Ben leads GrowthMesh and thrives on identifying, creating and delivering practical solutions to solve the problems and realise the opportunities of our clients. We help companies organise and prioritise their issues, providing clarity and focus. We engage teams and create enthusiasm and purpose to make things happen.Creating space to think – and help to do.

Ben helps businesses to innovate and has spent over 20 years supporting manufacturing, creative, technology, and R&D-intensive businesses. He has a broad understanding of advanced materials, production processes, manufacturing techniques, digital technologies, operational improvement, and R&D strategy execution – and a very wide set of technology/sector capabilities and knowledge. With a background in environmental technology, Ben is a Practitioner of the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (PIEMA) and has a real enthusiasm for environmental issues and the principles of sustainability – particularly around process efficiency, waste minimisation and recycling, and low carbon innovations and technologies. He has worked with many businesses and sectors relevant to the environmental challenge including those in nuclear, wind, wave, solar PV, battery and charging systems, waste management, materials development, AI-based energy monitoring applications, resource efficiency, and climate tech.Ben has a broad understanding of the UK and EU research and innovation funding landscape. He has configured, developed, led, written, won, delivered, and directed numerous bids, projects and programmes using funding from UK Government, UK innovation agencies, EC Framework Programmes, Jisc, HEFCE, ERDF, ESF, WRAP, the Carbon Trust, the devolved administrations (and their institutions), English regions, NHS, MoD, and local authorities.Ben provides project monitoring services for Innovate UK, ensuring that funded projects are managed effectively by the project participants through each of the three project phases (start-up, live and completion) and that the project is supported to deliver effective outcomes.

The Help to Grow: Management Course runs over 12 weeks and includes online and face-to-face sessions, 1-to-1 mentoring and peer networking. With just one session a week, it is designed to fit around existing work and personal commitments. You will finish the course ready to lead on the delivery of increased profitability, innovation and growth.* Business-focused learning – position your business for success with modules covering vision, mission and values, employee engagement, strategy and innovation and much more.* Learn from your peers – share experiences and ideas while building a local network with up to 25 small business leaders.* Tailored plan for your business – work with an experienced small business mentor to tackle your business challenges and develop a tailored growth action plan.* Works around you – choose the Small Business Charter accredited business school closest to your home, or place of work.Sign up at: www.smallbusinesscharter.org/help-to-grow-management

Ben is an R&D Technical Consultant, providing technical assessments for projects qualifying for R&D Tax Relief, working with the Innovate Incentives team at BAND - specialist advisors, accountants and business managers to the creative, media, sports and entertainment industries.

Ben is an R&D Technical Consultant, providing technical assessments for projects qualifying for R&D Tax Relief, working with the specialist R&D team at TC Group - accountants and tax advisers specialising in the provision of bespoke, high-quality accountancy and taxation solutions.

Ben is an R&D Technical Consultant, providing technical assessments for projects qualifying for R&D Tax Relief, working with the team at Fortus - business advisors and accountants with a proven track record of delivering support and advice to ambitious business owners and their businesses.

Freedom Foundation works with children and young people to support mental and physical wellbeing. Working with ages 2-18 their programmes give children and young people the opportunity to explore themselves and who they could be. Using the creative arts to explore emotions, build confidence and resilience and instil aspiration. Freedom Foundations focus around the impact of social media enables students to have a (mental) safe use of social media and how they view the world, it helps them deal with challenges around stress, anxiety and depression and provides an outlet away from the intensity of the screen: youtu.be/dczQZN33tdU

The Careers & Enterprise Company has been set up with £20 million of initial government funding. Working as an umbrella organisation, supporting programmes that work, filling gaps in provision and ensuring coverage across the country. Our role is to inspire young people and help them to prepare for and take control of their futures. We will help them make the link between their education and their futures and build the attitudes and attributes they will need throughout their careers. We will do this by increasing employer engagement with young people, enabling them to meet, speak to and understand employers of all sizes.The purpose of a local Enterprise Adviser is to create powerful, lasting connection between local businesses and the schools and colleges in the area, to develop effective employer engagement plans.Ben supports Maplewell Hall School, one of the five Leicestershire County Area Special Schools. Working closely with the Deputy Headteacher (Careers Leader) and Senior Leadership Team he uses his business experience to help improve the job outcomes for students.