If you own a business, there will probably come a point when you ask yourself a very simple question. What is this actually worth? But the real value of a business is rarely just about a multiple of last year's profit. It actually is about how attractive, transferable and low-risk the business looks to the right buyer. There has bee...
Back in the late summer of 2014, when I first explored setting up on my own, I did what many business owners do. I researched the market, spoke to people already operating in the space, and tested whether there was a genuine opportunity. More than once, I was told there was little real opportunities for consultancy work in Cumbria. The advice ...
Right now, a lot of SME business owners are asking themselves the same question: Do we keep pushing harder in the market we know… or is it time to look elsewhere for better opportunity? It is a fair question. Because for many businesses, trading conditions are not easy. Orders may still be coming in, but margins are tighter. Sales cycles are longer...
In today's business environment, certainty has a short shelf life. The plan that looked sensible six months ago can quickly become outdated by shifts in inflation, regulation, customer demand, technology, labour costs, geopolitical events or supply chain pressure. That is why "Agility" is no longer simply a leadership buzzword; it's becoming a genu...
How UK Businesses can grow despite weak GDP forecasts On the 3rd of March 2026 the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released the UK's latest national accounts and economic outlook alongside updated forecasts for the UK economy. The headline message was not particularly inspiring. Growth is expected to remain modest, with UK real GDP foreca...
If there was any doubt that AI is moving from technology narrative to strategic reality, the last few weeks should put that to rest. Tesla has reportedly paused development on two vehicle models to redirect capital and talent towards humanoid robotics. SpaceX and xAI are moving closer together, with proposals to deploy up to one million Starlink sa...
Michael Porter once quoted "The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do." It's a line that often gets quoted in boardrooms and leadership sessions, yet rarely lived day to day, particularly in owner-managed and high growth scale-up businesses. That's because in most growing SMEs, saying "Yes" is not recklessness. It's survival. Ye...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how businesses operate. From automating routine tasks to enhancing productivity, AI offers real opportunities, but it also introduces risks that organisations cannot afford to ignore. The Benefits of AI in Business 1. Productivity and Efficiency AI accelerates many "cognitive" knowledge-based tas...
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, "What truly made me into who I am today?" Was it your genetics, your upbringing, those early career challenges, or that pivotal step into leadership? As business professionals, understanding what has shaped us is not just reflective, it's essential. Because until we know ourselves and what defined us...
Why Now Is the Time to Lean on Seasoned Leadership" The Confidence Conundrum UK business confidence has taken a sharp fall and business leaders are feeling the pressure. In September 2025, the Institute of Directors' Economic Confidence Index dropped to –74, its lowest reading since records began in 2016. The ICAEW Business Confidence Monitor...
Fractional Sales Director : Strategic Sales Support for SMEs - Flexible, cost-effective strategic sales support for SMEs to scale revenue and strengthen sales teams. In today's uncertain economic climate, many SME business owners are asking: "How can I increase sales and grow sustainably without committing to the cost of a full-time direc...
If you're a UK business owner, or department leader in a large organisation, you already know that running a company/cost centre is the steepest learning curve you'll ever face. You have to learn on your feet - You have to adapt quickly - And you figure things out "on the hoof" - just because you have to. My question though, Are you still lear...
How Inflation Affects UK B2B Services, Wholesale, and Manufacturing Businesses. For UK-based B2B businesses, inflation presents a unique challenge. Traditionally many businesses within the B2B sector have long-term contracts, fixed service pricing, and with the added pressure to stay competitive, stall or even prevents them from simply passing...
Embrace an "Omnichannel Sales & Marketing Strategy" In today's VUCA (Volatile, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) business environment, chances are UK business leaders don't know which way to turn and potentially face unprecedented challenges in every aspect of trying to continually grow their business. Economic uncertainty,...
Did you know, that 61% of business leaders report feeling lonely in their roles? (Harvard Business Review). I don't know about you, but a common comment I hear from other business leaders is, "I find it quite lonely, I've no one to share this stuff with and I certainly can't take it home". I'm sure, like myself, when you first started in your first...
The Power of Leaving a Legacy (Professional Services & Business Consultancy) For me, leaving a legacy means bringing about a lasting positive change that benefits business owners, their employees, and has the same long term positive effect on their customers and key stakeholders. Two famous Quotes that have inspired me: Mother Teresa:...
My inspiration behind this blog was recently listening to an audiobook recommendation "The Brompton: Engineering for Change" by Will Butler-Adams and Dan Davies. Will Butler-Adams story of the Brompton bike and the company behind the foldable, carriable "commuter" bicycle highlights the importance of exploring how engineering principles c...
"Strengthening Your Brand from Within" Did you know, approx. 70% of customers* base their buying decisions on the reputation of your company. Imagine if every one of your employees in your business contributed to building your organisations brand and reputation. Or reflect on, has poor employee behaviours had a ...
Celebrating Apprentice Week: (10th-16th Feb. 2025) My journey from being a "Trainee" to becoming a "Regional Director" for a global business then "Running my own Business". (I'm happy to share with you separately my story about my birth place). As we celebrate Apprentice Week in the UK, I thought I would reflect on and sha...
The Overriding Benefit in having Competition: Driving Business Excellence and Innovation In today's dynamic world of business, no matter what sector or product or service you offer, competition is often seen as a big challenge to overcome. However, it is this very competition that fuels innovation, drives excellence, and fosters continual dev...
