Business Strategy

I’ve helped over 150 organisations craft business plans and strategic plans. I focus on writing clear and deliverable reports that use evidence to help define new services, remodel existing activities, or develop realistic objectives for achievable growth.

I can help you with:

Concept development and visioning
Stakeholder consultation
Marketplace research and best practice
Defining strategic objectives
Financial analysis and revenue projections
Action planning
Securing board, staff and volunteer buy-in
Supporting change management and transition

I’m happy to work with you face-to-face, virtually, or a mix of both to provide a responsive service that helps you understand and define why do you do what you do, and what the future should hold.

Example: Home-Start Richmondshire

Home-Start Richmondshire has been supporting families for almost a decade, including civilian and also armed forces families within Catterick Garrison.

With the end of a five-year Lottery project, and reducing wider grant sources, the charity faced a deficit budget for the next financial year.

While the staff team is capable, it is limited to two part-time co-ordinators and one administrator. A Business Plan was required to identify achievable goals to increase fundraising activity.

A series of meetings were held at all levels to understand the current situation and map out future opportunities, and aside stakeholder engagement, a detailed business plan was developed. This focused on identifying practical short-term actions to increase capacity and implement fundraising opportunities, with bolder trading ideas for the longer-term.

The evidence base also supported several grant funding applications; securing over £100,000 From Garfield Weston, Henry Smith, and the Royal British Legion – supporting operations for the next three years of delivery.

For a case study of this example, or for further information on how I may be able to support you, please get in touch.

“David is so easy to work with – his extensive knowledge of the voluntary sector gave us confidence and his understanding of Home-Start nationally meant he got straight to the heart of our issues. His ability to critically challenge and produce a plan that everyone is comfortable with speaks of his professionalism. His insightful feedback on funding applications has been a lifeline and went beyond his initial remit.”

Coordinator

Home-Start Richmondshire

Example: Warrington Borough Council

The Council was developing its Heritage Fund (as was HLF) round 2 submission for its £3.8 million Walton Conservatory Estate project, and required a business plan to support the Heritage Fund application. The project involved two community-based partners, and the business case was complex and involved several areas of potential conflict.

I worked between the three organisations to understand their roles in delivery, and where their core requirements and potential compromises existed. Wider research complemented this insight, alongside ongoing liaison with the full capital, revenue, and activity based teams. From this I developed a deliverable business model for the project that secured the buy-in from all parties.

My support demonstrated that in austere times there are opportunities to work with the third sector to create lasting social value. The scheme was successful and awarded the full £2 million of funding.

For a case study of this example, or for further information on how I may be able to support you, please get in touch.

“David was a key part of our project team, providing invaluable support and developing a high quality document proving project viability. He developed effective relationships with all involved in the project, gaining trust and providing professional advice with discretion on sensitive matters.”

Principal Project Manager

Warrington Borough Council

Example: TyNi North Wales

As a start-up social enterprise, TyNi seeks to provide a homely, supportive and nurturing environment for 16 to 18 year olds in crisis that provides boundaries and structure. There is a strong emphasis on encouraging independent living skills and goal setting, leading to training and ultimately increasing employability.

The directors knew a business plan was required, especially to influence stakeholders and draw support, but had limited experience and time with which to develop the document. I initially met on-site to understand the current situation and the plans for the future, and we then focused on defining the operational delivery model and the implications for those involved. A detailed three-year revenue cashflow forecast was also included to evidence viability.

As a result of the business plan and the wider skills development, TyNi is currently in discussion with Conwy Council regarding the contractual delivery of accommodation support to vulnerable young people.

For a case study of this example, or for further information on how I may be able to support you, please get in touch.

“David met us, out of office hours and at our business premises, he took his time getting to know us and what we wanted to achieve. His patience, understanding and enthusiasm was such an enormous help to us and he gave us the confidence to put our dream in action. All of the directors were impressed at the amount of research David had carried out into our area of interest. His attention to detail is superb and we were absolutely thrilled at the end result. TyNi has no hesitation in highly recommending this very talented professional.”

Director

TyNi North Wales

Example: Vintage Worx CDT

Vintage Worx Community Development Trust was established in response to escalating levels of poverty, crime and deprivation in what has become England’s poorest community. Its underlying belief is that if the area is to change then the community members themselves have to lead those changes.

Due to many years’ campaigning by the CDT, the offer was made for the community asset transfer of Falinge Park, to provide both a focal point to deliver a range of community-facing activities, and to enable revenue generation to sustain the organisation. It also provided an excellent opportunity to continue the varied collaborative activities that the CDT delivers to promote local community interaction.

I worked with the team to develop an actionable plan for usage of the Park and an associated business model for operation, as well as the overarching strategy to bind these together. To support this I provided an ongoing mentoring role to help provide rolling assistance, and to offer advice on key strategic elements of how to best proceed. As a result of my support the CDT has a clear strategy it can deliver against, and the Council has agreed the Heads of Terms and has progressed the asset transfer in line with the strategy.

For a case study of this example, or for further information on how I may be able to support you, please get in touch.

“David has worked with us to develop a strategic approach to the community asset transfer of a public park, which has included a lot of direct support and mentoring. I have worked with a lot of consultants and advisers over the years and, quite simply, David is one of the best I have worked with, he has a genuine passion for working with community organisations and this shows across all aspects of his delivery. I would definitely work with David again, he has helped us navigate the minefield of a community asset transfer and brought structure to our “organised chaos” but more importantly David has been there for us every step of the way, always ready to explain something we didn’t understand, show us how to overcome another hurdle or simply to listen.”

Manager

Vintage Worx CDT

Example: White House Cancer Support

Provides practical help, emotional support and information to people with cancer, their families, friends and carers. Acknowledging the rapidly changing political and economic climate, the White House knew it needed a plan to ensure that its services would continue. With a dedicated but small team, there was no time to think about the future.

I worked closely with the Manager and trustees to understand the historical successes and the ambition for the future; providing a supportive ‘critical friend’ approach throughout to check and challenge and shape the forward thinking.

As a result an achievable Strategic Plan was developed that balanced current financial pressures against an aspiration for growth. They now have a series of strategic objectives and a deliverable plan. The trustees and staff also have increased confidence, and are better able to allocate resources to drive the organisation forward.

For a case study of this example, or for further information on how I may be able to support you, please get in touch.

“David is the consultant of choice for our board. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge and the support provided by David was second to none. By working with David on our strategic plan we were able to work through these obstacles; with his support we felt inspired to think out of the box, to take calculated risks and try different methods to reach our end goal. White House Cancer Support is now in a much stronger position today due to the support given by David.”

Manager

White House Cancer Support

Example: Highlife Centre

Delivers targeted support services aimed at removing barriers to work, enabling its beneficiaries to lead economically active and fulfilling lives, with a key speciality in supporting BME and migrant communities.

During a time of change, the Centre needed to build its capability by increasing knowledge and confidence to deliver more effective and financially sustainable services. I worked with the team to review the current situation and assess the achievability of their future plans. This included appraising key areas of organisational excellence, with recommendations and a clear action plan.

The report has enabled The Highlife Centre to prioritise its resources to focus on the areas of organisational development that will have the greatest benefit for the future of the charity, focusing on evidencing value and income diversification.

For a case study of this example, or for further information on how I may be able to support you, please get in touch.

“David worked flexibly with us in order to meet deadlines and having the patience to handle any amendments wherever needed, with a great attitude towards people no matter what their background is. It has enabled us to think outside of the box to begin planning new projects that will help with sustainability of our organisation.”

Chief Executive

The Highlife Centre