Browse our mentors profiles alphabetically by surname
Name: Ben Abbot
Pen Portrait: I am a seasoned professional senior manager with comprehensive business and commercial experience and success. Using my experience and knowledge, I am well versed in developing and implementing organisational strategies, objectives and techniques into manageable tasks. Comprehensive experience and knowledge of numerous managerial and commercial methods and techniques enable me to initiate, innovate and manage change through business operations and systems. My experience enables me to provide guidance and support to those businesses that require assistance.
Name: Margaret Berrill
Pen Portrait: I am a versatile, motivated, well qualified general manager with corporate and SME experience. With a successful track record in Finance, Operations and Sales & Marketing, I left corporate life for a marketing role in a national charity. Now self-employed, I help others improve their businesses through consulting work, training, coaching and mentoring, as well as teaching management qualifications. I am passionate about good leadership and life-long learning.
Name: Paul Bonnett
Pen Portrait: Director working in the SME sector across a broad range of business, specializing in providing clarity and direction for the ongoing success of the business. Strong operational experience in both single and multi-unit hotel locations, gained with both private and blue-chip companies throughout the United Kingdom. Over the last 8 years have developed a range of people skills in coaching, facilitating and mentoring.
Name: Ian Brown
Pen Portrait: I have extensive SME and large business experience, having successfully progressed through technical field sales, sales management, general management, executive directorships and CEO positions in mechanical and electronic manufacturing sectors supplying a multitude of industries in the UK and rest of the world. My approach to business is very much market and customer focused, whilst at the same time ensuring that the needs of the business and its other internal and external stakeholders are met and exceeded.
Name: Michael Bullard
Pen Portrait: Michael is an experienced and effective senior manager, with a strong track record of profitability. A strategic thinker and positive agent for change, he is able to analyse market changes and identify opportunities designed to meet evolving market requirements. Michael's background is in B2B publishing; his current business provides marketing and internet development services to customers in a number of different sectors.
Name: Helen Chambers
Pen Portrait: Helen is renowned for her unflappable, realistic approach, her ability to see things holistically, and for her ability to quickly establish rapport. Helen believes in the power of reflective practice and in the benefits of self-awareness, self-belief and self-reliance.
Name: Steve Couchman
Pen Portrait: Steve has mentored many SME owner managers, and coached company directors on the EMDA High Growth Programme. He is highly skilled, drawing on over 30 years experience in leadership positions within SMEs and ‘blue-chip’ multinationals spanning manufacturing, distribution and the service sectors. He has direct experience of starting-up businesses from scratch and has ‘spun-out’ high technology companies from Universities. Steve utilises his considerable skills in conceptual thinking and strategic planning to identify main drivers and analyse complex problems. His ‘hands-on’ approach assists clients in developing solutions for their businesses.
Name: Alex Evans
Pen Portrait: I am a chartered engineer, professional manager and executive coach. I have been a management consultant and managing director of SMEs latterly acting as a company doctor turning round loss making businesses. I ran businesses in Israel, Iran and India so have wide experience of different types of companies. My experience includes business strategy, restructuring, manufacturing lean production, sales and marketing, recruitment, IR. I usually find reading John Whitmores books bring a clear focus to a business. My skills are as a good people person bringing out the latent abilities of the team I am working with. I combine the people side with a clear commercial focus to enable the company to grow and be successful.
Name: Lynn Galletly
Pen Portrait: I’ve been a Management & Organisational Development Consultant since 1991 operating in a wide range of private and public sector companies. I originally trained as a Careers Counselor and am RSA Counseling skills trained. My key focus is on challenging and supporting Senior Managers through mentoring, coaching and workshop / training activity to improve Business Practice by developing themselves and their people in order to maximise performance. I am passionate about the importance of people in securing organisational success, developing high performing, effective Managers and Directors who provide the service their teams deserve to perform effectively, challenging Director / Manager skills and behaviors and enabling them to ‘do things differently’ or ‘do different things’ for the benefit of the business and their people.
I have a lively, personable, outgoing and practical approach to improving organisational and individual client performance, and pride myself on strong communication and interpersonal skills in facilitating effective, focused team and ‘one to one’ activity.
Name: Michael Gibbs
Pen Portrait: A career in general management in the UK, Germany and the USA has given me experience of business at all levels and different cultures. I have started two companies of my own and I am now involved in Mentoring, Coaching and Advising SME’s to generate growth and wealth.
Sales and Marketing are my favourite topics and can help with Business Plans, Marketing Plans and Strategies.
Name: Gary Gorman
Pen Portrait: Gary Gorman is a leading UK sales mentor and works with businesses to help them attract more customers and grow sales quickly and easily. Having spent over twenty years in corporate sales Gary now runs regular mould-breaking sales mentoring workshops for numerous small businesses both online and face-to-face. Many of Gary’s clients tell him that they can’t believe the difference he has made to the way they now approach growing their sales.
Name: Adrian Holdstock
Pen Portrait: A self-employed life coach and business coach with over thirty-five years experience in leadership and management in public, private and voluntary sectors. Over last six years has enabled SMEs to thrive and grow through clear business strategies and focussed approaches to markets. Also enables individuals to find their dreams, overcome obstacles and achieve their ambitions.
Name: Geoff Holt
Pen Portrait: After 11 years in financial management, I set up my own businesses in IT providing management information solutions over 17 years to a wide range of businesses. I have experience of acquiring and selling businesses, preparing for an IPO and obtaining private equity investments. I now provide services to small business to help them grow; improve profitability and management, with a particular focus on business plans and financial projections.
Name:Ken Horn
Pen Portrait: Senior Executive in manufacturing, importing, retail supply, fmcg, public and private B2B. Director to industry leaders in contract apparel, branded sports goods, packaging and consumables. Award winning Advisor to leading business support agencies.
Name: Ignor Humphrey
Pen Portrait: A disciplined, compassionate and results oriented marketing, sales, change management and business growth mentor, with considerable experience and success of achieving results through team building, leadership, target and performance analysis. Experienced in multinational and owner / entrepreneurial organisations at board room and shop floor, at providing both the reasoned challenge for change and the supportive, nurturing encouragement required by individuals and groups to focus on and achieve their personal / collective deliverables in the agreed timescales.
Name: Harold Huxtable
Pen Portrait: I am 65 years old, married with two grown up daughters. An electronics engineer by training, I have spent most of my working life in customer service and management roles. Now retired my main interests are in sitting as a Magistrate and working as a mentor with NBV, both of which I have done for 8 years.
Name: Ken James
Pen Portrait: Married with two children and three grandchildren, born in Gloucestershire but have lived in the Midlands for 25 years. Following a science degree at Cambridge I had a successful business career which involved living in many parts of the UK and extensive travel. Retired from a CEO role in 2008 but maintained a range of business relationships by working part time. Played rugby and hockey, now my interests include golf, petanque and cycling.
Name: Peter Kimbell
Pen Portrait: I am a business leader living in South Northamptonshire who enjoys helping others to succeed. I have experienced success and failure and now use this knowledge to benefit those I work with. I believe that communities need to be populated by a comprehensive network of inter-dependent businesses whose principles should include the ambition to “Buy local and Sell global”.
Name: Simon Lamb
Pen Portrait: Simon is a business performance coach and mentor working with start ups, micro businesses and established businesses helping them to grow through removing barriers to growth and developing innovative strategies. Simon is well qualified with a life time of experience, in a broad range of industries, which is available to help other companies to achieve their goals whether they be increased sales and profitability, improved work life balance or just reduced levels of stress.
Name: Michael Lansdown
Pen Portrait: Former military officer with over 30 years logistics and training experience, carrying out senior and executive management roles in the Royal Air Force. Specialist in leadership and management. Has since developed a career as a business coach and trainer, utilising leadership development, teambuilding, management and coaching skills to help individuals and businesses be the best they can be.
Name: Liz Makin
Pen Portrait: Liz Makin provides personalised business coaching, business mentoring and stress management services to business owners, directors, managers and professionals. Liz Makin is an experienced and accredited business mentor, business coach and stress management consultant. With extensive business knowledge and experience, Liz can help you, whichever business sector your business operates in and business area you want support with. For more details see http://makinithappen.co.uk.
Name: Pete Mosley
Pen Potrait: My work takes many forms. I work with creative industry clients - large and small, voluntary sector organisations, universities, museums and galleries and private companies. I also acts as coach and mentor to a wide range of creative and exceptional people.
I present regularly at national conferences and events, and design and deliver training events, seminars and continuing professional development programmes. I travel widely across the UK.
I also write – as Business Editor for craft&design magazine, creating both online and offline content for the magazine.
My first book – Make Your Creativity Pay - is due out in June 2011
Name: Graham Pidcock
Pen Portrait: An experienced General Manager and Organisation Development and Training Professional with over 30 years of experience and a broad spectrum of expertise in the private, public and voluntary sectors. In addition to considerable consulting work, coaching and mentoring, his general management experience includes line responsibility at a senior level and policy and strategy formulation. Creative and practical with good social, presentation and interpersonal skills.
Name: Geoff Price
Pen Portrait: 50 years of business experience in Manufacturing, Retailing and Service industries. Enthusiastic, positive and determined to enjoy life whatever challenges it brings. Organised, logical, believer in attention to detail. Strong on building teams and good teamwork.
Name:Alison Richardson
Pen Portrait: From my belief that everyone has a right to be heard, I’m known as an inspirational and energetic coach and mentor, with a genuine interest in people. I have significant commercial experience which means I can understand your reality and challenge you to new ways of thinking, creating sustainable change and enabling you to achieve success and growth.”
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Name: Jim Scott
Pen Portrait: Very focused on helping people to enjoy running their businesses more and increasing profitability. Specialisms include business development, marketing, sales & franchising but many years of working in large PLCs and 21 years in my own business has taught me a few other things about business too. Very keen on developing systems and processes to help a business to run more smoothly and currently learning all I can about social media.
Name: Suzanne Sharp
Pen Portrait: Suzanne has extensive business experience working with a range of organizations and sectors, where the development of the potential in people, building confidence and motivation has always been a passion. She has a comprehensive knowledge of the Healthcare environment and worked for over 20 years in the highly competitive, commercial environment of the Pharmaceutical Industry.
Name: John L Spears
Pen Portrait: Sales & Marketing professional with extensive experience in fast moving consumer goods market having been trained by leading UK blue chip companies. Several years experience working with small businesses and achieving growth, success and profitability. Have devised strategies to overcome problems and issues faced.
Name: Sue Spencer
Pen Portrait: I first developed a strong interest in personal and professional development whilst studying for my Master’s Degree in 1988. Since this time, my commitment to the principles of improvement, growth and learning has underpinned my practice in a broad range of work contexts. I have been active in supporting both individuals and groups within organisations to achieve their goals throughout my career.
Since setting up my consultancy business in 2000, I have worked in various Interim Senior Management and Leadership capacities, where I gained practical hands on experience, in successfully leading colleagues to achieve organisational change & improvements. Working on a one to one basis to support managers & leaders proved to be a powerful and highly effective way of achieving positive outcomes, leading to my decision to focus my current business priorities on this way of working.
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Name: David M G Stevens
Pen Portrait: Starting as an Apprentice at GEC in 1972. Developing through engineering to management at Rank Taylor Hobson for 20 years. Leading a Buy-In-Management-Buy-Out with Cooke Optics in 1998 turning it from £2.5m to £6.5 turnover over a ten-year period - designing and manufacturing 35mm lenses for the movie industry.
Now providing non-exec and new and established business assistance. Also coaching / mentoring at organizational, team and individual level….. Honesty, fairness and hard work ethics.
Name: Mike Sylvester
Pen Portrait: I started business life at age 16 with no qualifications and was awarded FCIM at the age of 60 based upon my contribution to marketing since 1982. I have published my first book which has excellent revues on Amazon and has sold out the first edition. I enjoy rigorous physical exercise and relax on my boat named Motivator.
Married with two adult sons who are sea farers.
Name: Brian Tetley
Pen Portrait: I have a passion for developing people to deliver to their full potential. I am a fully qualified Engineer, Safety officer, Training Manager and HR professional and can bring experience from all these roles into my daily life as a Director of 2 businesses and a Large local Charity, as well as being Chair of Governors of a large local school.
Name: Chris Trigg
Pen Portrait: Chris is a mature, multi-skilled manager and director, with nearly 40 years experience in all aspects of business, and has had significant levels of budget and staff responsibility. With strong inter-personal skills and a relaxed, affable management style, he is well able to coach or mentor executives and managers at all levels. He is an accomplished communicator in both formal and informal situations, and with much international experience is very culturally aware.
Name: Philip Thornton
Pen Portrait: Retired but still very active socially and business. Widowed 10 years ago but now with new partner. Two daughters and four fab Grandsons. Worked in the food industry four over 40 years the last 20 of which at director and Managing Director level. Companies such as Campbel’s Soups, Brook Bond, Spillers plus a period starting my own manufacturing business and selling on to a major uk PLC. Enjoy Sailing, tennis, playing and collecting Guitars, woodturning, DIY, gardening(if I must). And helping businesses through Mentoring.
Name: Sonia Thompson
Pen Portrait: I have been running my own small business in the training and development field for the past five years. It’s exciting and interesting and I can’t believe I did anything else before this. I see myself as a learning expert and have knowledge and experience to move people from where they are in their business to somewhere much better. I work with businesses in the UK and abroad.
Name: Tino La Torre
Pen Portrait: As an experienced Corporate bank manager. I became a Business Consultant in 2000. I have worked on Public and private sector contracts since then helping many individuals set up and maintain successful businesses.
I am a sports fan, supporting local Rugby team and participating in golf, Badminton, cycling, treks and marathon running. Performing with in drama group and a musician with eclectic tastes.
Name: Ruth Walker
Pen Portrait: I have worked as a Mentor for the last 8 years, successfully assisting clients in the following sectors:
- Healthcare (a business in this category 10 awards since 2004 including Queens Award for Enterprise Innovation 2008
- International Trade
- Financial Services
- Sports Consultancy
- Retail
- Complimentary Therapists
My mission is to provide professional business support to small and medium enterprises in the East Midlands.
Name: Phil Wass
Pen Portrait: Seasoned operations manager with 25 years experience of running manufacturing sites around the country on behalf of large corporates. Set up my own services business 12 years ago. I am qualified to degree level. I have a real passion for business – especially in helping start ups and early stage development businesses to improve their chances of success by applying ‘big company’ philosophies to small and medium sized businesses.
Name: Clare Whalley
Pen Portrait: I have worked as a mentor for the past 5 years and run a successful coaching business. I’m passionate about helping individuals improve their own skills in order to increase their business profitability and enjoyment for what they do. I have experience of many industries across sales, service and team management and believe success is achieved by the use of excellent communication skills and a willingness to keep changing and developing.
Name: Keith Widdowson
Pen Portrait: I currently run my own consultancy in the pharmaceutical and venture capital industries.
( see www.internationalpharmaceutical.co.uk ). I am also involved in occasional mentoring and coaching. As Chairman of Medilink East Midlands, I lead a Board and executive team whose role is to help SMEs in the healthcare industry establish, grow and develop. My industry background is in senior commercial positions in building businesses internationally.
Name: Ron Williams
Pen Portrait: A mature professional with substantial experience with multi-national companies and ten years as a mentor with NBV. Quick to address business problems and a practical, helpful and realistic attitude for solutions and empathic with clients driving them to success. Excellent communication and networking skills. Active in the voluntary sector, School Governor, former Chair of SE Arts Council and co-author of volume on village history.
