our history
NV Management Limited is the joint enterprise of Nicola Berry and Thomas Verrall. As trained professional actors they worked consistently in theatre and television in the 1990′s. As well as traditional acting work, they both also worked in the field of corporate role-play, but found the service and standards of the companies they encountered providing this service distinctly average. Typically, there seemed to be little thought to quality control; there was no vetting system for making sure the most appropriate actors – in skill and in attitude – were in front of the client. The business interest in using actors was clear to see but the results, in their experience, varied immensely.
In short, they saw a gap in the market for a role-play company providing a superior service and since that time have worked tirelessly to make NV a brand that is synonymous with quality.
One of their first assignments in 2001 was providing actors to Her Majesty’s Prison Service for a significant recruitment of Prison Officers. So successful was this impartial method of recruitment, that a six week contract grew to a 2 year contract (providing 40 actors, every day, 5 days a week nationwide) and their efforts and those of their carefully chosen team helped recruit 20,000 new Officers.
On the strength of what was lauded as ‘a most important national service’, they then secured several other public sector projects, with the NHS and others, and they were soon providing services to the private sector too.
They have diversified gradually over the years, with the same attention to detail and insistence on excellence, and now provide not only actors but innovative training and also full production services.
NV currently offers a wide range of services to a wide range of industries, across the UK and internationally. Work is as varied as, for example: helping to train Special Advisors for the Government and Customer Advisors for Liverpool Victoria; reducing crime in the community with CRI; identifying the high potential people within Panasonic Europe; and producing numerous successful films for O2, Rolls-Royce plc and Tata Steel.
As well as their pride in their team and their output, they also credit part of their success to their flexibility; they are equally happy to work directly with clients, or to work alongside other training providers or production companies in a way that fosters trust, confidence and ultimately long term partnerships.
As pioneers in the field, their style and ethos is often emulated by competitors, but to quote a regular client NV hold a ‘unique place in the industry – where they lead, others follow’.
Nicola Berry & Tom Verrall co-founders and directors of NV. They both have extensive acting and business experience and share an unswerving commitment to excellence.
Nicola Berry, Managing Director
Nicola has worked professionally as an actor since the age of 11. From the age of 7 she trained at the Elliott Clarke School of Dance and Drama and subsequently at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. In short, Nicola’s acting training spans some 15 years, and this dedication to her craft has seen her work professionally on both stage and screen.
She has many other interests and strengths, and her business experience is considerable: she has project managed numerous contracts at home and abroad; gained the respect and counsel of CEO’s and CBE’s; and spoken at major international events.
Nicola’s passion is for exceptional service, and she goes the extra mile as a matter of course – her flare for quality embodies the NV way, and her ethical leadership inspires our 80 associates.
Thomas Verrall, Creative Director
Tom was an award winning student at the renowned Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and worked, and continues to work, as a professional actor. His work to date has not only been as an actor, but he has also written comedy for BBC Radio and television as well as countless business scripts for live events and corporate films. He is also an experienced director and often directs films produced by NV.
He has a particular interest in communication, and this curiosity about the human condition combined with his skilful delivery have made him a sought after presenter and coach. He frequently facilitates courses with, for example, DeVere Hotel Group, Jersey Post and Rolls-Royce plc.
