John Bycroft
Aorta Sales Limited

Originally an IT systems professional, John Bycroft gained extremely valuable experience as a buyer of services and systems, before “crossing the line” into sales.

As a sales professional, John has worked throughout the UK and around the world, successfully selling into a wide diversity of companies and industries, large and small; Government agencies; public and private sector; business to business and business to consumer. John has firsthand experience of a selling in different countries, employing different approaches, to different cultures, using local partners and selling directly.

Since 2001, John has established a number of sales related companies providing practical support and advice on all aspects of sales and business development, to all types and sizes of clients. Services include sales prospecting, lead generation, sales process audits, proposition articulation assistance, right up to a full outsourced sales service where Aorta Sales; John’s primary company, literally does the selling.

Through the amalgamation of several delivery channels and with reciprocal sales links in 26 other countries, Aorta Sales is able to take a macro view of the organisational sales issues and sales processes and directly apply ‘An holistic approach to sales’. Whatever your sales or business development related issue, John can help.

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Russell Copley

An entrepreneur himself, with his own successful management consultancy business, Russell has held a number of senior positions in both the public and private sector.

Russell is also the Chief Executive of EMIN.

Russell's business background was developed during a career with BP Oil and he has since used that experience to grow a number of businesses ranging from new start-ups to existing, large scale businesses.

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Peter Etherington
Peter Etherington Employment Law Services

Peter Etherington has many years’ experience as a senior HR practitioner and consultant. He has helped a wide variety of organisations, from blue chip to the smallest SME, with a range of staffing issues, such as disciplinary and grievance, performance management, redundancy, transfers of undertaking, organisational change, recruitment and absence management.

Peter has an MA in Human Resource Management from De Montfort University & the LL.M. in Law of Employment Relations from the University of Leicester.

Peter’s service includes drafting of contracts of employment, policies & procedures and other essential documentation; advice on staffing matters; management training; and Employment Tribunal representation.

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Neil Wadsworth

Neil Wadsworth of Anderson Locke is available to answer your questions about business planning and strategy.

Specialising in high growth businesses, Anderson Locke provides a range of finance related services to enable business owners to ensure their business fulfils its potential. These include:

• Business planning and strategy
• Business acquisitions and disposals
• Business succession planning

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Rob Lucas

Rob is an eminent expert in intellectual property project management and development with a background spanning many years in managing a wide range of intellectual property across both industrial and institutional sectors for would be entrepreneurs, companies and institutions.

Rob's company, Jembro, trains, manages and publishes in the complex subject of intellectual property management and commercialisation across a wide range of industries and institutions. Jembro works with patent attorneys, intermediaries and financial institutions with one aim – maximising the opportunity and minimising the risk in developing IP for SMEs, students and academics alike.

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Hugh Strickland
geldards.co.uk

Hugh is a partner in the Corporate team of Geldards, advising a wide range of businesses on legal issues.  Many of these issues arise out of their growth - incorporation as a limited company, shareholders' agreements, employee share option schemes, financing arrangements.  Hugh also advises on buying and selling businesses

Geldards LLP law firm, with offices in Derby, Nottingham and Cardiff, is one of the UK's leading regional law firms.

They are a dynamic, forward thinking and progressive firm. They work with all types of organisation, ranging from start-ups to the very largest public companies. They understand that new businesses are the engines of the future, but also that they require specialist care in their early stages.

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Jon Dawson
RSM Bentley Jennison

Jon Dawson is a Senior Manager at professional services firm, RSM Bentley Jennison, who specialise in business integrity and investigations, forensic accounting, tax return preparation services, audit and corporate finance.

RSM Bentley Jennison is increasingly being regarded as one of the most progressive professional services firms in the UK today. With exceptional business growth, the firm takes pride in delivering recognised year on year improvements in market performance and real development in client focus, internal effectiveness and innovation.

Through a comprehensive suite of accountancy and business advisory services, RSM Bentley Jennison offers intelligent solutions to a client base that ranges from individuals and owner managed businesses, to large corporations and public sector organisations.

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Jon Gilbert
Routen and Chaplin IFA Ltd
www.routenchaplinifa.co.uk & www.routenchaplin.co.uk

Based in Long Eaton, Routen Chaplin is one of the East Midlands' leading independent insurance brokers & financial advisors.

We have a professional team of over 40 members offering insurance broking and independent financial advice. Our staff are professionally trained & are specialists in their own areas; this ensures we are able to offer you a full range of services and products through our extensive experience and knowledge.

Some of our key areas include:

• Shareholder Protection
• Keyman Insurance
• Start-up Finance
  Mortgages – Commercial and Domestic
• Retirement Planning
• Liability Insurance – Employers and Public /Products
• Professional Indemnity

Routen Chaplin IFA Ltd is an appointed representative of Sesame Ltd. which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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Mark Philmore
MFL Science & Technology Insurance Brokers

Mark is an experienced general insurance adviser specialising in providing pragmatic and appropriate risk management and insurance advice to early stage businesses.

Having worked as an underwriter for a specialist technology insurer for many years before moving in to broking, Mark is well placed to assess risk and provide advice on risk reduction and mitigation as well as providing appropriate insurance solutions.

Mark has worked with start up and young technology businesses through high growth periods to exit, flotation and beyond.

He is ACII qualified as well as being a Chartered Insurance Broker and has over 20 years of practical experience in the sector.

MFL has developed a suite of products that specifically cater for the requirements of a young science and technology led business.
Mark has particular expertise in looking after science and technology businesses as well as professional advisers in or outside of the sector.

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Emma Swales
Marketingesp Limited

Emma’s career in sales and marketing spans two decades working predominantly with manufacturing businesses and the food service industry. She has extensive experience and knowledge of business systems, change management, business development, customer service and strategic marketing.

Marketingesp was founded by Emma in 2005 to provide small and medium businesses with access to professional and cost-effective marketing consultancy and practical implementation of marketing projects enabling businesses to unlock their potential and achieve more customers, more sales and more profit.

Having spent several years in the exhibition industry, Emma has developed an exhibition marketing programme which enables exhibitors to realise and harness the unique power of exhibitions and face-to-face marketing. Her programme includes planning and logistics, promotional activities, stand staff training and preparation, lead management, follow up and tracking.

“I would not hesitate to recommend the services of Marketingesp to anyone who is involved with exhibiting or events as using Emma’s in depth knowledge of how the exhibition industry ticks pretty much guarantees success.” Greg Pye, Director, GForce Displays

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Stuart Jones
Secantor Limited

Stuart is a qualified accountant and Senior Associate with Secantor, one of the UK's longest established and the most successful supplier of part time finance directors. 

Stuart has worked in a number of senior roles with a variety of companies.  He has been involved with company turnarounds, strategic planning, people management and development, system implementation and the upgrading of key financial management reporting processes.  As well as being a qualified accountant, he has a certificate in business support and also has a counselling certificate.

Stuart currently provides mentoring support to businesses based in the De Montfort University Innovation Centre.

Secantor’s advice covers areas such as the development of high level strategic plans, business planning, cash flow management, management information and reporting, financial systems and controls and external fund-raising including flotations.

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Rachel Hargrave
The Phoenix Partners

Rachel Hargrave is the Founder and Managing Director of The Phoenix Partners.

As an agency, The Phoenix Partners have specialists in each of the following fields:

• PR, marketing and advertising
• Design and photography
• Film and video
• Animation and Illustration
• Writing services
• Web and new media
• Incentive travel and motivation campaigns
• Live event design, production and management
• Experiential marketing

Send Rachel a question

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