Waugh’s business and mentoring success
As the CEO of Lighthouse International Group, an “advanced-level senior executive” and “global social entrepreneur”, with decades of experience, we would reasonably expect Paul Waugh to have some sort of online presence, however minor, detailing qualifications, awards, high profile clients, meetings, affiliations, board positions, speaking engagements, group photos, profiles, interviews, Facebook check-ins, etc.
This is important if Paul Waugh purports to be a mentor to celebrities or successful people in the upper echelons of global industry and education, and is using these connections and experience to encourage members to invest in Lighthouse.
We haven’t yet found any evidence whatsoever of Paul Waugh’s success as a high-level mentor anywhere online – if you know of any, do let us know.
Waugh also states that he moved from South Africa to his native UK in 1998 and that he is the “founder of numerous businesses” in SA with “vast experience”.
This is important if members are asked to trust LIG with huge investments of money, time, and emotion.
We haven’t yet found evidence of “vast experience” – if you know of any, do let us know.
Lighthouse Leaders Personal Success
Because of Lighthouse International Group’s offered service – ie to mentor, coach, and counsel – we would reasonably expect the work background, current financial status, and other measures of success of the organisation’s senior figures to meet a certain threshold.
Clearly, mentors, coaches, and counsellors can be from any walk of life or background, and success can be measured in many ways, but we would at least expect some sort of industry recognition, official qualification, personal liability insurance, membership to a national regulator, or varied CV detailing similar experience in positions that require specific skills. For instance, if someone were a renowned business mentor, we would expect that person to have some sort of experience of the business world itself.
We might also reasonably expect high level mentors, coaches, or counsellors to have some sort of measurable personal success.
For instance, we would not expect senior leaders to be in debt, or perhaps have County Court Judgements against them, to own no assets, live in share houses, or with their parents – although there is nothing wrong with this, per se – but we would expect their success in work and business to be fairly visible and at least, in general, be of the standard of the average person.
This is important if members are asked to trust LIG leaders and mentors with huge investments of money, time, and emotion based on the perceived success of those in leadership.
We haven’t yet found evidence of clearly visible success of many of Lighthouse’s senior members – if you know of any, do let us know.
Lighthouse Kidz
Lighthouse Kidz is overseen by Jai Singh, Lighthouse Associate Member, and onetime member of FranklinWaugh, an earlier iteration of LIG.
Lighthouse Kidz is declared as a Community Interest Company (rather than a charity which is more firmly regulated) and states membership to the CIC Association, and Social Enterprise UK.
We contacted Social Enterprise UK and they confirmed Lighthouse Kidz is NOT a member and will be looking into why it us using its old branding on its site.
We haven’t yet found evidence Lighthouse Kidz is a member of the CIC Association. If you know of any, do let us know.
What does it do? It’s… vague. They say they exist for “Young People – To get the support they desperately need…” and “To help adults become more effective…”. On LinkedIn their profile states they offer mentoring and support. Other than a one-off football game, years ago, we have found nothing in the public domain, on any social media platform, that this organisation has ever completed a charitable act, event, or meeting, or successfully administered mentoring or support to children or adults.
This is important if members are asked to trust LIG with its purported socially-positive works.
We haven’t yet found evidence of any community interest actions undertaken by Lighthouse Kidz. If you know of any, do let us know.
The Eclub’s massive membership and events programme
When Lighthouse’s “The Eclub” was founded it was declared a Community Interest Company which might explain why its accounts were dormant, with no recorded remuneration for any of the leadership team.
But in 2011, then director Tess Nash stated that the company had “continued to expand” with “strong continued support” and that year held “many regular talks and seminars” and “individually tailored support sessions”.
In fact, Lighthouse say by 2011 The Eclub had more than 2000 members.
This is important if members are asked to trust LIG leadership has had huge success in the past.
We haven’t yet evidence of these events or the organisation’s 2000+ members – if you know of any, do let us know.
The big 3-year study
On its site, Lighthouse talks about the efforts in setting up these past projects, especially a “three-year study” (also referred to a “two-year study”) with “3000 businesses” before incorporating these two companies – a huge undertaking.
This is important if members are asked to trust LIG is built on proper market research.
We haven’t yet found evidence of this study, or the 3000 companies that took part – if you know of any, do let us know.