About me
Hi, I'm Nick.
I've spent nearly 20 years helping people turn ideas into working businesses, and helping institutions build the systems that make that possible.
At Edinburgh Napier University I led Bright Red Triangle, the university's enterprise and entrepreneurship service, supporting students, graduates and staff to start and grow ventures. Alongside that, I co-direct SEEN, a Scottish Government-funded network for entrepreneurship educators, and I'm Director of Partnerships for Start for Future, a European alliance of more than 30 universities and partners.
What I bring
That combination is what I bring to clients. I've worked directly with founders at every stage, from a rough idea on a napkin to companies scaling fast, and at the level of institutions, regions and governments trying to create the right conditions for entrepreneurship. Seeing both sides gives me a practical view of what makes ideas succeed, where good ones stall, and what support actually helps.
I like getting stuck into the practical stuff: talking to real customers, testing assumptions, bringing the right people into the room, and working out what moves the needle, rather than handing over a strategy deck and walking away.
How I work
Practical
Real customers, real evidence and actions you can take on Monday morning.
Collaborative
I work alongside your team and leave behind tools and confidence, not dependency.
Connected
Where a project needs extra expertise, I can draw on a trusted network of practitioners, educators and partners across Scotland and Europe.
Beyond the day job
Alongside my consulting work, I chair the Board of Trustees of Dignity Boxes, an Edinburgh-based charity, which keeps me close to the realities of running a values-led organisation. I also sit on the Scotland regional board of The Whole Point, a UK-wide initiative working to increase the flow of investment to high-growth female founders outside London. And when I’m not doing any of that, I play drums in The Cartoon Boyfriends.