Your Business Friend & Advocate

Anyone who runs their own business knows that it can be a lonely place to be. Who do you share your ideas and plans with? Who challenges you and highlights areas of improvement in your business? A Secantor business expert can be the perfect friend for you and your business. Listen to our clients talk about the value of having an independent business expert in their team.

“It’s a very cost-effective way for us to have high-level management and strategic help” - Helen Pattinson, MD & Co-founder of Montezuma’s Chocolates

Lonely at The Top

Your business may be where you've spent the majority of your working life, so you have probably learnt many of your leadership skills as you’ve grown your business. Perhaps no one has trained you to be a Director and instead, you’ve worked it out yourself along the way. You probably have a team of staff around you but you can’t develop your vision, strategy and ideas for the business with them until it is a confirmed plan. Additionally, they rarely challenge you or follow up on your outstanding actions because you’re their boss. 

Life can be rather isolating at the top and both you and your business can suffer as a result.  So who can keep the business sharp other than you?

Why Should I Use An Independent Non Executive Director?

This is where an independent business expert in the form of a Non Executive Director (NED) comes in. A NED is a seasoned professional who has a wealth of experience in running businesses. They specialise in helping business owners & Directors to develop and implement strategies. Being independent, they bring fresh perspective gained from working in dozens of businesses, of all shapes and sizes, across a variety of industries.

With a Secantor NED as part of your management team, you have this experience and expertise on tap. Our priority is making sure that decisions and actions have your company’s best interests at heart, so you will find that we very quickly become a trusted friend and advocate for your business.

What Does a Non Executive Director Do?

A Secantor NED is a part-time member of your board. They are available when you need them, so you get the Director level advice and support you need but you only pay for what you use. Usually, this includes us facilitating your monthly board/management meeting to help you review your business performance and set actions that ensure you achieve your business goals. A Secantor NED can play a number of key roles in your business including:

• Acting as a sounding board for your ideas.

• Developing strategic plans and supporting you as you action them.

• Helping you evaluate business options and make the best decisions.

• Supporting you with setting business goals and objectives.

• Bringing specialist and complementary skills to enhance the team.

• Bringing fresh ideas, methods, advice & experience to help you scale your business.

• Mentoring you and your team to strengthen leadership and management skills.

• Asking tough questions and hold you to account in delivering your plans.

• Acting as a diplomat where there is tension or disagreement amongst Directors.

• Providing expert help to turn around a struggling business.

• Helping you to implement effective team management strategies.

• Introducing you to a network of expert professionals.

How Do I Recruit an NED?

Appointing a NED is an important step for any business that wants to grow successfully. After all, none of us can do it all on our own. Each of our clients have developed a strong relationship with their Secantor NED and in most cases come to rely on them to guide their business over many years. So, it’s important to select the right NED for you and your business which means the personal chemistry needs to be a good fit. All our NEDs are highly people-focused and able to adapt to different cultures, and personalities to achieve the best outcomes for your business. Of course, you’ll get to know your Secantor NED before beginning work with us.

“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 & Co-founder of Montezuma’s Chocolates

Free Business Review

No two businesses are the same. This is why we offer a free business review. We can arrange an initial chat with one of our experts to get things started. Then a couple of our experienced NEDs will visit you to listen to the story of your business. From this meeting, we’ll be able to provide you with some interesting insights into your business from our independent experience. This will allow you to see how we work and help us to select the right NED for your business. Contact us to book a free consultation.

Why not read one of our short case studies to see the impact of a Secantor NED.

“We've had brilliant advice at every stage and sales are continuing to grow. Secantor have contributed to the smooth running of the company and their experience has been very useful at key stages of our growth and strategy”

Image source: Unsplash