Independent strategy, finance and marketing advice for the businesses that build the Midlands
Mentoring, consulting and board support for engineering, professional services and not-for-profit organisations, from the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, since July 2002.
Since 2002 · 600+ clients · Trusted by the NHS, Arup Engineering and growing SMEs
Results
Two decades of measurable work
2002Incorporated in Birmingham
600+Clients served
500+SMEs advised by our director
6 yearsBoard support for Burley Law, and counting
Clients include: NHS · Arup Engineering · Burley Law · Blackstone IFA · EnviroSolutions
Sectors
Who we work with
Engineering
Our director is a chartered engineer who spent ten years at an engineering services firm, so we understand the specific needs of engineering consultancies.
Professional services
Professional services marketing, law-firm experience and a placement at Price Waterhouse Coopers inform how we advise practices and firms.
Not-for-profit
Backgrounds in engineering, economics and accountancy, with deep knowledge of minerals, marketing and finance, applied to organisations that answer to a mission.
From the NHS and Arup Engineering to owner-run SMEs.
Since its incorporation, VC Consulting has worked with over 600 clients. The company was the brainchild of four senior management consultants, with extensive contacts and experience within the UK business domain.
Strategic decision-making, governance best practice and leadership, for start-ups forming a first board and established organisations improving board effectiveness.
Development plans, tools and techniques, better workflows and efficient resource allocation, for new workshops and existing ones that need revitalising.
We talk through your business, your goals and what is getting in the way.
02
Independent assessment
An independent, unbiased assessment of your business, its strengths and where you should go next.
03
A realistic action plan
A plan that is easy to follow and stays realistic, not full of blue-sky thinking.
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Ongoing support
Monthly mentoring, board-level challenge and an accountability partner while you put it into practice.
Client testimonials
What clients say
Burley Law
“Lawrence has provided invaluable support to us at board level across a breadth of areas. As well as day-to-day bumps in the road, leadership resilience and developing our financial literacy, he has helped us focus on our longer-term goals and strategy over 6 years (and counting). Rather than imposing a specific way of working on us, he very much works with us, but still challenges us. More recently he has helped us with a specific marketing campaign for HR support, which has resulted in effective strategic thinking, planning and implementation, and a methodology which we can continue to use in future campaigns. We have no hesitation in recommending Lawrence as a trusted business adviser.”
Liz and Des BurleyBurley Law Limited · client testimonialResult: board-level support for 6 years and counting
Blackstone Finance
“Since first being introduced to Lawrence and VC Consulting via the Help To Grow Initiative, Lawrence has provided me and my business with excellent guidance in insights into what type of strategies and when to implement such strategies to help my business grow.
The formulation of an Action plan came about as a result of our meetings and it was one that has been easy to follow, it remains realistic and is not full of blue sky thinking – although there is of course room for this.
Lawrence made me aware of what answers to seek from those leading our Marketing but he also gave me the confidence to try new methods of communication such as video and audio communications with both my current client base but also prospective clients – where we have seen some tangible results.
We continue to use Lawrence and VC and I would suggest others do likewise.”
Anthony WardBlackstone IFA (Midlands) Limited · client testimonialResult: a realistic action plan and tangible results from video and audio
EnviroSolutions
“VC Consulting have provided guidance and management to assist me with developing EnviroSolution by identifying and assisting with implementation of processes that have reduced the day to day burden of being a business owner.
This has resulted in improved financial management, improved systems, and more consideration of external factors impacting the business.
Lawrence has been an accountability partner, an understanding ear and a professional mentor, always ready to assist or provide considered advice.”
Will ChambersEnviroSolutions · client testimonialResult: improved financial management and systems
Why us
The people you’ll work with
Backgrounds in engineering, economics and accountancy, with deep knowledge of minerals, marketing and finance.
LH
Lawrence Hoare
Director
BSc, MSc, CEng, MBA, MIMMM, ACIM
Aston Business School. Since establishing VC Consulting, Lawrence has worked with over 500 SME businesses in marketing, financial and management consultancy.
NB
Nick Bonnaud
Company Secretary
BA (Hons), ACMA
Trained at IBM as a chartered management accountant. Over 10 years at Director level advising SMEs across the West Midlands.
TT
Tom Taylor
Senior Management Consultant
Valuation and financial modelling
Financial modelling and business analytics, with Python and VBA to build solutions tailored to each client.
Since July 2002 we have worked with over 600 clients, specialising in the engineering, professional services and not-for-profit sectors. Clients include large organisations such as the NHS and Arup Engineering, alongside SME businesses.
Do you work with small businesses?
Yes. Our director, Lawrence Hoare, has worked with over 500 SME businesses in marketing, financial and management consultancy, and our team advises SMEs across the West Midlands, from start-ups to businesses with 250+ employees.
What happens at an introductory meeting?
We talk through your business, its strengths and where you want to go. From there we offer an independent, unbiased assessment and agree a realistic action plan.
Can you support our board long term?
Yes. We provide board support covering strategic decision-making, governance and leadership. Burley Law Limited has had board-level support from Lawrence for 6 years and counting.
Do you help with recruiting?
Yes. We run a full search and selection process, from writing the job specification and advertising to a final interview with logical and numerical reasoning tests. We then develop a training plan for each new employee and hold monthly mentoring meetings.
Where are you based?
Our offices are at The Jewellery Business Centre, 95 Spencer Street, Birmingham B18 6DA, in the Jewellery Quarter. We are open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00.
Start here
Start with an introductory meeting
Tell us where the business is and where you want it to go. We will give you an independent view and a realistic next step.