Experiential Learning and Development that cuts through the noise
The law. The theory. The Practice
What we do
We enable you to build positive working environments through more effective conversations.
With cultural norms in flux and expectations around workplace behaviour changing, it is increasingly harder to ‘do the right thing’ and to work productively, safely, and respectfully. We provide up-to-date information on employment law, facilitating interactive learning and development to help navigate difficult waters, such as bullying and harassment.
We create a psychologically safe and inclusive space for people to explore workplace practice and behaviour, including:
What our clients say about us
“Pennydrops deliver impactful training that makes a real difference in our workplace…”
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“Pennydrops deliver impactful training that makes a real difference in our workplace. Their dynamic delivery and expert facilitation bring important learning to life. The training is well received with consistent positive feedback, and we’ve seen a clear shift in behaviour, with managers feeling more confident and equipped to handle ER issues themselves. Their approach helps build a strong, consistent foundation for managers to address these issues appropriately.”
“Pennydrops offer training in a format that is refreshing and different…”
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from anything we’ve seen elsewhere. It’s not just technical training; it holds up a mirror to real behaviours and helps people practise difficult conversations in a respectful, engaging way. Working with the actors in real time is powerful. They are highly skilled and responsive, adapting to live HR scenarios and audience input. That interaction combined with Selwyn’s expert input and facilitation and the way ideas are pooled across the group, makes the training more impactful. Pennydrops genuinely cuts through the noise.”
“Pennydrops’ training is a genuinely unique offering…”
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They have delivered a combined online and in-person training programme of more than 30 training sessions for us. The sessions landed exceptionally well, even with a tough audience, and the actors brought the topic to life without making anyone feel uncomfortable or ‘on the spot’. Their preparation and attention to detail really set them apart. The time spent scoping and creating tailored scenarios showed a deep understanding of our organisation and gave us confidence from the outset. Selwyn’s legal background and training expertise, and the live interaction with the actors, made the programme feel robust, thoughtful, and excellent value for money.”
How we do it
Our work is tailored, not off the shelf. Scoping calls with clients enable us to respond to your specific issues.
We work in collaboration with leaders, managers and those who advise them to help them walk your talk.
We work both face-to-face and online to embed the learning, enabling participants to explore their own understanding and the benefits of new perspectives. Every session is different.
‘We hold a mirror up’ without putting people on the spot or exposing them. It's a coached approach; three-dimensional and participative. We show what good practice looks and sounds like.
‘We frame our content in relevant legal and contemporary thinking and use forum theatre to bring issues to life in real time. Participants direct and articulate what the characters say and are guided to the key learning points.
Why we do what we do
We enjoy unpacking and exploring awkward situations and providing empowering strategies to overcome them.
Poor practice results in conflict, dispute, inefficiency, distrust and even litigation. Lawyers and HR often deal with things after they have gone wrong, picking the ball from the back of the net, as opposed to helping score consistently well.
Managers and leaders may fear making mistakes and feel paralysed, doing nothing rather than what is needed, legally and in line with their organisational standards. We help them take appropriate action.
We aim to prevent mistakes arising, helping people understand and change culture. We enable clear, authentic workplace conversations. We offer a collaboration of legal and communication skills to support teams with their day-to-day interactions, enabling people to know what to do and say in often challenging scenarios.
Where mistakes have already arisen, we work with clients to prevent them happening again. This preventative approach is congruent with our shared values, promoting fair and equitable treatment, relationship building, nurturing and mentoring, and helping people develop a productive, respectful workplace environment.
Paying for the penny dropping now can save many pounds in fees later.
Who we are
Vanessa Earl
Vanessa holds a BA (Hons) in Drama and English and trained at the internationally renowned Jacques Lecoq Theatre School in Paris, specialising in improvisation and movement-based performance. She has worked professionally as an actor for over twenty years with leading organisations including the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, the BBC, and ITV.
Alongside her performance career, Vanessa is a coach and an actor-facilitator, designing and delivering experiential learning that supports meaningful personal and professional change. Her additional training includes a Foundation in Counselling and Psychotherapy, a Diploma in Co-Active Coaching with Neuroscience (gaining a distinction), and advanced practice in Forum Theatre training with originator Augusto Boal and Adrian Jackson.
She works with individuals and groups across corporate, public and arts sectors — including Finance, Law, Health, Academia, and Business — and has contributed to development and assessment centres internationally. Her approach combines psychological insight, embodied practice, and reflective dialogue to create engaging, challenging, and supportive learning environments.
Colleagues describe her as values-driven, perceptive, and deeply engaging. She builds strong, trusting relationships that enable people to take meaningful risks in service of their growth and development.
Selwyn Blyth
Selwyn studied languages at Cambridge University before switching to Law. For years as an employment lawyer and Partner at Pinsent Masons, he often dealt with situations after they had gone wrong. By this time, the relationship between a manager and employee is likely to be strained. With this in mind, since 2004 he has developed a training and consultancy practice with the aim of helping managers avoid the mistakes which can result in disputes.
Selwyn now no longer practises as a solicitor so that he can focus exclusively on training and facilitation. There is still an employment law basis to most of what he does but he focuses on what the law requires in practice. The practical suggestions he makes are drawn from years of talking with clients about their approach to relevant issues – and personal experience managing a team himself.
Selwyn finds it very motivating to help clients proactively with their employment issues and believes there is real value to be added in this way. When facilitating, he promotes discussion with a purpose; there is always a practical point to make. His aim is to raise awareness and build confidence to enable people to make better decisions.
Clients feedback that Selwyn…really knows his stuff and has an engaging, amusing style that he can tailor to any audience.
Mike Rogers
Mike began a career as an actor and director in the 1980s and has performed in theatre, film and TV worldwide, as well as radio and voice work. He has taught and directed in several of the top UK drama schools and works as a communication skills consultant across a wide range of sectors.
Mike has been using applied theatre in business for over 25 years, typically helping people develop the skills and confidence required to conduct themselves as effectively as possible in important conversations or meetings. His style is warm, considerate and informal.
He has particular expertise in audience engagement and leadership development, with global experience in facilitation, presentation skills, feedback, bespoke role-play, voice and body language, personal impact, forum theatre, coaching, business simulations, negotiation, conflict resolution, storytelling, and transactional analysis.
He has a first-class BA in English and Theatre Studies, an MA in Shakespeare Studies, is a qualified NLP practitioner and has a Diploma in Body Language from the NLP Centre of Excellence.
