About

Two decades of experience in leading digital delivery and supporting teams to work through complex problems.

A man wearing a white t-shirt and blue shirt, smiling a the camera in an outdoor wooded area.

Founded by Jon Rhodes, Calm Delivery provides hands-on delivery leadership, strategic support and practical training for organisations working in complex, high‑pressure environments.

It is built on the simple belief that good delivery happens when people feel trusted and properly supported.

Jon is a firm believer that delivery doesn’t have to be loud to be effective.

Experience where it matters

Jon has been working in delivery since 2007. From embedded Delivery Manager to Head of Delivery and Director, he has led more than 50 projects through the full lifecycle from discovery to live.

This experience is drawn from environments where priorities compete, governance feels heavy, and teams are stretched.

In 2016, Jon co-founded Paper, a user research and service design agency. That grounding in user-centred design means his focus isn't just on timelines, but on whether services actually work for the people using them.

He believes that steady leadership and helping delivery feel manageable.

Who Calm Delivery is for

  • Teams delivering complex or high‑pressure work

  • Organisations without senior delivery leadership in place

  • Leaders who want an experienced, calm sounding board

  • Teams navigating public‑sector delivery and governance

  • People who want delivery to feel clearer, calmer and more human

A man sitting on a sofa smiling at the camera. There's a book shelf behind him with books about delivery management, content design and research

About Jon

Jon has been working in delivery since 2007. His career spans global organisations, government departments, agencies, and charities , giving him a broad and grounded view of what helps teams succeed, and what quietly gets in the way.

Jon is a Guest Lecturer in Project Management at the University of Sheffield and sits on the Advisory Board for the Sheffield Methods Institute.

He lives in Sheffield with his wife and two children. When he gets a bit of spare time, you’ll usually find him walking in the Peak District.

Let’s have a chat.

Supporting your delivery

Calm Delivery works directly with teams and leaders through:

  • Embedded delivery leadership – joining teams to lead delivery through discovery, alpha, beta or live, taking on the day‑to‑day work of planning, risk management and unblocking issues.

  • Retained delivery support – providing director‑level delivery expertise on a fractional basis, giving leaders a trusted sounding board without the overhead of a full‑time hire.

  • Capability building – supporting delivery managers at all stages, from people new to the role through to senior practitioners who need space to think and sense‑check.

  • Practical training – jargon‑free sessions focused on the things that actually help delivery work in the real world.

Jon has worked with:

  • Department for Education

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

  • NHS England

  • Disclosure & Barring Service

  • University of Sheffield

  • University of Salford

  • Co-op

  • The Francis Crick Institute

  • London Luton Airport

  • Barnet Council

  • Direct Line Insurance

  • HSBC