Forward Focus Training was founded by Amanda O’Connell, who brings together years of experience in mental health, employability, and front-line support. Most recently, Amanda worked as an IPS Employment Specialist within a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT), helping people with significant mental health challenges to find and sustain meaningful work.
Through that work, she saw just how powerful a supportive and inclusive workplace can be — not just for getting into work, but for staying in it and feeling confident, valued, and safe. She also saw how damaging it can be when those environments fall short.
Amanda’s career has always centred around supporting people. She’s worked in homelessness services, addiction recovery, and welfare support, always taking a person-centred, trauma-informed approach. She also previously ran a mental health and suicide prevention training business, and has experience in team leadership and service coordination.
In 2024, Amanda became a Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and completed a PDA in Supported Employment, adding to her practical experience with formal, evidence-based knowledge. These recent qualifications, combined with her work in IPS, reinforced something she’d always known: there’s a real need for training that doesn’t just raise awareness, but actually leads to better experiences at work.
That’s why Forward Focus Training was created — to help bridge that gap with training that’s real, relevant, and focused on creating change.
At Forward Focus Training, we deliver practical, meaningful learning that helps organisations create workplaces where people feel safe, supported, and able to thrive.
We’re a small team with a big impact — taking the time to understand each organisation we work with and tailoring our training to fit. Whether we’re delivering in-house sessions across Scotland or offering flexible eLearning, our goal is the same: to help build inclusive, values-led workplaces that work better for everyone.
Our training is grounded in real experience, evidence-based principles, and a deep belief in the power of safe, supportive cultures. Because when people feel good at work, everything works better — and we’re here to help make that happen.
Built on empathy, engagement, and evidence—so people don’t just learn, they change.
We work closely with you to deliver practical solutions that actually stick.
We help you build a healthier, happier workplace—and a stronger business.
To lead the way in creating healthier, more inclusive workplace cultures across Scotland.
We provide expert-led training that reduces absence, boosts retention, and drives culture change.
Training should lead to real, measurable improvement—for people, for teams, and for businesses.
If you’re looking for training that’s flexible, practical, and truly people-focused, we’d love to hear from you. At Forward Focus Training, we’re passionate about helping organisations build inclusive, supportive, and positive working environments — where people feel valued and able to thrive.
Let’s start a conversation about what you need — and how we can support you.