Founder, Creator & Director
Mark founded MLQ Creative Solutions Ltd in 2013, bringing together his experience in acting, education, psychology, coaching and drama-based training.
His professional journey began in 1994 with WOLF FM, a community radio project where he helped unemployed people develop skills in radio broadcasting, journalism and communication. This early experience sparked a lasting interest in education, confidence-building and helping people understand how they learn, think and communicate.
Mark later trained as a professional actor, completing three years at drama school before working professionally in theatre, radio, television and film. During this time, he became increasingly interested in how drama could be used not only to entertain, but to educate, challenge thinking and create meaningful conversations.
In the early 2000s, Mark began working extensively in drama-based training, using actors, characters and realistic workplace scenarios to help people explore behaviour, communication, leadership and decision-making. This work gradually moved into industry, including construction, oil and gas, utilities and other high-risk sectors.
Since then, Mark has helped thousands of students across the UK and Europe develop psychologically based study skills, confidence and exam strategies. He has also helped thousands of people in industry better understand themselves, their behaviours and the choices they make when working in environments where risk is present.
Today, Mark’s work through MLQ Creative Solutions Ltd combines behavioural psychology, human factors, coaching, drama-based learning and practical facilitation. His aim is to help people think differently, communicate more openly and “stack the odds in their favour” when it comes to safety, performance and personal responsibility.
My Approach
Every job has a human side to it. We can have robust safe systems of work, clear procedures and well-written plans, but systems alone are not enough. They only become effective when the culture around them supports people to use them well, speak up when something does not feel right, and make safer choices under pressure. That means everyone has a part to play. We need to think about the conscious choices we make each day, the old habits we bring with us, and the way we communicate, lead and support each other on the job. Safety is not just about procedures. It is about people, behaviour, conversations and the environment we create around the work. Because when it comes to human performance, environment is everything.
Feedback from Clients
“Mark Allan and MLQ Creative Solutions Ltd played a key role in transforming the safety culture onboard the Claymore Alpha platform. His ability to engage with all levels of the workforce, from management and supervision through to frontline teams, brought a fresh perspective and created meaningful two-way conversations around safety.
From my own perspective, I had been involved in a large number of behavioural safety programmes during my years in the industry, but seldom had I witnessed such an immediate impact in terms of changing mindsets. The training and coaching Mark provided to all crew members has remained with the site to this day.
The overall transformation in site safety performance over a 12-month period was highly impressive, and one that would have been very difficult to achieve without the support Mark provided to the asset. In addition to the immediate impact, Mark introduced simple and effective tools for both myself and the supervisors, allowing us to continue reinforcing the message long after the initial programme.
This resulted in a complete cultural change in outlook, with individuals working in harmony to create a safe, secure and enjoyable work environment. I would highly recommend the MLQ Creative Solutions programme as an effective behavioural safety initiative — one that engages the workforce, captures their focus and leads to a more unified approach to day-to-day safety performance.”
Malcolm Andersson, OIM, Claymore Alpha (2018–2024)
The Human Side
For me, safety has always been about people.Behind every rule, procedure and system are human beings making decisions, managing pressure, communicating with others and trying to do the right thing. My work focuses on helping people understand themselves and each other better, so that safety becomes part of how teams think, talk and act every day.I’m naturally curious about learning, behaviour, confidence and personal development. That curiosity shapes the way I design and deliver training: practical, human, reflective and engaging.
Let’s Start a Conversation
Whether you want to strengthen safety culture, develop frontline leaders, improve safety conversations or build coaching capability inside your organisation, I’d be happy to talk.