
For me, deal making is the beating heart of organisational growth and allows me to work with business leaders with the courage and drive to grow their business. I am, at heart, a frustrated entrepreneur, so I love the infectious energy and enthusiasm of entrepreneurs whose ambitions stretch my imagination, tenacity and insight.
I focus on:
My experience with a wide range of clients, from start-ups with great people in charge, to firms needing to grow and those ready for sale, means that I am both flexible and technically strong and have seen most things before. So I know when to challenge the status quo and how to think beyond what clients see as possible in order to achieve their goals.
Outside work, I am an incredibly proud dad, a keen cyclist, runner and tennis player – I’m no Nadal, but I’m OK – and I take any chance I can get to be outside or on a campsite; it gives me a totally different perspective on life.
Discover my top tips
Believe in your own vision
Decide what really matters and stick to it – don’t get side tracked
Work with those that speak your language, work in the way that you want, will deliver for you and won’t become a drag.
Ensure that your support team can open doors for you and have connections.
Read questions I’m frequently asked
How can I build on and retain my key team?
Just bunging them lots of cash is not the best plan – consider EMI share options or growth shares, because they deliver long term buy in.
How can I attract investment and grow?
EIS investment is always worth trying; don’t underestimate the possibility of people being out there who may be interested in taking a punt and might be like minded enough to provide funding solutions.
What equity should I give away at an early stage?
Who knows? There is a lot of talk about how you value a business and lots of discussion about the process, but in my view you might as well stick a finger in the air and count to 10 - business owners should not get too fixated on valuation methods.
Service Teams