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The Alternative Board Edinburgh

Improve your business, while enjoying life a wee bit more!

Get the support you need as a business owner and leader

The journey of owning and growing a business is one of the most rewarding and challenging anyone can experience. Like any journey, it is one that is best shared. Imagine doing that, in confidence, with a peer group of experienced business owners to share challenges and insights, to hold each other accountable, and to celebrate achievements.

This is the power of The Alternative Board (TAB).

Steve runs TAB advisory boards in Edinburgh and loves what he does. He helps business owners identify opportunities and solve key challenges they face in their businesses.

Book a call with Steve to chat about you and your business needs, and how TAB might make a difference.

Steve Cook 2

Get the support you need as a business owner and leader

Start with you

Focus on what you want in life and how your business can help get you there.

Increase profitability

Be held accountable to meet your business targets.

Improve decisions

Take control of your decisions through peer support and proven planning tools.

Make better time choices

Spend your time well by utilising the experience of others.

Become a better leader

Motivate your people with the guidance of peers and an expert coach.

Plan a successful exit

Get the best result for you with tailored, hands-on support.

Real Stories from Real Business Owners

Scaling Up with Confidence: George Goss’s Business Journey with TAB
by George Goss

Discover how George Goss grew his business 2.5x and built a stronger team with the support of The Alternative Board (TAB) and peer advisory insights.

Scoring Big: How Blueblood Transformed Their Business Game with TAB
by Dale Harris and Ben Cook

Discover how Dale Harris and Ben Cook transformed their business with TAB's support, boosting profitability and streamlining operations.

Strategic Innovation & Mentorship | Dev4 Online Success Story
by Gail Henderson

Learn how Gail Henderson overcame uncertainty with strategic innovation and mentorship with TAB. 

Since Joining TAB...

68%

of members said their turnover increased

91%

of members said their ability to address people or organisational issues improved

87%

of members said their leadership skills improved

See full 2024 Member Survey Results here

Your Edinburgh facilitator

Following an early career in the agricultural industry, Steve has spent over 20 years in the technology sector, with a focus on retail, training, go to market, operations, marketing, events, and team development.

Including building his own Field marketing business to support clients in the technology sector, he created award winning field teams and unique solutions across many sectors to drive products in retail and beyond, across the UK and Europe.

He has a passion for getting the best from people. He loves helping them provide the best service to their customers via operational planning, training and development, and customer focus. He understands the many benefits of selecting the right staff from the start, building their skills and knowledge, and retaining them to help improve your business stability and costs.

With experience engaging with all levels of both local and global business, a strong operations background, a people centric work ethic, and the experience of what is involved in building your own company, Steve appreciates the opportunities and challenges business owners face.

If you are interested in how Steve and TAB can help you and your business, please get in touch.

Start your TAB journey

Get in touch with Steve using the forms on this page.

He will contact you to arrange an introductory meeting.

 Chat about whether TAB is right for you and your business.

Attend your first TAB board meeting and experience the power of peer support.

There’s no obligation, only an opportunity to find out more.

What our members say...

"Before TAB, I didn’t really have anyone I could talk to about business issues. Getting reassurance from my board on things I’m thinking of doing gives me more confidence to get on with it. I really value the openness of my board and facilitator, which allows me to say what I’m feeling and thinking.  I’m now making longer-term plans and decisions about the business.  As a result, I enjoy running the business more because I know we’re heading in the direction, rather than focusing on short-term fixes."

Geoff Hunt, Hey Group

"I have a debt of gratitude to TAB after a 400% turnover boost. I can’t speak highly enough of The Alternative Board. It has made a huge difference to our agency. It’s something I would encourage business owners to think about. We wouldn’t have been able to achieve the growth we have without TAB."

Adam Bell, Moment

Having a Peer Board is an amazing asset to me. It’s a safe and supportive environment where you get the support of other business owners who are committed to your success. It’s allowing me to be candid and get different views on sorting out knotty problems.

Professor Deborah Eyre, High Performance Learning

"TAB is an independent thought process, away from the influences and pressures of work. In the day-to-day job, you can get drawn into distractions, you often don’t have time to think, and you’re just firefighting problems. However, with TAB, getting out of the office and speaking with the board for the 3-4 hours we have together allows me to think more independently."

David Scalley, AJT Engineering

"TAB has given me coaching sessions, focusing on the positive elements of my business and helping to grow and develop during what is probably the most difficult trading period we have encountered. TAB has also invited me to a monthly board meeting where I joined six existing members, all of whom have extensive business experience and have provided me with some invaluable advice, guidance and accountability."

Kelly Smith, Juice Personnel

"I always feel uplifted and more confident following a board meeting.  The challenges we face as business owners are invariably those shared by the other board members. Bringing them to the table puts them in perspective and usually provides several options on how to tackle them.  Support, being non-judgemental and really trying to understand each other's businesses help make the meetings fun, enjoyable and, most of all, invaluable to the growth and well-being of my own business.  The regular one-to-ones help build on this with tough constructive advice.  I would be lost without the support of TAB."

Jan Buckett , JMB Accounting

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