Legal

Terms of engagement.

The terms governing how we deliver the programme and how the relationship works. Plain English. Read before booking.

Last updated: 5 May 2026

Who you are contracting with

The Director's Path is a trading brand of The Essential Expert Ltd, a private company limited by shares, registered in England and Wales (Company No. 14143619). Registered office: Dragon House, Princes Way, Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend, CF31 3AQ.

What you are buying

The Director's Path offers four products:

• The Director's Readiness Review at £195. A 90-minute diagnostic session followed by a written report.
• The Future Director Ready Programme in three formats: Self-Led at £197, Cohort-Guided at £497, 1:1 Coached at £1,197 individual or £1,950 employer-sponsored.
• The Director's Sounding Board at £395 per month, three-month minimum.
• Additional 1:1 sessions at £175 each, available as add-ons.

Detailed deliverables for each are described on the relevant pages of this site and on the Coachful platform.

Pricing and VAT

All prices in GBP. The Essential Expert Ltd is currently below the UK VAT registration threshold; prices shown are inclusive of any applicable taxes. If our VAT status changes, this will be communicated clearly to clients in advance.

Payment

Payments are processed by Stripe via Coachful. All major debit and credit cards accepted.

One-off payments (Self-Led, Readiness Review, Cohort-Guided, 1:1 Coached): full payment at booking.

Recurring payments (Sounding Board): monthly at the start of each calendar month for the duration of engagement.

Employer-sponsored 1:1 Coached: single invoice payable within 30 days. Contact us before booking.

Refunds and cancellation

Under UK consumer law, you have a 14-day cooling-off period from the date of purchase during which you can cancel and receive a full refund, provided you have not yet started consuming the programme materials.

If you have started consuming materials within the 14-day window, you waive the right to a full refund. We may, at our discretion, offer a partial refund proportionate to the materials consumed.

Outside the 14-day window:

• Self-Led: non-refundable once accessed.
• Cohort-Guided: 50% refund if cancelled at least 14 days before cohort start. No refund after start.
• 1:1 Coached: pro-rata refund based on sessions delivered; admin fee of £200 deducted.
• Sounding Board: cancel with 30 days written notice. The minimum 3-month commitment applies in full.
• Readiness Review: non-refundable once delivered.

Rescheduling

1:1 sessions and Readiness Reviews can be rescheduled up to 24 hours before. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours notice are charged in full. Cohort sessions cannot be rescheduled but are recorded for cohort members.

What you can expect from us

• Direct delivery by Steve Marshall for all 1:1 work and Readiness Reviews. Network practitioners join cohort sessions on invitation when their specific expertise serves the moment.
• Programme content delivered as described on the relevant Coachful programme page.
• Response to enquiries within 48 hours for routine matters.
• Confidentiality of everything you discuss with us.

What we expect from you

• Show up to scheduled sessions on time.
• Complete reflection and working-tool exercises in advance of sessions where requested.
• Engage in good faith. The programme is structured for active participation.
• Pay invoices promptly.
• Treat any other cohort members with respect.

Confidentiality

Everything you share with us is held in strict confidence. We will not discuss your specific situation with third parties without your written consent. The exception is where we are legally required to disclose information (statutory regulator request, court order, or where we believe there is risk of serious harm).

Aggregate, anonymised insights from programme delivery may be used in marketing or thought-leadership content, but never in a way that could identify you.

Intellectual property

All programme materials, working tools, and frameworks remain the intellectual property of The Essential Expert Ltd. You receive a perpetual, personal licence to use them in your own professional context. You may not redistribute, resell, or reproduce them for commercial use without our written consent.

The working documents you produce during the programme (Direction Statement, Decision Framework, etc.) are entirely yours. You retain full IP and may use them however you wish.

Accessibility

We aim to make the programme accessible to the broadest reasonable range of senior leaders. The website is designed against WCAG 2.2 AA. Programme materials use dyslexic-friendly typography and clear contrast. Sessions are recorded and transcribed. If you have specific access requirements, raise them at the Readiness Review or by email and we will adapt the delivery.

Limitation of liability

The programme provides leadership development and coaching. It does not constitute legal, financial, regulatory, or medical advice. Decisions you make based on programme content are your responsibility.

Our maximum liability under any engagement is limited to the fees paid for that engagement. We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses including lost profits, business interruption, or reputational damage. Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death, personal injury caused by negligence, or fraud.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Contact

For questions about these terms, email steve@theessentialexpert.com or write to the registered office.