Hello! Who Am I?
I’m a business consultant, non-executive director, lecturer and public speaker who’s excited by and loves sharing ways that creativity and new technology can help businesses succeed.
With a technology background and over 30 years of experience starting and growing businesses, I bring a practical “been there, done that” approach aligned with academic integrity.
A Teaching Fellow at Coventry University since 2016, I lecture on entrepreneurship, innovation and marketing. I also deliver programs to business owners and leaders on behalf of the University, including “Made Smarter: Leading Change in Digital Transformation” (for the manufacturing sector) and “Help to Grow” aimed at high-growth SMEs.
I’m the founder and director of a digital marketing agency and a non-executive director of several SMEs, including FSB, Federation of Small Businesses, where I also serve as Deputy Chair of UK Policy and leads on Net Zero, regularly meeting with leading decision makers to develop policy solutions to create a better environment for SMEs to thrive as well as a regular on regional and national media as a spokesperson for small businesses.
Outside of work I’m a keen runner, cyclist and adventurer and an advocate of active travel, you can find out more on that side of my life and the adventures I enjoy with my two children on our “A Little Adventure” blog and YouTube channel.
I received an MBE in 2017 in recognition of services to the economy and community.
Why this blog?
It’s my musings on experience in all aspects of my life, from business leadership to wild camping and cycling with children.
Hope you find it interesting and I would love it if it inspired a reader to start a business, get more active or go on an adventure.
I must get out into the mountains to learn the news
I am losing precious days. I am degenerating into a machine for making money. I am learning nothing in this trivial world of men. I must break away and get out into the mountains to learn the news.
Let’s talk about Town Centre Parking Charges
Great to be on BBC News to talk about the impact of increasing in-town parking charges compared to free out-of-town retail.
Something to read this summer
I was asked by the team at Coventry University to come up with my summer reading suggestions.
Make the World Better
This is not a time to use the UK as petri dish for political & economic ideas or for personality driven politics but for collegiate working to create a stable environment with a long term strategy to build a resilient economy and UK community.
Just how much can you transport by bike?
For the last 2 years almost all my food shops have been done by bike plus trailer, from a few bits to a full CostCo shop, all transported by human power. Why don’t you try it too?
London Marathon 2021
It was great to be back running in London on Sunday, after many “false starts” and a virtual version, London Marathon was back in all it’s glory.
Dan Beaumont is finishing a BIG adventure
I love my little adventures, a chance to take a break from “normal life” and the lift that that gives to your mental and physical wellbeing. But I’ve been following Dan Beaumont on Instagram for a while now, his adventure definitely cannot be described as little!
Escaping The Maze – A look at regulation and small business
When talking to small business owners about the challenges facing them and creating barriers to the growth of their business, one item is always top of the list, the regulatory burden. I’ve worked on a report, published today, which proposes a solution.
Cycling, Scotland and the Cateran Ecomuseum
Markus Stitz of Bikepacking Scotland have just released another short film “Built to Last” about cycling, Scotland and the Cateran Ecomuseum.
3 Key Asks for local elections by Small Businesses
In my role as chair of FSB’s English Policy Unit, we are calling on election candidates from all major parties to help small businesses and the self-employed get on the right footing for recovery with three key asks.