Name

Christopher

Position

Board Advisor

Location

Yorkshire

Big Business Experience

Andrew Brownsword Hotels

Bullseye Superfactors Ltd

Small Business Experience

Lots Road Auction House Services Ltd

Ascento Learning & Development

Primoplay Ltd

Summary

Christopher is an experienced business owner, entrepreneur and advisor, having built, sold and invested in various businesses in the last 20 years. He has also been involved in numerous employee ownership transactions and has acted as Chair, Trustee, Coach and Consultant to many.

Christopher works closely with business owners at all stages of the employee ownership journey; supporting those considering it as an option; helping prepare effectively those committed to becoming employee owned; working with both sellers and buyers as they complete the employee ownership transaction; and providing support to the business and Trustees post completion.

Qualifications

• Sheffield Hallam University 2018
  • Msc in Sport Business Management
    -International marketing and the media
    -Global economics
    -International strategy
    -Managing people in organisations
    -Business consultancy
    -International event management
    -Financial skills for business decisions
    -Researching management theory
• University of Sheffield 1993
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education – PE, Geography.
• University of Salford 1989 – 1992
  • BA (Hons) Degree in Geography 2:1
• Chartered Management Institute 2019
  • Chartered Manager status

Key Areas of Expertise

• Employee ownership – experienced employee ownership specialist who works closely with organisations looking to become or are already employee owned.
• Business Strategy – supporting leader develop clear, effective and implementable strategic plans through a thorough support process
• Growth & Exit Planning – strategic advice, acquisition / exit strategy planning, financial management advice.

Experience

For the past 5 years Chris has led his own coaching & consultancy practice, providing support to organisations and senior leaders on a range of subject matter, including:

– Employee Ownership pre transaction support
– Trustee Service
– Growth Planning Coaching
– Exit Planning
– Coaching & mentoring Senior leaders

JGW Training Ltd t/a Ascento 2005 to 2021

Chris established the business in 2005, to deliver high quality leadership & management people development solutions to a wide range of organisations. As Managing Director, Chris’s experiences include:

– strategic growth and development of the business;
– holding to account & leading a senior management team responsible for financial performance, quality, sales and all aspects of operational performance.
– Securing new contracts and the management of key stakeholder relationships at regional and national levels
– Financial management. All aspects of financial management, leading to the business trading profitably every year since its inception
– Networking and building external stakeholder relationship

Upon the successful sale of his business Chris founded his own coaching & consultancy practice, providing support to organisations and senior leaders on a range of subject matter, including:

• Employee Ownership pre transaction support. Providing initial advice and guidance on employee ownership, facilitated financial, legal and accountancy support to organisations moving into employee ownership, supported senior leadership teams in communicating employee ownership to their teams, coached and mentored senior leaders moving up into Director level roles as a result of the employee ownership transition and supported exiting shareholders as they transition to a new ‘role’.
• Trustee Service. Currently a Chair and an Independent Trustee for a range of Employee-Owned organisations.  Responsibilities include; ensuring the Trust is run in line with Trust Deeds, contributing to the effective management of the EOT, fostering relationships between the Trust, Trustees and the Employee Owned organization, oversight of the business and holding the Board to account, presenting to employees, attending Trust meetings, employee meetings, financial due diligence etc
• Growth Planning Coaching. Provide support, coaching and development to senior leaders including strategic advice, acquisition strategy planning, financial management and investment support and advice, maximizing internal funds for growth, performance management.
• Exit Planning. Supporting organisations looking to sell,  providing strategic advice, valuation support and due diligence facilitation.

Chris established Ascento in 2005, to deliver high quality leadership & management people development solutions to a wide range of organisations.  As Managing Director, Chris’s experiences include:

• strategic growth and development of the business;
• holding to account & leading a senior management team responsible for financial performance, quality, sales and all aspects of operational performance.
• Securing new contracts and the management of key stakeholder relationships at regional and national levels
• Financial management. All aspects of financial management, leading to the business trading profitably every year since its inception
• Networking and building external stakeholder relationship
• Establishment of a strong and successful team, with staff retention rates exceeding 80%
• The establishment of an Employee Ownership Trust and an Employee-Owned business allowing all employees to become shareholders
• Search, subsequent acquisition and integration of additional businesses to the Group