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Exeter

Business coaching in Exeter

98% positive rating from our members

Business coaching that means you're not alone

One-to-one business coaching in Exeter

Keep focused, accountable, and on track to achieve your business and personal goals.

Our members get a monthly one-to-one session with their TAB facilitator and coach.

Rick Dent is our dedicated business coach in Exeter.

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Female business owner smiling following a business coaching session in Exeter
Exeter

Your business coaches in Exeter

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Rick Dent

07534 463151
Email Rick
Make an enquiry here Read more about Rick

I am the owner of The Alternative Board in Exeter.

At heart, I am a small business owner. Both in terms of experience and temperament. I understand the intense rewards, and, also the frustrations, of running your own company. I empathise with anyone doing so.

For almost 20 years I was co-owner and Senior Partner of a London-based market research agency. Recently, I sold it to another agency. As Senior Partner, I was responsible for key aspects of the business, including planning, finance, sales and marketing, operations, and personnel.

My experience includes winning projects and nurturing key accounts with major MNCs like BT, RS Components, and Google, implementing a wide range of internal processes – enabling ISO compliance – and extensive mentoring of staff. I have degrees in Politics and Computing Science and am a Certified Member of the UK Market Research Society.

Having sold my business, I took time out and travelled with my family. When it came to my next role, I knew I wanted to help small business owners. The Alternative Board allows me to do just that. I saw at once the value of accessing peer board advice, private coaching and strategic tools.

One of my key motivations is for my family to be able to live in a healthy environment, surrounded by beautiful countryside and coast. I’m therefore delighted to be able to bring the benefits of TAB to the business community in and around Exeter.  `

If you’d like to hear more about those benefits, please get in touch.

Discover the benefits of our Exeter-based coaching

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.

Hear from our Exeter members

I've been part of TAB with Rick as my facilitator since May 2021. Initially, I was sceptical about the cost-benefit of joining, but it's been a valuable experience. Our group of business owners brings both a complementary and, at the same time, diverse perspective, and I always have at least one gem of an idea or knowledge. Rick is a great facilitator, keeping people on track and offering wisdom when necessary. The one-to-one meetings are also really valuable, ensuring that I step back from my business and view it objectively while keeping me accountable. Monthly meetings keep me on track, moving the business forward the whole time.
Olivia Cooper, MD, Agri-Hub

I've been part of TAB with Rick as my facilitator since May 2021. Initially, I was sceptical about the cost-benefit of joining, but it's been a precious experience. Our group of business owners brings both a complementary and, at the same time, diverse perspective, and I always have at least one gem of an idea or knowledge. Rick is a great facilitator, keeping people on track and offering wisdom when necessary. The one-to-one meetings are also really valuable, ensuring that I step back from my business and view it objectively while keeping me accountable. Monthly meetings keep me on track, moving the business forward the whole time.

 

 

Graham Higgins, MD, Cotswold Baby Co

Working with Rick has really helped me kick my business on. Highly recommended.

Richard Forshaw-Smith, MD, RFS Marketing

Rick is simply a great coach and facilitator - impartial and yet incredibly supportive. After a session with Rick, you have a clear action list and feel confident in your decision-making. The growth of our business has no doubt been directly related to the work we’ve achieved and the accountability we have to our goals thanks to Rick.

Lucy Robarts-Arnold, gm-design

Rick and The Alternative Board. Well, what can I say? He has a knack of putting together groups that support each other, hold each other accountable and raise each other up. They reflect all the best bits of yourself and help you grow, but give you space to just be when you're struggling.

In Rick's 121's, I'm able to go through everything so calmly and methodically, helping me to feel in control, and like everything is achievable.

On the boards everything comes together, and each person has an angle that allows them to step back and see your own challenge in a way that you cannot. Rick facilitates these effortlessly.

I was not ready for how much being part of one of Rick's boards would change my life, and the way I view myself.

Nicole Windley, Broadoak Studios

I've worked with Rick and other local business owners over the past two years as part of a TAB board. It has had a positive impact on our business and on my role as the CEO. Rick has been an expert facilitator of the board and has provided valuable guidance and support to me in one-to-one sessions, asking all the right questions to help me keep the company on the right track. The board has provided useful advice on various topics, from HR to marketing, strategy, and planning. I can't overstate the value of getting direct advice and challenges from people who have 'been there and done that'. I recommend Rick's services and the board to people in a similar position.

Michael McAndrew, MD, Third Sector Design

Personally, it has provided a clear pathway and my business has gone from strength to strength since I became a member of the TAB board.

Dawn Dines, SOS Global
Working with Rick has really helped clarify my thinking, and I get a lot of value out of the TAB sessions, both individual and group!
Katie May, MD, Roots Creative Marketing

Working with Rick Dent and the TAB board has been a fantastic opportunity for myself and my organisation to gain clarity in our strategic planning.

Rick has a great ability to tease out information from you so you can formulate a plan moving forward. The one-to-one sessions with Rick provide structure and I always leave with a call to action list, these sessions are invaluable.

The TAB board provide a safe confidential environment to discuss any issues you are facing within your business with likeminded associates. You gain an insight into what works for others and provide each other with tips and tools to overcome any internal problems.

Personally, it has provided a clear pathway and my business has gone from strength to strength since I became a member of the TAB board.

Dawn Dines, SOS Global

Rick has helped me hugely through what has been an extremely difficult time for both the business and for me personally. When you're running a business, it's easy to think that you are the only one meeting challenges but being part of the board makes you realise that that is definitely not the case.

I have received some great advice on my pain points from the other board members and I find it so valuable to be able to put my ideas and problems to people working outside of the business and industry. I have put in place many of the solutions given to me by the board and I know we are a stronger company as a result.

Rick has also helped me to put strategic plans in place to focus on moving the business forward in a direction that is going to be good for me personally as well as for the business. The suite of online tools available help to keep me accountable and I am thoroughly enjoying being able to look back at the progress we have made so far.

Rick listens, guides and supports me in finding the right path to pursue both professionally and personally and I would highly recommend working with him and TAB.

Sophie Grafton, Mystery Shoppers Ltd

Over 5x

TAB members’ sales growth is 5.5 times national SME average

95%+

95.7% of TAB members said their advisory boards added real value to their business

90%+

90.3% of members said their ability to address personnel and organisational issues has improved since joining TAB

Start your journey with TAB

Get in touch with Rick.

He will contact you to arrange an introductory meeting.

During which, you’ll chat about whether TAB business coaching is right for you and your business.

Attend your first TAB board meeting and coaching session to discover the power of peer support.

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

Book an introductory call

What is business coaching?

A business coach is an expert who supports business leaders to align their business decisions with their personal goals or vision. Rather than simply giving you the answers, our business coaching services equip you with the necessary tools and knowledge to make better decisions and increase business growth.

Rick Dent, our business coach in Exeter offers coaching, mentoring, consulting and of course, facilitates our peer advisory boards. Not only that, but he can guide you through our exclusive strategic planning platform – The Business Builder’s Blueprint.

Why should Exeter-based business owners consider coaching?

There are over 4,800 businesses registered in Exeter, and many of their owners will have considered business coaching. 

Here's why:

  1. Planning and strategy

Business coaches are often more beneficial in areas of strategic planning. A key difference between a business coach and consultant is that a consultant will often focus on one specific area such as succession planning, whereas a coach will guide owners to strategically plan their business in its entirety. 

2.       Developing your skills as a business owner

Most business owners can identify specific skills they could improve upon. Could you be a better communicator? A better negotiator? A business coach can help you work in specific areas, developing skills that will help you succeed not only in this current business but in whatever venture you take on in the future.

3.       Accountability

It is often easy as a business owner not to be held accountable to anyone. This means that you never face the consequences of failing to complete actions. In contrast, a business coach will hold you accountable to ensure that you and your business are always moving forward.

4.       New ideas and approaches

Because a business coach doesn’t work in your company, they will be distanced from most of your opportunities and challenges. This means they can provide an outside perspective with new ideas, strategies and approaches.

5.       Learning from others’ experience

Often, business coaches are previous business owners or have worked for big corporates and in business for a long time. Over the years, they will have experienced many common and unique business issues. This means that when you approach them with an issue, they’ll more than likely have an experience they can draw on to guide you through it. This isn’t just the case with business coaches. There is lots that business owners can learn from each other too. 

6.       Your personal development

Business coaches also often take on a business mentoring role. This is where they focus on you, the business owner, on a person. In coaching sessions, they can be available to listen to any emotional needs or concerns you have. Or they can enable you to ensure your business is working for your personal life. In fact, there are a few ways that business coaching and mentoring is good for your personal development.

7.       Support – You’re not alone

Another great benefit of business coaching is the support they it gives. A business coach can help you combat the loneliness of entrepreneurship. They can be your sounding board, your go-to listener and your trusted advisor.

8.       Business growth

And ultimately, a benefit of a business coach is that they can help you achieve business growth. By providing business owners with all the benefits mentioned above, business coaches can sometimes be the ticket to streamlining processes and increasing profitability.

What business coaching is not

A business coach is not the following:

  • The solution

Getting a business coach does not mean that all your business challenges will be solved through those coaching sessions. The coach is there to guide you through and empower you with the right tools and knowledge to help you find those solutions. Inevitably, challenges will also come your way, but a coach is there to hold your hand through them.

  • Life coaching

A business coach is not there to get involved in your personal life and aspirations but will consider how your personal goals might line up to your business ambitions.

  • Counselling

Counsellors are specifically trained in dealing with specific personal problems such as mental health or family relationships. A business coach is not trained to deal with these issues and therefore should not be expected to address them.

  • Consultancy

A consultant focuses on a particular area of expertise and projects in those areas such as a marketing consultant or finance consultant. They seek to fix specific problems within a business, a business coach however, provides more generalised advice and insights. At TAB, we do sometimes provide consultancy services as each of our coaches have their own niche areas of expertise.

Why TAB business coaching in Exeter?

98.9% of our members said TAB business coaching adds real value to their business:

  • Rick Dent has experience

Rick Dent is a seasoned business professional who, for almost 20 years, owned and ran his own business based in London. As well as his experience, Rick has the passion of helping small business owners thrive in their business and their personal lives. 

  • Rick's coaching is tailored to you

Whilst we have a structure at TAB, the coaching sessions are tailored to your needs and what you need at any given time. 

  • Works alongside our advisory boards

Our business coaching is so powerful because of its combination with our business advisory boards. These bring together business owners and leaders from the Exeter area. As part of a monthly TAB Board meeting, each member helps one another identify opportunities and solve the challenges they each face in their businesses. That's several business coaches in one TAB membership!

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*Stats based on a recent survey of 93 active TAB members