About Coach 1st

At Coach 1st, we believe real progress happens when people grow through wisdom, not just knowledge. 

We empower individuals and organisations to navigate change with confidence, break down barriers, and achieve sustainable success.

Founded by Stuart Blake, a certified Career, Executive, ADHD, and Life Coach with a distinguished background as CEO and Managing Director in international recruitment, Coach 1st combines deep industry experience with authentic human connection. Our purpose is to help people unlock potential, make informed choices, and create meaningful transformation in their work, lives, and communities.

In a world driven by speed and surface results, we bring calm, clarity, and purpose.
We believe every experience, whether challenge or achievement, holds the potential for wisdom. Through reflective, practical coaching, we help people turn experience into insight, and insight into confident action.

At Coach 1st, we don’t just coach for jobs. We coach for understanding, purpose, and growth; the foundations of lasting fulfilment.

Stuart Blake is a certified Career, Executive, ADHD, and Life Coach with extensive leadership experience spanning over 25 years in international recruitment and human capital development. Before founding Coach 1st, Stuart served as CEO and Managing Director for global recruitment businesses operating across Europe and Asia Pacific, leading teams, building successful enterprises, and shaping thousands of careers worldwide.

Having worked at board level and led organisations through growth, change, and transformation, Stuart brings rare insight into what drives employability, leadership, and personal fulfilment. His coaching approach combines real-world business experience with a deep understanding of human motivation and behaviour.

As an ADHD Coach, Stuart supports clients in harnessing their strengths, building focus and confidence, and creating systems for success that honour how they think and work best. His work with neurodiverse clients is rooted in empathy, structure, and empowerment; helping individuals move beyond limitation and thrive both professionally and personally.

He founded Coach 1st on the belief that true transformation comes through wisdom. The ability to turn experience into understanding and use that understanding to act with purpose.

Tony Larcombe is an accomplished Chief Technology Officer, educator, and visionary business strategist with more than 30 years of transformational leadership across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific.

Throughout his career, Tony has held senior executive positions including CTO at FiveTen Group, Vice President & CIO at iRevolution PLC, and CTO (EMEA) at TMP Worldwide (monster.com). In these roles, he has led large-scale digital transformation, AI innovation, and enterprise technology programmes that have redefined performance and capability for global organisations.

A trusted strategic partner to boards and C-suite leaders, Tony excels at bridging the gap between technology and people — turning complex innovation into practical, value-driven solutions. His expertise spans digital strategy, organisational design, cybersecurity, governance, and business optimisation, enabling organisations to evolve with clarity and confidence.

At Coach 1st, Tony brings a forward-thinking, human-centred approach to technology and digital development. He ensures our clients and programmes are supported by secure, ethical, and accessible digital solutions that enhance connection, inclusion, and transformation.

Guiding professionals and job seekers to align their skills, values, and aspirations. We help clients gain clarity, rebuild confidence, and take purposeful steps towards rewarding, meaningful careers.

For those facing barriers to employment or re-entering the workforce, we provide structured, compassionate support that builds employability, resilience, and belief. Our proven methods unlock motivation and momentum.

Partnering with leaders and senior professionals to elevate performance, navigate change, and lead with purpose. We help executives grow in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and authentic impact.

Supporting individuals to understand their unique strengths and challenges. We help clients develop personalised strategies that enhance focus, confidence, and sustainable progress — both professionally and personally.

Helping organisations guide employees through redundancy or career transition with dignity, direction, and confidence. Our tailored programmes balance emotional support with practical career reorientation — turning endings into new beginnings.

Every coaching journey with Coach 1st blends:

- Wisdom and Insight – drawing on lived experience, reflection, and evidence-based methods.
- Authentic Human Connection – building trust and understanding to create meaningful change.
- Proven Practice – combining psychological principles, career frameworks, and employability expertise.
- Sustainable Transformation – empowering clients to adapt, grow, and sustain their success long-term.
“We don’t just help people find work — we help them find themselves, their purpose, and their path forward.”

Coach 1st works with individuals, businesses, and community partners to deliver measurable and human-centred results:

- Increased confidence, clarity, and employability.
- Sustainable re-entry to the workforce for long-term unemployed and those facing barriers.
- Enhanced leadership capability and emotional resilience.
- Social mobility through empowerment, not dependency.
Our coaching doesn’t end at success — it continues through wisdom, insight, and contribution.

Where experience becomes wisdom, and wisdom becomes action.
We help people and organisations grow through change with confidence, connection, and clarity. Because every person has potential. Our role is to help them see it, believe it, and live it.