Experience

• 

  Alexander Battery Technologies

  • Financial Director

    • Oct 2023 - Present

• 

  Harrison Packaging

  • Stockton-on-Tees, England, United Kingdom

  • Financial Controller

    • Jul 2023 - Oct 2023
    • Stockton-on-Tees, England, United Kingdom

• 

  SMITHERS-OASIS U.K. LIMITED

  • Analyst

    • Jan 2022 - Jul 2023

• 

  Gentoo Group

  • Sunderland, England, United Kingdom

  • Non Executive Director

    • May 2020 - Feb 2022
    • Sunderland, England, United Kingdom

• 

  VISMAP

  • Sunderland, United Kingdom

  • Co-Founder

    • Oct 2018 - Dec 2021
    • Sunderland, United Kingdom

    Combining my experience with two like-minded Durham Business School Graduates, I am working to launch VISMAP (visual strategy mapping) - a route map that uniquely combines strategy, product, market and finance.VISMAP is not a paper-based plan written by an MD sat in an ivory tower. It's an interactive strategy tool for an emerging digital age, facilitated in workshops and supported by software. Simple but not simplistic. Stimulating debate, it brings people out of silos and unites a team whilst in turn creating a visual strategy. Not only can this be seen, accessed and updated by all gatekeepers, it can also play out alternate scenarios to product and service lines to illustrate real-time financial impact.

• 

  The Leadership Academy

  • Sunderland

  • CEO

    • Sep 2015 - Dec 2021
    • Sunderland

    At The Leadership Academy we provide straightforward advice, mentoring, coaching and consultancy services to SME leaders that drives strategy execution and performance.Utilising over 25 years Corporate experience in SME's accross a variety of sectors, including more than 20 years at Executive Board level, we deliver development that delivers.

• 

  Growth Circles (Un) Limited

  • Sunderland, United Kingdom

  • Co-Founder

    • Mar 2018 - May 2020
    • Sunderland, United Kingdom

    Because a problem shared is a problem solved....Growth Circles do what they say on the tin; circles of business owners working together to grow their businesses.Growth Circles are mastermind groups for business owners, solopreneurs and new(ish) starts, which:- Help you deal with big decisions in complete confidentiality- Allow you to cut through the noise of day-to-day operations- Achieve clarity of thought and a new sense of purpose- Add world-class learning to your business toolkit - and practical tools that can be immediately implemented- Give you time and space to work ON, not IN your business- Provide CPD that is perfectly tailored to the needs of small business owners and managers- Create accountability that ensures you deliver on your plans for transformation and growthGrowth Circles: the ultimate health check and fitness regime for YOUR businessWe’re hard-working, not networking!

• 

  Vistage UK

  • North East England

  • Group Chair

    • Oct 2016 - Dec 2018
    • North East England

    Vistage is the world’s leading Executive Peer-Group Organisation for Managing Directors, Chief Executives and other business leaders and has more than 21,000 members worldwide.In the UK Vistage has over one hundred regional groups made up of up to sixteen business leaders and the groups are led by a Vistage Chairman who acts as a facilitator and business coach. Vistage provides an environment where group members can advise one another by testing plans, assumptions and decisions, and learn from a world-wide network of business experts. Vistage helps business leaders make better decisions, achieve better results and lead more fulfilling lives. Vistage membership also helps them to achieve their company’s full potential for profit, turnover and commercial growth.By joining a local Vistage group members will immediately benefit from:- A highly skilled and experienced Vistage Chair who will run their group and have monthly, confidential one-to-one coaching sessions with them to help them identify the key issues and challenge to achieve their goals- Regular workshops from some of the world's very best business experts- Experiential learning with fellow Vistage group members - People just like them who are keen to learn but also have a great deal of experience and skills to contribute- Access to a world class community of more than21,000 other business owners and leaders,together with a vast on-line business library of tools, templates, best practices and advice

• 

  Age UK Northumberland

  • Trustee

    • 2016 - Dec 2016

• 

  Durham Students Union

  • Durham, United Kingdom

  • Chair

    • Jul 2013 - Apr 2016
    • Durham, United Kingdom

    Durham Students' Union represents over 16,000 students studying at Durham University. The Union acts as a unified voice on campus and leads on issues such as academic representation and the provision of facilities. We run one of the most successful RAG (raise and give) operations (DUCK) and support 200 almost societies, which complement a smaller number of college/common room societies.We aim to be an enabling Students Union which develops and supports our students as they strive to create a lasting, positive impact in society and in their own lives through their university experience.As Chair of Trustees, I work with the CEO and my fellow trustees to:- review and improve governance structures- review and support implementation of revised internal structures to support the organisation strategy- review and improve the skills breadth and depth of the external trustees through a skills audit and trustee recruitment

• 

  EBAC LIMITED

  • United Kingdom

  • Interim CEO

    • Jun 2015 - Sep 2015
    • United Kingdom

    Worked with the Chair, Trustees and Executive team to review organisational structure and support project management of introduction of two key new product lines.

• 

  CBI

  • Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  • Regional Director for the North East

    • Jun 2014 - Jun 2015
    • Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    The CBI speaks for companies of every size, from micro businesses to FTSE 100, family-owned businesses to trade associations. There are four major benefits to membership: influence on policies through lobbying opportunities, connections with the right people through networking events, decision-making advice through business intelligence, and brand enhancement through our influential thought-leadership reports, surveys and events. With the largest policy team outside of Westminster, we give employers and businesses a voice at a national and international level. Covering more than 80 policy issues, our current campaigns include ‘Delivering Prosperity for Britain,’ ‘Winning the Public’s Confidence in Business,’ ‘Getting Britain Building’ and ‘Ensuring Growth makes a Difference for Everyone’.Members of the CBI have access to key insights to inform their business strategy through our digital magazine Business Voice, surveys, research reports, and our Intelligence First series. In addition, CBI members are given unique networking opportunities to enhance their brand and give them access to senior international figures from business and government.As Regional Director for the North East I implemented a strategic review of local activity and engagement, increasing membership by 10% and increasing engagement through development and delivery of new event plan by 240%. Worked with local stakeholders, including local and national politicians to ensure that the views of the business community were communicated and represented in local and central decision making; worked directly with C suite executives of member organisations to understand and support their strategic goals through networking and lobbying activities; representation of members views in the media; print, radio and television.

• 

  Keyfund

  • Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  • Chair of Trustees

    • Sep 2012 - May 2015
    • Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    At The Key we believe all young people have the power to be great. The tragedy is that 10’s of 1000’s of young people across Britain aren’t happy, aren’t motivated and don’t believe in the power of their own potential. The Key helps young people unlock their unique potential by trusting they can realise it for themselves. We provide opportunities for them to practically develop their skills and inner strengths in order to achieve their own ambitions. As Chair of Trustees, I worked with the CEO and fellow trustees to:- review and improve the skills strength and depth of the Trustee Board through a skills audit and Trustee recruitment- increase the breadth of income streams to improve The Key's robustness in an increasingly difficult and competitive landscape for the charity sector- review and support implementation of revised internal structure to support the revised strategy of the organisation- improve overall governance structure

• 

  SCM Pharma

  • Northumberland, United Kingdon

  • Managing Director

    • Mar 2010 - May 2014
    • Northumberland, United Kingdon

    Board member with strategic and operational responsibility for growth and development of the business; led business from pre-profit through to profitability; drove market-led strategic review; raised growth investment injection of £5M; establishment of commercial scale manufacturing capability; drove >400% growth in turnover; establishment of US office and launch into American market; increased exports as a % of turnover from less than 2% to >50% across a range of geographical markets.

• 

  Business & Enterprise Group

  • Non Executive Director

    • 2006 - Jan 2013

• 

  Mechetronics Limited

  • County Durham, United Kingdom

  • Director

    • Oct 1999 - Nov 2009
    • County Durham, United Kingdom

    Business Unit Director / Oct 08 – Nov 09Responsible for full integration plan for the acquired businesses; developed and managed strategic plan to merge UK manufacturing sites, including managing the closure of one site; re-structuring of corporate structure in Asia; establishment of new wholly-owned China operation in Suzhou.Managing Director / Jun 04 – Sep 08Board member with strategic and operational responsibility for Mechetronics Group; managed sale process of the business to Curtiss Wright Inc.; in first year delivered double profits on reduced turnover; established of Wholly owned Chinese Manufacturing subsidiary; established Hong Kong subsidiary; established Indian Engineering office; established new management team and restructure of UK manufacturing site; development of new brand identity and marketing program; development of market sector focus sales & marketing strategy delivering sales growth of 25% in targeted sectors.Finance & Operations Director / Oct 99 – May 04Operational responsibility for Production, Planning, Purchasing, Stores, Quality, Maintenance, Production Engineering, Facilities, Finance, IT, HR, Customer Support & Administration; led project to move Manufacturing site, sub-contract two key processes and resulting redundancy situation; led Wage and Terms & Conditions negotiation with Unions; introduced Company wide measures in line with Lean/Agile manufacturing principles; introduced new, robust accounting procedures and Management Accounts Information; introduced Team recognition scheme and Lifelong Learning programme; upgraded and expanded IT system; customer and Supplier contract negotiations; development of new pricing policy.

• 

  Millipore

  • County Durham, United Kingdom

  • Finance Manager

    • Jun 1993 - Sep 1999
    • County Durham, United Kingdom

    Supported the growth of the business through relocation to purpose built new facility; growth of US sales subsidiary; scale up of business processes to support doubling in size; regular support and communication with investors; due diligence and data-room management for sale of business to Millipore; post-sale integration implementation and delivery of back office services.