Providing consultancy as well as hands-on support to help businesses solve challenges, review strategies and structures, manage projects, enact change, and improve employee engagement.Design and delivery of leadership development and people skills workshops, presentations, and interventions that are evidence-based, practical, and tailored to the needs of the client.Some of my accomplishments include:• Reviewed the leadership framework, organisational structure, and communication channels of a multi-site SME, pinpointed critical issues affecting business growth and overall efficiency, and delivered practical recommendations to meet the business's requirements, and facilitated the team to implement the necessary changes.• Developed and deployed a performance review system in line with roles and organisational values to drive performance and change for a national organisation.• Designed and delivered workshops and published articles in areas such as strategy, leadership, engaging professional colleagues, change management, performance management, coaching, teamworking, diversity, wellbeing, conflict, difficult conversations, employment law, recruitment skills, establishing values, and creative problem-solving.

Working across sites to continually improve how we support our patients, our clients, the business, and each other; developing & implementing strategies that support our ambitions as a forward-thinking, caring, and distinctive independent veterinary practice.

Led 3 projects: The development and implementation of 2 strategic change models and a comprehensive review of the best way forward to support and progress the group-managed estate of veterinary practices. Some of my accomplishments include:• Closely collaborated with cross-functional teams to design an innovative operating model for veterinary practices, integrating design elements, technology, and new ways of working to enhance the patient, customer, and colleague experience.• Led on the implementation of the new model across 40 practices and demonstrated profitable incremental impact on revenues and healthcare plan subscription sales.• Assessed the group-managed veterinary practice estate, reward practices, and support structures, and provided key recommendations to improve employee engagement, retention, and financial performance to be implemented over 2 years. • Developed a strategy and business planning process to support joint venture partners in establishing an ‘advanced’ veterinary practice with premium services and facilities, the first of which opened in September 2022 and is tracking ahead of budget.

Here, I carried out line management for nine regional Business Development Directors across southern UK (with responsibility for up to 60 veterinary practices with 200 sites) and performed a senior role in the national operations team. I oversaw the acquisition and integration of businesses into group, planned budgets, evaluated performance, established leadership capability, promoted collaboration, and co-ordinated organic growth. I also devised and deployed improved processes to strengthen staffing cost control and line reporting.Some of my accomplishments include:• Oversaw like-for-like increases in net sales and EBITDA across the Southern UK, integrated 6 acquisitions, and supported colleagues through a period of rapid growth and change.• Designed and implemented a turnaround strategy in a large multi-site practice – consultations & restructuring, cutting costs, and fostering cultural change.• Created and delivered national leadership development training for new managers.

In this role, I line-managed 35 specialist clinicians and eight department heads and oversaw marketing and customer relationships with 300+ referring practices and clients. I executed financial and hospital management in collaboration with two clinical directors and a practice manager, whilst analysing business growth. Some of my accomplishments include:• Oversaw a significant increase in like-for-like net sales over 2 years through a challenging period, maintaining strong referral levels from key customers whilst building trusted relationships with new referrers.• Drafted business plan for a £2M hospital expansion, developed and assessed business cases for improving headcounts and changes in leadership structure during rapid growth, whilst evaluating performance and maintaining EBITDA on track.• Enhanced leadership, reward, and performance management structures within the practice.

In this role, I was a senior manager in a small team overseeing the performance, evolution and rapid growth of a venture capital funded start-up business across the UK, opening new clinics and supporting and developing Clinical Directors and other managers in the financial, operational and people aspects of their roles. Some of my accomplishments include:• Oversaw large increases in like-for-like net sales and EBITDA, and the opening of 2 new sites.• Designed a Head of Client Care role to support higher turnover clinics, which significantly increased waiting room sales and Pet Health Plan subscriptions, and improved clinical leadership roles and retention.

Here, I undertook the leadership of Specialists and Managers, with P&L responsibility for 3 veterinary specialist referral centres (Kent & Surrey 2012-14, and the Swindon hospital 2014-15). I was also a senior manager in the national Business Operations Management Team, accountable for the performance of the group's Out-of-hours, Specialist Referral & Practice Support businesses.Some of my accomplishments include:• Developed a sustainable strategy for the referral business to maximise caseload, productivity and profitability, as part of the national hospitals' management group• Increased referral customer numbers by building and improving customer relationships in a post-acquisition turnaround, generating initiatives that were subsequently rolled out company wide• Led cultural change to bring autonomous hospital services together and improve sales and EBITDA

In this role, I was responsible for the operational and financial performance of up to 19 out-of-hours veterinary clinics, and the leadership and support of district and clinic managers. I was also a senior manager in the national Clinical Services Management Team, working cross-functionally with colleagues to support and improve the whole business.Some of my accomplishments include:• Co-led a cross-functional breakthrough group on call handling which significantly improved the conversion of calls to cases. • Grew and alleviated a turbulent region, improving staffing levels whilst the number of clinics doubled, and consistently delivered like-for-like revenues and EBITDA ahead of budget & previous year.

Here, I launched a short-lease-based retail chain for a publisher from scratch - identifying, negotiating on and opening sites, and devising and overseeing the operations and performance targets for 11 shops in the space of a year.

As an Area Manager in financial services, I was responsible for the performance of existing branches as well as assessing potential sites, opening new branches, and contributing to national operational management meetings.

In this role, I was responsible for expanding the business in Southern England and Wales from 4 to 20 permanent shops from 2001 to 2007, and opening over 60 new or temporary shops over the period, as well as contributing to monthly Management, Promotions and Buying Meetings.

In my time as a retail manager, I managed 3 stores of increasing turnover over the period, consistently improving their sales and profitability, before being promoted to Area Manager level.

As a self-employed entertainer, I managed bands, performed music and comedy, presented pub quizes, wrote/produced/directed/acted for theatre, performed 'extra' work for television, and 'character' work at events. I regularly performed in Murder Mystery nights throughout Scotland, ran the Calton Centre venue at the Edinburgh Festival in 1992, and was shortlisted by Scottish Television and the Traverse Theatre in 1995 for playwriting.