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The Alternative Board Manchester West
Experience the power of peer support
Do you want to feel less alone, achieve more in your personal life and lead a more successful business?
Paul Winterbottom has facilitated over 250 advisory board meetings in Manchester and knows first-hand the difference peer support makes.
Learn more about the benefits of TAB by exploring this page and book a call with Paul to find out more.
Start your TAB journey
Fill out your details below and we'll be in touch to arrange an introductory call.

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.
Start your TAB journey
Fill out your details below and we'll be in touch to arrange an introductory call.
TAB members thriving in Manchester

StratPro with TAB finally gave me a cohesive and collaborative team
by Stephen Attree

Your Manchester West facilitator

Get in touch with Paul
I started my TAB business in Manchester West in May 2014. I had enjoyed working closely with SME business owners previously. When I learned about TAB’s Business Owner Advisory Boards, and spoke to owners already benefiting from that support in other parts of the country, it didn’t seem right that Manchester was missing out!
Since establishing my first Board I have seen first hand the value and benefit members derive. Plus, the support, challenge and insight they provide to each other. I’m really enjoying working closely with my members, leveraging the experience I have built up working closely with SMEs over 20 years, and seeing the difference TAB has made to their businesses and in their personal lives.
I’m now running three boards and work as coach or consultant in Manchester. My members include a wide spectrum of business sectors including on-line retail, wholesaling, bespoke software development, construction, distribution and professional services. You can read testimonials from some of those members below.
In 2016, 2017 and 2018 I was awarded TAB’s UK Facilitator of the Year.
If you want to find out whether TAB might be right for you and how it can help you grow your business, please get in touch.
Working with Paul through The Alternative Board (TAB) has completely transformed my approach to running the business. From the 1-2-1 coaching sessions to the monthly board meetings with other business owners, Paul's input and professional approach has helped my business mature from a small "friends and family" operation to a well-structured and strategically sound operation.
Paul has been instrumental in facilitating this transformation with a personable yet professional style that really suits our manner of working. I would recommend Paul and TAB membership to any business owner looking at taking the next step.
One of the best business decisions of my career was to join Paul and the TAB board. Paul is a fantastic Chairman and superb mentor who challenges you to raise the bar every time you meet be it within the board structure or on a one to one basis. At times running an SME is a lonely place so it’s extremely reassuring to know that within the TAB board we have an extremely tight knit team of critical friends/ Non exec directors for support.
At each meeting I have met on average 4 business owners and Paul with each of the owners presenting an issue that they were dealing with, and I have taken some great advice along with many challenges.
We have covered around 250 topics and each one of us has felt the pain and shared in the success of each others businesses.
The positive effect goes way beyond Howorth, it touches everyone of our employees and reaches out into our supply chain, and clients.
Linking up with Paul and TAB was one of the defining moments in the development of Howorth Air Technology and it will continue to have a major impact for years to come.
Almost a year ago I asked Paul if I could join one of his boards, it was one of the best things I could have done for both my development and the growth of my company. Having worked with Paul for the last year, I know first-hand why he has been awarded facilitator of the year by his peers for three years running. The input from Paul’s board and the direct mentoring he has given to me and my co-director have been vital during what has been a massive growth curve for Linten Technologies. In my view, every company owner who wants to grow should be asking to join a board.
I first met Paul in early 2015 and he introduced me to The Alternative Board. It is no exaggeration to say that this was a turning point in my professional life.
The support that I received from Paul and the other members of our board was a key element in the improvement of our business. TAB helped us to define our company vision; to set goals; to plan strategies to achieve those goals and most importantly for me - to not let me off the hook if I was slacking!
It is not easy being a small business owner, but Paul and the rest of the TAB team make it much easier.
I’ve known Paul for over 3 years and joined a TAB Board facilitated by Paul just under 2 years ago. The support I get from Paul and the other members of the board has been and is invaluable to me. The coaching and mentoring compliments the regular TAB Boards superbly and Paul’s style has helped me make real progress the effects of which are being felt in my business and personal life. I have a clear vision and goals that are driving initiatives which are making a real difference to me and the business.
I’ve had the pleasure of being mentored by Paul for over a year and the difference that his counsel has made, together with my membership at The Alternative Board, has exceeded all my expectations. Paul has a brilliant coaching style which helps you work through the many challenges that come from running a business. Owning and running a business can be a lonely tough place at times – and working with Paul and my membership of The Alternative Board has been one of my best purchasing decisions of 2016. Having had quite a few ‘business advisers’ seek my attention the past two years – I can honestly say that Paul’s way, his knowledge and his commitment puts him in a league of his own.
Paul is a skilled coach, great diplomat but has a real knack of making everything simple and therefore more sticky.nnTo be an effective Board member you need only two things, an open mind and the common sense to accept you haven’t got all the answers, if that’s the case working with Paul & TAB will make your business better.nnI would strongly recommend you give it a go & would be happy to share a few of the gems that have helped us to develop & grow wisely.
He is the person that holds me accountable, helps me deal with road blocks and and often makes the insurmountable seem quite straightforward when I really need it.
I love being on a TAB board because it provides so much support and a business routine to keep me on top of jobs that can so easily get pushed back and back when the day to day gets in the way.
Paul is supportive, knowledgable, a font of knowledge when it comes to books and business support and always keen to help. Since I started working with him I have made huge improvements to the business and the way I work and I know this will continue.
I would recommend Paul and TAB to anyone running a business that needs someone to advise, bounce ideas off or just listen.
Member successes and celebrations


A TAB Manchester Board
celebrating a successful 2021

A TAB Manchester Board
celebrating a successful 2021

Jim Liptrot
Howorth Air Technolgy

Jim Liptrot
Howorth Air Technolgy

Emma Cook
Cognisoft

Emma Cook
Cognisoft

Andrew Wood
Andrew Wood Photography

Andrew Wood
Andrew Wood Photography

Such Amin
Lavatech

Such Amin
Lavatech

Rob Sandbach
Indiespring

Rob Sandbach
Indiespring

Andrew Wood
Andrew Wood Photography

Andrew Wood
Andrew Wood Photography

Emma Cook
Cognisoft

Emma Cook
Cognisoft

Cathy Dunlevy
Head Over Heels

Cathy Dunlevy
Head Over Heels

Stephen Attree
MLP Law

Stephen Attree
MLP Law

Rob Sandbach
Indiespring Ltd

Rob Sandbach
Indiespring Ltd
A significant new client win was Rob’s Champagne Moment which he celebrated with Paul when it was achieved!

Rob Sandbach
Indiespring

Rob Sandbach
Indiespring

Mike Andrews
MD John Bradshaw & Sons

Mike Andrews
MD John Bradshaw & Sons

Mark Brocklehurst
Sharples

Mark Brocklehurst
Sharples

Mark Brocklehurst
Sharples Group Ltd

Mark Brocklehurst
Sharples Group Ltd
March 2016: Mark Brocklehurst celebrating his 2016 Champagne Moment - Being awarded the High Sheriff’s Award for Responsible Business Practice.

Jim Liptrot
Howorth Air Tech

Jim Liptrot
Howorth Air Tech

Flora Maudsley-Barton
Parsonage Limited

Flora Maudsley-Barton
Parsonage Limited

Flora Maudsley-Barton
Parsonage Limited

Flora Maudsley-Barton
Parsonage Limited

Cathy Dunlevy
Head Over Heels

Cathy Dunlevy
Head Over Heels

Cath Kenyon
Kaleida Ltd

Cath Kenyon
Kaleida Ltd
Cath was Board Member of the Year for 2017 and 2018, and in 2019 was recognised for being on her TAB Board with Paul for five years. She’s still a member of the Board in 2022…….

Andrew Wood
Andrew Wood Photography

Andrew Wood
Andrew Wood Photography
Celebrating a Champagne Moment unusually early in the year – when the business smashed its previous monthly achievements and recorded its best ever month!

Andrew Wood
Andrew Wood Photography

Andrew Wood
Andrew Wood Photography

Andrew Maxwell
MD of Amspec

Andrew Maxwell
MD of Amspec

Adrian Hancock
Clear VC

Adrian Hancock
Clear VC
October 2016: Adrian celebrating his 2016 Champagne moment – the successful delivery of a major project for a key client.

Ade Hancock

Ade Hancock
Start your TAB journey
Get in touch with Paul.
He will contact you to arrange an introductory meeting.
During which, you’ll 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.
Start your TAB journey
Fill out your details below and we'll be in touch to arrange an introductory call.

There's more with TAB Manchester.


Take advantage of our proven business transformation program, specifically designed for management teams who want to achieve greater team alignment and accountability.
Enable your team to work better together through DiSC behavioural workshops. Paul works in partnership with DiSC to help you better understand yourself and your team.
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