​Jane Phillips MBA MistF

Jane is a professional with a strong sense of identity and a passion for life. By listening, guiding and mentoring people, she adds value and gives practical support to clients. She is driven by the need to make a difference.

She moved from full time employment to consultancy in 2015, bringing much experience in coaching, strategic development, business planning, for individual, the voluntary, charity and social enterprise sector and SME's.
She helps organisations to achieve financial sustainability and resilience and individuals to become their best self.
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Today, she focuses on Executive and Life Coaching with a twist of nutritional advice.  After all, we are what we eat, and our food fuels our brains as well as our bodies.

 Qualifications & Accreditations
MBA
S.A.C. Dip. (Life Skills Coaching – Advanced – Distinction)
S.A.C. Dip. (Diet and Nutrition – Advanced – Distinction)
S.A.C. Cert (Developing Self-Esteem) – Distinction)
Chartered Institute of Fundraising
Association of Coaches

NICHOLA BROWN

Desk Research Associate supporting strategic planning and business development & market research.
​Nichola is a highly experienced and qualified information specialist and desk researcher.  Learning the value of information started back in 1996, when she became a Business Information Officer at Business Link (and qualified to NVQ 3 in Business Information and Support), researching and providing information for businesses.  Since then, she has had countless other roles and responsibilities connected to information, such as becoming the head of the information and library team in her role at Connexions, providing directly and managing an adult Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) Service and writing many guides and publications.

Nichola has been working with or for voluntary sector organisations since 2002 and worked in business support for 8 years.  Nichola’s last senior role was working as Head of Membership Development for a national youth charity.  Her specialist sectors are youth and disability, but has experience of working with a wide range of charities and businesses.

In 2009 she was nominated to represent the UK on a Japanese sponsored Young Leaders (from the voluntary sector) Programme. In 2015, she was awarded a RSA Fellowship in recognition of her commitment to young people.

Since April 2017, she has worked freelance as a desk researcher and IAG Professional working for clients such as WaterAid, the North West Air Ambulance, National Star College and the British Council.

She is married, lives in Malvern, Worcestershire and enjoys wire sculpturing, cooking and loves to watch and participate in dance.

RICHARD TAYLOR

I am a passionate management professional with exceptional communication skills and a fine ability to liaise and influence at all levels. Enthusiastic about growing businesses, I enjoy helping others fulfil their potential with clutter-free pragmatic support, drawing on a wide range of experiences and using my strong project management, people and organisational skills. My focus for the last few years has been on the Social Enterprise sector in the South West, providing business support and advice as a consultant and as a Social Investment Manager for a Community Foundation. Before that I worked with numerous SMEs, as a freelance consultant and on grant funded programs, with a focus on the manufacturing sector.

I have over six years’ experience working on UK and European funded projects that delivered targeted support to SME manufacturers, and recently Social Enterprises. These roles include building long-term relationships, strategic reviews, diagnostics and delivery of consultancy support, whilst meeting program targets, outcomes and compliance needs.

In 2009 I was awarded a full fee scholarship to undertake an MBA at the prestigious Exeter Business School. I graduated in 2010 with distinction and specialism in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, with my dissertation, “Launching a Social Enterprise” exploring and seeking to understanding key and common success factors. This followed a ten year period as a freelance consultant developing productive management systems through business process mapping / improvement and introduction of lean methods.
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The depth and breadth of experiences and competencies developed as a Social Investment Manager, Consultant and in Business Support roles mean I am able to bring effective and practical help to commercial businesses and social enterprises across strategy, finance, innovation, marketing, operations, manufacturing, quality and leadership.
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