Nell Op de Beeck: A Business That Gives You More Life

Turning a different vision of business into reality

Nell Op de Beeck once believed that owning a business meant long hours, constant pressure and little time for family or fun. So, when she first heard the idea that being in business should give you more life, she was sceptical.

More than a decade later, Nell has built a successful business coaching practice with ActionCOACH UK, helping business owners in her community achieve better results while making more time for the people and experiences that matter most.

Her journey has shown her that business success does not have to come at the expense of a fulfilling personal life.

From corporate HR to business coaching

Growing up in Belgium, Nell saw first-hand how demanding business ownership could be. Her dad worked long hours in the family bakery, while her mum balanced her own job with helping out in the business. Nell spent much of her school holidays with her grandparents, and the experience shaped her early perception of what it meant to run a business.

After graduating with a degree in drama and poetry, she hoped to pursue a career as a broadcaster. However, after moving to the UK, the practical need for a reliable income led her into human resources instead.

“I met my partner, Spencer, in Belgium in 2002 and when we moved to Berkshire, the cost of living meant I just had to get on with a job to ensure we had two salaries coming in. I started as an HR and payroll advisor before moving on to a role where I would lead a team and develop people to achieve their goals.

“In 2008, I knew I was going to be made redundant, so I put my CV onto a recruitment website to see if that might tempt any employers. That’s when I got a call from ActionCOACH. As they took me through the process of calls, a discovery day and speaking to franchise partners, I felt an emotional trigger as I realised what I could help my clients achieve: a business that could give them more life with their families.”

At the time, business coaching was still relatively unfamiliar to many business owners. Nell spent around a year researching the opportunity and carrying out her due diligence before making a decision.

“During that time, I was working from home, finishing up with the company who were moving operations abroad. It was not my cup of tea! The thought of being part of the ActionCOACH community was encouraging, and I liked the people I’d come into contact with over that time. It really appealed to me to build a business for myself but not be alone like many other business owners found themselves.”

The combination of business ownership, a proven system and a supportive community offered Nell a way to build something of her own without having to navigate every challenge alone.

Building confidence and launching her business

Nell’s next step was to travel to Las Vegas for her initial ActionCOACH training. The experience marked the beginning of a major period of personal and professional development.

“It was the start of a big journey of development for me. I was one of the only women as an ActionCOACH in the UK at the time and one of the youngest coaches too. Whilst the training was in-depth, it did begin a feeling which would now be called imposter syndrome.

“I definitely wasn’t like the majority of our training cohort. I did question how I could possibly add value to my clients without the 30 years of business or corporate experience many of my fellow coaches had. Luckily, I’m also happy to say I’m a little bit bonkers and with the systems and support from ActionCOACH UK and my fellow franchise partners, I was determined to make a success of it.”

Nell launched her ActionCOACH UK business in February 2009, working with business owners across Surrey and Berkshire. In the early days, she made calls from her kitchen table while also caring full-time for her dog, who had suffered a serious back injury.

Her first one-to-one coaching client was a classic car garage. Alongside cold calling, Nell invested time in building relationships with local business owners through networking groups. Her involvement with BNI continued for more than a decade.

As her business developed, so did her confidence and her passion for the work.

“I absolutely love the work I do with my clients. We have great conversations, build strong relationships and get fantastic results. I would say the majority of my clients now sit within a 10-mile radius of Camberley.”

Turning a challenging time into an opportunity to help others

The strong relationships Nell had built with her clients became even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. As business owners faced unprecedented uncertainty, many needed more guidance, reassurance and practical support than ever before.

Nell responded with extraordinary commitment. During the first lockdown, she regularly worked 14-hour days, offered complimentary coaching sessions to businesses in her community, expanded her client base, launched an online BookCLUB and hosted daily Facebook Live sessions. For three months, she approached each day with what she described as her superhero pants on.

Her focus was simple: help local businesses navigate the crisis and give them the best possible chance of surviving and succeeding.

“On reflection, the work I did to reach out to local businesses to help them through these testing times was just as beneficial for me as it was for them. My clients have always been loyal to me, so I knew my commitment to them would be wholeheartedly appreciated. But in addition to that, it helped me realise that I belong in this role as business coach, banishing my feelings of imposter syndrome.

“Considering where I’m at now, I’m certain it was the best business decision I’ve ever made. Even in June and July of this year, I gifted 66 hours of coaching to business owners in my community. It’s continuing to be such a worthwhile investment.”

Her willingness to give time and support to other business owners strengthened her reputation in the local community. By the end of the year referenced in her original story, Nell expected her client numbers to have nearly tripled compared with pre-pandemic levels.

Her experience demonstrated how generosity, meaningful relationships and a genuine commitment to helping others can create lasting value for both clients and a coaching business.

Making time for what matters most

Despite the long days she worked during the pandemic, Nell has never lost sight of the reason she was drawn to business coaching in the first place.

Her memories of her dad’s demanding schedule in the family bakery have stayed with her. She understands that while business owners work hard to provide for their families, it can be all too easy for the business to take over the very lives they are working to support.

Being an ActionCOACH UK franchise partner has given Nell greater control over how she manages her work and personal commitments. It has also helped her support her partner and stay connected with her family in Belgium, whom she would normally visit at least three times a year.

She wants her clients to experience that same freedom: to build successful businesses without feeling anxious every time they step away from day-to-day operations.

“I always have in the back of my mind how many hours my parents worked each day. I really appreciate the support, education and laughter that ActionCOACH has given me, and I think it’s so important that I can transfer this to everyone I coach.

“People work hard for their families. I’m the same, but I know that working hard to support those you care about should be rewarded by both love and time with those you do it for. That’s what has made the last 20 months in particular so worthwhile.”

Build a business that gives you more life

Nell’s story is a reminder that business ownership does not have to mean sacrificing time with family, friends or the things you love. With the right approach, support and commitment, it can be a way to create greater freedom while helping others achieve their ambitions.

Through ActionCOACH UK, Nell has built a business around her values, developed lasting relationships in her community and helped business owners rethink what success can look like.

Could business coaching be your next chapter?

Discover how an ActionCOACH UK franchise could help you build a business with purpose, flexibility and the support of an established coaching community.