Published August 21, 2020 at 10:34
STRAIGHT talking Simon Bolton will share his years of experience driving innovation within international businesses to show Rossendale companies the way forward.
Even in the midst of Covid-19, the Professor from EdgeHill University has been assisting small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to make changes by hosting free webinar crisis recovery sessions.
He said: “I have a successful track record of helping SMEs to achieve 20 per cent profitable growth through effective repositioning and business process improvements.
“My commercial experience of working with global brands helps me to unlock performance issues quickly within SME businesses; this enables me to work with the SMEs to help prioritise their actions.”
Simon is the guest speaker at ‘Moving Forward Together’ – the third Rossendale Council Invest in Rossendale business meeting, which this year will be held virtually on Zoom on Wednesday September 2 from 6.30pm.
Rossendale Council Leader Councillor Alyson Barnes said: “We are delighted to have a first-class innovator in Simon addressing this very important meeting; he is passionate about helping businesses maximise their potential.
“As a council, we want to support our local companies to recover from the crisis and come back stronger.”
The event is organised in partnership with East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Valley at Work, which connects local businesses.
Simon, who lives in Ramsbottom, said: “Businesses fail because they don’t ask the right questions. We help create awareness of the issues affecting a business, support them, understand how these can be addressed, ensure there is the knowledge to accept change and help build their confidence to make the necessary changes.
“Helping businesses to understand their uncomfortable truths encourages them to be more focused. This typically leads to more effective planning and them becoming more resilient and ready for growth.
“As soon as they have clarity and focus, they look at their businesses in a completely different way.”
At Proctor and Gamble, Simon was a global thought leader and focused on ‘disruptive insight driven innovation’ which helped the company unlock opportunities in European and Asian Markets
He also has more than 20 years’ experience of helping worldwide organisations and brands including: the BBC, BSkyB, Hyundai and Nokia.
Simon’s Business Plus principles have been used to set up the £1m funded Productivity and Innovation Centre at Edge Hill University, which supports more than 100 SME growth companies a year.
His ‘Innovation Sprint Process’ has helped participants achieve between 20 – 40 per cent growth, launch new successful products and services and employ new staff.
East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Miranda Barker said: “I’m looking forward to mixing with some of Rossendale’s most innovative and vibrant businesses, working together for the economic success of the area.”
Valley at Work Chair Rob Carder said: “It is so important that everyone in Rossendale moves forward together. It is about how we are responding to coronavirus and encouraging people to talk to each other and work together where possible.”
The meeting will be held on the council’s Zoom room – contact Economic Development Officer Megan Eastwood at RBC to book a place, email MeganEastwood@rossendalebc.gov.uk