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.
Deliver the Best Every Time
Does that mean that mean never make mistakes? No, that’s impossible, we’re human after all! But, prompted by the experience of a friend of mine, who was delivered a substandard product, the critical bit is - when you’ve made a mistake, admit it and make it right. His...
My Politics Don’t Fit in a Box
Musings for the day, when thinking about my attitude to political parties, I realise that perhaps part of “voter apathy” and the convergence of political parties stand points, is that we no longer fit in tidy, political boxes. I’m a socialist - I believe in fair...
Difference Making
Today my thoughts have been around what can make a difference? How can a society be changed, how do we raise aspirations, take people from no hope to fulness of life? From schools in difficult areas in the UK to poverty in Uganda. The world faces many challenges. What...
The Bealach Na Ba and Applecross Peninsula
Ever since I got into cycling as a teenager combined with my life long love affair with the Scottish Highlands, has meant that I wanted to cycle up the Bealach Na Ba. It's a fearsome challenge, starting at sea level it wends its way up above Loch Carron and the drops...
Made it, cycled all the way up the Bealach Na Ba
Full details to come later but am feeling quite pleased that I managed to keep the pedals turning all the way to the top of the 626 metre climb up the Bealach Na Ba, I didn't have to get off and walk once! I also cycled round the Apple Cross Peninsular which had...
Off to climb the big one
Today's the day to climb the big one, bike's loaded on the car and we're on our way to Loch Carron, where I'll be getting back in the saddle to climb from sea level to 626m, up the Bealch Na Ba. Not sure if I'll be turning the pedals all the way to the top but I will...
Ride Day Eight: Golspie to Strathpeffer
And we finished (well sort of), today was the last leg of our main coastal tour round the North of Scotland. 49 miles of easier, rolling riding through countryside much more like ours in Warwickshire, with fields of crops, hedges and dry stone walling. The mountains in the background, however, and the sea by our side, ensured we didn’t forget where we were.
Ride Day Seven: Wick to Golspie
It seemed a gentler day’s ride to begin with, hardly any wind and the gradient not too severe. But that all changed when we got to Berriedale, a steep drop down, with some very battered looking barricades where a local coach only just avoided dropping 15 metres into the river the week before!
Ride Day Six: Reay to John O Groats to Wick
Starting with the view over to Doonreay reactor on our left, we set off towards John O Groats. The wind at our backs again and over terrain that was not quite as hilly meant our average speed was noticeably higher today.
Ride Day Five: Loch Eriboll to Reay
The scenery today has continued to be spectacular with wild moorlands, a view of deer again at the side of the road, and crossing the causeway at Tongue. We’ve finished up our ride at Reay, famous for the fast breeder reactor.