Bath business mentor Richard Tidswell has been named as one of Britain’s top 50 small business advisers.
Richard, who runs the Avon & Somerset branch of national advice network Business Doctors, achieved the accolade after small business network Enterprise Nation asked fledgling firms to nominate an adviser who had helped them to build and grow a sustainable business.
Richard left a successful career in multi-million pound corporations at a senior level two years ago to focus on working alongside small business owners. 
He supports and advises small business owners and early stage entrepreneurs.
He said: “If I can bring some of the things I have learnt along the way and share my experiences to help develop and evolve their leadership skills and unlock opportunities in their business, then I’m a happy man.
“It’s great to be able to work alongside small business owners, see things change and celebrate in their successes as we put in place steps to grow and develop their business.
“Running a business can be a lonely affair and it can often feel like you do not have someone to bounce ideas off and discuss things with.
It’s all too easy to fall into reactive mode, responding to the day-to-day challenges but perhaps losing sight of why you did it the first place and what you are ultimately trying to achieve. There’s a strong risk that without good strategic advice you can wake up one day with a business that doesn't bring you pleasure and you start to resent.
“Good advice can help you put simple systems and practices in place to make sure that the business stays on track and does what you wanted it to, meaning you do not lose sight of your original goals.”
Richard has supported six businesses through the Growth Voucher scheme, a £30m Government initiative that provides match funding to small businesses to access external support and advice for their business.
One of those awarded a voucher and who found Richard’s support invaluable is Angela Belassie, who runs her own PR firm in Bristol.
She said: “Working with Richard helped give me a clearer focus. Within a short space of time I found I was working with more of my ideal clients, had a steadier cashflow and could even cut my working hours as I was working more efficiently.”
Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones added: “These business advisers are the unsung heroes behind Britain’s booming small business culture.
“The awards have uncovered some incredible work that has helped fledgling firms take steps towards sustainability and growth by taking a strategic look at their business.
“Research shows that those firms that take advice do better than those that don’t – and it stands to reason that good advice can help avoid some of the damaging, early mistakes entrepreneurs can make that can often force them to give up.”
Business Doctor Richard’s prescription for growing a business:
- Never lose sight of why you did it in the first place – your passion, drive and motivation
- Forget about describing your business in terms of what you make, do or sell and focus instead on why people buy – what is the fundamental need you fulfil
- Set a clear destination – that will act as an inspiring and motivating daily influence
- Align everyone in your business around that and give them a strong sense of purpose
- Have regular, proper conversations with your staff, customers and suppliers – you’ll be amazed at the opportunities that come out
- Don’t get stuck in the owners trap – make sure you find the time to spend working on the business and not in it every moment of the day
