GROWTH PLANNING

Strategy and planning

Many entrepreneurs who initially contact us for a one-off piece of work (usually fundraising) retain us in a 'non-executive' capacity to provide regular advice and support.

This support can be crucial during the high growth phase of a business when the resources of the management team are stretched and the business is venturing into new areas.

Support typically takes the form of one of two days of our time every month, involving 'brainstorming sessions', project work and introductions to useful contacts. Alternatively, it may simply be a one-off project lasting a few days. Particular areas of focus can include:

• Increasing marketing effectiveness and opening up new marketing channels
• Growth planning
• Identifying barriers to growth and how they can be overcome
• Merger and acquisition planning
• Sale of the business and exit strategy

Business infrastructure

We bring expertise, not only in high level strategising and implementation, but also in some of the more mundane aspects of running a business. In many cases, it is the latter which entrepreneurs struggle to deal with effectively and many otherwise promising entrepreneurial businesses have failed through inadequate attention to the basics, such as cash collection or human resource management.

Ultimately, a successful high-growth business needs a full-time executive team to manage all of the business functions. Until such time as your business can afford a full-time team, we can assist in areas such as:

• Implementation of an effective management information system
• Advice on bookkeeping and accounting
• Financial management, credit control and cash collection
• Raising working capital finance through factoring and invoice discounting
• Human resource planning, recruitment and selection
• Implementing effective human resources procedures to retain and reward key staff

Please also see our Tools and Tips section for some free resources to help you improve your business systems and infrastructure.