When growth stalls, the answer isn’t always ‘more sales’.
I help SMEs in Berkshire & Surrey identify what’s holding growth back, fix it and then build a more resilient business.
The problem
Sometimes it is sales. Often it’s something else. Your proposition or positioning, products or services that have stopped making money, an offer that has gone stale, a business that still runs around on legacy systems and processes, increasing sustainability demands, or skills and capability that haven’t kept up with its size.
How I work with you
I come alongside you in whichever way suits you best:
Part-time commercial director. The commercial leadership you need, without the full-time cost.
Fractional. Hands-on support on specific priorities, for as long as they need it.
Sounding board. A regular, independent view from someone who has run businesses like yours.
I always start with 10 questions
They help to determine gaps, risks and opportunity:
What business are you really in?
Where do you make the money
Is the business proposition and positioning clear to all?
What is your competitive position?
Is this a good market to be in?
What customers and markets should you pursue?
What resource and capabilities do you need?
What should you stop doing?
Should you do something else?
Are sustainability or carbon-data requirements affecting your ability to retain customers and win tenders?
About me
I’ve spent over 25 years on the commercial side of businesses, from BBC Worldwide and Universal Pictures to managing director roles in B2B media and marketing. I look past the story a business tells about itself and get close to what’s actually happening, then help you decide what to do next.
Based in Berkshire, working with businesses across Berkshire and Surrey.
Tell me a little about your business and what feels stuck.
Qualifications
MBA and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM)
Future-Fit Business Benchmark Accredited Advisor
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
25+ years’ P&L experience, including BBC Worldwide, Universal Pictures and SME managing director roles
Other accreditations: Accredited Carbon Literacy Facilitator; Course Director, CIM Sustainability & Marketing; Corporate Governance Institute, Board Oversight & ESG Governance.
Selected results
University World News: Advisory work using the ten questions, resulting in a redefined proposition, structural changes and a revised business model.
Ultima Media: £1.4m revenue growth, £400k margin improvement and 140% digital revenue growth through transformation towards digital, data and custom content.
Archant Dialogue: £900k margin improvement with 10% organic growth while retaining key clients.
Lick Creative: More than 50% revenue growth to £4.3m and 12% net profit following repositioning and changes to the fee model.
Universal Pictures: 34% revenue growth to £150m and a 41% improvement in contribution margin.
BBC Worldwide: More than £500k in incremental revenue through commercial development across events, publishing, digital and acquisitions.
SA Brain: Developed a practical sustainability strategy and operational pathway, connecting commercial realities with environmental and social goals.
Retail Marketing Agency: Advised on enterprise client RFP requirements, sustainability positioning and commercial contracting strategy across supply-chain operations.
