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STRATEGIC ADVISER FOR FOUNDERS
Growth brings complexity
I help entrepreneurs with growing businesses confidently make better strategic decisions.
Building a business is exhilarating. Leading one is something else entirely.
As your business grows, the decisions become bigger, the stakes become higher, and the people around you often expect you to have all the answers.
I've been there.
Whether you need a sounding board, strategic challenge or practical advice, our conversations will always be grounded in the realities of running a business.
Does this sound familiar?
Many founders contact me because they're experiencing one or more of these situations:
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We've grown quickly but I feel like I'm losing control.
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Every important decision still lands on my desk.
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I know the business could go further but I'm not sure what the next move should be.
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I'm working harder than ever yet enjoying it less.
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I'm beginning to think about selling the business, but I don't know where to start.
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I need someone who will challenge my thinking, not simply agree with me.
If you're nodding along to any of these, you're not alone.
Why founders choose Alan
Running a business can be surprisingly lonely. You get so immersed in the business you can’t see the wood for the trees.
Friends see success.
Employees look to you for certainty.
Your leadership team may only see part of the picture.
Sometimes, what you really need is someone who has already travelled the road you're on.
Someone who understands cashflow, acquisitions, hiring, growth, funding, exits and leadership because they've experienced them first-hand.
That's where I can help, as a strategic adviser for founders.
Support that adapts to where you are
Every founder is different, and every stage of business brings different challenges.
Sometimes you need a coach who asks the difficult questions. Sometimes you need a mentor who's already solved a similar problem. Sometimes you simply need strategic advice from someone who can help you weigh up the options, and sense check your decisions.
Our work together isn't restricted to one label. It changes as your business evolves.
The difference experience makes
There are many excellent coaches for founders.
Most have helped people improve performance.
Fewer have built businesses themselves.
I've spent over 25 years starting, growing and exiting businesses.
I've dealt with investors, acquisitions, difficult markets, recruitment, cashflow, leadership teams and succession planning.
When you describe the challenge you're facing, there's a good chance I've faced something similar myself.
That doesn't mean I'll tell you what to do.
It means our conversations begin from real commercial experience rather than theory.
20 minutes. No pitch. Leave with one clear next step.
£300m+
revenue
generated
40 +
years business experience
500 +
businesses supported
£1.4m
profit achieved in 12 months
7 & 8 figure
exits successfully delivered
The outcomes founders are looking for
Every engagement is different, but founders typically tell me they leave with:
Greater clarity about the decisions ahead
More confidence in difficult situations
Better strategic focus + stronger leadership
A business that relies less on them
A clearer path for growth or eventual exit
Listen in. Here's my quick introduction to who I am and how I work.
20 minutes. No pitch. Leave with one clear next step.
REAL results from REAL businesses at pivotal moments
8-Figure
Exit
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Tripled
turnover
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Successful exit
in 11 months
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Launched international joint venture
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From Loss to
£1.4m profit
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Endorsed by Founders Who Value Clarity
"I found Alan's coaching models offer a structured approach though it's his humanity, calmness and decades of business experience that I most value. Alan has travelled the road we’re on many times, which leads to real-world advice. Having his expertise in my corner has transformed our business trajectory for future growth and fuelled me to make it happen."
Shaun Russell, Founder, Skandinavisk
How we work together
Most relationships begin with a simple conversation.
From there, we'll decide whether working together is the right fit.
Support can include:
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Monthly strategic sessions
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Fortnightly meetings
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Weekly support during periods of significant change
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Longer-term advisory relationships
Sessions can take place online, by phone or in person where appropriate. Investment in my services varies, depending on your needs. You can get a rough ballpark here, but every situation is unique.
20 minutes. No pitch. Leave with one clear next step.
FAQs
What does a Strategic Adviser actually do?
A Strategic Adviser helps you step back from the day-to-day and see the bigger picture. They challenge your assumptions, ask the hard questions you might avoid asking yourself, and help you make clearer decisions about direction, priorities and growth. Rather than telling you what to do, they act as a sounding board and accountability partner, drawing on outside experience to help you spot blind spots, weigh trade-offs, and turn strategy into action.
How is this different from business coaching?
Business coaching typically focuses on developing you as a leader - your skills, mindset, and performance - through regular, structured sessions. A strategic adviser focuses more on the business itself: shaping direction, working through specific decisions, and providing outside perspective on strategy, growth, and risk. In practice, the two often overlap but coaching tends to ask "how do you grow as a leader?" while strategic advice tends to ask "what's the right move for the business?"
How do I know if I really need a business coach, or if I'm just tired?
Honestly, those two things aren't always separate. Exhaustion often shows up right where clarity is missing - you're pushing hard but not sure if your effort is being used in the right direction. A coach isn't a replacement for rest, but if you've noticed the same problems circling back month after month, or you're making decisions from fatigue instead of strategy, that's usually a sign it's not just tiredness. It's a signal that you need a thinking partner, not just a rest.
How do you help me decide between too many opportunities?
When everything looks like a good opportunity, the real problem usually isn't the options, it's the absence of a filter. My job isn't to hand you a decision, it's to help you get clear on what you actually want this business (and this season of your life) to do for you, so the right opportunities start sorting themselves from the noise. Once you have that filter, "too many options" turns into an obvious next move.
Do you work with founders who are financially successful but personally stuck?
All the time, in fact that's one of the most common places founders find me. Revenue can be strong while you're quietly running on empty, disconnected from why you started, or unsure what winning even looks like anymore. Success on paper doesn't automatically translate to clarity or fulfillment, and that gap is exactly the kind of work we do together.
What actually happens in a session? Is it a framework or a conversation?
It's a conversation first. Frameworks come second. I listen closely to where you actually are, ask questions that get past the surface-level answer, and bring in structure only when it serves what's really going on for you. You won't get an off the shelf worksheet experience; you'll get a session that meets you where you are and helps you leave with real clarity, not just more to think about.
What size businesses do you usually work with?
Every situation is unique and I’m open to discussion, but I tend to work with owner-managed C-suite, B2B service businesses with a turnover of £5m - £25m and premium positioning.
Do you only work with UK businesses?
No, I have several clients across the globe, from Sweden to New Zealand. As the majority of my work is online, geography is no limiter. And we always make the time difference work!
What are the differences between Coaching, Consulting and Mentoring?
Here's a diagram that illustrates the key differences:
How much are your fees?
My fees are bespoke and reflect the scale, complexity and ambition of the work we do together. The best next step is a quick conversation to figure out what actually fits your situation. Investment levels start at a monthly fee of £1200 or fixed project fee from £10,000
What if I'm at an early stage and can't afford a full engagement?
Let’s start with a conversation. If I see potential in your business, we may be able to work out an investment solution that works for both of us.