Eureka moment leads to new support business

A new company offering support to small business owners has been launched in the North Chilterns by former investment banker, James Ross from Chalfont St Giles.

James’ career spans 20 years in investment banking, working for HSBC, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley but what he describes as a ‘eureka moment’ lead him to ditch the banking world in favour of mentoring business owners.

The businessman is opening the North Chilterns office of The Alternative Board (TAB), a national franchise business that harnesses the power of the peer board concept which sees like-minded business owners coming together to offer each other support and advice on the issues that are challenging them in their business, and sometimes personal, life.

Picking up the story, James who is married and has two young daughters said, “I was chairing a meeting; it was one of those major meetings with a group of senior level people having a really in-depth discussion about a new trading system.

“I thought – is this what it’s all about? Is this what I’m missing picking the girls up from school for or getting to watch a netball match? And that was it, I decided it was no longer for me.”

James took a career break but set up a property company, developing a high yielding portfolio but it didn’t excite him and he missed working with a team and having people to bounce ideas off.

A good friend told him about The Alternative Board, a business that would bring his business skills into play whilst allowing him to structure his work around family life.

“It’s a win, win for me. Working in banking I was a small cog in a big wheel. There were always people to share ideas with but I feel out of love with the work. When I set up the property business I missed having others to collaborate and share best practice with.

“My new venture gives me the opportunity to use my skills to work with local business people and I can’t wait to get started.”

James will run monthly meetings with small groups of business people and deliver one to one coaching to them in between.

“I am joining a national franchise business with a proven model of supporting business owners. TAB has hundreds of members, from sectors ranging from logistics, to manufacturing, to marketing; they have helped a vast number and range of businesses succeed.”

James is currently putting together his first group of aspirational business owners.