The YA Team

Sean LeGault

Claret Group CEO

Sean is the CEO of the Claret Group, a group of companies with a portfolio of training companies in the…

York Associates is owned and run by Claret Holdings Ltd together with Bob Dignen and Richard Hawker, who hold Executive Directorship roles. YA is supported by its excellent team of teachers, trainers and staff, all of whom help us to deliver high quality English language, professional communication, intercultural and leadership training.

York Associates has been offering training in the language and communication field for over thirty years. It is well known in the international communication field through its publishing of books, multimedia materials, articles and conference presentations.

In 2014 York Associates became a member of the Claret Group, which has training centres in the UK and on Malta. And in 2016 our General English school English in York joined the Group and is located in the upper floors of our training centre Peasholme House.

Bob Dignen

Director

Bob has worked in the field of business and specialist English and international communication training for over twenty-five years.

Richard Hawker

Director

Richard is an international trainer with over 30 years' experience. He has worked extensively in Europe and the Middle East. He is comfortable working in English and Spanish.

Dale Coulter

Associate Director

Dale specialises in communication skills training, leadership and team development and Business English. His experience spreads over 10 years in Italy, Germany and Switzerland.

Our Trainers

Nicky Pirożek

Senior Trainer

Nicky Pirożek is senior trainer at York Associates with more than twenty-five years’ experience. She has worked extensively in Europe and further afield, including South America and the Middle East. She delivers a wide range of training, covering language development and business skills to stress management and emotional intelligence. She is…

Jeremy Comfort

Former Director

International communication skills and international team and leadership trainer, executive coach, author, conference presenter, 25 years + international experience (eg. Germany, Switzerland).

Gareth Jones

Associate Trainer

General and specialist English and business communication trainer, 5 years + international experience (eg Italy, Libya).

Tony Gallagher

Associate Trainer

Business and specialist English language and international communication skills trainer, 25 years + international experience (eg. Italy, Germany).

David Wilson

David Wilson is a training consultant, trainer and coach in the field of professional language and communication skills. He also works as a freelance translator and writer. He has worked in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, UAE and the UK Qualifications: M.A. (Oxford), M.A. (Reading), MCIL, PGCE, Dip. London School…

Nick Brieger

Former Director

International communication skills and international team and leadership trainer, author, conference presenter, 25 years + international experience (eg. Poland, Russia, Germany, Ethiopia), German, Polish speaker.

Peter Read

Associate Trainer

General and specialist English and business communication trainer, 25 years + international experience (eg Hong Kong, Singapore, South America).

Chia Suan Chong

Associate Trainer

General and specialist English, Business English and international communication skills trainer, writer, teacher trainer, 16+ years international experience (UK, Germany, Singapore), speaks English as her first, Chinese and Japanese as her second, and Italian as her third language.

Linda Cockburn

Associate Trainer

English language, international communication skills and intercultural trainer, with more than 25 years international experience.

Nicola Mackley

Nicola Mackley is a trainer and facilitator in the field of leadership, professional language and communication skills. She has worked in Italy, France Switzerland and the UK. She specialises in Training in Leadership skills Business Communication and Influencing Marketing, Insight and Strategic Planning

Rick Geake

Rick Geake is a teacher trainer in the field of education technology and English teacher. He has worked in Spain, Taiwan and the UK. He has a CELTA and a degree in Film and Media Studies He specialises in: teacher training education technology

Steve Flinders

Former Director

International communication skills and international team and leadership trainer, executive coach, author, conference presenter, 25 years + international experience (eg. France, Pakistan), French speaker.

Rob Grout

Associate Trainer

General and specialist English and business communication trainer, 5 years + international experience (eg Germany), German speaker.

Martin Bloomfield

Associate Trainer

General and specialist English and international communication skills trainer, teacher trainer, 20 years + international experience (eg. Germany, Switzerland, Peru), German speaker.

Christine Stone

Associate Trainer

Business and specialist English and international communication trainer, teacher trainer, coach, 25 years + international experience (eg. France, Japan), French speaker.

Sandy Millin

Sandy Millin is teacher, teacher trainer, education technology trainer and Director of Studies. She has written Richer Speaking (published by the round) and the ELT Playbook series (self-published), as well as doing freelance writing work for various publishers. She blogs at http://sandymillin.wordpress.com and tweets @sandymillin. She has worked in Europe, North and South…

William Roche

William Roche is a consultant trainer in Erasmus projects, lecturer in International Business Projects in IGS Paris and social psychologist working in refugee areas. He has worked in the Far and Middle East with the British Council as well as most of Europe and the US on international education projects.…