Chris Holland meets the man helping local small and medium company bosses to cope with the pressures of running a business

A PROBLEM shared is a problem halved - so goes the old maxim.

But it is one that remains relevant to a growing band of local small business bosses coping with ever increasing pressures and challenges.

They are members of The Alternative Board - a US concept now celebrating its 25th anniversary whose first UK operation was here in Bradford.

The first UK board was launched by former Bingley Grammar School teacher turned businessman Nick Howcroft in 2009, who now spends much of his time training TAB local facilitators, of which there are currently 32 in the UK.

There are currently three Bradford area TAB groups - with more planned- which are facilitated by Andrew Hartley, a former business consultant and small business boss who also worked for renewable energy specialist Co2Sense at Saltaire .

TAB enables owners and managers of small firms to join peer groups to help them achieve their goals and improve the performance of their businesses.

Through monthly meetings - supplemented by one-to-one advice - small company bosses who may be feeling isolated and sometimes overwhelmed by the challenges they face can discuss their business issues and exchange experiences with like minded people.

Andrew said: "Experience in the boards is a transformative experience. I have eight years experience in management consultancy and running a business and thought I had a lot of the answers. But when you sit down with seven other business owners there can be 250 years of experience in the room. The quality of advice and insight that they bring to any issue is incredible."

TAB boards have eight members - from one-man bands upwards - comprise businesses which are not in directly competing.

They represent a range of sectors, including hospitality, a bakery, shoe retailing, packaging, manufacturing and distribution, marketing, fabrication , accountancy and property lettings.

Andrew said: " The aim of TAB is to give smaller businesses access to the sort of advice non-executive directors give to large companies. The range of issues dealt with is very wide and varied.

"It means that members are surrounded by people from similar sized organisations and advice and mutual support comes form real life experience not from theory and members can bounce ideas off each other and discuss issues frankly.

"HR issues and skills are always at the forefront and business succession planning is a key matter for smaller enterprises along with improving sales processes and efficiency.

"Given that globally and in the UK only around ten per cent of SMEs work to a formal business plan, that is an area of great focus and my own particular speciality with which I can support TAB members through the informal sessions outside board meetings.

"We encourage our members to have a plan, even a basic one, and will help them put it together, to grow it and make it more sophisticated."

Brexit-both before the vote and since - has been a concern for some TAB members, many of whom were shocked at the vote to leave the EU.

" The result has caused some nervousness with some firms putting plans on hold. That was an instinctive reaction .We have worked through that and in some cases done a strategic review of firms.

"There's no evidence yet to suggest whether Brexit will be significantly positive or negative but we have urged people to go back to the fundamentals and what makes their business work best. Firms should focus on where they are creating value for customers," said Andrew.

Among those to have benefitted from TAB is Alan Wintersgill, one of Bradford's best known business figures.

He used support from his TAB board and coach to help with his transition from day to day management to of accountants Naylor Wintersgill to the more strategic role of chairman and handing over to current managing partner Vicky Wainwright.

In 2010 Alan attended one of TAB’s taster boards and was so impressed with the people around the table and the issues discussed that he joined himself. Six years on he remains an active member of his TAB board meeting monthly in and around Bradford and Ilkley.

Alan said: “My TAB Board and one to ones have been extremely helpful in our achieving such a successful transition after building the business over decades.

“In all my experience with PWC, nine years in industry and 35 years building my own business, I have worked with some great business entrepreneurs and fortunately some of their ability has rubbed off on me. But I still don’t have all the answers – and if you think you do – there will be blind spots.

“I found the one to ones extremely helpful in working through the challenges of easing out of the day to day management of the firm. To anyone thinking about TAB I would say: do it – no shadow of a doubt."

Vicky Wainwright added: "I have taken over the day to day running of the business and have particularly valued Alan’s support. Together, we have managed the succession of the firm, capitalising on the solid foundations Alan and the team have developed over the years. The new structure allows me to implement our growth strategy and Alan to take a more strategic role overall.

"With the change of role Alan has been able to increase his family time and maintain time spent on his many honorary roles, charity and fund raising activities.As well as this Alan’s financial, business development and strategic input to the company has been re-energised."

David Waterhouse, who runs Andrew Roberts Letting Agents in Ilkley, is another happy TAB member.

He has used his local board to help him through some tough times in the property business which he entered after 25 years working in the wool trade.

David said: “It can be lonely leading a business and TAB has given me a safe place to share ideas and build my confidence.

“Without TAB I would never have taken some of the actions which have led to growth, that’s the benefit of the board being outside, looking in. TAB has also helped by bringing clarity to my personal vision, reminding me - why I am doing all this anyway.?”

David was introduced to TAB by a friend at a time when the business was facing difficulties and realised the TAB model would help him take control and grow the business.

Five years on David has built the business through market leading service, constant networking and word of mouth referrals and has grown the business strongly.

Further expansion of the Bradford district TAB operation is planned. In the short term Andrew is looking to establish two more boards, including one focused on Skipton.

"Through the taster boards we offer the opportunity for a business owner or manager to get the feel of what TAB can offer, We are strong networkers and speak at a variety of events. All these routes are building up awareness of and interest in our operations and we are certainly looking to expand in this area, " he said.

TAB members pay a monthly subscription based upon the size and complexity and the time needed to support them. Meetings move around to each member's company to increase understanding of each other's operation and the issues it faces.

TAB's UK base is in Harrogate and the organisation now has around 100 local boards involving more than 1,300 businesses managers. International expansion from the United States and Canada includes South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

“Imagine having up to seven other business leaders, none of whom are in competition with you, focused on your most critical business opportunities or challenges. This is by far the most powerful approach to helping business owners that I have experienced in nearly 30 years in business," said Andy.