No preparation needed. We’ll start with how your business is actually running today.
Most SME owners don’t have a growth problem. They have a clarity, structure and value problem.
If everything still comes back to you, decisions don’t stick and performance isn’t where it should be. The issue is usually how the business is structured and run.
I work with business owners to get control back, improve performance and build a business that is not dependent on them.
Working with SME owners across North and Mid Wales, West Cheshire, the Wirral, Liverpool and Shropshire.
Everything still comes back to you
Your team are busy, but not aligned
Decisions take too long or don’t stick
You have meetings, but nothing really changes
Cashflow is tight or unpredictable
Profitability doesn’t reflect the effort going in
Financials are there, but not really driving decisions
You know the business could run better, but you’re not sure how to fix it
What looks like a people problem is usually a structure and accountability problem.
Most business owners I speak to have been putting up with this for longer than they should have.
Take the 5-minute Owner Dependency Scorecard to find out how long your business could actually run without you, and what that means for its value.
I work with business owners to understand how the business is really operating, identify what is holding it back and focus on what needs to change first.
Most businesses don’t need more ideas. They need clarity, better decisions and proper execution.
This is not about trying to fix everything at once. It’s about identifying the key issues, prioritising properly and focusing on what will make the biggest difference.
Creating clarity around direction and decision-making
Putting structure and accountability in place
Improving commercial discipline and profitability
Defining roles so people actually own outcomes
Addressing behavioural and people challenges directly
Reducing reliance on the owner
Building practical tools, including AI, that expose real numbers and reduce reliance on the owner
This is not a programme or a fixed process. Mentoring only works if there is a strong working relationship and a clear understanding of what needs to change.
We talk through how your business is actually running.
Clear, honest view of what is really going on.
We only move forward if it makes sense for both of us.
This is a working relationship, not just advice.
Different situations call for different levels of support. Most of my work with owners in the £1m–£10m range falls into one of these two.
A working relationship, not a one-off review. I stay close to the business as decisions, structure and performance evolve, meeting regularly and staying in touch in between.
Ideal when you want consistent perspective and support as things evolve, not just a single conversation.
A dedicated, focused piece of work for owners who need clarity, direction, or an experienced second perspective on a specific issue, without an ongoing commitment.
Ideal when you’re at a crossroads, navigating a specific decision, or want sharp, grounded input without an ongoing relationship.
Not quite £1m–£10m, or looking for something different?
Running a smaller business? The 60-Day Business MOT is a focused review for businesses under £500k turnover, and Early-Stage Mentoring gives you regular support as you grow.
Need to build capability in your team rather than work with you directly? Management Training helps SME teams build stronger leadership and management skills.
Every business has multiple issues. The starting point is understanding what actually matters, then prioritising what will make the biggest difference.
Owner involved in everything, leadership team not really leading
→ Introduced structure and accountability
→ Implemented proper meeting rhythm
Owner stepped out of day-to-day decisions within 3 months
Created capacity to focus on growth and commercial improvement
Strong team, but constant friction and lack of accountability
→ Reset leadership expectations
→ Defined responsibilities and behaviours
Improved alignment and stability
Created a stronger platform for performance and growth
Constant firefighting, poor planning, weak visibility
→ Introduced planning and job control
→ Improved daily structure
Reduced firefighting and improved margins
Brought better control and visibility into day-to-day operations
Most SME owners don’t have a growth problem. They have a clarity, structure and value problem.
Having been a business owner myself, I understand the reality behind the numbers: the pressure, trade-offs and consequences of decisions made too late or without structure.
Before working with SME owners, I operated at board level within a PE-backed business and later led a business within UL Solutions following acquisition, inside a £2bn+ global organisation.
That experience changes how I look at businesses:
Understanding how businesses are assessed commercially
Knowing what stands up to scrutiny
Balancing operational reality with strategic direction
The goal is always the same: a business that is less dependent on the owner, more commercially robust, and structured for long-term performance and value.
PE-backed SME · scaled to successful trade sale in 2022
Led operations, structure and performance improvement through a period of growth and change.
Led acquired business within UL Solutions · £2bn+ global organisation
Operated within a highly governed environment, balancing operational delivery with strategic and commercial priorities.
UK Business Mentoring · North and Mid Wales, West Cheshire, the Wirral, Liverpool and Shropshire
Working directly with SME owners to improve structure, leadership, performance and commercial discipline.
SME owners · £1m–£10m turnover
Typically working with businesses dealing with owner dependency, lack of clarity, weak accountability and performance pressure.
“Rob has been invaluable as my business mentor as I’ve been scaling my electrical business. He has a real knack for breaking down complex business challenges into straightforward steps I can actually implement. What I value most is having him as a sounding board — whenever questions come up about growth, systems, or the next steps for the business, I know I can run things past him and get practical guidance based on his genuine experience of scaling businesses.”
“We were a bit sceptical at first about bringing a mentor into our family-run business, but we knew we needed help finding what was holding us back. Rob came in and really changed how we think and how we look at the business. He’s helped us understand what we need to do to grow properly and more profitably. We’d definitely recommend Rob and are excited about where things are heading with what he’s helped us put in place.”
“I have had the privilege of working with Rob previously, and knowing his track record of business success, I was very happy to be given the experience of working with him again, this time as a business mentor for my Tech Recruitment business. Rob has already provided me with valuable tools and plenty of thought-provoking insights. His guidance has given me lots of things to focus on, and I’m genuinely excited about the months and years ahead as we continue working together.”
Owner-managed businesses turning over roughly £1m to £10m, across North and Mid Wales, West Cheshire, the Wirral, Liverpool and Shropshire. Typically businesses dealing with owner dependency, lack of clarity, weak accountability or performance pressure. If you are under £500k turnover, the 60-Day Business MOT or Early-Stage Mentoring is usually the better starting point. Between £500k and £1m, it depends on the business, so get in touch and we will work out which option fits best.
We talk through how your business is actually running: what is working, what is not, and what is getting in the way. No preparation needed. It takes about an hour, it is free, and it carries no obligation. If it makes sense to take it further we will. If not, you will still leave with a clearer view.
Ongoing Mentoring is a working relationship. I stay close to the business as decisions, structure and performance evolve, meeting regularly and staying in touch in between. Strategic Consultancy is a focused, one-off piece of work for owners who need clarity or an experienced second perspective on a specific issue, without an ongoing commitment.
Mostly mentoring, and it is hands-on rather than theory. I work with you to understand how the business is really operating and focus on what needs to change first. Where it suits better, Strategic Consultancy is a focused, one-off piece of consultancy on a specific issue, and Management Training builds the skills of your managers rather than working with you directly.
No. The initial 60-minute conversation is free and carries no obligation. We only move forward if it makes sense for both of us.
It depends on the business and what needs to change. The starting point is always understanding what actually matters, then prioritising what will make the biggest difference rather than trying to fix everything at once.
Shropshire, the Wirral, West Cheshire, Liverpool, North Wales and Mid Wales. The registered office is in Ruthin, North Wales.
No preparation needed. We’ll start with how your business is actually running today. If it makes sense, we’ll take it further. If not, you’ll still leave with clarity.
No preparation needed. Start with how things really are today. If it makes sense, we’ll take it further. If not, you’ll still leave with clarity.