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Manchester

Business coaching in Manchester

98% positive rating from our members

Business coaching that means you're not alone

One-to-one business coaching in Manchester

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.

Paul Winterbottom is our dedicated business coach based in Manchester.

small-business-coaching-meeting-in-Manchestrer
Manchester based smiling business owner in Manchester office after business coaching
Manchester

Your business coaches in Manchester

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.

Discover the benefits of our Manchester-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 Manchester members

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.

Mark Brocklehurst, MD Sharples Group Ltd

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.

John Quinton-Barber, Social Communications

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.

Jim Liptrot, Howorth Air Technology Ltd

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.

Tyler Lappage, Nabarro Poole

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.

Rob Sandbach, Indiespring

One of the things that's helped me grow Indiespring over the last 14 years is the support and advice from a number of mentors and partners. I have worked with Paul Winterbottom at The Alternative Board for nearly ten years, and his advice has always been golden. One of the great benefits of TAB is access, not only to a business mentor and coach but also a group of like minded business owners.

Rob Sandbach, Indiespring
Paul helps me get my head straight on a regular basis.

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.
Daisy Whitehouse, Down at the Social

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.

Stephen Attree, MLP Law

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.

Steven Allan, Linten Technologies

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 Paul.

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.

What is business coaching?

A business coach exists to support business leaders in lining up  their business decisions with their personal goals or ambitions. Unlike a business consultant, a business coach will help you to develop the necessary tools, knowledge and skills you need to increase profitability and run a better business. 

Paul Winterbottom, our business coach in Manchester offers coaching, mentoring, consulting and he facilitates peer advisory boards. Plus, members have access to our exclusive strategic planning platform – The Business Builder’s Blueprint.

Why should Manchester business owners consider coaching?

Greater Manchester accounts for the highest number of companies in the North West, and many our their leaders will have considered business coaching.

Here are eight benefits:

  1. Planning and strategy

A key difference between a business coach and consultant is that a consultant will often focus on one specific area such as finance, but a coach helps leaders strategically plan every area of their business.

2.       Skill development

A business coach will enable you to more easily identify skill gaps for both you and your team. This will enable you to become a better leader and will also improve business performance levels.

3.       Being held accountable

Business leaders are pulled in many directions and they often don't have any one to be held accountable to. Sound familiar? A business coach will keep you focused on the actions you need to take at any given time.

4.       New ideas and approaches

Because a business coach doesn’t work in your company, they can provide an outside perspective to most of your challenges and opportunities. This leads to new ideas, strategies and approaches.

5.       Learning from others’ experience

There is lots that business owners can learn from each other, but also there's a lot to learn from a business coach, who is likely to have many years of senior business experience under their belt.

6.       Your personal development

There are many ways in which business coaching and mentoring is good for your personal development. Business coaches 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.

7.       You're not alone

Another great benefit of business coaching is the support they give. Entrepreneurs are often lonely so its fantastic to have a trusted advisor.

8.       Growing your business

 By providing business owners with so many benefits, business coaches can sometimes be the ticket to streamlining processes and increasing profitability, all leading to business growth.

What a business coach is not

A business coach is not the following:

  • The solution

A business coach won't solve all your problems, but will be there to help you through your most significant business challenges.

  • A life coach

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

  • Counselling

A business coach isn't trained like counsellors are to deal with issues like meantl health or family relationships, so they should not be expected to.

  • Consultancy

A consultant focuses on a particular area of expertise and projects in those areas such as a marketing consultant or finance consultant. Whereas, a business coach provides more generalised advice and insights. 

Why TAB business coaching in Manchester?

We have a well-established and trusted network in Manchester where we have held over 250 advisory boards.

Here are three reasons why you should consider TAB’s business coaching and why 98.9% of our members said it adds real value to their business:

  • Paul Winterbottom, our Manchester-based coach, has lots of experience

Paul is a seasoned business professional with over 20 years experience of working closely with SMEs. He is passionate about the difference TAB makes to business owners, their businesses and their personal lives. 

  • Coaching tailored to you and your business

Paul will structure his  coaching sessions but ultimately, they are bespokely tailored for the business owner, their current challenges and their stage of business. 

  • 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 non-competing sectors in a group setting – like a board of directors. Business owners across Manchester come together to advice one another on the current challenges and opportunities they are each facing in their businesses - it's like several business coaches in one!

Latest news and insights

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