Who and what is Mongrel Training & Consulting?

My name is Chris and I began my managerial career 30 years ago in book retail, working my way up to senior level in a company that truly invested in its people, and recognised the importance of soft skills in business. For the last 16 years, I have been working in senior operational and project roles for various organisations within the veterinary sector. I also have experience in the financial, hospitality, not for profit, and (human) healthcare sectors.

Throughout my career, it's been the people and performance aspects of business that have intrigued me. I have a Psychology degree, took a deep dive into employee engagement for my MBA dissertation, and gained a Level 7 Diploma in Human Resources from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and have been fortunate enough to be able to apply all this to everyday business challenges and make a tangible difference for organisations and the people working within them.

I provide soft skills training, coaching/mentoring, and leadership development programmes for new managers through to senior managers and business owners across a range of different businesses and industries, using fresh-evidence-based knowledge and providing practical ideas and tools designed to improve workplace performance.

I also provide consulting services, facilitation, and project management for organisations in areas such as strategic HR, business strategy, and tackling operational challenges, where I take a rounded, practical, action-oriented approach to create solutions that meet each client's unique circumstances.

I am not a dog trainer :)

Why choose Mongrel?

I will provide services that are excellent value for money with affordable fees to meet your budget

I will get to know you and your organisation to ensure I can deliver my services appropriately

I will provide services that are based on fresh, up-to-date, evidence-based thinking

I will provide practical solutions that are bespoke to your particular needs

I am easy to work with, thoughtful, fun, ethical, and professional

I have 25 years senior operational management experience, including 16 years of working with professional staff

Much of what I do is highly transferable across sectors and all types of employee

I will never undertake work I am not qualified or competent to perform to a high standard

I chose the name 'Mongrel' for the services I provide because what I do involves navigating the complex mix and intricate dynamics that constitute both people and business.

We're all mongrels and, actually, we're all the better for it!

Nothing is pure and simple - that would be dull - but that doesn't mean we can't work through it.

a white fish with black text on it lying on grass

Chris White MBA, BSc (Hons), Assoc CIPD

Examples of work carried out

Led a project across 40 sites - devising and implementing a new front of house operating model for veterinary practice which integrated technology, design, and new ways of working to improve the working lives of clinicians and create a 21st Century client experience

Designed and delivered a leadership & management development programme for a national organisation with 130 sites across the UK

Developed and deployed a performance review system in line with roles and organisational values to drive performance and change for a UK-wide organisation

Designed and implemented a turnaround strategy for an underperforming business, incorporating a restructure and cultural change

Assessed the organisational structure of a multi-site business in Ireland, pinpointed critical issues affecting growth, efficiency, and engagement, and delivered practical recommendations to implement the changes

Developed a framework for incorporating strategy into individual site budget planning for a a large multi-site business

Provided mentoring training and ongoing mentoring development sessions for the leadership of an SME on behalf of XSectorMentor

Designed clinic bonus schemes for a national provider of veterinary services to include team-based elements and behavioural goals

Conducted a comprehensive review of a group of veterinary practices, reward practices, and support structures, with key recommendations to improve employee engagement, retention, and financial performance to be implemented over 2 years

Led cultural change in a Hospital, bringing a divided team together and integrating it more effectively into the wider group

Please see the Services page to find out more about how I may be able to help

My Services

Testimonials

Hear what clients say about Mongrel's impactful training and consulting

Chris demonstrated a deep understanding of the unique challenges and intricacies of the veterinary industry. His expertise in business management and strong background in the veterinary field allowed him to pinpoint critical issues affecting our business and overall efficiency. His suggestions were practical, thoughtful, and tailored to our specific needs, making it easier for our team to implement necessary changes.

Charles Cosgrave

CEO, Village Vets Ireland

Chris is an experienced professional who connects with people easily. His delivery style makes learning accessible and enjoyable. I am pleased that he is an Associate of XSectorMentor delivering some of our mentor training in the UK.

Andrew Penker

Founder, XSectorMentor; HR Consultant

★★★★★

I was impressed by the broad perspective Chris offered in realising a huge opportunity in reshaping organisational design. His thinking included skills development, reward strategy and culture - but all grounded in practical and operational reality.

We worked on several turnaround projects together, and I found Chris to have good project management skills, be resilient in the face of challenges, and with an ability to ask the right questions and move things forward.

Gordon Dunn

Chief People Officer; Former People Director at Pets At Home

Steven Taylor

Managing Director; Former Chief Marketing Officer at VetPartners

Articles and Speaker Engagements

Please see my blogs below this section for examples of my thinking, and also here are some of the topics I have written or presented on for organisations within the veterinary world

Recently Published Articles

Creating Value from ‘Values’ – Improve Veterinary Practice (October 2023)

How to reward people and keep your eyes on the prize – The Veterinary Edge (December 2021)

Learning to be a leader – The Veterinary Edge (September 2021)

The pursuit of useful knowledge – The Veterinary Edge (August 2021)

The importance of having purpose – The Veterinary Business Journal (June 2021)

Recent Speaker Engagements

Developing yourself and your team through coaching and mentoring (with Sophie Eaden and Dan Tipney) - London Vet Show (November 2024

Managing Up (Being ‘Piggy in the Middle’) – College of Animal Welfare Head Nurse Congress (May 2024)

Beyond Brainstorming: Creative Problem Solving in Practice – VMG Congress (June 2023)

Working with ‘difficult’ people – The Webinar Vet (May 2023) and Vet Festival (May 2022)

Change Management – College of Animal Welfare Head Nurse Congress (May 2022)

How to Engage your Team and Why – SPVS-VMG Congress (May 2022),

We’re on a Mission from Dog! – The Webinar Vet (March 2022)