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May 2006
SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY NETWORK EXPANDS IN SCOTLAND
Initiatives in Business Development, (ibd), the
advisor organisation dedicated to helping small firms grow and succeed,
has appointed Alistair Emslie of am-marketing to
its network in Scotland.
Alistair, who previously worked for Argos, Carlsberg-Tetley and
ScottishTelecom will also lead ibd’s Academy
service in Scotland. The ibd Academy offers SME
owner managers a proven package of training and mentoring support,
a programme which will be part funded by local government agencies
and grant aid.
Having successfully run his own company, am-marketing, and having
helped set up and launched a number of small businesses, retail
concepts, products and brands, Alistair Emslie said,“ My extensive
business experience means that I am very aware of the challenges
and issues facing owners of small firms in Scotland. I am delighted
to be able to offer owner managers access to the huge range of practical
expertise available though ibd’s network.”
Initiatives in Business Development Group Ltd is a fast growing
network of self-employed business advisers. It focuses on the needs
of smaller firms and its members have already helped over 7,000
companies to grow their profits. Typical ibd members
are self-starters who share their expertise, advise owner managers
and make a difference.
Multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary, ibd members,
like Alistair, typically are senior managers with maturity and experience
who previously held leading positions in business. ibd
members do more than counsel - they roll up their sleeves and actively
get involved.
Founded in 2002, ibd has expanded rapidly, supporting
start-ups and growing small and medium sized firms in the UK, in
Europe and beyond.
ibd has a number of innovative partnerships with
some of the UK’s largest banks and financial institutions
including HSBC, Nat West, PwC, venture capital providers Angel Bourse
and EurExel. All is designed to ensure that owner managers can easily
access the most appropriate specialist expertise when they need
it.
As Alan Ford, Director of ibd explained, ”Owners
and managers of small firms are absolutely pivotal to a firms success
yet there are huge demands made on them. With over 93% of firms
in the UK employing fewer than 25 people, ibd’s
mission is to offer easy access to local, relevant, accessible and
above all useful sources of help and advice. ibd
members pride themselves on their ability to reduce the pressure
and deliver active help to grow the bottom line.”
All ibd members go through a stringent recruitment
and training programme so customers can be assured that the support
delivered is both relevant and top quality. More information about
ibd can be found at info@ibd-uk.com
or via 0870 755 0890.
ENDS
About ibd
ibd operates throughout the European Union and
a US operation will be launched in 2006. Terry Forrester –
now group managing director- and marketing director, Alan Ford,
founded Initiatives in Business Developments Ltd. (ibd)
in 2002. Now a 320 strong membership organisation, ibd
works with start-ups and small to medium sized businesses offering
hands on business development advice and implementation support.
More information is available from Alistair Emslie on 01577 840772
or from Rosie Featherstone on 01332 862 073.
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