Areas of Practice
I work across four connected areas. Some clients need one; many need a combination, for example a university building an enterprise programme that also needs educator development and a funding strategy. Every engagement is shaped around what you need.
Founder & Innovation Coaching
For founders, start-ups, scale-ups and teams innovating inside established organisations.
Helping innovators turn ambition into action. Using structured coaching, evidence-based frameworks and plenty of real customer conversations, I help you work out what to build, who it's for and whether it will fly, before you spend more time and money on it.
How I can help
Customer Validation: a focused 2–4 week sprint to talk to real customers, test your riskiest assumptions and get a straight answer (go, no-go or pivot) backed by evidence.
Product & Service Innovation: shape a new product or service with a clear, tested direction and simple frameworks you can keep using.
Founder Coaching: one-to-one coaching through the big decisions: focus, priorities, offer and next steps.
Ways to work together: a short fixed-scope sprint (1–4 weeks) · ongoing advisory support, e.g. a half-day a month · the combined "Validate & Innovate" package for earlier-stage companies.
Good fit if you're pre-launch, testing a new feature, segment or price point, or ready to extend what you offer but lacking the bandwidth or outside perspective to shape it well.
Ecosystem Development
For universities, regions, economic development agencies and support networks.
Strong entrepreneurial ecosystems don't happen by accident. I help organisations design, review and strengthen the support they offer, and their place in the wider ecosystem.
How I can help
Enterprise service design and review: building, restructuring or evaluating enterprise support services, drawing on nearly two decades leading Bright Red Triangle.
Ecosystem mapping: who does what, where the gaps and overlaps are, and where you can add most value.
Programme design: pre-start, start-up and growth programmes for students, graduates, staff and communities.
Convening and connecting: bringing universities, agencies, investors, businesses and communities together around shared goals.
Ways to work together: a review with prioritised recommendations · a design sprint for a new service or programme · ongoing strategic advice.
Good fit if you're setting up, reshaping or scaling an enterprise function, or want your region or institution to punch above its weight for entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship Education & Capacity Building
For educators, enterprise teams, advisers, networks and mission-led organisations.
Lasting impact comes from people, not just programmes. Through practical learning, facilitation and organisational development, I help build the knowledge, confidence and skills of those who teach, advise and support entrepreneurs.
How I can help
Curriculum and pedagogy: entrepreneurship learning that is practical, inclusive and works across disciplines.
Educator development and networks: communities of practice for educators, drawing on experience co-directing SEEN.
Workshops and facilitation: hands-on sessions for staff, students and founders on validation, innovation and enterprising thinking.
Board and governance development: helping charities and social enterprises strengthen governance, drawing on experience as Chair of Dignity Boxes.
Ways to work together: one-off workshops or masterclasses · multi-session development programmes · network design and facilitation.
Good fit if you want to grow entrepreneurial capability across your staff, students or sector, and want it to stick.
Partnerships & Funding
For institutions and organisations looking to collaborate at scale.
The most ambitious enterprise programmes are rarely delivered alone. I help organisations find and build the right partnerships, in Scotland, the UK and across Europe, and position themselves for the funding that makes them possible.
How I can help
European partnership development: joining or building multi-partner alliances and consortia, drawing on experience as Director of Partnerships for Start for Future.
Funding strategy and bids: positioning for Scottish Government, UK and EU enterprise and education funding, and shaping strong proposals.
Policy navigation: making sense of the policy landscape and aligning your work with national and European priorities.
Ways to work together: partnership scoping and brokering · bid development support · ongoing partnership advice.
Good fit if you have ambitions bigger than your current budget or network, and want the right partners and funding to get there.
Not sure where you fit?
Most conversations start with a challenge rather than a service. Tell me what you're trying to achieve and I'll suggest the most useful way I can help, or point you to someone better placed.