Anyone know of a good business advisor?

[vintagewriter]

Hello,

I'm in the process of setting up a lifestyle management business and could do with a good business advisor/mentor to run my plans by, sound off to, approach for advice, etc etc.

Any recommendations?

For more info, the website address is www.perfectly-organised.co.uk

Thanks,

[raspberrybloom]

Hi,

Your local business link should be a great resource for you.

www.businesslink.gov.uk

Good luck with your new venture.

Louise

[creacom]

Hi Helen

Have you been in touch with The Highlands and Islands Enterprise ?
http://www.hie.co.uk/moray

They have business advisors and mentors that you can meet up with and get help from for free.

The equivalent in Ross Shire helped us out and they are fantastic !

Hope it helps.

Jacqui

[daveashton]

lol if you get an advisor from Scottish Enterprise , check what they have done first.

On a more posstive note, we know several depending on:

1: where you are based
2: what their main skills should be.


call if interested

[10 Yetis]

Watcha,

I would have a chat with Alan from Alpha Business Services. He is a mod on here.

He has helped us so much it is becomming scary. Even from a motivational point of view (if you look past the brummy accent! :D ) he is great.

[vintagewriter]

Thanks Andy, I'll try Alan before I approach anyone else. I've used Highlands & Islands before but didn't find the guy that approachable, very elusive character, hard to track down. Then again, I suppose I could ask to be referred to somebody else - or he might have moved on to pastures new.

Thanks for the comments Louise and Dave - Dave, I might be in touch, I'll see how I get on with Alan. Louise, I'm going to take a look at the business link site now - thanks for the tip off.

[creacom]

Hi Helen

Ask to be referred to someone else at HIE. You can fall upon the wrong type of person sometimes. From what I know they have just changed all of their consultants so it shouldnt be a problem now.

I also know personally the director of the business start up side of things for the whole of HIE, so if there is a problem I can give him a shout and see what he can do.

Jacqui

[daveashton]

There are a few good people in SE, but many have not run successful businesses. Remember that if they could (and have done so) why are they taking the v small wage that SE provides.

You can get grants for mentors/ training etc so I would pick someone who still has a good business or is semi retired and does not need the money because they ran a good business.

Yes they are harder to find, but they are a lot more proven and hence give advice based on success and experience not theory!!!!!!

[vintagewriter]

Good advice Dave - thank you, I'll take your comments on board.

[annethedonn]

Hi Helen

I'll ask John Courtney to contact you from strategy consulting. He is a business mentor and will be able to help you.

Anne

[vintagewriter]

Thanks Anne, that would be great - the more I have in front of me to consider the better. It's just a matter of finding one I click with.

[annethedonn]

You're welcome. He'll probably be in touch Monday!

[Faith28]

Cliff Maxam is a successful business man (by building several businesses and selling them on) who is now a business advisor. I 'discovered' him when I saw him on the East Lodon Small Business Centre seminars he was giving. He gives seminars but he is also a business advisor. From my experience of him during his sessions he knows his stuff inside out. He is also very popular based in Hertfordshire if I recall correctly.

I have my own advisor through my local agency as mentioned but I do wish I could afford Cliff.

You can ask the agency about him to get further info if you like.

http://www.goeast.org/011elsbc.htm#

[Robert]

I use a business mentor called Keith Poulton who is very good. He's based in Swansea, but I'm sure he could help you remotely.

PM me if you need his details.

[refreshious]

Hi

So what do you guys look for in a mentor? Have they actually made it successfully? The 'advisors' I get recommended are usually ones that haven't really done much.

[telemax]

Hi

A guy called Haider shakiry. He does work for Business link and The London Borough of Enfield but he is also a successful freelancer, with the benefit of running his own business too.

He got me access to finance and a lot of other good advice

hshakiry@enterprisesuccess.co.uk

Regards

Jonathan

[Mark Flanighan]

Hi Helen,

Advice from the horses mouth.

There is a difference of someone whom gives advice and somene who works with you to find solutions.
If you were learning to fly, you could first get some advice on airfields, planes, costs etc. But when you are sitting at the controls of your plane for the first time, is that advice enough? Or do you really want someone sitting next to you to who had flown before and will get you up into the air and more importantly back down safely. Free advice services tend only to deal with the advice part, so find an advisor that has flown before and can fly your business.

It is true what a previous post said, a lot of business advisors earn the same as many factory workers. If they were so qualified why except those earnings? Unless part time of course. A good advisors advice will pay for itself many times over, but it may not be cheap in the first instance.

Finally find an advisor that is part of a network. I am honest with my clients in that I don't know everything, but what I dont know I will find out about within the network. Advisors on their own don't have this back up knowledge. But you might need it to get your moneys worth.

Not looking for business as you are not local.

Hope this helps.

Mark Flanighan