Ben Davies Email & Phone Number

Next Left exists to pursue one purpose: "To help purposeful people get into a good place, catalyse great ideas, and accelerate extraordinary positive change."I partner with individuals and organisations in formal and informal roles. As a consultant, a mentor, and a critical friend. Always a partner. Always human.I draw on nearly 20 years of experience at all levels of creative businesses. I co-founded, led and eventually closed, a creative business of 35 staff and £2.5m turnover at peak. It was centred around the belief that pursuing purpose, happy and fulfilled people, great creative work, and profitability are all possible – together. Some things worked well, some things worked less so – I’ve drawn insight from them all.Next Left = Action and Direction.

Liverpool

As a Consultant on the Gather Programme I provide strategic direction and ongoing support to three of Liverpool’s most interesting purpose-led and creative businesses.The programme aims to unlock growth via 6 months of dedicated support, focused on each businesses’ specific challenges and opportunities.

London, United Kingdom

Working with the Joint Managing Partners and the wider leadership team, to conceive, launch and deliver a new cultural initiative, as part of the studio's 30th anniversary year.Designed to positively influence studio culture and perception, whilst producing some thought-provoking new work, this ongoing project will launch later in 2019.

Manchester, Liverpool, London

Strategic Advisor to the MD’s and the board at this 70 strong multi-disciplinary studio comprising landscape architects, urban designers, visualisers, graphic designers, artists, makers, and "place-activators". Advising on a variety of strategic projects and internal initiatives. Joining a few dots, and creating some new ones.

Our mission is to help millions of people to calm their minds, find focus, and live with more purpose and less stress.

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

As a Board Advisor to the Amplify Programme I provide strategic direction and ongoing support to high growth Digital Creative and Technology businesses. The Amplify programme aims to increase the growth ambition of Greater Manchester’s most promising creative and tech businesses and provide the means to realise and sustain it. Alongside a European study trip, the programme provides bespoke monthly growth challenges, and a facilitated two-day strategy workshop using the Google Design Sprint methodology.

Reading, United Kingdom

Working as a brand advisor to the founders of this purpose driven start-up, who are on a mission to change the way the world thinks about housing, by creating the world's best housing product.So far I have delivered a business case for a rebrand, and led a creative agency selection, pitch and briefing, along with the conception and creation of ongoing Kiss Life and Kiss House newsletters. A comprehensive new brand will be launching in July 2019.

Manchester, United Kingdom

Co-founded and led the business from the front, from a standing start through all stages of development, with a simple people focussed mantra of “do great work and the business will grow”.Built from a team of 4 at inception, to 35 and £2.5m turnover at our peak. Worked with clients across sectors, with particular expertise in property and place. From development and marketing directors, agents and architects, to super-chefs, entrepreneurs, and brand directors. Continually led the iteration of strategy, culture and team, morphing the business from niche production studio to creative agency, including architectural visualisation, animation, film, interactive, immersive, graphic design and strategic brand.Led with a collaborative ethos, focussed on creating the conditions for success, where great creative work can happen, and passionate people can thrive.Notable achievements:Winner - Manchester Evening News Young Business of the Year.Twice runner-up - IoD North-West Director of the Year.Repeat business for UK and US clients, including Heston Blumenthal, Manchester International Festival, Derwent London, Sony Playstation, Wallpaper* Magazine, Land Securities, Urban Splash, Capital & Centric, Marketing Manchester, Hawkins\Brown, Make Architects, JD Sports, Hiscox, Stribling and HFZ.Personally led many successful client relationships and projects, from a strategic and creative point of view. Selected by NESTA’s national mentoring programme, with 20 businesses with ‘high growth potential’ out of 500+ applicants.Winners of over 30 awards for creativity.Partnered with our landlords to redevelop the top floor of a grade-II listed warehouse in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, attracting a new generation of creative businesses. Led the vision for a 3,500 sq.ft. extension to the space, with Hawkins\Brown’s design winning MSA’s President’s Choice Award for best future building in Manchester.Closed The Neighbourhood in 2018 to focus on new challenges. Still friends.

Manchester, United Kingdom

Working with the board to advise and contribute to overall strategy over 18 months, before standing down to concentrate on leading The Neighbourhood through a period of growth (and a new baby at home!).Quarantine create theatre, performance and other public events. They’ve made 30 original pieces of work of varying scale: family parties, karaoke booths, cookery lessons, radio broadcasts, reading rooms and journeys in the dark for one person at a time – as well as performances on stage for audiences in seats.

Building upon the successful development and expansion of the studio, promoted to Creative Director.Built the studio from 1 to a full-time team of 12, working predominantly for clients in the property sector in the UK, US and UAE.Producing award winning work and delivering profit to the group, setting a precedent for additional studios in Bulgaria, Canada and UAE.Working hands-on as a designer, storyteller, artist and animator, as well as leading all aspects of the direction and development of the studio.Member of the group senior management team, leading the strategic development of the Manchester studio and contributing to all aspects of the company.

Founded a Manchester studio, for a 12 month old London start-up group, consisting of an architectural practice and visualisation studio.

Worked as a freelance digital artist for a number of clients in architecture and property, as well as leading visualisation studios across the UK.Clients included Urban Splash, ShedKM, Uniform, Virtual Artworks, GMJ and Hayes Davidson.In addition, developing my skills and completing projects for independent clients for digital design and websites.

Worked as a digital artist at Hayes Davidson, trailblazers in an emerging industry in visual communications and CGI for architecture.I developed and produced narrative imagery to represent and communicate visual stories about the imagined future of our cities - from planning and consultation imagery, through to launch and marketing projects.Clients included Foster & Partners, Richard Rogers, Wilkinson Eyre, Manhattan Loft Corporation and Greater London Authority.

Enjoyable experience working as part of a small team of 6, on a number of new build and renovation projects, including working as the lead architect on a conversion of a small 18th century warehouse into 3 apartments and office space on Southwark Bridge Road, Central London.

Manchester, United Kingdom

First experience working in a commercially focussed architects of over 50 people, working on large scale retail, residential, office and mixed use projects. Experience gained working in both the design/concept team, and the technical delivery team.

Stockport, United Kingdom

Aged 11 - conceived, designed, coded, launched and ran an online game on Micronet/Prestel (a domestic precursor to the world wide web) - running from a dial-up modem on a BBC Micro. Successfully signed up 20 paying members for 2 years, at a season subscription of £1 with a prize money of £20. (I’ve been learning business lessons ever since!)

Diploma In Transformational Coaching

Post-Graduate Diploma (Part Ii), Architecture, Commendation

Awarded 3 university prizes for my Diploma work: – Art in Architecture prize. – Felton Construction Group Design Prize. – Dissertation.

Ba (Hons), (Part I), Architecture, 2:1