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Waywood Enterprises Ltd was founded by Dr Stuart Wood.  With extensive and varied business, training and music experience, Stuart's passion for helping others to succeed underpins the company's ethos and activities.

In a brief interview he discusses his background and talks about his aims, dreams and reasons for establishing the company.

Tell us a bit about your background.

"After gaining my PhD in neuropharmacology I joined the pharmaceutical industry, where I spent more than 18 years. After starting in clinical research I later assumed a technical support/educational role to clinicians and healthcare professionals.  I also provided internal training support to sales and marketing staff, was an active member of numerous cross-functional teams and maintained links as a visiting lecturer and presenter at a local University."

Tell us about your clinical trials training for non-experts?

"During my time in the pharmaceutical industry I met many people from inside and outside the company who had little or no idea about clinical trials. I worked with a good number of these on a daily basis. Since leaving the industry I am still asked by a wide range of people about my work and exactly what clinical trials involve. It seems that if you're in the know you're fine, but finding someone prepared to sit down and explain things in simple terms that non-specialists and people with no scientific background can understand is very difficult. I guess that like so many other 'specialist' areas it's very easy to look inward and become exclusive, rather than looking outward to include people who could be so valuable to expanding our ideas and processes: you don't have to be a scientist or a medic to say something valid. So, I developed the One Day Course for Non-Experts which helps those who feel they know nothing, to find out more. I'm reassured by those who have taken the time to give me their opinion that I make this information accessible, easy to understand and memorable. I think this may be helped by my passion for demystifying some of our 'sacred cows' and helping others to understand for themselves. When I achieve that, I'm happy!"

How did you come up with the idea of The Clinical Trial Experience?

"Having left the industry and started helping out with the STEM Ambassador scheme, it became apparent that schools really are interested in the whole clinical trial thing.  I was surprised recently to see that Health & Social Care and Psychology A-levels both look at clinical trials (also called drug trials) as part of their syllabus. So it's not just 'the scientists' that have an interest in this type of work. Students from Key Stage 3 upwards seem very interested in why we have trials, how they're run, how we can be sure that the results are valid, what happens when things go wrong; all that kind of stuff. But there's a lot of ignorance out there thanks to unbalanced media hype which presents a distorted image especially when something goes wrong, which as with any experiment, it can do. My background puts me in an ideal position to pass on my expertise, experience and knowledge in a balanced and hopefully, understandable way. So, I developed The Clinical Trial Experience which allows children, teachers, adults, in fact whoever wants to use the training, to run their own mini clinical trial, without drugs or needles! They get involved with all sorts of decision-making from start to finish.  My ability to make complex things easy to understand allows me to pass this information on in a way that is accessible even to those with little or no formal science training, whilst my academic background allows me to present this information in universities and to professional societies.  There seems to be a lack of awareness outside the pharmaceutical industry of just what types of jobs are available once you're in, so I'm able to help 'on the careers front' as well."

So where did the music fit in to this?

"I have always loved music.  My brother (a Professor of Immunology living in Germany) has perfect pitch and played guitar and keyboards in numerous bands throughout the 60's whilst he was at university.

I didn't get involved in playing anything (other than the recorder and a bit of piano) until I was 19 when I bought my first drum kit. My passion grew and I soon added World Percussion to my 'repertoire'. My playing has taken me all over the place, including Europe and I have had the privilege of working with some really excellent musicians.  I still get a great buzz sharing music with people. Recently, we've moved into supplying African & Brasilian drums and percussion to individuals and to schools.  It's great to choose the individual instruments myself: I have a great relationship with my suppliers so when people order an item I go down to the warehouse and choose the best one I can find for them."

What about the percussion workshops?

"I started getting requests to help people expand their percussion and drumming skills. This led to workshops with musicians which branched out to include a few 'favours' in schools for teacher friends. Children and adults both seemed to really enjoy the sessions.

At this time I was starting to write a few presentation pieces for dancers and drama, which ended up as a CD.  I guess I just fused together my passion for talking and  teaching, with my passion for people and my 'style' developed.  And thus evolved my fun and recreational creative percussion workshops.  I later combined my scientific background, with my love for sharing, teaching and training to expand into running workshops in schools which enhance and complement the curriculum at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 levels."

What prompted you to set up Waywood Enterprises?

"Hmmm!  That's an interesting question.  I could sum it up in one word; redundancy!  But it does go beyond that.

To be brief, when I was working in the industry, I saw many people who could have made a huge contribution to the business and 'office life' but either lacked confidence or awareness that they could make a difference: that was always for someone else.

There were too many people in positions of power and responsibility who actually held the business back through their own lack of creativity and vision. History tells us that some of the greatest successes have come when people have taken some of the greatest risks. An integral part of creativity is experimentation, risk taking and yes, making mistakes or failing. But that was forbidden.

We lost too many good people through lack of vision. There is a saying, "Those who lack vision perish!"  We almost did.

I believe that every one of us have creative abilities. These may have been educated out of us, or we may never have had the opportunity to discover what they are. I have this passion for helping people to discover that they have a valid contribution to make and showing them how. It's amazing how this simple process inspires self-confidence and raises self-esteem sufficiently to make a significant difference. And once the process has started ..."

Where do schools fit in to this plan?

"Creativity is firmly on the curriculum at all levels of education. Teachers are charged with encouraging their pupils to 'be creative'. If I can join in that process and release a spark in a child here and there, who knows what the result will be.

Children need good role models but many of us adults left our creativity in our junior school. It's so long since we've used it that we lack confidence and often have low self-esteem. I think that trend must be reversed. If I can help teachers to be confident and creative, and to inspire their pupils I will have succeeded."

So how do you rate success?

"If I can start one person on the road to success and greatness (however they perceive that) I will have succeeded.  If I can help companies retain their most valuable asset, creative people who want the business to succeed I will have succeeded.  If I prevent one person from becoming frustrated and cynical I will have succeeded.  If I can prevent company assets becoming company liabilities, I will have succeeded. And if I can help one teacher to be confident and creative, and inspire their pupils to be creative then I will have succeeded."

"Where there is no vision, the people perish."
The Bible:  Proverbs Ch 29 v 18

  Waywood Enterprises Ltd:  Aims & Visions

The company was established with the following aims:

• To provide high quality training courses, workshops and advice on clinical trials and drug research for people with little or no previous experience: in schools, colleges, higher education, business and professional societies
• To increase self-esteem and self-confidence, improve interpersonal and presentation skills: in business; in education; in life
• Allow children and adults to participate in, and enjoy the creative experience through provision of percussion workshops in a fun and experimental environment
• Provide individuals and organisations with access to creative resources, including supply of a wide range of drums and percussion instruments from around the world
• Endorse fair trading principles through the sale of Fair Trade products from around the world, thereby providing support for creative people in situations where they would otherwise be unable to adequately support themselves or their families
• Implement a long-term strategy for supporting disadvantaged individuals and communities around the world
• Implement ongoing review and improvement of the services and products offered based on personal experience and customer feedback

Read Stuart's testimonials from customers and colleagues.

Download company contact details document in PDF format

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Waywood Enterprises Limited endeavours to use recycled and environmentally friendly materials wherever possible.  We also strive to ensure that any products we sell are made using sustainable or replaceable resources and those employed in making products receive a fair wage for their work.

  Contact Waywood Enterprises Ltd

Dr Stuart Wood
PO Box 202
Loughborough
Leics
LE11 1WP

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Company Registration Number: 6455974
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