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Keith Wallis

A successful business owner himself, Keith specialises in digital and tech, drawing on his 25 years’ experience as a business consultant for SMEs.

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Introductions

Keith Wallis has spent the last 24 years growing businesses in web design, software development, digital marketing and technical services. Prior to that, he was a business consultant specialising in quality assurance, system optimisation and project management.

Keith’s experience as a small business owner and a consultant for SMEs has given him a unique perspective on the business support and finance and funding landscape in the North East.

We asked Keith about the kind of support he can help businesses access in his role as a North East Growth Hub Connector.

What kinds of roles have you worked in before becoming a Growth Hub Connector?

For the last 24 years I have been running my own businesses offering services in software development, web design and technical services. This has given me a valuable insight into what does and doesn’t work when running a business.

I have maintained some of those business interests as I’ve stepped into the Growth Hub Connector role, ensuring my technical knowledge stays fresh and relevant.

Prior to setting up my own business, I worked as a consultant at the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Management – a satellite enterprise to the University of Sunderland. I also worked in engineering for 19 years as part of a development team introducing computer driven technology to the textile industry. It was at during this time I became interested in quality assurance and productivity improvement.

And what kinds of businesses do you support now, as a Connector?

The change in digital technology over the last 20 years has been enormous, and the rate at which the change is taking place is a challenge for everyone – no matter what business you are in.

I have a double remit at the North East Growth Hub; to work with businesses in the digital sector and to work with businesses in other sectors to help them take advantage of new technologies to boost their growth potential.

Having spent 25 years working as a consultant, I’ve helped many different types and sizes of business, and that experience is proving to be invaluable in my role as a Growth Hub Connector.

Talk to one of our team who will help you connect to the support you need to grow and develop your business.

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Are your appointments with businesses one-offs, or can people come back if they need more advice?

The detailed support we offer is rarely just a single conversation. We begin with a fact-finding discussion and the information gleaned from that is then used to suggest support routes that look like the best way forward for that individual business.

Growth is not a one off exercise and I like to try to maintain longer term relationships with clients so we can offer further support at a later stage as their needs change and new offerings become available.

What are the benefits of using the Connector service for business support?

It is a bit of a cliché, but sometimes you really can’t see the wood for the trees. Having a discussion with someone external to the business can help reveal opportunities, or directions not previously considered.

It’s not the case of the Connector saying ‘do this’, but more ‘have you considered this?’

As far as the wider business support offering is concerned, it’s impossible to keep track of all available options if you are also trying to run a business. Specialist advice is essential if you want to get a list of accurate, up-to-date, realistic choices.

The North East Growth Hub is impartial and designed to point businesses to the right support to help them grow. We are genuinely working in partnership with our clients; their success is our success.

What’s your top tip for someone who’s recently started a business?

It’s important to have a plan and a vision, but you should be prepared to adjust that plan and even pivot the business as new information becomes apparent.

As the business develops, you will hit important step changes – or what I call ‘crises of growth’. These really can be make or break points, so it makes good sense to tap into all the help available when they occur.

The North East Growth Hub is here to provide support for these important milestones in a business’ growth journey.

What are your top tips for anyone running a small business in the North East?

Whilst wages in the North East may not be as high as other parts of the UK, this can prove to be a significant advantage when selling services out of the region. It makes our businesses highly cost competitive.

Time and time again, the people in our region prove themselves to be valuable assets, and not just cost effective human resources. There are many highly successful businesses in the region that prove this point.

Outside of the workplace, we have a fantastic work/life balance in the region too, with relatively low congestion and easy access to countryside and coast.

Packaged together, it makes the North East a perfect place to start, scale and grow a business.