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HELLO 2021 & GOODBYE 2020!

By Paul Holmes who is managing director of Swindon-based PCH Business Support. Paul works with businesses and organisations of all sizes He focuses on growth and overwhelm for £multimillion businesses, delivering improved profitability and reducing firefighting, providing governance, challenge and direct operational consultancy. He has a background in corporate business, engineering, projects and operations.

As the year starts to turn – how are you feeling about 2021? 

I am very optimistic for PCH for 2021, its going to be an increasingly challenging business environment as the pandemic continues, economic drivers continue to be challenging and the added impact of Brexit.  Despite a challenging year for many businesses 2020 has been a period of significant growth for PCH, working through a range of business organisations, we have delivered really exciting impacts on clients’ businesses and this has attracted a lot of attention. 

2021 will be continuing to engage with increasingly larger businesses and an increasing number of companies, with PCH increasingly working with a strong group of associates. We are in a great position to work with and support industry in the coming months.

What are your business goals for the coming year? 

2021 will be about expanding PCH capability working with a wider range of trusted associates to provide capacity expertise and depth.

Will you be introducing any new products or services? 

The continued support for organisations is designed to adapt to individual demands and adapt to find solutions regardless of the challenges. We will be providing support from non-exec level, continuing to offer the PCH development and improvement programme, business reviews and evaluations, project management, as well as  strategic and operational consultancy. 

Will you be looking to employ any new staff during the new year? 

PCH will be expanding significantly with associates working on start up and small SME support, as well as experienced consultants and coaches working as part of the PCH brand with larger organisations.

Are you looking to invest in yourself as a business owner or company director in 2021 in any way? 

I believe in a “never stop learning attitude” this means continuously adding capability and knowledge which benefits clients, this will continue.

Looking back across 2020 – name three highlights for you and your business? 

1. Being Invited to run the Covid19 121 business support for OXLEP  - has led to closer ties now with PCH now forming part of the OxLEP Growth Hub delivery team.

2. Invited to become an Associate Director for Inspire has significantly increased exposure to much larger organisations needing strategic and operational support.

3. Seeing PCH clients grow and develop, even in a difficult business environment.

Looking back across 2020 – were there any lowlights? 

1. A number of exciting projects were cancelled as the pandemic hit in March/April – a few of those have thankfully reappeared as 2020 comes to a close.

2. The huge demand from businesses needing help has put significant pressure on PCH resources and has forced changes that are now finally delivering a capability stronger for 2021.

3. Seeing clients particularly in the events and hospitality sectors suffer as the pandemic hit their businesses harder than most.

Who, in your business community – have been the shining stars of 2020? 

Anita Jaynes and Fiona Scott – two local media experts for pulling together large sections of the business community to work collaboratively to help each other through the pandemic, building on the great work they do for business generally anyway. 

Any special offers for 2021 you’d like to mention? 

Visit the website for the free '40 ways to raise your profile organically' pdf and we offer a discounted £99 intensive support hour for any business that needs help in the current pandemic and needs ideas on what to do, how to adapt, how to develop the business for the six months ahead. Contact [email protected]

And finally: 

Some of my recommendations for businesses to come out of 2020 raring to go and planning to be successful from earlier in the year still very much apply: 

1) Communicate, to your teams, associates and especially customers – what are you doing, what are you going to be doing, what can they expect!

2) Embrace flexible working and remote working for your teams – review the working arrangements, technology and management processes, be ready.

3) Manage cashflow, engage with debtors and creditors openly – understand what impact post- lockdown will have on customer spend, plan cashflow and credit accordingly.

4) Work ON the business, review processes, get projects done now, look at the business model, review the team structure, check profitability and review the products.

5) Review your message, sharpen it, is it clear?, do more on social media, on your website, in articles and blogs, raise your profile, build networks and collaborations, focus on showing the world exactly what you do.

6) Finally the most important thing; ADAPT  - look at your products, innovate the way you deliver services, your whole business model, use all your experience and knowledge to solve customer problems in different ways, find disruptive ways to operate, create an online service that compliments your main business – “It’s the way we have always done it” won’t be the safest way to be, from now on.

For more information visit www.pchbusinesssupport.co.uk

Fiona Scott Media Consultancy Swindon

Scott Media

Scott Media is run by a UK-based journalist with more than 20 years' experience in the media - print, radio and television.

6 Gold View, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 8GZ

Fiona Scott Media Consultancy
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