We help businesses get things moving forward.
Our team all share one thing in common, each is vastly experienced in the areas of business they work in. That means the businesses we work with receive well-informed, pragmatic, hands-on advice from someone who has walked the walk. There’s no platitudes or esoteric stuff regurgitated from textbooks.
We excel at tackling thorny problems and difficult tasks, making things happen and achieving business goals. And we have an ability to breakthrough the clutter, identify the nub of the problem and get the business moving forward.
Those working with us feel energised and empowered.
People like our honest, direct approach and our focus on securing meaningful results.
We value pragmatism and a focus on the end result.
We believe that before something positive happens someone needs to make it happen.
We do our best work as part of a team.
We understand a good fix now is often better than a great fix later.
We are determined and committed.
Alan Clarke
Strategy and Marketing Specialist & Managing Partner
25 years in Marketing in Scotland and Australia followed by five years as co-founder of an online business that served 5 million customers in more than 70 countries. Now sharing what he learned along that journey with small and medium sized businesses, helping them reach their full potential.
Meet the Team
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Colin McNally
Finance & Funding Specialist
12 years in Finance with Diageo before founding CJM Project Financial Management. Managing Director of Parris and McNally Chartered Accountants. Specialises in business planning, cash flow forecasts, financial management, funding and accountancy systems.
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Karine Burns
Innovation & New Product Development Specialist
13 years hands-on experience as a Business Manager with Motorola before embarking on a career helping businesses across Scotland innovate and grow. Specialises in business and marketing development, innovation & new product development, facilitation, market identification and development, and the organisation and management of all aspects of projects.
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Brian Tait
Digital & Analytics Specialist
10 years at the coal face of web development and Digital Marketing before founding Aillum, a consultancy focused on helping businesses optimize their digital presence. A proud web analytics geek with a passion for using data to improve digital performance through conversion optimisation, A/B Testing and more.
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Gary Ennis
Digital & Social Media Specialist
Gary’s career began in academia in the 1990s at the University of Strathclyde before he moved on to found his eponymous digital training consultancy where, for more than 20 years, he and his team have evangelised the application of digital and social media helping people, businesses and organisations to improve their digital skills. His book on the practical application of social media “Embrace the Space” was a finalist in the UK Business Book awards.
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Jim Law
Customer & Market Research Specialist
A 40-year market research veteran, Jim has experience both as the researcher and the user of the research including 17 years as MD of MRUK, one the country’s leading research consultancies. His many areas of expertise include research methods, marketing development and evaluation, customer satisfaction, product use and attitudes, and new product development.
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Angie Gray
Graphic Design Specialist
Angie has spent her entire career in graphic design, working with clients of all shapes and sizes in just about every conceivable sector to get better results when communicating their proposition. Reputation for being brilliant to work with (no creative tantrums!) which is evident through her passion for creating, managing and delivering successful creative projects.
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Bruce Cameron
Sales and Marketing Specialist
Over 30 years sales, marketing and business development leadership experience across diverse sectors working within start-ups, early-stage, VC-backed, established owner-operator/family businesses, and blue-chip global corporations. Bruce excels at seeing the “bigger picture”, clarifying problems and designing action plans and solutions. He has a special ability to cultivate personal and business relationships which enthuse and motivate at all levels.
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Allan Davidson
Business Strategy, Marketing and Sales Specialist
Allan brings substantial expertise leading teams, driving business development and implementing process efficiencies. He loves supporting sales, marketing, operational and IT projects and improvements. He is particularly skilled in working in dynamic and fast-paced environments.
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Richard Beattie
Business Growth, Technology and Business Structuring Specialist
Richard has has been an advisor on Scottish Enterprise’s High Growth Start-Up Unit and the High Growth Ventures frameworks for the past 20 years during which time he has provided early-stage and growth advice to over 180 technology companies across Scotland. Prior to that he has been a Managing Director and has raised VC, Angel and Debt finance. His specialism is in software across all sectors, but he has also worked with Medical Device, Food and Drink, Wearables, Chemical Engineering, Renewables and Optoelectronics companies.
Richard is friendly, positive, authoritative, quick, confident and very capable. He is commercially astute and experienced in business strategy yet strong as well in paying attention to and dealing with operational detail.
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Alastair Macnaughton
Business Growth, Business Structuring, Marketing and Sales Specialist
Alastair is an experienced Consultant, particularly in supporting businesses which are experiencing significant transitions. His key strengths are working in client-facing positions; relationship and consensus building, communication and skills transfer with a focus on the delivery of key objectives.
Over the past 15 years, Alastair has personally engaged with over 300 companies all with significant growth aspirations. He is a member of the Institute of Consultants and has been formally trained in advanced Sales and Marketing. He has held a number of senior Sales and Marketing positions within multinational corporations as well as SMEs. He also has particular expertise with regard to new product commercialisation, including market feasibility and the development of the value proposition.