

“The school’s Open Programmes provide accredited, research-backed training in modern coaching practices. Participants graduate with a deep understanding of coaching frameworks, practical application of competencies and a commitment to reflective practice. The integration of science, psychology and the school’s unique philosophy – “healthy coaches coach healthily” – ensures participants are fully equipped for success in their coaching careers.”

Team Coaching – Strengthening Coaching Practice in Teams

In response to the growing demand for team coaching, Sandown Business School successfully piloted and is now on track to accredit its Team Coaching Diploma with ICF and EMCC.

“This programme addresses the unique challenges of coaching teams, including communication, collaboration and fostering shared purpose. It emphasises the collective power of teams and builds resilience, equipping coaches to facilitate meaningful transformations in organisational teams.”

Business-to-Business Offer: Leader as a Coach – Coaching as a Strategic Capability

Recognising the importance of coaching within organisations, Sandown Business School introduced the Leader as a Coach programme. Soon to be accredited by EMCC at Level 5, this program empowers leaders to integrate coaching principles into their leadership practices. The curriculum covers coaching foundations, leadership coaching, and the integration of coaching into organizational cultures. It bridges the gap in leadership development by equipping leaders with the tools necessary to manage human complexities in today’s challenging, complex and changing environments.

Unified Impact – Excellence Through Integration

A hallmark of Sandown Business School’s 2024 strategy was the integration of its diverse offerings.

“Rather than existing as isolated programmes, the diploma and professional courses now form a cohesive pathway. This integration allows participants to fully understand how coaching can support personal and professional growth, leading to transformative results for themselves and others.”

Challenges and Resilience in 2024

While 2024 marked a period of significant growth for Sandown Business School, it also presented several challenges:

Market Differentiation

The competitive coaching landscape requires continuous innovation to stand out. Sandown Business School recognises that addressing the root causes of challenges, rather than just the symptoms, is essential for true transformation.

“The school’s unique offering focuses on integrating knowing, doing, and being, which sets it apart from traditional training programmes that fail to address the complexities of human responses to change. The ongoing challenge is ensuring the brand’s voice is heard above the noise of quick-fix solutions.”

Scalability

As new programmes such as Team Coaching and Leader as a Coach were introduced, scaling these offerings while maintaining high-quality delivery became a critical focus. Sandown Business School aims to build a strong evidence base that demonstrates the ROI of its programmes, helping clients recognise the tangible value these offerings bring to their organisations.

Resource Allocation

“Balancing personalised learning experiences with broader business expansion required strategic agility. The school prioritised customising each learning experience to meet individual participant needs, ensuring no “one-size-fits-all” approach. The creation of a trusted network of training coaches who adhere to the school’s SAS approach was crucial in maintaining high-quality service delivery.”

Building Repeatable Systems for Sales

Sandown Business School recognised the need for a more effective sales strategy.

“Outsourcing communication that aligns with the brand was not a viable solution, so the school invested in learning and mastering powerful AI tools to streamline marketing and sales processes. This shift allowed us to maintain control over our messaging while maximising the efficiency of our sales pipeline.”

LEO Supports

In 2023, Sandown Business School was successful in their application for the Business Expansion Grant. They are also a member of the LEO Dublin City Women in Business Network and have attended some of LEO DC’s training webinars such as “Navigating Recruitment & Retention for Employers”. In 2024, they also took part in the Green for Business Programme.

"Take advantage of all the supports available through your Local LEO, the learning journey in even applying for the grants is worth its weight in gold and everyone is on your side to succeed."

Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

As Sandown Business School looks to the future, several key initiatives will shape its growth:

  • Expanding Global Reach: The school aims to expand its presence globally, offering professional coaching training to a broader audience while maintaining its commitment to high-quality delivery.
  • Enhancing Digital Learning Platforms: Sandown Business School will continue to invest in digital platforms, ensuring that hybrid and remote learning options are available to meet the needs of diverse learners.
  • Deepening Industry Partnerships: The school will build on existing relationships with industry leaders to co-create coaching-centred organisational strategies, enhancing the impact of its programs on global businesses.
  • Maintaining Brand Integrity: Sandown Business School remains committed to upholding its values, prioritising quality over quick fixes and avoiding shortcuts in the pursuit of commercial success.
  • Developing a Repeatable Marketing Strategy: The school will refine its marketing strategy, focusing on repeatable systems that enable its sales approach to effectively promote Sandown Business School’s offerings to a wider audience.

 Sandown Business School’s remarkable journey in 2024 reflects its dedication to excellence in coaching education. Through strategic integration of its diverse offerings, commitment to high-quality delivery and resilience in the face of challenges, the school has positioned itself as a leader in professional coach training. With an eye toward the future, Sandown Business School will continue to advance the field of coaching, shaping the next generation of coaches and leaders capable of driving meaningful change in organisations worldwide.

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