Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence.
This June, we are thrilled to commemorate a remarkable milestone: Azesta's 25th anniversary.
Since our founding in 1999, Azesta has grown from a fledgling idea into a beacon of experiential learning, training, and development across the UK. Join us as we celebrate our incredible journey, our unwavering commitment to innovative education, and the profound impact they've had on businesses and individuals alike.
The Genesis of Azesta: From Inspiration to Reality
Azesta's story begins with Shirley Gaston's early educational experiences. Attending Bowmandale Primary School in Barton-upon-Humber, Shirley was exposed to the wonders of topic-based and experiential learning. This formative period laid the foundation for her future endeavours. Shirley's passion for experiential learning was reignited during a TEFL course and further solidified by a ropes course experience in New Zealand. Inspired by these experiences, Shirley established an outdoor centre at Ripley Castle, which would eventually evolve into Azesta.
Key Milestones and Evolution
Our journey is marked by significant milestones that highlight our dedication to quality and innovation. We became an ILM and City & Guilds Centre, achieved excellent audit results, became an apprenticeship provider, and earned a 'Good' rating from Ofsted. These accomplishments are a testament to our commitment to excellence and our ability to adapt and grow in response to changing educational needs. In 2010, we rebranded from Log Heights to Azesta, reflecting our expanded scope and enhanced focus on consultancy and indoor workshops. This strategic shift allowed Azesta to bring experiential learning to a broader audience, encompassing teamwork, leadership, qualifications, and apprenticeships.
Leadership and Vision
Shirley’s vision for Azesta has always been clear: to create engaging, impactful learning experiences that prioritise the learner above all else. Her dedication to this vision has been the cornerstone of Azesta's success. Beyond her professional achievements, Shirley's role as a wedding celebrant showcases her ability to bring joy and celebration to people's lives. Our Operations Director Rachel Fort's leadership has also been instrumental in shaping Azesta's culture and success. Since joining in 2017 and becoming Operations Director in 2021, Rachel has ensured that the company's growth aligns with its core values of flexibility, openness, creativity, and caring. Her leadership style promotes a positive and empowering work environment, allowing team members to thrive and deliver exceptional results. We asked Rachel, what motivates her in the role as Operations Director, and what is she most excited about for the future? “I love seeing the team empowered to make decisions and work autonomously whilst providing them with a supportive environment....Azesta wouldn't be able to operate as successfully without the amazing and hard-working team behind the scenes. Seeing everyone take pride in our work and develop into our roles (or expand out of them!) is such a motivator for me to do my best for them all. I'm excited, as we continue to grow the business, in taking the Azesta model into new sectors, new clients and hopefully some lovely new premises! It's been a fabulous journey to be part of, from when I first joined being a team of two, to the team of eight we now have.”
Achievements and Recognition
Over the past 25 years, Azesta has overcome numerous challenges, from the banking crisis to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through resilience and determination, we have emerged stronger, continually innovating and expanding our offerings. Our award-winning apprenticeships and management development programmes have revolutionised staff management and leadership training across various sectors. One notable success is the Yorkshire Water Talking Performance programme, which transformed the way staff are managed at Yorkshire Water.
“How do we ensure our Learning and Development here at Yorkshire Water is impactful? We dedicate time as People Professionals to continuous learning, unlearning and relearning to ensure we get it right for our learners, every time. April saw us spend two amazing days together developing our own skills and what a treat it was! A huge thank you to Shirley Gaston at Azesta for putting us through our paces. Your creativity and passion in this space is inspiring”. Keira Millward - Leadership and Behavioural Development Partner at Yorkshire Water
Additionally, the three-year project to embed a coaching culture at Ongo has been a highlight, demonstrating Azesta's ability to effect meaningful change.
Tailored Training Solutions
At Azesta, no two programmes are alike. We specialise in bespoke training solutions tailored to the unique needs of each business. Our innovative approach to experiential learning incorporates a variety of engagement techniques, from interactive exercises to dynamic energisers. Our use of Metalog Training Tools enhances our sessions, making learning both effective and engaging. Our apprenticeship offerings include Level 5 Coaching Professional, Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor, and Level 5 Operations/Departmental Manager.
Community and Impact
We are deeply committed to giving back to the community. We support various charities, offer discounted services to social housing organisations and local governments. Our involvement in updating qualifications and standards through collaboration with EPA organisations and trailblazer groups underscores our dedication to lifelong learning and professional development.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Azesta
As we look to the future, our goals are clear. We aim to continue our growth, ensuring that the company thrives beyond the working lives of its current leaders. We asked Shirley what the business goals are for the next 5-10 years? “The important thing is that Azesta lives on beyond my working life bringing amazing learning experiences for thousands of people and a great working environment for the team, so the key goals are to continue our growth to the point that staff members within the business will be able to take it over successfully in 15-20 years time. Succession planning is well underway. In the shorter term, we want to buy some new offices to fit all of our experiential equipment into and continue to expand into housing qualifications and apprenticeships.”
Innovation remains at the heart of our approach. Each workshop we design incorporates new material to keep things fresh and relevant. We are expanding into new sectors, offering qualifications like CIH alongside our existing ILM and City & Guilds programmes. Our commitment to experiential learning is unwavering, promising exciting developments in the years to come.
Personal Reflections and Celebrations
For Shirley and Rachel, the most rewarding part of our journey has been witnessing the growth and development of our learners and team. Our dedication to creating a supportive and empowering work environment has been a driving force behind Azesta's success. To celebrate our 25th anniversary, the team are attending a variety of festivities from a ‘Farm to Fork’ team building day in Tadcaster to a team picnic and concert to see a ‘Queen tribute band’ at Aldborough Manor. These celebrations are a testament to our vibrant company culture and our commitment to recognising and appreciating our team's hard work and dedication. We asked Shirley if she had any advice for other business leaders based on her experience, what would it be? “Do what you love and enjoy it!”
A Message of Gratitude
As we mark this significant milestone, we extend a heartfelt thank you to our clients, partners, and team members. Your support has been instrumental in our growth and success. Here's to the next 25 years of innovation, learning, and making a difference. In the words of the late Dave Meier, "Never do for a learner what they can do themselves." This quote encapsulates Azesta's mission and vision, driving them to continue delivering exceptional experiential learning experiences. Here's to celebrating 25 years of excellence and looking forward to a future filled with promise and potential.
