Let’s Celebrate Local!

By Paul Holmes, managing director of PCH Business Support who is helping businesses to plan growth and supporting overwhelmed business owners in large companies to do less firefighting and take back control of the business.

How are you feeling about your business? 

Demand for PCH has been incredible in 2020 starting from January but increased significantly during the last six months – there is no let up and how the business grows is now a focus, potentially working with other coaches and consultants to support the PCH brand.

How are you feeling about business in general? 

?Business is still very mixed, lots of businesses struggling, some that have stabilised and now looking at what’s next, how to grow and make the most of the situation. 

There are also several companies who have seen a huge jump in demand over the summer and are now struggling to cope. The end of the furlough scheme will be a watershed for many businesses now needing to find trade to keep going. The uncertainty, recession and on the horizon Brexit still looms for the end of the year.

Tell us how you now apply this phrase to your business and/or life ‘buy local supply local’. 

I have always looked at local suppliers for the business including people like Fiona Scott who has worked with me for a number of years. 

At home over the summer, local suppliers have been very important, particularly from a quality point of view but also in order to help us through challenging times. Just three are Rays Ice Cream, the Red Lion at Cricklade and especially Roves Farm for all our meat and produce. 

What has changed for you positively as a result of lockdown? 

A number of things have changed, significantly less travel and a switch to Zoom /Teams has improved efficiency, reducing costs and will remain a big part of the business going forward. 

Demand for help from PCH by businesses around the regions, to survive, to adapt and to grow, has massively increased – this has raised awareness and visibility and allowed my business to grow.

Tell us what makes a ‘good’ local business. 

Quality, great customer service, passion and exceeding expectations. 

Can you name a local independent business which you support around food & drink? 

Several, including Rays Ice Cream, the Red Lion at Cricklade, Roves Farm, Dora’s Dairy and the Cricklade Club.

Can you shout out to local clients you wish to celebrate? 

I would love to help more local Swindon businesses, but demand over the summer has come from clients in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Somerset and all across Wiltshire but surprisingly little from Swindon itself. 

Can you shout out to local suppliers you wish to celebrate? 

Fiona Scott for her PR support, Orchard Print for their print and design and Black Nova Designs for their website support. 

Can you name anyone in business who has really had your back over the coming months? 

Fiona Scott for all her support, Robin Waite for keeping the business focussed, Paul Holbrook and Gordon Petrie as sounding boards.

What are your business plans for Q4? 

Q4 will be an expansion of work with a range of larger organisations and is the direction of travel for PCH. 

Also optimisation, automation and working with associates under the PCH Brand to allow the business to expand to meet the growing demand. 

I'm in discussion with Increased non exec director roles with multi-million pound turnover businesses. The PCH Growth and Development Programme continues to evolve with a number of exciting new clients joining in September alone. It's also possible that there may be another very exciting project in the offing…watch this space!

Any special offers you’d like to mention? 

PCH offers a discounted £99 intensive support hour for any business that needs help in the current pandemic and needs ideas on what to do, how to adapt, how to develop the business for the six months ahead.

Here's what one client said: 

“Paul quickly grasped the essence of my business and what I want to achieve. He had a very positive approach to business and this is infectious. He was able to make suggestions and gave me thought provoking ideas which are exciting to explore” 

And finally: 

Continued thank you to Total Guide for their support and work in the Swindon business community as well as all the Swindon business owners that have become friends and colleagues over the years.

For more information visit www.pchbusinesssupport.co.uk