“I had the advantage of having Jacqui as a mentor and guide whilst following the Lead programme at Lancaster university.

As a director and non family member of a 4th generation family business, managing shareholders can be more challenging than managing the direction of the business. Jacqui has a wealth of experience in matters surrounding the management of family businesses.  By a process of carefully listening to the particular concern, absorbing the info and then encouraging engaging dialogue, Jacqui supported my personal development of constructively challenging my problem solving skills for the benefit of the business.  Her calm manner and friendly personality has a way of putting everyone at ease no matter what the situation.”

Karen Reilly, Director, Hayes & Finch (Est. 1883)

Hearing the news from Jacqui that she was embarking on resurrecting her family businesses name and her vison of the new venture was great news, not only for Jacqui but also the local business community as I feel Jacqui has so much to offer them.  My experience working with Jacqui over the last 18 months facilitating our group has certainly helped my business, her in-depth business knowledge is just first class and she always delivers advise that is clear and concise.

When I look for key roles within my own business I look for people whom are entrepreneurial, focused and have a can do, roll your sleeves up and get stuck in attitude, if a crisis ensues I can honestly say that Jacqui is someone whom you would want on your team.

I wish Jacqui, her family and Bruce and Luke’s Coffee all the success in the world and I am confident with Jacqui’s visionary skills, success is only around the corner.

Adrian Cresswell, Managing Director, AM Support Services Ltd

As part of a group of business owners that meet regularly to review our businesses, Jacqui is a real asset to our group and is hugely respected for the insights and challenges that she offers to each of us.  Jacqui is very calm, and considered in her views, always constructive and non-judgemental, she draws on her knowledge and experience to add value to each of our businesses, and to guide and encourage us in developing our businesses further.  You know this comes not from a textbook, but from having been there, done it and got the t-shirt. If the opportunity arises for Jacqui to provide you with some support take it, you won’t regret it.

Andy Hooper, Managing Director, Westlakes Engineering Ltd

I'm very exited about Jacqui's new venture for start up or aspiring businesses to come together in a supportive environment.

Personally I have found being part of a peer group with like minded companies invaluable in developing my family food manufacturing business. Jacqui has facilitated my group and brought a level of discipline and knowledge that has helped propel me and my business forward. I find her quiet yet steely style uplifting and I am constantly inspired by her depth of knowledge across a wide range of food retailing and family business issues, based on her personal experience.

The business mentoring, I have received from Jacqui has helped me navigate some challenging family business issues for which I am very grateful.

Good Luck in your new venture, access to support is exactly what start ups and small businesses need.

Gill Hall, Managing Director, Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses Ltd

I’ve worked with Jacqui on three different occasions as both a colleague and as a consultant to our business, what was common to the experience was the level of understanding that she has of the way that business works from both the stakeholders’ perspective and in indeed the ultimate customer.  The ability to look at a business from a 360-degree perspective and clearly see how to create shareholder value at the same time as delighting our customers is quite rare - Jacqui has it. The added benefit is that she is passionate about what she does and sensitive to the team around her which makes her a great team player and a pleasure to have around.

Jerry Marwood, Managing Director, AF Blakemore & Son Ltd

Jacqui has a range of highly developed academic capabilities and business skills, these make her versatile, knowledgeable and a go to person for advice.  Working under Jacqui’s tutelage at Lancaster University gave me the opportunity to see what really counts in business and that is people skills.

Jacqui guided, coaxed and encouraged a diverse group of people running very diverse businesses and we all came away with the same understanding and confidence.  We all felt very different to each other when we embarked on our LEAD course but by the end we acknowledged that we all had the same fears and challenges and that skills definitely are transferrable.

Apart from all that she is also a wonderful human being so you can’t go far wrong

Sandra Cottam-Shea, Managing Director, SCS Logistics Ltd