At MPWR-365 we combine expertise in Microsoft Power Platform and strategic consultancy to generate business solutions that will optimize operations and save money.

I deliver affordable, top-quality business consultancy to SMEs, offering expertise in strategy, funding, marketing, and more. Whether you're a startup or an established business, I use my experience as an Adviser, Coach, leader, and manager to help you to create the change needed to achieve your business goals. Services include:1. Coaching and Mentoring - helping you to connect with your purpose, and make decisions that are right for you and your business.2. Business Advice and Consultancy:* Business strategy - Helping you to decide and connect with your vision, mission, aims and objectives.* Business Planning - Develop a practical business plan that aligns with your goals and objectives and delivers your business Strategy.* Growth Strategy and problem solving - Identify the barriers to growth for your business and ways to overcome them so you can move forward. * Marketing Strategy - Gain a deeper understanding of your customers to create an effective strategy and impactful marketing activities.* Funding and Finance - Whether you're starting a new business or expanding an existing one, I can assist with identifying and obtaining funds from range of sources so you can achieve your vision.* Work Place Innovation - Strategies to empower your employees at all levels, driving enhanced business performance, employee engagement, and improved well-being across your organization.3. Interim Management - short term cover for a range of job roles from business development to operations management.

I am contracted by East Midlands Chamber to deliver their Leicester Accelerator program - a business support project designed to help businesses across the city to sustain, grow and innovate, with an additional focus on decarbonisation. Support from the programme includes:* 1-2-1 advice: mentoring and diagnostic support on a range of areas relevant to your business. * Net Zero: events, training, consultancy and energy audits to help you gain green business skills and plan your journey towards carbon neutrality and net zero.* Digital: workshops, specialist support and bespoke consultancy to help enhance digital use and/or implement new processes with a specific focus on manufacturing businesses.My role is to support local businesses in their journey toward digital transformation and achieving net zero. I carry out comprehensive business reviews, offer expert information, advice and guidance, and assist clients with their grant applications for specialist support. I also help develop decarbonisation plans and connect businesses with valuable resources and opportunities, depending on their requirements.

As 'Strategy and Business Development Manager', I enabled Digital Planning to grow and scale at pace by shaping and executing business strategy, identifying and implementing operational improvements, and business development efforts. A key focus of my role was the commercialization of Metis, an innovative SaaS-based resource management solution.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:* Turnover doubling in less than 12 months* Developing strategies across all areas of the business, including software solutions, cybersecurity, and Metis* Establishing and managing strategic partnerships with organizations like East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, Innovate Edge, Made Smarter, and Create Growth* Progressing Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) opportunities with four universities, including an application with De Montfort University (DMU)* Creating and implementing a new sales process, significantly improving conversion rates* Planning and delivering three "Discovery Days," resulting in three new clients and over £100k in initial contracts* Developing and executing a sales and marketing strategy, along with account management procedures, to retain and expand cybersecurity clientsThis role allowed me to combine strategic planning with hands-on execution to fuel Digital Planning's rapid growth and success.

As a Business Adviser for the Business Gateway Growth Hub, I worked with small to medium-sized enterprises across Leicester and Leicestershire, providing high-quality business support to drive performance improvement, facilitate growth, and create new jobs.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:* Supported over 425 new and established SMEs across Leicester and Leicestershire to scale and grow through structured diagnostics, advice, guidance, and action planning.* Achieved a 100% success rate in supporting clients with Business Gateway Growth Hub grant applications, enabling 9 clients to access over £168,000 in funding, creating 18 jobs, and safeguarding many more.* Recognized as the highest-performing Adviser on the program, meeting my target of 88 C1C4 outputs (12 hours of support) with 5 months remaining in the contract.During my time at East Midlands Chamber (EMC), I was also an active member of:* The Enterprising Women Network* Future Leaders Program* EMC's Environmental, Social Governance (ESG) working group* EMC's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) working group* The Employment Advisory Board (EAB) for Leicester prison, connecting employers with prison initiatives.This role allowed me to make a tangible impact on the growth and success of local businesses while actively contributing to key initiatives within EMC.CLIENT FEEDBACK “The support from the Business Gateway has allowed me to see a broader picture and understand what I need to do to control the issues concerning me. The biggest thing is clarity, which has been invaluable – clarity of thought and action. I’ve never had a business plan since we started, we have one now and that’s down to support from Jo. She’s been incredibly helpful.” Tim Granger, MD of Weatherwise Ltd“It’s been like having a third party saying ‘keep going.’ While the answers all come from me, Jo has a brilliant coaching style which has helped me get the work done and keep the momentum going.”Sue West, MD of West HR

I set up and ran my very own professional Dog Walking and Pet Care service, targeting busy dog owners and pet lovers, living in the LE3 and surrounding areas.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:• Built a profitable, financially viable business within 12 months offering full range of pet care services• Built own website and set up and managed all social media channels and SEO• Employed a second member of staff to support with dog sitting/home boarding service• Developed, baked and sold a brand of ‘delicious and nutritious’ dog treats called ‘Stella’s Snacks’CLIENT FEEDBACK:“It’s so reassuring to leave my little dog with someone who cares and loves dogs. Also brilliant attention to detail and organization”. Darren, Molly’s Dad“It's great knowing the person you are trusting to look after your dog is as professional as Jo and loves dogs as much as you do. Would happily recommend”. Helen, Scarlet’s Mum“Jo has a great love and affinity with animals and especially dogs. During the initial consultation she asked questions that showed she wanted to give my dog the best care possible during my absence. I went away feeling happy to leave Bella in her care and knowing she would be well looked after. My confidence was proved to be thoroughly justified. I can’t recommend this lady and her services highly enough”. Liz, Bella's Mum

Summit Support, was a charity that helped excluded and isolated people from across the Black Country to find their way back to happy, healthy and more fulling lives. As Managing Director my role was to develop and oversee the implementation of an agreed strategy and Business Plan. I was responsible for growing income and managing the services, as well as overseeing the operational management of the charity. As Managing Director I was also required to maintain a highly effective working relationship with the Board and produce reports, presentations, papers and plans to monitor progress and evaluate performance.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:• Worked with a specialist consultant to create theory of change and business plan for Summit Support• Identified and implemented a number of new initiatives to improve operations including a managedaccounts system, a system to track and review policies and procedures, a performance managementand reporting mechanism and a new organisation structure• Set up regular monthly staff team meetings, a monthly staff feedback session, a program of trainingactivities and staff recognition scheme to improve communications and motivate, develop and retainstaff

Work Design was a graphic design company based in Leicester. The core purpose of my role was to grow and develop the business through effective business planning and business development.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:• Established a database of over 700 potential new clients, contacts and customers• Secured 15 new clients and £238k worth of business within first 2 years• Successfully tendered for a 5 year, £300k+ design contract with EMH group• Improved business effectiveness through CRM, pricing toolkit, managed accounts, timesheets andcustomer feedback form• Achieved RAR status (recommended agency register)MANAGERS FEEDBACK:“Jo’s enthusiasm and dedication to her job cannot be faulted with her approach to all aspects of her role being extremely methodical, well planned and considered. She was very active at networking events and often went above and beyond her position by running workshops and organising our own website and e-newsletter content. In addition, Jo could always be relied on to contribute positively to company meetings with well-considered input.Jo was a great addition to the studio. She is a natural born problem solver, full of common sense, thorough and hardworking. She goes about her everyday tasks with great humour, kindness and a willingness to help improve the things around her both in and outside of work. Needless to say we were always very proud to have her representing us and we wish her the very best of luck in her next role”.Matt Tomlin, Director Work Design

As a Partnership Manager at UK Youth, I was responsible for ensuring quality, youth-led National Citizen Service (NCS) programs were delivered across the UK.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:• Developed effective working relationships with a wide range of people from a number of teams including the NCS Trust, the NCS Network, the Partnership Managers team, and local delivery partners (LDP's)• Successfully matrix managed four members of staff located across the U.K • Undertook quality assurance and due diligence assessments, health and safety inspections and financial audits to ensure the LDP’s I managed were contract compliant • Provided effective performance management of my LDP’s by reviewing progress against contractual targets and other indicators and developing and implementing improvement plans where underperformance was identifiedCLIENT FEEDBACK:“Joanna is a highly experienced and motivated Manager. She is very organised, focused and able to manage difficult relationships and situations with a calmness and clarity that soon rubs off on others! Always relied upon to be supportive, empathetic yet clear about required targets, giving advice when needed but also giving praise and recognition where its due. A great pleasure to work with.” Christine Davidson, National Citizen Service (NCS) Manager, Safe In Tees ValleyCOLLEAGUE FEEDBACK:“Jo was a great asset to the team; organised, good humored and always solution-focused. She coped with a wide variety of supply chain support and challenge issues and her breadth of experience and pragmatic management style made her both successful and well respected.” Amanda Best, Partnership Director, Serco.

I was responsible for generating and managing donated income from high net worth individuals across the West and East Midlands on behalf of The Princes Trust.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:• Generated and managed £300k+ of donated income • Researched, identified and developed new relationships with potential supporters• Providing excellent account management to existing donors via a wide range of effective communications including meetings, phone calls, letters, events, reports and progress updates• Worked alongside local and national fundraising teams to support other initiatives such as grant giving, fundraising events, corporate engagement and team and individual challenge events

As the Business Manager I ensured the charity had adequate resources and effective systems to deliver high quality services to vulnerable woman and their families within the local community. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:• Successfully fundraised for over £400,000 worth of grants/bids in 2 years• Wrote the business plans for the successful development of 3 social enterprises• Negotiated over £11,000 worth of savings from supplier contracts in 1 year• Achieved government standard: Customer Services Excellence Award• Managed the name change and rebranding of Turning Point Women’s Centre to New Dawn New DayMANAGERS FEEDBACK:“Jo is a very talented manager. She has quite a unique ability to focus on the bigger picture whilst having an incredible eye for the detail. I worked closely with Jo at New Dawn New Day for nearly 3 years and found her to be diligent, hardworking and most of all trustworthy. She brings a deep sense of purpose to her work alongside strong business acumen which can be quite rare in the charity sector. Jo is reflective and thoughtful in her approach but is also a "do-er" - she does what she says she will, on time and on budget. Jo was a real pleasure to work with and I would happily have her back in my senior management team.”Sara Swire, CEO

I was for responsible planning, organising, resourcing, managing, monitoring and evaluation of the extended services provision for the students and school including ‘out of hour’ activities parenting programmes, family learning activities and allowing community access to the facilities at the school.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:• Developed an agreed vision and plan for the delivery of extended services to meet the contractual requirements • Created and marketed the after school club brand ‘Active8’• Secured funds to run after school clubs including £15k from the Heritage Lottery • Set up trading arm, generating over £20,000 of revenue within the first year • Achieved ‘Quality In Study Support’ (QISS) accreditation

Working as part of the management team for this national young person’s charity, I was responsible for the regions projects and services and its ongoing sustainability and development.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:• Oversaw the growth of the Midlands region from two projects to 10 projects within 1 year• Set up and managed the high profile, multi-agency, DCFS demonstration project in 1 month and wasthe only project across the U.K to meet its aims, objectives• Awarded Endeavour’s Employee of the Year, nominated by own staff teamMANAGERS FEEDBACK:“Jo is an extremely diligent & trustworthy manager who works hard to meet organisational objectives whilst at the same time supporting her staff team. She is a self-starter, vibrant and innovative; a great colleague to have on your team”. Steve Turner, CEO, Endeavour Training.COLLEAGUE FEEDBACK:“Although I didn't directly report to Joanna when we worked together, she was certainly an influential leader for me, and supported my development. I found her to be highly professional, which she combines with a good sense of humor and compassion for others. I have observed Joanna establish positive, resourceful and effective relationships with adult and young learners, senior leaders and project workers. On project tasks Joanna is organised, efficient and motivating to the team around her. Should the opportunity arise, I would certainly enjoy working with her in the future.”

Working with schools and other external agencies I planned, delivered and evaluated programmes of personal and social development to disadvantaged and disaffected young people aged 14-25.As part of my extended 'Development Worker' responsibilities I also led on the organisation accreditation, developing and implementing a new accreditation system (NOCN) for whole organisation.