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Derby East Midlands

The Alternative Board
Derby and East Midlands

Improve your business and change your life with The Alternative Board

Experience the power of peer support.

At TAB, we provide business owners with proven solutions, actionable advice, and unparalleled support.

TAB guides you through every milestone, providing practical advice to help you achieve growth, goals, and confident decision-making.

Our peer support system allows you to discuss your ideas with experienced professionals, enabling you to make better-informed decisions.

Join over 55 business owners in Derby and the East Midlands who are already benefiting from our services.

Book a 15-minute chat with our team to learn more.

Our members

Over 5x

TAB members’ sales growth is 5.5 times the national SME average

96%

Of TAB members said their advisory boards added real value to their business

91%

TAB members report improved ability to address personal and business issues.

Your Derby and East Midlands Team

Discover the benefits of advice from others like you

Start with you

Focus on what you want in life and how your business can help get you there.

Increase profitability

Be held accountable to meet your business targets.

Improve decisions

Take control of your decisions through peer support and proven planning tools.

Make better time choices

Spend your time well by utilising the experience of others.

Become a better leader

Motivate your people with the guidance of peers and an expert coach.

Plan a successful exit

Get the best result for you with tailored, hands-on support.

Member successes and celebrations

TAB Derby

Rob Watson

Ph9

Paul Ritchie

Foremost Security

What our members say...

At TAB like-minded people resolve everyday business issues. It’s good to go outside of your bubble and get outside guidance…There’s more than one way to skin a cat and these guys will show you how to do it.

Rob Sear, Whitehouse Construction
I want to wholeheartedly recommend my now good friend Jimi Ball and the TAB Derby team! I joined TAB in May 2020. I was feeling quite lost - the business was doing okay, but I wanted more. I wanted more of a direction. I wanted a different approach to the business. I wanted to be a real leader Having the 1 to 1 support from Jimi has really given me a focused approach to the business - and I didn't want to let him down either!! 
Adam Holland, Progressive Sports

I’ve been supported through some big transitions at work by the board and by Julian and they are things I probably would not have done without the board and they are some of the best things I have done of late within my own business. 

Helen Wathall, Wathall and Sons

The Alternative Board has helped me to focus on the company’s key goals and objectives. You really don’t feel you are alone, there is a whole team of other business professionals to support you through any challenging issue you or your company is facing. It really is a great and positive motivating experience. Most importantly, the Board has made a fundamental difference to the performance and profitability of the business.

Bradley Walters, Hi Fi Racks Ltd

I was first introduced to the TAB at an event at Derby arena, after a discussion with Max I decided to join. TAB takes coaching to the next level as not only do you have a great one to one session you are involved in a monthly board coaching session where other business owners share their day to day challenges. It brings to the table other people’s thought process and really does challenge your own mindset and thought process helping towards your own daily focus and running your business.

Neil Cockings, PNE Controls Ltd

I’ve been a member of TAB for a few months now and it’s gone really well. I’m enjoying the process; I’m already taking a better approach to the company finances and gradually building a really clear strategy for the business. I guess to sum it up, it's got me to hold a mirror up and really look at what I’m doing and how I spend my time. I can’t wait to see how my business grows as a result.  

Ian Morris, Three Rooms

It can be a bit lonely at the top. You’re sometimes getting it from all angles... So having people there that you can sound ideas off can be a real benefit. You get to voice your ideas to a party of people who you grow to trust, and they scrutinise your ideas and also offer beneficial insight from their past experience. 

Ben Naylor, Gold Crest Surveyor

My experience of being a TAB member is absolutely positive! The support I have been shown is of tremendous importance through very difficult and stressful times. TAB has been instrumental in helping me to overcome my business demons and develop my business knowledge and understanding.

Paul Hastings, Manor Electrical

TAB allows you to focus on what is the highest value and most challenging problem to solve… it gives you the ability to surface and focus on your business challenges… and it’s great that other people round the table have been on similar journeys.

David Hall, Orderly

Julian is highly adept at seeing straight to the heart of an issue. He has the ability to create a level of trust and understanding very quickly when interacting with my team and they value his advice and suggestions as much as I do. He offers unflinching support and his ideas and solutions are incredibly valuable.

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock

Since joining TAB I have made some good friends who laugh and cry together, which is testament to how strong the bond of the Board is. The different skills and diverse range of businesses on our Board means you get such a variety of views to help you see things from a new perspective. I couldn’t be without it to help me through some of the challenges I face and the bit of time I need to invest each month in the Board meetings and 1-to-1 sessions has made me more efficient and focused.

Rob Watson, PH9
The investment in myself by being on the TAB board has given the business more confidence. We're taking decisions quicker and smarter, which is enabling us to grow our business in the current market. 
Neil Foster, Force Engineering

What is it like to be a TAB member?

Value-Builder-Logo

Evaluate your business's readiness for exit with this comprehensive report

The Value Builder System™ is a statistically proven methodology designed to improve the value of a privately held business.

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Unlock the hidden potential of your people

Enable your team to work better together through DiSC behavioural workshops. 

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Start your TAB journey

Get in touch with one of the using the forms on this page.

They will contact you to arrange an introductory meeting.

 Chat about whether TAB is right for you and your business.

Attend your first TAB board meeting and experience the power of peer support.

There’s no obligation, only an opportunity to find out more.

Latest news and insights

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This is a comprehensive guide to the support funds available for businesses in the UK. Learn which business support funds you could claim with this in-depth post.

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Discover why giving away equity when raising funds for SMEs is a bad idea. Explore alternative options to maintain control and maximise growth potential.

Time Management: Theory and Practice 2024

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This is a comprehensive guide to time management, its theories and putting them into practice. Learn all about time management with this in-depth post.