Business Doctors, the UK’s fastest growing support service for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), has established an operation in Manchester, building on its well-established presence in the northwest of England.

The business, which provides support and strategic advice to owners and directors of SMEs, will be run by local man Dave Blakey, who joins after a spell running a business providing support to construction and property organisations.

Business Doctors, which now has 30 operations across the country, provides smaller businesses with advice on how to drive business growth, advice on strategies for sales and boosting profits and advice for effective people management, accessing finance and acquiring other businesses.

Prior to running his own business, Dave had a long and successful career in construction and property, working for industry giants including Skanska and Whitney. He worked as a development director for over 10 years, managing corporate strategy, business development and procurement, and securing multi-million-pound contracts for major property industry firms.

He said of his new challenge: “I am delighted to have joined Business Doctors. It takes an adaptive approach to helping SMEs, tailoring its strategies to each business, and that really appeals. In particular I will be working closely with the other Business Doctors, drawing on our respective skills to help our clients and to promote business growth in Manchester.

“I am passionate about helping local businesses to survive and grow. I’m really looking forward to meeting business leaders in the area who are looking for practical support to grow profitably.”

Rod Davies, founder of Business Doctors, added: “We are delighted to have grown our presence in the northwest, with Dave joining us to head up the operation in Manchester. Having been there and done it at the highest level in business, particularly during his many years in the property and construction industries, Dave is typical of all our Business Doctors around the country. They are not just consultants, but are proven business people who can advise and support based on real, on-the-ground experience.”

The Manchester operation is the fifth Business Doctors to open in the northwest, where it sits alongside offices in Merseyside, Cheshire, Stockport, and North Manchester and Lancashire.

Business Doctors has been described as the antidote to Dragons’ Den. With its extended coverage nationally, its experts have plugged the gap left by the closure of Business Link by helping business leaders take control of their future and achieve their vision.