We have physical space at the Guild which you can use by becoming a Guild Member, useful for both young businesses and those who need time away from their business to work on it rather than in it. We spend time with you and show you how to get the most from business tools like Design Thinking, Business Model Canvas or the Value Proposition. We work with you either as a mentor or non-exec to help you keep you on track with your business plan. For larger businesses we conduct bespoke research based on your needs and can chair critical business meetings that require an unbiased expert facilitator.
Our services are catered towards the size of your business and we charge accordingly.
Come and have a coffee and a chat at the Guild, no charge and the coffee’s awesome.
Take an hour out of your busy day and see what ideas could be generated. Go on, what have you got to lose?
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Walt Disney
In Carlisle, we offer you a physical space where you can work on your business rather than in your business. Space to really think through your next steps.
You are welcome to come in for a day to really focus on your business away from the day to day distractions of your own office (from £20 plus VAT). Or if you want to get in the habit of working on your business without the day to day distractions we have more regular options. You can become part of this highly supportive business hub here in The Guild Carlisle from £64 plus VAT per month, for that you get:
• One day a week access 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday.
• Guaranteed workspace in the hot desk area. Just bring your laptop and take a seat.
• Free use of lounge area for informal meetings.
• Invitation to Guild Social Events and our ‘On it, not in it’ Business Club.
We now have over 20 businesses who call the Guild home.
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime” Lao-Tzu
We don’t just point you at the multitude of business tools out there in the market place. We work with you to identify the business tool most suitable to plan a solution for your business opportunity or problem. Tools used include:
We then help you to fully utilise that tool to really think about the issue and above all develop a plan of action that you then control.
At the end of the session you will leave with an understanding of how to apply the tool to your business and even more importantly an action plan to help you move forward.
Our 2 hour sessions start at £150 plus VAT. We will happily meet with you for a chat and a coffee to explore how we can work together.
Business supported include: Molly Rose Drinks and Lou Kneath Toons.
“If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” Steve Jobs
We are not just here for the thinking and planning stages. We are here to support you to do what is necessary to continue your business journey. We work with start ups through to large national businesses. We offer various bespoke services. These are all there to support you from the start of an idea right through to the running of a Business Board.
Ongoing support can be collating the information you have gathered into useable chunks to help you make critical decisions. We can work as an a non-exec to challenge thinking at key growth and change stages. We can chair Exec Team meetings to ensure the management team moves in the best direction for your business.
Our experience of working on confidential research covers all sizes of business.
Previous clients for research work range from A.F.Blakemore & Son Wholesale, Cumbria LEP to Artisan producer Molly Rose Drinks.
We currently have non-exec roles with a variety of businesses and chair key business meetings for others.
We regularly work with others who support business. This ranges from Universities, Be the Business, Local Economic Partnerships to groups of businesses that just want a project off the ground. Thomas Jardine & Co is there to help you create a great business project, bring businesses together or bring the business voice to the right ears.
Costs depend on the level of work required. We are happy to discuss any idea you have.
“Theory is splendid but until put into practice, it is valueless.”James Cash Penney, J.C. Penney founder
We design & facilitate whole business programmes (clients include Lancaster University).
We also design and deliver short courses and one-off events (clients include Loughborough University, University of Cumbria and Centre for Leadership Performance).
Currently working with partners to develop a programme for the food and drink supply chain.
If you need a great Business Programme – we can do it!
“In the long history of humankind those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” Charles Darwin
In 2017 we started work on The Guild which is now a home for over 20 businesses.
In 2018 we developed ‘This is Cumbria’ with Hawkshead Relish, Ginger Bakers, The FamBiz Network and a whole host of other businesses.
In 2019 the This is Cumbria Pavilion took prime space at the Farmshop & Deli Show.
In 2019 we partnered with Be the Business , The FamBiz Network and others to devise and deliver parts of the NW Family Business Leadership Programme.
If you want to be part of this – contact us!
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” Warren Buffett
We host the Food & Drink map.
We have worked with Government Departments to raise the voice of business on Regulations and Small Business Rates Relief
We work with the Be the Business Family SME Task Force, and we are Vice Chair of Carlisle Food City.
In 2018 we conducted research support work for the Cumbrian LEP on the Food and Drink sector. We have now represented the Cumbrian LEP at DEFRA meetings in London discussing how LEPs can support this vital sector in future years.
If you’ve got a burning idea – talk to us!
“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
