I possess over thirty years' experience of running and managing SMEs and larger businesses including during periods of sustained high growth. The last eighteen of these years have been as a board director in SMEs and a business employing up to eight hundred people. For the last five years I have worked with my colleague, Terry Owens, via our company, Morton Innovation Ltd providing consultancy support to a variety of businesses. This work has included the development of Enterprise Business Development Strategies for large businesses wishing to grow this aspect of their business. As well as strategy development the work also included product development, contribution to tenders, bid writing and advice on maximising the results of current delivery. Work with medium sized and small businesses included support and advice to the principals, help with access to finance, tendering support, market solutions and strategy, delegation as well as financial planning and performance improvement. My expertise and knowledge includes-• The role of enterprise and self-employment within national policy and LEP Economic Strategies. • The development and implementation of programmes targeted at the disadvantaged that enable their transition to sustainable self-employment and an improved standard of living. • All aspects of pre-start and start-up support for new businesses as well as effective help to micro businesses to ensure their sustainability and growth. • I have practical experience of successfully dealing with the varied challenges faced by a business experiencing high growth and have a proven ability to work with and help businesses that are facing such challenges. My long term involvement in and, enthusiasm for, this type of work ensures that I keep up to date with latest policy and research. I am interested in working with projects that are linked to self-employment, micro and SME businesses. Also I will consider Non-Executive Director roles.