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The Alternative Board North Chilterns

TAB North Chilterns and Oxford is a thriving community that has been helping business owners and helping them help each other.

  • Expert business advice through
    advisory boards and business coaching.
  • Better work-life balance for Chilterns and Oxford business owners.
  • TAB works with over 100+ businesses in Bucks and Oxfordshire.
  • Over 400 UK businesses and thousands more in over 20 countries are part of The Alternative Board globally.

If this sounds interesting, or you’re looking for local business coaching and advisory services, why not call James or David?

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.

Success Stories

From Struggle to Strength: Professor Deborah Eyre's TAB Journey
by Deborah Eyre

Explore how Professor Deborah Eyre, founder of High-Performance Learning, transformed her business and overcame challenges with the help of TAB's advisory board and strategic planning.

The Power of Peer Support: From Bedroom Startup to £2.5M Turnover Powerhouse
by Sheri Irons

Sheri Irons, commercial director based in Aylesbury, talks about her experience with The Alternative Board (UK), leading to accelerated business growth.

Our members thriving together in North Chilterns

Oxford

Your North Chilterns facilitators

James Ross is The Alternative Board Managing Director and business coach for the North Chilterns. He has a wide range of experience having spent 20 years working in tier 1 Investment Banks, both as a qualified accountant running large Finance teams and as Prince 2 certified program manager running large projects for the front office.

Having left the City, James has set up his own business, investing in property and renovating old houses into high yielding quality shared living accommodation for professionals, both in Oxford and Greater Manchester.

James has a passion for coaching and mentoring business owners and has a unique set of experiences to help business owners allied to exceptional problem-solving abilities.

I am a practical, focused, and passionate business leader and am now delighted to be a TAB Facilitator. Having spent over 30 years in senior leadership roles in large corporates, my focus is now on leveraging these experiences and skills to help and support SME owners to achieve their business and personal goals. I recognise the ingenuity and drive required to be an SME owner and entrepreneur and the pressure that can come with it to thrive and survive.

My aim is to provide grounded help and support, typically to people who are looking for support as:

· They would like help to take their business to the next level.

· Their business is stalling.

· They face challenges, maybe feel overwhelmed and do not have a business support network or sounding board.

· Have challenges with building an effective and engaged team.

One of my core skills is helping businesses and individuals to get to the nub of the issue or opportunity, to understand them and to build straightforward practical plans. Quite often business SME owners benefit from help in:

· Nailing down their personal and business goals.

· Help to understand the barriers and opportunities to achieve these goals.

· Building a roadmap.

· Engaging and focussing their team.

· Having a sounding board and a pinch of discipline.

I have developed these skills working in some amazing organisations that invested heavily in me as an individual. I have held the role of Managing Director at a UK and European level and was Chief Operating Officer for a bank of which I was part of the leadership team that took the business to a market listing. I have a broad base of experience from sales and marketing to business transformation and strategy across a number of sectors. My real strength has been helping individuals, teams, and businesses achieve their potential.

Born in Hertfordshire, I live in Berkhamsted with my wife Karin, and we have a grown-up daughter and son. I enjoy cycling, walking, snowboarding, and generally keeping fit.

I love getting to know people and learning about their businesses. If you would like to have a chat about how TAB could help you grow and develop your business, please get in touch.

Our members are stronger together

One of the biggest learnings I have taken away from being an entrepreneur to date is that there is nothing more important than taking a step back and getting perspective. This is often so hard to do in the thick of it, but one of the ways I can highly recommend is speaking to a coach/mentor. I have found James Ross to be invaluable as a sounding board and motivator. Sometimes you just need that external voice and strategic thinking partner to cut through the noise, and James is exactly that.

Alex Harris, Eco-Homemaker

Having a peer board has become such a huge asset for me personally and for my business. I can be totally honest and get advice from other business owners who understand what I am trying to achieve, support me and care about my success. I get amazing advice where nobody has their own agenda from businesspeople who have had the experience themselves.

Jeremy Turner, Turner Properties

"Having a Peer Board is an amazing asset to me. It’s a safe and supportive environment where you get the support of other business owners who are committed to your success. It’s allowing me to be candid and get different views on sorting out knotty problems."

Professor Deborah Eyre, High Performance Learning

James' ability to get to the heart of the issue through listening and asking the right questions helped me achieve clarity of thought and stopped the spinning plates. As a result, I am able to move forward after two months of circling, and all it took was one hour of his coaching. I am forever grateful and, as such, will be joining his peer boards and coaching on a regular basis. It would be short-sighted to stop now, and I highly endorse James and the TAB methodology.

Heather Nogueira, Shutterworks

Start your TAB journey

Get in touch with James or David.

They 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.

Latest news and insights

Why you should never give away Equity when SME's raise finance

25 March 2024 | 2 minute read

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

How to effectively grow an SME business

15 February 2024 | 4 minute read

From developing a clear business plan to investing in tech and building strong partnerships, this blog provides valuable insights for scaling your business

New Year, New Business Goals: Making Your Resolutions Stick in 2024

8 December 2023 | 2 minute read

Transform your business with new behaviours and the right support, guided by practical tips and TAB's expertise for lasting success.