The Power of Being Pragmatic: Why I Named My Business What I Did

If you’d told me back in 2013, while I was sitting at my dining room table with nothing but my background, a teaching qualification, and a mobile phone, that I’d be celebrating 13 years of Pragmatic Consulting Ltd, I probably would have laughed at you. But when I look back, there was never really any other name for us.

The word "Pragmatic" isn't just a label on our email signature; it’s the heartbeat of everything we do.

What does it mean to be pragmatic?

The definition, being pragmatic means dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than just theoretical considerations.

In the world of utilities and construction, "theory" only gets you so far. You can sit in a classroom and read about  Substations, Overhead Lines, Underground Cables, Impressed Voltages and many other topics all day, but when you’re out on a site in the pouring rain, trying to get a job done safely and on time, you need training that actually works in the real world.

The "Pragmatic" Backstory: The Anti-Corporate Choice

When I left the corporate world of National Grid, I didn't have a grand five- or ten-year plan. What I did have was a front row seat to what wasn't working. I saw training that felt like a "tick-box" exercise across my corporate career, it was rigid, impersonal, not tailored, and often buried under layers of unnecessary bureaucracy.

To me, I wanted Pragmatic to be the polar opposite of my corporate life which was what my soul needed. I wanted to strip away the "fluff" and the endless red tape that usually slows things down. In a corporate environment, decisions can take months and processes are often followed just for the sake of it. I often heard we do it this way as we always have. 

So, I set out to disrupt the status quo and set my business up to be reactive, direct, real, flexible, and grounded in common sense.

A Testament to Resilience

But there’s a deeper reason why I’ve always pushed for a "common sense" approach. Not bad for a Scouser who left school with no qualifications, is it?

My journey started in care from just three months old. Life taught me early on that if you want to get anywhere, you must be resilient. You must work hard, and, above all, you must keep soldiering on. I’m living proof that your background doesn’t define your destination I truly believe that anyone can achieve anything if they have the drive to make it happen.

When I left National Grid and decided I wanted to try be a trainer I approached the leading training providers of the day, and they told me I didn’t meet their criteria. Well one thing about me I love being told I can't do something or aren't good enough, I see it as a personal challenge to succeed.

Instead of being discouraged, I decided to prove them wrong. I started driving around to sites and various projects, talking to the guys, and asking questions such as those below: 

"What do you actually need?" , "What problems / issues do you have with your present training provider?" 

"What would you prefer?" 

"What type of training would improve your understanding?" 

I chose the name Pragmatic Consulting because I wanted to build a business that:

• Ditched the red tape: We focus on getting results, not just filling out forms.
• Listens first: We started by listening to contractors and adapted our courses to solve their real issues.
• Stays flexible: Whether it’s training a single delegate or a whole team for a major client, we deliver because that’s what the industry needs, not what a corporate handbook says.
• Keeps it real: Our trainers aren't just reading from a manual; they are industry knowledgeable who have lived the jobs they’re teaching and assessing.

More than just a name

Thirteen years later, being pragmatic is what saw us through the pandemic and what drives us to expand into new centres like Stoneleigh, Manchester, and Abercynon. It’s about being inclusive, being impactful, and most importantly being useful across a wide range of industries.

I’m often called the "Queen of the Substation or Impressed Voltage" these days (titles I'm quite fond of, especially as Queen in scouse is a term of endearment and a privilege to be called), but at my core, I’m still that same person who believes that if training isn't practical and suitable, it isn't working.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this pragmatic journey so far. Here’s to many more years of keeping it real.

Jo Niblett
Managing Director and Technical Training Lead, Pragmatic Consulting Ltd

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