Meet the Team

Alan Halsall Alan qualified as a lawyer before taking over the family toy company, growing the business to a turnover of £80M and leading it to a management buyout. Alan then purchased Silver Cross the famous pram company, transforming the business into an internationally recognised brand before selling it in 2015. Today Alan co-chairs Business for Britain.

Roger Tempest Roger runs the award winning Broughton Hall Estate and Business Park, is Executive Chairman of Rural Concepts Group and a director of several enterprises involved in the heritage and rural regeneration sector. Roger also has a major interest in a number of overseas projects, newspaper management, construction and the leisure industry.

Andy Barton With over twenty years experience in corporate strategic development, Andy helps business owners and their executives realise and manage the business’s growth potential. A qualified Business Coach, and Warwick MBA, Andy has a pragmatic approach to business development, drawing on his marketing and analytical skills to develop truly customer lead solutions.

Simon Mercer With over twenty-five years working within marketing, advertising & communications, today Simon undertakes consultancy for governments or private consortiums who wish to maximise the value of their vehicle assets. Simon works through direct and online auctions worldwide and is also involved in a number of China based projects.

Steve Richardson Steve has many years senior management experience in a high volume, multi site production and distribution environment coupled with six years in the non food FMCG sector. Cost conscious and profit driven with a wealth of international experience, Steve manages and motivates staff in change management, outsourcing and supply chain management.

Simon Morris As a partner with the law firm Raworths LLP, Simon provides commercial legal advice and support to small and medium size enterprises throughout the region, encompassing a wide variety of clients from small family businesses to large venture capital backed enterprises. Simon’s extensive experience of working with local businesses has equipped him with a broad understanding of business management issues and the capacity to work within the majority of business sectors.

Hanne Barton With a career in Special Education, Hanne was Head Teacher of an all age Special School with a substantial outreach sector. A qualified School Improvement Partner and Mentor, Hanne now supports headteachers and school management to develop an 'outstanding' approach to pupil and staff development.

Alex has a background in finance with operational board, private equity and corporate finance experience. He has specialised in growing and developing businesses either by organic growth, new business streams or acquisition. He enjoys both the investment side and the operational delivery of the investments.

Chris has extensive experience of UK and International Sales and Marketing Management, has held a Senior Management position in a major UK Insurance Company, founded an Independent Financial Adviser Business and led a division of a Global Software Company. His experience includes identifying new market opportunities for innovative technology solutions and creating the go-to market strategies for direct sales and partner channel delivery in the financial services and healthcare sectors.

Nick is an entrepreneur who founded and subsequently led the growth of Pure Collection from a cashmere specialist cataloguer to become a premium women’s fashion label. The company today is a multi channel and international retailer and a thriving online and catalogue business. Nick continues to lead and influence the business through a professional private equity style management team to lead the company’s growth to £100m sales in 2020

Richard, owner of Ideostone is a facilitator in environmental learning. For more than 12 years he has been an Associate Lecturer with the Open University, teaching environmental and business modules. He has devised face-to-face and e-learning courses for individuals and businesses to help them learn how to reduce their impact on the environment.

Claire set up a small tool hire shop in Skipton in 1981 and now the firm now hires plant, tools and access equipment throughout Yorkshire and Lancashire, with depots at Northallerton, Ripon, Ilkley. Claire has sat on the board of Directors of the Hire Association Europe and held the posts of vice Chair and Chair and been instrumental in developing training and better career structures within the industry. Three years ago she founded Blue Sky Event Solutions, which specialises in hiring equipment and services to the events industry.

Over 25 years of senior management experience, including ten years as a hotel General Manager. Now providing financial audit controls to the hospitality industry. Stephen is owner and M.D of one of the UK’s leading I.T lead stocktaking companies, including the development & management of over 100 franchised partners. Stephen's businesses are involved in bespoke software development and Windows applications for new and developing businesses

Nick has a long career in Financial Services which has equipped Nick with huge experience of working with Business Owners from start up or acquisition, through to sale or Management Buy Out. Nick is also involved in and supports a number of local business associations and several years ago established Belgrave Financial in Gargrave.

Phil has extensive experience in hospitality in corporate businesses including Allied Breweries, Allied Domecq and Punch Taverns and as a successful entrepreneur successfully developed Chameleon Bar and Dining into a multi site pub restaurant business.

Keith has over twenty years experience of litigation and dispute resolution and prior to becoming a lawyer worked in and with several businesses which provided valuable experience outside of the legal sector. He has worked with entrepreneurs and businesses from every sector. Keith has wide experience of commercial contracts and has handled business sales worth millions of pounds. He is an accredited mediator. The Managing Partner at a successful four site firm of solicitors, Keith oversees strategy, team management, compliance, risk, business development, marketing and finance in a highly competitive sector. He has developed excellent listening and analysis skills and likes to problem solve through constructively challenging those he works with.

John has lived and worked locally since 1970 and apart from his direct business interests, became closely involved in ‘Agri-politics’. He has also chaired a rural affairs advisory committee of the BBC (1995-2003). In addition to being a share farmer on two farms and a landlord on five others, John has a small acreage in-hand, giving him an extensive knowledge of Countryside Matters. Furthermore, as a former Tax Commissioner and non-executive director of Skipton Building Society, John has a broad understanding over a wide range of business matters.

As Senior Premier Relationship Manager, Nick works alongside a wide variety of businesses embracing technology in supporting the local business community. Nevertheless Nick’s approach is very much that of the face to face and personal bank manager holing to those traditional values

With over 30 years’ experience in marketing and business management across a variety of business sectors, Piers helps business owners and their executives realise and manage the business’s growth potential. A qualified Direct Marketeer, Piers has a pragmatic approach to business development based around setting solid goals and implementing step by step plans to achieve them.

John has been involved with creation, building and selling of companies with the last 15 years advising small to medium sized organisations on business development and management. Particular strength is in marketing in both the national and international arenas to a wide spectrum of clients –leisure, hi-tech manufacturing, mail order, building products, B2B and internet based ventures. Has been involved with the start-up of companies in both advisory and ownership situations.

Gary has over 25 years experience in sales and sales management in the engineering and manufacturing sector. He now owns and runs Sandler Training in the Yorkshire region. Sandler provides sales training, coaching and consulting services to small and medium size businesses as well as corporate training to FTSE100 organisations.

Mark is a qualified business mentor and runs his own coaching and mentoring business, True Purpose Ltd, which helps company owners, directors and management teams to overcome performance barriers. He also leads a team of board level managers as part of his role with RGR. Mark holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and a Master’s in Engineering Science from Cambridge University.

Susannah studied at the renowned Bretton Hall College, Leeds and later became a lecturer there in Performance Management. Continuing her passion for performing arts, Susannah went on to become Head of Theatre at the National Media Museum, running the acclaimed Action Replay Theatre and organised Britain’s first International Conference and Festival of Museum Theatre. During her eight years at the museum, Susannah spent time working closely with curatorial and educational colleagues to produce live interpretation programmes that met the strict curatorial standards required by the museum. Subsequently Susannah was inundated with requests to set up similar projects for other museums and visitor centres across the country; The BBC Experience, Tetley’s Brewery Wharf, The Galleries of Justice, and Blackpool Tower to name but a few. In 1999 PEEL was born and began to work as a production company supplying a turnkey entertainment product to the Cruise industry. Over the years Susannah has continued to expand PEEL, introducing an actor-based education service (PEEL Roleplay) and a forward-thinking digital arm of the business (PEEL Interactive, formerly PEEL Heritage). This has seen the company work alongside a number of high-profile clients across the cruise, leisure, heritage, education and private estates sectors.

Originally from Leeds, Charlie took a controlling stake in Blieker's in 2006, having joined the business in 2004. His background in the media industry in London, where he was involved in products that included ITV Digital, ITV TLC and Warner Brothers, provided the perfect platform for developing and promoting the excellent brand.

Julian background is in the law before resigning his partnership in 2000 to start a second business career developing a portfolio of business interests, most of which has been spent in the field of start up businesses and SMEs. Julian also acts as a business mentor to a variety of business start up entrepreneurs and business owners, some of which have been with him for several years. He also acted as a voluntary mentor on the YAS Growing Routes scheme and is presently a voluntary mentor with Entrepreneurial Spark in Leeds. In 2015, he started https://www.yorkshirebusinessmentor.co.uk with two like-minded colleagues.

After seventeen years as a Senior Corporate Finance advisor, Andrew is now active in a number of Non Executive Director (NED) roles. His background as a chartered accountant and corporate financier enables him to take a holistic view of a business and the issues they may be seeking to address. Andrew’s experience of advising the boards of high growth companies has given him appreciation of a broad range of businesses and sectors including industrial, construction and business support services.

A highly experienced insurance professional with over thirty years as both an insurer and a broker, Jan has a broad range of practical skills and a common sense approach. Having started her own business she is familiar with multi-tasking and getting involved in all aspects of business. She brings a practical and pragmatic perspective to the companies she works with and backs this up with the formal learning, leading up to becoming Chartered Director 6 years ago. Jan has a ability to cut through lots of background detail and distraction to get to the heart of the and sum it up in a way that allows it to be "unstuck" and move forward.

30 years as technologist, 20 years as a Director, 10 years as a Managing Director. My expertise lies in building value in technology companies. Experience of large corporates including M&A work, VCs, and Intellectual Property Management. A wealth of experience developing products from prototypes to volume production in the millions. Introduction of processes into immature companies, setting up systems to cope with the demands of defence / aerospace. Building teams to cope with the day to day running a small/medium/large business. A supportive manager and mentor. A chartered Electronics Engineer with knowledge and experience to ask the difficult question in most areas of business.

As a partner with Armstrong Watson, following their merger with Robertshaw Myers on 1st January 2013, David manages a portfolio of SME clients in a wide range of sectors. With over 20 years experience in the business, David provides a complete accountancy, business advisory and audit service for clients throughout the UK. With an extensive client base covering all areas, David has particular specialism in the manufacturing, motor trade and legal sectors. Through working in such diverse industries, David has built up a broad knowledge base that leaves him better placed to meet client needs and to act as their trusted advisor. David believes such relationships are critical, and never more so in increasingly difficult economic times.

Chartered Accountant, recently retired CFO of LSL Property Services plc (largest surveying and second largest estate agency business in the UK). Steered the group through a business turnaround from a large loss making subsidiary of Aviva to profit and a successful MBO, and subsequently an IPO. Dean now operates as an Investor, Board Director and Consultant for a number of businesses, principally in the property sector.

With an academic background in business and economics and then many years of sales and marketing experience working for global companies, in 2006 Gareth fulfilled his desire to set up from scratch a business of his own by founding environmental compliance business Comply Direct Ltd. Comply Direct has an impressive growth record and financial performance and now employs ten staff supporting clients as diverse as Waitrose, John Lewis, Ryman, Fujitsu and Sharp Electronics to Harrogate Spa, Ronseal and Seabrook Crisps. Gareth specialises in Business Strategy and Sales and Marketing.

Antony formed Extreme Creations in 2002 having worked previously in the web design and television industry. On a daily basis, Antony works with many small and medium sized businesses from all types of sectors, helping them to identify and access their potential markets and customers and putting together a marketing and digital strategy to promote their brands. Antony offers a wealth of practical business knowledge having grown Extreme Creations from a start-up, in the midst of the ‘dot.com’ bubble bursting, to a leading business in the digital marketing sector today. His clients regularly benefit from this experience, across a wealth of business disciplines, when developing results focussed digital marketing strategies

Following a 40 year career in the front line of financial services John continues to act as a trusted adviser a wide variety of business owners and professional clients. John has been a pioneer of holistic financial planning, placing the client’s needs at the centre of the advice process. As regulation evolved throughout the 90’s he played an active role in the Yorkshire IFA community as Chairman of the Life & Pensions Society.

Peter trained and worked in the financial sector, gaining many years of small business experience with Barclays bank. In 2003 he founded RedSky, a North Yorkshire-based business which specialises in helping SME’s with fund-raising, grants, sales & marketing, general business advice and mentoring. Since 1992 Peter has also run a publishing business where he developed much of his ‘hands-on’ business experience. He is also the writer and creator of ‘The Walkers’ Pack’ series of walking guide.

Mark (Lord Masham) has restored developed Swinton Park into a thriving estate and luxury hotel and manages and extensive staff to deliver the very highest standards in hospitality and estate management.

Simon has always been inspired by people who are brave enough to rise above the comfort zone rather than settling for being ‘just ok’. Apart from helping leaders to develop their companies, Simon enjoys the opportunity to work with ambitious people in the local business community, inspiring them with the techniques, behaviours and mind set to also develop and even transform themselves as individuals.

Having trained as an aeronautical engineer, Brian has spent a career rescuing and running businesses throughout the UK and Europe acting as Chairman, Chief Executive or non Executive director of both listed and private companies. Brian retired from his last non Executive Directorship in 2015 and now acts as a business mentor, enjoying the challenge of understanding and helping companies.

As specialist business adviser and accountant, Colin has a long and successful record of working alongside entrepreneurs and SMEs throughout Yorkshire, providing the know-how that is essential for business success. Colin supports business start-ups as well as established companies, using a “hands-on” approach.

Sara has been working as a commercial lawyer since 1994 and for a number of years ran her own practice specialising in intellectual property (‘IP’) law. Sara has worked for many national, international brands and SMEs where she gained first-hand knowledge of when to prioritise issues.

Tim set up his business in 2004 as a Trainer, Coach and Training Project Manager with small, medium, and national organisations. Tim divides his time between national projects, local coaching and mentoring and speaking engagements.

Fiona is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CMCIPD), has a qualification in Coaching and is an accredited MiRo Practitioner. With over 15 years in corporate management, HR and Training roles, and several years managing her own business, Fiona has worked with a variety of businesses and organisations to help them become even better and achieve great results.

Claire’s successes in business development include a Management Buy Out from 3i, taking Pitman Training into private ownership and nurturing the company’s successful growth. Her extensive financial background and experience of business development extends to both larger corporates and SMEs

An MBA with a Post Grad teaching qualification, Nick has worked across a variety of industry sectors from large multi-nationals, owner-managed and start-up businesses. Nick has also led several businesses so knows only too well how difficult it can be to run a company. Nick also trained as executive coach and mentor by the Institute of Leadership and Management

Roger has over 35 years’ experience at senior leadership levels in both domestic and international financial institutions where his focus and specialisms have been banking for wholesale, retail and clients. He has a clear understanding of the application of governance and management oversight and the development and delivery of best practice within business operations, including process efficiency and effectiveness.

Whether dealing with a multinational PLC or a local SME, with his background in the financial sector and over twenty years experience in management roles, Jeremy understands the issues that many businesses, large or small, may have to address. As a Business Studies graduate and as a former Pension Scheme Trustee with Cooperative Financial Services Group, Jeremy is trusted with having an intimate understanding of the role of banking and finance for businesses.