About Us | Phoenix Consult

About Phoenix Consult

Phoenix Consult is a Cheshire based consultancy providing business reviews, business strategy and planning, financial management and modeling, process analysis, organisation review, coaching and mentoring, income generation and interim management for the SME and Not For Profit Sectors

We Support

We use consultants with relevant and extensive experience in your sector. We ensure that your requirements are translated – simply – into a package of support to enhance your business and – we do it “with” you, not “to” you.

We Challenge

We challenge entrepreneurs and business owners to take a robust look inside their businesses and their processes, staffing, planning and finances, to develop a strategy for growth, business development, marketing and where relevant an exit strategy.

We Build

We listen, we respond and we deliver what your business needs, using consultants with experience to match your organisation and sector. We build on your organisation’s existing strengths and your staff skills, to help you achieve sustainability/growth.

Meet The Team

We thrive on sharing our passion for helping businesses and not-for-profit organisations, from startups to £Multi-million turnover, review their businesses, grow, develop and thrive. We also have a strong social conscience and have extensive experience and knowledge of how to deliver our consultancy, interim management and strategic advice, whilst helping our clients make a difference.

Simon Groom

A business consultant and coach for many years, a charity CEO, a Strategic Relationship builder and Business Development leader with over 20 years’ experience of managing and developing small to medium sized organisations and divisions of larger organisations, Simon has started and built two businesses in the services industry. As well as supporting growth in SMEs and being instrumental in the growth of a local charity (c£1m) he also held leadership positions for a NW based management consultancy (c£15m), for Serco plc’s (c£2bn) consultancy business (c£50m), for a National charity (c£45M) and for several small management consultancy companies. His consultancy background, particularly on large programmes, gives him a consultative and problem-solving style of leadership, complemented by an analytical approach to business development and bidding for funds.

David Griffiths

A senior finance and commercial professional bringing extensive experience of both significant growth and rapid market contraction following the banking sector issues of 2008. Worked in a highly successful private UK textile group (c£50m) supporting both the financial management and leading the IT development. Worked as a Finance Director in a UK and European EPoS business (c£100m) to turnaround a difficult acquisition. Led a management Buy in of a small software business which grew from £0.7m to over £7m, with clients around the world, a large US presence, and a strong technology focus. Managed multiple funding rounds, growth, restructuring and the sale process.

Shak Anwar

Shak is a specialist in the UK and European fashion and sports industries. After gaining experience in the Brand Licensing arena he then developed and implemented the European Subsidiary network for one of the leading UK Sports brands and managed the German subsidiary from start-up to a £15m business. In 1997 Shak created the KooGa Made For Rugby brand and took this from a start-up to one of the top two rugby brands in the World in 2007, along the way he raised finance by attracting investment partners ranging from 3i Venture Capital, Chinese Conglomerates to UK Plc.’s. As the owner and Managing Director Shak was instrumental in formalizing Business Strategy, Brand management and building the team structure to support the growth.
He has since brought himself up to date with the Online world as a partner in a digital agency specializing in Website Design and Build, SEO and Google PPC, Ecommerce and Lead Generation Programmes

Meg Fenney

Meg Fenney is an HR Director with just shy of 20 years commercial experience in companies such as NHS, Shell, MAG & Air Products. Alignment of people strategy to both business strategy & organisational values is a vital ingredient in achieving profitable growth & Meg has demonstrable experience of redesigning & implementing organisational structures. She pays particular attention to creating practical & measurable steps to ensure the structure matches the ambition of the business, reviewing & adapting Talent & skills development programmes, as the talent within the organisation (or outside) will be the key enabler to ensuring the intended outcomes of the structural review are met.

Louise Pode

Louise Pode provides executive & resilience coaching across all sectors. She is a qualified ILM Level 7 Executive Coach, NLP Master Practitioner and Accredited Strengthscope practitioner. Working with both individuals and teams she uses positive psychology to challenge limiting self-beliefs, gain a different perspective, develop strengths and facilitate real clarity on the way forward. She works with our clients to enable them to create a vision for them and their business, which is aligned with their values. This creates a mindset shift from feeling constrained and limited to energised, motivated and passionate, with a clear sense of purpose and direction.

Ian Atkinson

Ian Atkinson has over 30 years’ experience working in a range of complex manufacturing & service businesses during periods of considerable change, both as Finance Director & Managing Director. Ian’s experience includes intense involvement in several acquisitions & disposals & he has supported a portfolio of SME’s across a broad range of sectors. Frequently part of his remit is getting the business ready for sale; this involves giving pragmatic and constructive assessment of the business, its procedures and its people, along with pragmatic suggestions of the improvements needed and how to make them. Business owners find the benefits from his involvement are more varied than anticipated at the outset

Kathryn Spencer

Kathryn Spencer is an experienced FD/non-exec, working in PLC's to SME's across a broad spectrum of industries. Finalist for North West FD of the year by Barclays in November 2011. She focuses on companies from embryonic to fast growth, on restructuring, setting up new divisions & SPV's, working with private investors, negotiating appropriate funding, strategic business plans & SWOT analysis and new product launches. She frequently has responsibility for overseas subsidiaries & consolidations, importing & foreign currency management. She is a Growth Accelerator Coach, she has supported manufacturing companies for several years, importing from China & Pakistan and dealing in foreign currencies and has experience in many sectors, including chemicals, security, construction, logistics.

Keith Webb

Keith Webb left corporate life after helping float his last business in 2013. Since then he has used his wide experience and extensive network to assist SME’s develop strategies and become more investable via the implementation of strong corporate governance processes. He has an extensive background in retail and wholesale enterprises, ranging from single-site operations to major PLCs and including managing controlled, independent and franchised estates. He has improved performance and revenues for multi-stakeholder and PLC businesses, including retailers and wholesalers such as NISA, Spar UK, Kwik Save PLC, One Stop PLC, J Sainsbury PLC and Bargain Booze/Conviviality PLC. He is personable, builds productive and open relationships and works well within family businesses

Jim Smith

Jim Smith delivers solutions for clients who want to increase their profitability, by improving safety performance, achieving ISO certification or demonstrating regulatory compliance. He works across all sectors from Manufacturing to Care Homes and he specialises in providing high-quality improvement programmes for SME's, helping them achieve certification or improve inspection ratings as applicable. With over 30 years’ experience in highly-regulated manufacturing and service industries, he has been a chartered Chemical Engineer (CEng FIChemE) for over 25 years, a member of IOSH, IIRSM and OSHCR, a Recognised Safety Practitioner (RSP) and an ESOS Lead Assessor

Chris Doyle

Chris Doyle is a Sales, marketing and business development and planning specialist. He has written and implemented numerous business plans for large and small businesses, especially within Food/FMCG. He has over 30 years’ hands-on experience, including blue-chip training at Kelloggs, Cadburys and Twinings. He shares our passion for working with SMEs and has been an influential, tenacious and creative Board member for 11 years, always with significant impact. He has a reputation for clear, focused thinking and effective strategic plans that deliver long-term value; he is a creator of structured, disciplined and accountable teams that deliver; he has a track-record of quick results and a demonstrable record of product development, new business wins and productivity in tough markets

Our Strategic Partners

Our core partners cover areas such as Funding for clients, Recovery and Insolvency support, Data solutions, Digital Transformation review and support, Commercial Insurances and ISO Certification, helping us to provide a comprehensive business support service for SMEs. Everything starts with a conversation and then a review of your business!

Amplify - Funding Solutions for Business

Helping business owners manage their cashflow, with funding solutions which give you the freedom to run your business.

Credent - Commercial Insurance

An independent commercial insurance broker established in 1994 that advises businesses and organisations on transferring risk for a broad range of exposures.

Online Marketing Group - Digital Transformation & Web Development

We review businesses with respect to Digital Transformation and Marketing, recommending and developing ways to improve your digital approach and reach.

Lucas Johnson - Business Recovery & Insolvency

Professional advice and empathetic support to the owners, managers and lenders of/to companies across a variety of Funding, Turnaround, Rescue and Insolvency platforms.

ACJ Risk Solutions - ISO Review, support & Certification

Delivers solutions for clients who want to increase their profitability, by improving safety performance, achieving ISO certification or demonstrating regulatory compliance.

Arctec Group - Data & Digital Tools for business

Specialising in helping businesses get the most out of their data, by developing databases, integrating digital tools and providing insightful reporting.

THE SUCCESSFUL MAN IS THE ONE WHO FINDS OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIS BUSINESS BEFORE HIS COMPETITORS DO

Roy L Smith

What Our Clients Are Saying

A selection of comments and observations from our clients

Throughout our dealings I found David to be punctual, concise and professional. He was always easy to contact throughout which I consider to be an important asset and quality for a business requiring quick and concise responses.
After our initial meeting he quickly understood our business and it was clear that he had a clear understanding of a variety of financial systems and extensive relevant business and commercial experience.
He successfully delivered a new accounting system integrating actuals budgets & forecasts and I would happily recommend him to any future business contact.

Managing Director, Language School

“I was Chairman working with David who was FD & Commercial Director between 2012 and 2015, in one of the most difficult business environments for a software business. David was a key member of the team keeping everyone focused on delivering business and driving cashflow. Without David’s strategic thinking, willingness to address opportunities and problems head on, I believe the outcome would have been very different. David was the cornerstone of the management team.”

James Wakefield, Chairman and Partner, Westbridge Capital

“David is an experienced CFO, having operated in that role for many years for a software company he co-founded. His diverse skills and expertise in start-up, commercial and operational topics makes him highly additive to any company looking to sharpen its board.”

Executive Director, Business Sale Partnership

We engaged Phoenix Consult and their directors Simon and David in February to carry out a review of the business in particular focusing on development of a new business model alongside reviewing Staff, Processes Business risk and reviewing and developing the financial model / management accounts.

I have found the input from Simon and David invaluable leading to having a financial model of our business, better engagement of staff and greater clarity of our business objectives.

Bringing together business development and growth and Financial Management specialists provides a unique service that I believe isn’t matched elsewhere.

Both Simon and David have very extensive experience of different business scenarios, so much so that I’ve frequently said “I want what’s in your head” this has led to me frequently calling on them in a Coaching & Mentoring capacity.
I can whole heartedly recommend Phoenix Consult if you are at a business crossroads, if you want to grow or if you want to align your business objectives and financial performance.

Ryan Crosbie, Managing Director, Elite Foods

Phoenix Consult was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive review of our leadership, business model and routes to market, with a view to improving efficiency and financial awareness.
The consultants were able to advise on staffing structures, ROI for products and bidding processes. In particular, financial management was examined under a microscope and new processes put in place to enable the production of monthly management accounts, in depth job tracking and a detailed look at our finance system, complete with recommendations.
David worked closely with our finance team and accountant and was able to advise on Research and Development, and how we should treat new products going forward, and the financial implications of restructuring.

The results are a better understanding of our underpinning business needs and wants, our options for the future and how we can improve systems, processes and team working across the entire business, hopefully leading to us becoming more investable and attractive to clients, staff and partners in the future.

Jon Goldie, Managing Director, ICT Revolutions

SMEs and Not For Profit Sectors

Two sectors that are most in need of strategic advice. We listen, we respond and we deliver what your business needs, using our specialised experience to match your organisational needs

Strategy And Planning for SMEs

We review all aspects of your business including Financial Management, Organisation performance, Resource Allocation, Business Development, Revenue Generation and process evaluation. To find out how to grow your business complete our 5 minute SME diagnostic below

Diagnostic

Not For Profit Management

We review all aspects of your organisation, including Financial Management, Organisation performance, Resource Allocation, Business Planning, Funding, and Social Accounting. To help sustain and grow your not for profit organisation complete our 5 minute diagnostic below.

Diagnostic