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Business support services

Invaluable business support through powerful peer advice

Thrive with other business owners
Our business support services mean you're not alone

Business advisory boards

Discover the business support provided by a group of like-minded business owners. They come together to advise one another on their most pressing business challenges.

An inspired solution that has proven results - our advisory boards run every month in a safe, confidential environment and mean you don’t have to go it alone.

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Business advisory board meets
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Business support coaching meeting

One-to-one business coaching

Keep focused, accountable and on track to achieve your business and personal goals.

To complement the advisory boards, members get a monthly one-to-one session with their TAB facilitator and coach.

Business Builder’s Blueprint

Have access to our exclusive strategic business planning process: The Business Builder’s Blueprint.

This toolkit is designed so you can focus on getting your business working for you.

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Business strategy on computer screen
Business owners supporting each other
Business owners connecting

TAB Connect

Share best practice with and seek help from like-minded individuals across the globe.

TAB operates in over 20 countries around the world, and through our exclusive online platform, business owners can collaborate with one another to solve their business challenges.

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Here's what we do

Discover the benefits of advice from others like you

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.

TAB members support each other

It’s a combination of support and encouragement, and challenge and hard questions that I just don’t get anywhere else.

Anna Gillings, Gillings Planning Ltd

One of the best business decisions of my career was to join Paul and the TAB board. Paul is a fantastic Chairman and superb mentor who challenges you to raise the bar every time you meet be it within the board structure or on a one to one basis. At times running an SME is a lonely place so it’s extremely reassuring to know that within the TAB board we have an extremely tight knit team of critical friends/ Non exec directors for support.

At each meeting I have met on average 4 business owners and Paul with each of the owners presenting an issue that they were dealing with, and I have taken some great advice along with many challenges.

We have covered around 250 topics and each one of us has felt the pain and shared in the success of each others businesses.

The positive effect goes way beyond Howorth, it touches everyone of our employees and reaches out into our supply chain, and clients.

Linking up with Paul and TAB was one of the defining moments in the development of Howorth Air Technology and it will continue to have a major impact for years to come.

Jim Liptrot, Howorth Air Technology Ltd

My confidence has grown enormously as a result of the support from Dougie and TAB. Every time I take what feels like a big issue to my Board, I come away feeling that it is much easier to deal with because of the advice I’ve been given by people from very different businesses and backgrounds.

Jolanta Jankowski, Sampson Products Ltd

Being a member of a TAB Board has really helped me to focus on moving my business forward. We now have clear goals and the learning from the support materials and board challenge has been invaluable. Martin is a fantastic mentor who listens and truly understands my business. The advice and motivation he has provided has been truly inspirational. TAB is great value for money and I would recommend it to any business.

Melissa Thompson, Managing Director, Safer Food Scores Limited

Start your TAB journey

 Get in touch to find business support from the TAB community.

Arrange an initial meeting with your nearest board facilitator to get to know each other.

Discover 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.

FAQ's

Unlike traditional business meetings that many of us have experienced, a TAB board gives everyone equal time - equal time to discuss and seek help on their own challenge or opportunity. There is a structured process for the running of the meeting which means everyone also has the opportunity to give their own advice and opinion. We don't allow one person to 'hog' a meeting!

In combination with the TAB meeting, members also get access to our business coaching services.

It’s easy to find your nearest TAB Board. Visit our find 'boards near you' page or find your area in the list below. Get in touch with your nearest facilitator and they’ll be happy to answer any more specific questions about TAB and how we can help your business.

Key locations:

Business support services Aberdeen
Business support services Birmingham
Business support services Bristol
Business support services Edinburgh
Business support services Exeter
Business support services Glasgow
Business support services Leeds
Business support services London
Business support services Manchester
Business support services Scotland
Business support services York

The other business owners and leaders on your board will be very experienced and will have no vested interest in your business, other than a desire to help you. As a result, they'll give you impartial business advice based on real-world experience because often they will have faced similar challenges themselves. What's even greater is you get to do the same for them. Not only does the board provide accountability and expert advice, it becomes a mechanism for developing valuable friendships.

If you have decided you want to improve yourself and your business, but feel like you don't have the time, how will that change if you don't take action?

TAB encourages you to take time away from your business and benefit from the insight, experience, and wisdom of your TAB facilitator and your fellow board members. It's a chance to take a step back. This way, you can actually save time by making better decisions and learning from others.

Whilst all businesses are unique in some way, they still face many of the same major issues with time, people, strategy, money, vision and exit.

You are an expert in your sector, but we are all experts in business. The advantage of working with fellow business owners and leaders from diverse backgrounds is their ability to provide new perspectives and different ways to handle the same situation based on real world experience.

You will also get the opportunity to help others with their business growth, by offering your perspective and advice. It's a win-win!

We are confident you will get a return on investment for your monthly TAB membership fee. As we offer personalised business support services,  a conversation with your nearest TAB facilitator will guide you through the process and allow them to provide you with your bespoke quote.

We’re so confident in our service that we offer a money-back guarantee - if you don’t feel you’ve received value after three months of TAB membership, we’ll give your money straight back.

Put simply, no – a competitor cannot join your board. We have a comprehensive process which makes sure that you do not sit on a board with potential competitors. A key part of our screening process allows existing members to prevent new members from joining their board where they feel a conflict of interest could exist. This will guarantee no competitors join your group.

Some of our TAB facilitators offer the opportunity to attend a TAB Taster Board Meeting, giving you the chance to experience how TAB works and the value it can provide for you and your business. Equally, if there are places on an existing board and your facilitator thinks you'd be a good fit, they may invite you as a guest. Find your nearest TAB Facilitator to get the conversation started!

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We've got boards running across the UK

Discover more by finding your nearest TAB facilitator.

Driving business growth through peer support

Thousands of business owners have experienced true growth through the business support services at TAB. The impartial advice business owners receive means 97% of our members say their TAB boards and coaching add real value to their businesses. 

Our services cover a plethora of business contexts including:

Sustaining growth

Satisfying stakeholders

Our business support success stories

All

Bridget's Journey from Tradition to Transformation with TAB
by Bridget Petty

Discover Bridget's remarkable journey from tradition to transformation with TAB, showcasing the power of mentorship, diverse perspectives, and community support for business success.

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

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

TAB offers solidarity and a great sounding board
by Matt Hamlin

Discover how Matt Hamlin, co-founder of Metron Group Ltd, transformed his business and is on track to achieve their desired 20% year-on-year growth.

From Struggle to Strength: Professor Deborah Eyre's TAB Journey
by Deborah Eyre

Explore how Professor Deborah Eyre, founder of High-Performance Learning, transformed her business and overcame challenges with the help of TAB's advisory board and strategic planning.

The TAB York Effect: Tripling PPS Ltd's Revenue in Record Time
by Joseph Fitzpatrick

Explore how The Alternative Board (TAB) York played a pivotal role in transforming PPS Ltd from a family-run janitorial supplies business into a market leader, tripling its revenue and workforce in just five years.

From Struggles to Triumph: Kerrell's Journey to SME Success through TAB
by Kerrell Blyth

Kerrell Blyth, Managing Director of NCS Ltd, turned her struggles into triumphs through her Leeds South TAB board membership.

The Power of Peer Support: From Bedroom Startup to £2.5M Turnover Powerhouse
by Sheri Irons

Sheri Irons, commercial director based in Aylesbury, talks about her experience with The Alternative Board (UK), leading to accelerated business growth.

Cema Vending Achieved Commercial Success with TAB's Support
by Simon Leadley

By working with The Alternative Board (UK), Simon Leadley from Cema Vending was able to achieve commercial success, which included launching two new brands, increasing turnover, and meeting the demand for healthy, fresh food options and premium coffee in workplaces.

StratPro with TAB holds our leaders to account
by Steven O'Brien

Steve O'Brien, CEO of software company, NewIcon Ltd talks about the experience of his team as they went through the StratPro Programme.

StratPro with TAB finally gave me a cohesive and collaborative team
by Stephen Attree

Stephen Attree, Managing Partner of MLP Law based in Manchester, talks about the experience of his team as they went through the StratPro Programme.

Time to think more independently
by David Scalley

David Scalley, MD of AJT Engineering shares how TAB has influenced better financial management, reporting, and people improvement in his business.

I've stopped doubting myself as a leader
by Ian Hazeldine

Customer success story about Ian Hazeldine who joined TAB and stopped doubting himself as a leader, and got to grips with people management and his finances. 

Peer support energised my business ambitions
by Skylar Atkinson

Customer success story about Skylar Atkinson at Belvoir Aberdeen, who has strengthened her business and brand after being part of a TAB board.

Selling my business quicker
by Hywel Parry

Customer success story about Hywel Parry, Director at Lime Tree Vets, who sold his business quicker and met his personal vision through the help of TAB. 

Finding the support infrastructure I was looking for
by Suzanne Lawson

Suzanne Lawson from Moorland Contract Group shares her business journey and how TAB was exactly the support she was looking for.

How TAB gave me a new lease of life
by Anna-Marie Eardley

Anna-Marie Eardley, Owner of Waterloo Quay Properties, tells us her story and how TAB gave her a new lease of life.

My debt of gratitude to TAB after 400% turnover boost
by Adam Bell

Adam Bell, director at marketing agency Moment, shares his story and his gratitude to TAB after helping him achieve a 400% turnover boost.

Growing in confidence as a leader
by Jolanta Jankowski

Read Jolanta's story about how joing a TAB Board has helped her to develop her role and confidence as the Operations Manager at her business.

Saving time and working smarter not harder
by Rob Watson

Customer success story about Rob Watson, business owner at ph9 Ltd, and how TAB has helped him to save time and make smarter decisions.

Becoming a better business leader
by Dr Stewart Desson

Success story about Dr Stewart Desson from Lumina Learning who became a better leader after joining a TAB Board.

Rediscovering myself as an individual
by Kirsty Davies-Chinnock

Kirsty-Davies Chinnock, Managing Director at PPS Ltd tells us how TAB helped her to rediscover herself and to meet her goals.

A catalyst to improved performance levels
by Jim Liptrot

Customer success story about Jim Liptrot, Business Owner at Howorth Group and how TAB was a catalyst to his business' improved performance.

Latest news and insights

Business Support Funds: What's Available in the UK (2024)

11 April 2024 | 5 minute read

This is a comprehensive guide to the support funds available for businesses in the UK. Learn which business support funds you could claim with this in-depth post.

Why you should never give away Equity when SME's raise finance

25 March 2024 | 2 minute read

Discover why giving away equity when raising funds for SMEs is a bad idea. Explore alternative options to maintain control and maximise growth potential.

Time Management: Theory and Practice 2024

25 March 2024 | 6 minute read

This is a comprehensive guide to time management, its theories and putting them into practice. Learn all about time management with this in-depth post.