Non-Executive Director Services In High Wycombe

Independent board experience for owner-managed businesses in the Chilterns

Secantor provides Non-Executive Directors to owner-managed businesses in High Wycombe, giving the board an experienced independent voice to challenge decisions, hold the team to account and steer the business through change. Our Non-Executive Directors sit on your board for as long as you need them, without the cost of a full-time executive, and we start with a visit to you in High Wycombe.

Read our national guide to the Non-Executive Director role, or see our wider board-level support for High Wycombe businesses.

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What Does A Non-Executive Director Do For A High Wycombe Business?

Secantor's Non-Executive Directors give High Wycombe boards an independent view they cannot get from inside the business. They test the plan, challenge assumptions, hold the executive team to account, and are on hand between meetings when a decision cannot wait.

  • Challenge. Questions that management have stopped asking themselves.
  • Direction. A sounding board for strategy and help in setting clear goals.
  • Governance. Board meetings with an agenda, the right papers and agreed actions.
  • Succession. Support through a change of ownership or leadership, including mentoring the people who will lead next.
  • Introductions. Doors opened to lenders, lawyers and accountants when you need them.

Running the finance function is a Finance Director's job, not a Non-Executive Director's.

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When Does A High Wycombe Business Need A Non-Executive Director?

Secantor's Non-Executive Director service suits a High Wycombe business whose board has no independent voice. Typical triggers include founders planning to hand over or sell, directors or shareholders at odds with each other, an owner with nobody to test big decisions against, or growth that has outrun the owner's experience. Our case study on resolving boardroom conflict shows what an independent director can change.

How Has Secantor Helped A Founder-Led Business Build A Stronger Board?

A facilities management business had been built by technically strong founders and stood on a solid financial footing, but it remained heavily reliant on its directors, with limited formal structure.

Over seven years Secantor worked with the board to change that. Board meetings became regular, with an agenda, proper governance and agreed actions. A clear organisational structure and leadership framework replaced reliance on the founders, operational processes and accountability were tightened, and strategic planning and decision making were challenged and sharpened. Reporting was already strong, so the focus was on structure and leadership.

Secantor then helped prepare the business for sale and introduced a corporate finance partner. At that point it had turnover of £14m and net profit of £1.5m. A larger overseas group acquired it and a new Managing Director was appointed from inside. The group kept Secantor on to mentor that Managing Director, strengthen the leadership team, help the business settle into the group and embed structured performance management.

The business has since invested in management capability, with hires in board level leadership, operational management, compliance, sales and key account management. Turnover has grown to £18m and net profit to £2m, ahead of the targets set by the group. Read the full case study.

A Non Executive Director discussing strategy with a business owner

How Does A Non-Executive Director Work With You?

Secantor starts a Non-Executive Director engagement in High Wycombe with a visit to your premises, to hear about the business, the board and what you want from the next few years, and then suggests the advisor best placed to work with your people and your situation. The Non-Executive Director attends your board on its normal cycle and is on hand between meetings.

What Does A Non-Executive Director Cost In High Wycombe?

Secantor charges £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses for a Non-Executive Director in High Wycombe. The time you need depends on how often the board meets and how much help you want in between. Our Non-Executive Director page has more detail.

A Non Executive Director discussing business performance with an SME management team
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Which Arrangement Suits A High Wycombe Business?

Secantor's Non-Executive Director is the right choice for a High Wycombe board that wants independent challenge, firmer governance or help through a handover of ownership. If the main need is financial leadership, start with a Part-Time Finance Director. If funding or a sale is the question, consider a Part-Time CFO. If you need an interim leader quickly, an Interim Finance Director can start at short notice. Our guide to Fractional vs Part-Time vs Interim CFO explains how they differ.

How Does A Non-Executive Director Work With Your Existing Team?

Secantor's Non-Executive Directors support the managing director and directors of a High Wycombe business and do not replace them. Their independence from the day to day is what makes the challenge useful, and they work alongside your accountants, advisors and any Finance Director you have.

A Non Executive Director reviewing financial information with an SME business owner

What Is The Free Business Review?

Secantor's Free Business Review gives High Wycombe boards and owners a no obligation first step. A chat comes first; a couple of our team then visit you to see how the board and the business operate. You leave with an independent view and our recommendation. See the Free Business Review.

Next Steps

Secantor's next step for a High Wycombe board is a visit. Our Free Business Review opens with a conversation and then brings us to your premises to see how the board and the business operate, leaving you with an independent view and no obligation. If you would rather talk first, book a discovery call with a Secantor Director.

What Do High Wycombe Business Owners Ask About A Non-Executive Director?

How is a Non-Executive Director different from a Finance Director?

A Finance Director runs the numbers from inside the business. A Non-Executive Director sits on the board as an outsider, asking the questions insiders miss. Many businesses have both.

How many days a month does a Non-Executive Director work?

It tracks how often your board meets, plus any support you want in between. The level is agreed at the first meeting and revisited as the business changes.

What does a Non-Executive Director cost in High Wycombe?

Secantor's Non-Executive Director support is charged at £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses.

Can a Non-Executive Director help with a sale or succession?

Yes. An independent director can guide a handover to the next generation of leaders, help prepare the business for sale and mentor a new managing director. See our Exit Planning service for more.

Do you cover businesses outside High Wycombe town?

Yes. We visit boards across the villages around High Wycombe, Hazlemere, Flackwell Heath and Loudwater among them, and across south Buckinghamshire, the Thames Valley and Oxfordshire.

Not quite found the answer you need?    Contact our team – we’ll get back to you personally.

Interested in how senior support could help in other areas too? Learn more about our Part-Time Finance Directors and Outsourced Operations Directors.

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

Book a Free 30-Minute Business Review

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Paul Gibbins

Use the calendar to book a free 30-minute call with Paul and get clarity on your next steps

On the call, you’ll:

  • Identify what’s holding back your profit and growth
  • Gain clearer direction on your business priorities
  • Understand how to improve cashflow and performance
  • Explore practical steps to move your business forward

No obligation

30-minute call

Expert advice

“We will never forget your huge contribution to Montezuma’s and your constant support, encouragement and all the board room laughs. Thank you for everything!”
Helen Pattinson, MD and Co-founder of Montezuma’s Chocolates

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Inside this guide, you'll discover how to:

✓ Create a budget that works for you

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✓ Master the difference between 'Mark-up' and 'Margin'

…and so much more!

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Ways Secantor Will Help You

4 Develop a Plan
Develop & Implement A Successful Plan
5 Optimise Finances
Optimise Your Finances
6 Develop a Team
Develop A Strong Accountable Team
7 Build Value in Your Business
Build Value In Your Business
8 Improve Operational Efficiency
Improve Operational Efficiency
9 Exit Your Business Successfully
Exit Your Business Successfully

Read Our Latest Case Studies

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What Does It Take to Build a Successful SME?

This guide is designed for ambitious SME owners who want to:

  • Focus on what actually drives growth
  • Spot where profit is being lost
  • Improve margins with smarter decisions
  • Strengthen cash flow and financial control
  • Build a stronger foundation for sustainable growth
  • Take practical action that moves the business forward
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Peter Laurie Joins Secantor As Regional Director
Peter Laurie Regional Director at Secantor Business Services
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Peter Laurie Joins Secantor As Regional Director

Experienced entrepreneur and Non-Executive Director to support SME owners across London and the South East Secantor Business Services is delighted to welcome Peter Laurie as Regional Director for London and the South East, bringing several decades of expe…

Oct 2, 2026, 10:10:09 AM
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Finance Director

What Financial Support Does A Business Need At Each Stage Of Growth?

How does financial support change as a business grows? The financial support a business needs changes as it grows, but the change is driven less by turnover than by the complexity and consequence of the decisions the owner is facing. A start-up needs a cr…

Sep 14, 2026, 9:00:00 AM
Fractional Vs Part-Time Vs Interim CFO: Which Does Your Business Need?
SME business owner discussing strategy with a fractional CFO in a modern office
CFO

Fractional Vs Part-Time Vs Interim CFO: Which Does Your Business Need?

A Fractional CFO and a Part-Time CFO are, in practice, the same arrangement: senior financial leadership for an agreed number of days each month, with no fixed end date. An Interim CFO is different. They join temporarily, usually for more days, to cover a…

Aug 18, 2026, 9:00:00 AM

Our Services

We help you make strategic decisions

Secantor provides expert financial and management support to SME owners and directors. Our commercially experienced team covers the following roles.

1 Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director

Strategic support and experience to guide you as you make decisions and build value in your business. A NED acts as a sounding board for your ideas, improves business performance, holds you and your team to account and helps you achieve a successful exit.

Responsibilities

✓ Strategic business planning

✓ Support strategic decision-making

✓ Set business goals and objectives

✓ Rejuvenate struggling businesses

✓ Manage growth effectively

✓ Implement best practice

✓ Sounding board for your ideas

✓ Set and communicate vision

✓ Hold you & your team to account

✓ Build an effective management team

Learn More
2 Finance Director

Finance Director

Expert financial leadership from a commercially experienced, qualified accountant. An FD will create financial plans, report your monthly performance against budget and interpret the figures to help you make sound decisions & improve profitability.

Responsibilities

✓ Expert financial advice

✓ Interpret financial results a support decisions

✓ Develop & oversee your finance team

✓ Improve profitability & control costs

✓ Prepare management accounts

✓ Create 3-5 year financial plan

✓ Budget setting

✓ Source appropriate funding

✓ Cashflow forecasting & management

✓ Prepare reports & commentaries for your bank

Learn More
3 Operations Director

Operations Director

Strategic operational leadership to transform your people and business processes to improve efficiency and profitability. An Operations Director helps you build a strong management team, delegate operational actions and improve business performance.

Responsibilities

✓ Develop strength in your management team

✓ Establish key performance indicators (KPIs)

✓ Hold people accountable to achieve results

✓ Process and quality improvement

✓ Help you delegate effectively

✓ Create clear job descriptions

✓ Identify and recruit talent

✓ Implement robust operational systems

✓ Establish clear goals and expectations

✓ Enable your team to achieve excellence

Learn More

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