sector focus: skills Improve your business and change your life

Owning and running a business is unlike anything else. There can be nothing more exciting… but it can be a heavy load.

I know because I’ve been there!

My name is Phil Smith and I’m the owner of The Alternative Board for Milton Keynes and Leighton Buzzard.

Q - So, tell me about The Alternative Board (TAB).

At TAB we help business owners to improve their business in ways that change their lives.

We often hear from business owners who feel they can’t properly share their challenges with their employees, consultants or even friends or family. In fact, many business owners use the phrase, “It’s lonely at the top”.

TAB solves this problem by providing:

• A confidential, safe, environment to work ON your business, not IN it

• 1-2-1 sessions to help you make better decisions, faster – and ensure you act on them!

• Online tools, resources and global contacts to help you think, communicate and lead better.

We believe that the best advice for business owners, is from other business owners. The only agenda at our boardroom table is that of fellow business owners, who want to help each other.

Q – Why did you get involved?

I started my first company with my business partner in 2002 – two guys in a garage. We grew rapidly and before long there were staff, bigger offices, more stock, more equipment, higher targets, more pressure…

Our first company failed, but our second succeeded, spectacularly, and we sold it in 2021. It was a roller-coaster ride and ultimately, financially, very rewarding, but what was the true cost? The people that we loved and the things we loved to do had been pushed to the back of the queue. Looking back, I believe that it could have been a smoother ride with some external support. That’s what TAB offers to business owners.

Q – How do business owners find out more about TAB?

A 30-minute, no obligation, conversation over a coffee is normally enough to find out about each other’s businesses and to see if there might be a good fit.

At TAB we help business owners to; Live better, Lead better, and achieve more. So what’s stopping you? Call me on 0777 169 2416 or email me via psmith@thealternativeboard.co.uk