I have been working in the area of business support since 2003 when I established a consultancy to provide strategic marketing to SMEs, primarily in the North West, but with a few clients in the south of England. At this time I also became a volunteer mentor with Community and Business Partners in Blackburn, when I worked with established and start-up businesses.

In 2008, I joined Business Link North West as a Business Advisor on the Professional Services Team, working with companies within this surprisingly broad group. I was required to close down my own business in order to avoid any conflict of interests. I continued with Business Link until the organisation was terminated in 2011.

I then re-established my own company providing business support to established and start-up businesses, being approved by Winning Pitch and PERA to deliver the Growth Accelerator Programme and also MAS to provide strategic marketing support. I also worked with Community & Business Partners on the BOOST programme as a mentor and as a Guardian Angel volunteer mentor. Around this time I successfully undertook a Level 7 qualification in Coaching and Mentoring through UCLAN and a Level 5 in Business Advice with The Chartered Management Institute.

Along with an ex Business Link colleague, I developed a business start-up support model that would sit alongside the back to work activities supplied by Upturn Enterprise Ltd to their housing association clients. A pilot scheme was established in Oldham in January 2014 and this proved to be very successful, with outcomes exceeding expectations. The clients include Regenda, The Guinness Partnership, Contour Housing, Aksa Homes and Golden Gates Housing Trust. The recent restructuring of housing association finance has caused a reduction in this activity and currently only Golden Gates are running the enterprise service.

Initially, I was retained by Upturn through my business to deliver this activity and later became a part time employee and Director. This is the current position where I am employed for a day and a half per week, working with start-up and fledgling businesses in deprived areas. Last summer I undertook the SFEDI Award Level 4 Award in Business and Enterprise Support and Skills Support.

I feel that my experience coupled with my coaching skills equip me to deliver business support to a high standard and my enthusiasm for making a positive difference to individuals from challenging backgrounds will add value to clients’ businesses.