Manchester business owner Paul Winterbottom has beaten UK wide competition to be named The Alternative Board (TAB)’s Franchisee of the Year.
Paul received the award having achieved phenomenal success with his Manchester West based business, which he launched 10 years ago. This is the fourth time Paul has won the coveted title as he continues to provide support to local SMEs including Howorth Air Technology, and MLP Law.
Last week over 25 of Paul’s TAB members and colleagues past and present joined him to celebrate his 10th Anniversary with a guided walk around Turton, Entwistle and Wayoh Reservoirs in Lancashire.
Paul’s members participate in monthly face-to-face peer board meeting where they share and resolve professional and personal challenges. Members also benefit from private 1:1 coaching sessions covering everything from strategic planning to recruitment and exit strategies.
Paul’s dedication to fostering long-term relationships with local business owners is evident in his commitment to their growth and success. His TAB boards have attracted over 20 local business owners from sectors including professional services, manufacturing, software development, media, construction and technology.
“The success of TAB in Manchester West is down to the quality of the members on my Boards,” commented Paul. “TAB delivers value because of the time and energy each business owner puts into their membership. These are people who aren’t just focussed on improving their own businesses but who genuinely care about helping their peers succeed.
“I have three members who will be celebrating ten years with TAB this year, and a further three in 2025. It is great to have helped these firms grow over the past decade and I am delighted that they continue to derive great value from TAB as their businesses mature.”
As Manchester’s business landscape evolves, particularly in the tech sector, Paul’s leadership is also supporting SMEs in adapting to the pressures of increased competition and recruitment challenges:
“Manchester’s newly acquired status as the largest technology hub outside of London has bought great opportunity but it has also disrupted the equilibrium for many digital and tech businesses,” continued Paul. “Identifying approaches to ensure they can compete with heavyweight corporations has become critical. For many employees today feeling valued and aligned to a company’s culture is as important as the financial rewards, and that’s what my members are focussing on. Attracting and retaining staff by focussing on all the benefits a flexible, locally owned SME can offer.”
Formerly a banker with NatWest / RBS, Paul spent over 25 years providing commercial advice to SME clients. On exiting banking and seeking a new challenge, he was delighted to find in TAB a franchise where he could use his experience to deliver change to other business owners.
Across the UK over 1,500 SME business owners have benefited from TAB. Revenue growth of companies working with TAB between 2020 and 2021 averaged an impressive 28.4 per cent with 80 per cent reporting their turnover had increased since joining TAB. TAB is the world’s largest franchise system providing peer advisory boards and business coaching for business owners.
