Pair aim for peace in the workplace

Jo Berry (left) and Natasha Goggin: aiming to ease tension and conflict

Natasha and Jo resolve to end conflict
AN introduction from a mutual friend over a coffee at Manchester’s Buddhist Earth café has led to a new business.

Natasha Goggin and Jo Berry had been working separately in conflict resolution over the last two decades and it seemed an obvious next step to work together — hence the creation of Transform They aim to replace conflict with peace in the workplace.

Natasha, from Uppermill, and Jo, from Macclesfield, offer a range of people management skill workshops intended to prevent conflict situations arising, plus a bespoke direct intervention and telephone support service to business and organisations where conflict is already an issue.

Natasha said: “We are drawing on our experience of working in the private sector with manufacturers and professional service companies, plus working in the NHS and housing associations.

“Issues such as working practises, client disputes and tenancy arguments can be incredibly time consuming and expensive to resolve if not dealt with in a timely and appropriate way.

“Once a dispute develops into conflict it often escalates into expensive litigation or tribunal cases. The costs can be horrendous — a typical cost for a compromise agreement is on average over £10,000.

“Our aim is to ensure that conflict is resolved long before it becomes entrenched and bitter.”

Jo’s background in conflict resolution is extraordinary. She was 27 when her father, Tory MP Sir Anthony Berry, was killed by the IRA bomb in the Grand Hotel, Brighton, during the 1984 Conservative Party conference.

Rather than be consumed by hatred and anger, she became determined to draw positive emotions from this act of terrorism. She met and worked with Patrick Magee, who was convicted and imprisoned for 14 years for planting the IRA bombs.

Together they have taken part in more than 80 reconciliation public events and Jo has worked with peace movements around the world.

Natasha is a career professional with more than 15 years experience in corporate training, mediation, management and mentoring, working with well-known companies such as Unipart and Bass. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Visit www.transformconflict.co.uk for details of programme of monthly two-hour skills workshop sessions in a Manchester City Centre venue.

And, of course — it had to be asked — after the many years Jo and Natasha have spent working on their own, do they ever argue?

The answer, unsurprisingly, was of course not.