Why Des?
Some people build a business. Some people build a legacy. The best ones build both.
I'm Des McCabe. Over the last 40 years I've built, sold, and licensed businesses across the UK, Europe, and beyond. I founded TBG, which became the UK's largest independent training organisation, placing 5,000 long-term unemployed into jobs and helping 4,000 people gain qualifications every year before its sale in 1995.
I've advised six governments (UK, Ireland, US, Argentina, Romania, Albania) on employment and inclusion. I designed the Peace Builder training programme with US Special Envoy Senator George Mitchell's Northern Ireland Fund for Reconciliation. I was formally recognised by Europe's 500 as one of Europe's leading job-creation entrepreneurs.
And then I discovered licensing.
What started with the Good Friday Agreement, licensing equality training across the Northern Ireland public sector, then the UK and Europe, became a 20-year specialism. I've helped 200+ trainers, coaches, and consultants in 30+ countries turn their expertise into global licensing communities. I've worked with Robert Cialdini and Valerie Young. Both licensing networks are now running as independent entities.
What I do now with licensing is that I help two kinds of people:
1. Trainers, coaches, and experts who want to build a licensing model from scratch, a 16-week partnership (£9,000 or £1k/month) that takes you from positioning to your first licensees.
2. People who've already started licensing but it isn't working, a focused 4-session Licensing Review (£5,000) to redesign the offer, fix the positioning, and rebuild the community.
Both can lead to an ongoing Licensing Partnership, where I become your in-company licensing expert. I've joined colleagues at major sales meetings, staff conferences, and meetings with potential licensees. In some cases, that partnership has led to an equity stake or a non-executive director role. That's not something I seek, it's what happens when the work runs deep enough.
My approach: BWB (Business With Business)
This isn't about selling more courses. It's about building a community of colleagues who believe in your work as much as you do, and who deliver it, grow it, and invest in it alongside you. The revenue follows the community. If you've built something that genuinely works and you want it to outlast you, licensing is the cleanest path I know.
Download my two free books here - at workitout.info
Book a free 60-minute strategy conversation: calendly.com/desmccabe
I'm Des McCabe. Over the last 40 years I've built, sold, and licensed businesses across the UK, Europe, and beyond. I founded TBG, which became the UK's largest independent training organisation, placing 5,000 long-term unemployed into jobs and helping 4,000 people gain qualifications every year before its sale in 1995.
I've advised six governments (UK, Ireland, US, Argentina, Romania, Albania) on employment and inclusion. I designed the Peace Builder training programme with US Special Envoy Senator George Mitchell's Northern Ireland Fund for Reconciliation. I was formally recognised by Europe's 500 as one of Europe's leading job-creation entrepreneurs.
And then I discovered licensing.
What started with the Good Friday Agreement, licensing equality training across the Northern Ireland public sector, then the UK and Europe, became a 20-year specialism. I've helped 200+ trainers, coaches, and consultants in 30+ countries turn their expertise into global licensing communities. I've worked with Robert Cialdini and Valerie Young. Both licensing networks are now running as independent entities.
What I do now with licensing is that I help two kinds of people:
1. Trainers, coaches, and experts who want to build a licensing model from scratch, a 16-week partnership (£9,000 or £1k/month) that takes you from positioning to your first licensees.
2. People who've already started licensing but it isn't working, a focused 4-session Licensing Review (£5,000) to redesign the offer, fix the positioning, and rebuild the community.
Both can lead to an ongoing Licensing Partnership, where I become your in-company licensing expert. I've joined colleagues at major sales meetings, staff conferences, and meetings with potential licensees. In some cases, that partnership has led to an equity stake or a non-executive director role. That's not something I seek, it's what happens when the work runs deep enough.
My approach: BWB (Business With Business)
This isn't about selling more courses. It's about building a community of colleagues who believe in your work as much as you do, and who deliver it, grow it, and invest in it alongside you. The revenue follows the community. If you've built something that genuinely works and you want it to outlast you, licensing is the cleanest path I know.
Download my two free books here - at workitout.info
Book a free 60-minute strategy conversation: calendly.com/desmccabe
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Des McCabe - A brief biography
1. Founded the Training & Business Group plc in the UK. Secured jobs for 5,000 long term unemployed people every year and helped 4,000 people to get qualifications.
2. Established and secured funding for The TrainingTrust (an international charity in the U.S., U.K., etc) to meet humanitarian needs in the Romanian orphanages
3. Advisor to the British, Irish, U.S., Argentine, Romanian and Albanian Governments on employment, social inclusion and training matters.
4. Former Chair of the European Union’s ‘Interreg III’ group in N. Ireland.
5. Undertook organisational development work for Comic Relief projects in Kenya.
6. Former Chair of the E.U. Border Training Bureau.
7. Advisor to the Irish and U.S. Governments during the formative stages of the N. Ireland Peace Process.
8. Designed ‘PeaceBuilder’ training programme (with U.S. Senator George Mitchell’s Northern Ireland fund for Reconciliation)
9. Created Diversiton and established the Inclusion Calendar as the leading annual diversity publication.
10. Member of UK Government's DWP Equality Schemes Customer Reference Group.
11. Hay House published 'Work it Out! - How to find the work you always wanted in a shifting jobs market'
12. Delivered the 'Back To Work' Tour 2012 - 2014 across the UK in 40 towns and cities to over 4,000 people.
13. Designed and delivered two engagement and inclusion programmes for those most vulnerable in our communities. The 'Work It Out!' 5 day programme helps individuals who are 'stuck' to rebuild their careers and the 'Next Step' Process engages with and supports those most 'at risk'.
14. Established a network of pilot WorkCentres across Ireland to help people find work, earn income, help others and build their career.
15. Worked with hundreds of individuals and organizations worldwide to help them to licence their training courses and services worldwide.
16. Des has over 20 books published on Amazon in topics such as personal development, business success, mindfulness, spirituality and career development.
17. Des is a sought after international speaker, facilitator and conference chairperson.
2. Established and secured funding for The TrainingTrust (an international charity in the U.S., U.K., etc) to meet humanitarian needs in the Romanian orphanages
3. Advisor to the British, Irish, U.S., Argentine, Romanian and Albanian Governments on employment, social inclusion and training matters.
4. Former Chair of the European Union’s ‘Interreg III’ group in N. Ireland.
5. Undertook organisational development work for Comic Relief projects in Kenya.
6. Former Chair of the E.U. Border Training Bureau.
7. Advisor to the Irish and U.S. Governments during the formative stages of the N. Ireland Peace Process.
8. Designed ‘PeaceBuilder’ training programme (with U.S. Senator George Mitchell’s Northern Ireland fund for Reconciliation)
9. Created Diversiton and established the Inclusion Calendar as the leading annual diversity publication.
10. Member of UK Government's DWP Equality Schemes Customer Reference Group.
11. Hay House published 'Work it Out! - How to find the work you always wanted in a shifting jobs market'
12. Delivered the 'Back To Work' Tour 2012 - 2014 across the UK in 40 towns and cities to over 4,000 people.
13. Designed and delivered two engagement and inclusion programmes for those most vulnerable in our communities. The 'Work It Out!' 5 day programme helps individuals who are 'stuck' to rebuild their careers and the 'Next Step' Process engages with and supports those most 'at risk'.
14. Established a network of pilot WorkCentres across Ireland to help people find work, earn income, help others and build their career.
15. Worked with hundreds of individuals and organizations worldwide to help them to licence their training courses and services worldwide.
16. Des has over 20 books published on Amazon in topics such as personal development, business success, mindfulness, spirituality and career development.
17. Des is a sought after international speaker, facilitator and conference chairperson.
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What can I expect?
✅ Clarity on what’s next
✅ Support to move forward with purpose
✅ A friendly positive approach with a splash of Irish banter!
✅ Practical tools to achieve real results
✅ A trusted sounding board and guide
✅ A fresh, personal perspective on work, leadership, and life
Work it Out! is part of Diversiton and is non profit making.
Copyright © Diversiton 2003-2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Copyright © Diversiton 2003-2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.