23 May 2017
Gordon joined Velocity Growth Hub as a Business Adviser for Cherwell, South Northamptonshire and Daventry, in April. He talks to us about his first six weeks in post.
“I’ve met some incredible manufacturing businesses who are achieving great success in a very competitive global market. Some business owners have never come across business support that’s available to them but a lot have had support from government agencies in the past. The feedback I’ve had about this is that often support was mostly about administering funding for different programmes available.
“I’m here to ask the tough questions and challenge their thinking. Business owners I’ve spoken to really appreciate having someone to bounce ideas around, throw some new ideas into the mix. This helps their decision-making process and planning. It challenges people but it has also given the people I’ve supported this past month, confidence in the decisions they have made.”
“The owner of one company has great ideas, a lot of experience and a great team around them but the owner is the driving force. She’s everything that encapsulates the business – so who’s there to challenge her or help her to reaffirm the direction she’s taking the business in? This is where having an independent -and free- adviser to come in to give impartial advice and support can add real value. Having our grants for them to tap into also can allow them to develop their business processes and efficiencies to help them continue to prosper.”
Gordon has run his own business so is aware of the challenges clients are facing at the moment and can draw from this when talking to them. Gordon says: “Succession planning, staff development and effective marketing are the key things coming up regularly when talking to clients.”
If you want to speak to Gordon about one-to-one business support, grants or free workshops, contact him directly via email @ gordon.sparke@velocitygrowthhub.com or call the office on 01234 436123.
Gordon will be running two workshops in July on successful marketing. For more information, head over to our Website.
10 July: 9.30-12.30pm at the Icon Innovation Centre – Eastern Way, Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 0QB. SIGN UP HERE
13 July: 1.00pm-4.00pm at Cherwell District Council, Bodicote House, White Post Road, Bodicote, Banbury, OX15 4AA. SIGN UP HERE
Cherwell District Council is kindly providing the room and refreshments for the workshop at Bodicote House.
