Entrepreneurs & Companies

Board, Mentoring and Business Services

Nelson has assisted a range of boards, entrepreneurs and executive teams build value within their companies. These have included owner managed and family businesses and those with external bank, venture and Angel funding. His background as an accountant turned business owner before moving into Angel and Venture Capital investing helps bring a ‘time-served’ understanding of both sides of the investment relationship.

Nelson has coached countless entrepreneurs in:

• Understanding what you are prepared to put in (time and capital) and why you want to start this business – Personal Audit is step one in the process;
• Understanding finance options  – which debt, grant funding or investment models will work best for you;
• Finding funding and getting investor engagement, including;
  • Preparing your elevator pitch and executive summary to communicate your vision and requirements;
  • Creating a business plan for an investor audience, understanding how investors screen potential opportunities;
  • Creating the perfect presentation and practicing for the pitch event;
  • Understanding valuation and preparing yourself for Due Diligence process to avoid falling at the final hurdle.

If you would like to talk to Nelson about engaging his expertise in any of these areas please do get in touch by completing your details on the contact page.

Example Case Studies

Print Company
Mentor to the principals and board advisor. Turnover £4 m. Critical Issues – Reorganisation of board from joint to single managing director while retaining both directors (sales and production) within the business. Introduction of improved financial controls, management information and costing systems.

Bakery Manufacture and Supply Chain Management
Major customers included Compass, Co-op. Tesco and Costa. Turnover £50 million. Critical Issues – Restructuring the company from a manufacturing company to a technology based supply chain management company, with extraction of significant value for shareholders. Two manufacturing units sold to AIM plc for £11 million and a third to a MBO. Group turnover reduced to £25m, profits increased.

Call Centre
Turnover £4 million. Critical Issues – Turnaround from loss making to profit. Refocusing the company to profitable clients. Restructuring of group to protect shareholder value. Diversification of business operations to reduce risk. Exit by MBO of all third party investors, subsequent trade sale by management.

Recycling of Consumer Electronics
Operations in UK, Ireland and Hong Kong. Turnover £12m. Critical Issues – Mentoring of owner- manager, preparation of company for sale. Improvement of financial and management information to demonstrate value to potential acquirers. Maintaining   cash flow, profitability and customer service during  exceptional high growth (turnover increased by 100%) in final year before sale.