Gloucester Growth Hub

Andy Kime

Guide

Areas of speciality:

Andy joins The Growth Hub having spent 20 years in the B2B financial services arena, the majority focused solely in the Gloucestershire region.

With many years’ experience of cash flow and term lending, Andy has played a pivotal role assisting Gloucestershire SMEs with their business growth.

Most recently, Andy has spent six years at Santander, managing a portfolio of 125+ businesses; applying his experience across all sizes and sectors.

Tina Paton

Navigator

Areas of speciality:

Tina spent her early career in marketing departments of large organisations, including The AA. After relocating to Gloucestershire, she established and ran her own successful business for 10 years, before wanting to use her experience to help other businesses.

Agata Seabright

Navigator

Areas of speciality:

Having been born in Poland and then studied in the United States, Agata brings her international experience from a raft of forward-facing roles.

Having worked in both the public and private sectors, Agata is a well-rounded advisor to existing organisations and future entrepreneurs alike.

Holly Sweet

Navigator

Areas of speciality:

Having studied in Gloucestershire, Holly worked in Human Resources and Business Development; often at the junction between the business and academic worlds.

With experience in commercial services, particularly marketing and events, Holly honed her range of skills before bringing them to The Growth Hub to help other businesses to grow.

David Chapman

Mentor

Areas of speciality:

Core Expertise

David’s major areas of expertise are:

• Consulting and professional services
• Engineering and manufacturing
• Supply and distribution

Experience

David’s experience is based on new business development in digital print and graphics technology. From packaging automation to 3D and the latest industrial print technologies, he have worked with some amazing teams across many global businesses and cultures. He was also seconded to the FCDO as a senior diplomat based in Japan, helping small, medium and large UK companies to sell and invest into the Japanese market.

Much of his work has been around developing business strategy and new business based on novel technology and products. He has built international channels to market, established overseas offices, negotiated strategic partnerships and driven numerous technology projects.

When he discovered the impact that performance coaching could have, he decided to step back from the coal face and train as a professional business coach and facilitator, with a particular focus on team and individual development.

“This combination of skills and experience underpins my style as a Hub Mentor, a role that gives me huge satisfaction as I see the results that mentees can achieve.”

Click here to view David's LinkedIn Profile

Andrew McKenzie

Guide

Areas of speciality:

Andrew is a sustainable-business leader focused on helping organisations lighten their footprint as they address the opportunities and challenges of climate change. Andrew has worked across multiple sectors supporting clients to develop and embed purpose-driven strategies within their operations. As a champion of innovative technologies and solutions, Andrew has worked with businesses to improve their resource efficiency, reduce their environmental impact and establish market differentiators.

David Brewis

Mentor

Areas of speciality:

Core Expertise

David’s major areas of expertise are:

• Marketing and Advertising
• Food and Beverage
• Retail

Experience:

David’s experience is in Marketing, Sales, Finance and Consultancy and he has developed it in businesses ranging in size from multinational to owner/manager and including family owned. He has worked at Director level and has experience of developing and implementing business strategy and team building as well as understanding and influencing the culture of an organisation.

David worked in business sectors as diverse as food, pet food, furniture, transport, education and professional support and can work successfully in a variety of environments. Most recently he had a famers’ market stall selling homemade gluten free bakery products – he was also the chef!

“I moved to Gloucester about 4 years ago and am really keen to use my skills and experience to help independent businesses succeed.”

Click here to view David's LinkedIn Profile

Colin Hall-Tomkin

Mentor

Areas of speciality:

Current position

Property Development

Core Expertise

Colin’s major areas of expertise are:

• Banking
• Financial Services

Experience:

After studying Economics at University, I joined Barclays Bank on their graduate training scheme and remained in the banking sector for 14 years, my final role being as a Corporate Bank Manager in Bristol.

I then moved on to work for the Jelf Group PLC, who specialised in the insurance, financial planning and employee benefits sectors. I successfully set up the Commercial Finance division at Jelf before taking on the role of Client Management & Banking Director, and after 15 years, left the organisation in 2020. I now focus on my property business, as well as making private investments and being on the Board of a Charity in Somerset.

As a mentor my primary strengths lie in business banking and finance, business relationship management and business improvement based on client feedback.

“I thoroughly enjoy working with small businesses and using my experience to help them grow.”

 

Click here to view Colin's LinkedIn Profile