Business owners needing support to grow and operate more efficiently can thrive by calling the BOSS

By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

Are you looking for support and guidance to grow your business; or do you need an expert to provide guidance on whether everything is in place that should be?

You’d better call the BOSS.

Bev Howard is a business consultant, freelance general manager, business doctor, trainer and public speaker who has drawn on a rich and varied career to run BOSS Consulting.

Bev has been a retail manager at BHS; Woolworths; she has worked in advertising; managed an art business; she has grown a wedding expo firm.

Two years ago she launched BOSS Consulting, to help business owners take back control and identify any changes that can or should be made.

It has been a fascinating two years which has seen Bev work alongside a wide variety of enterprises across the North West, some on an ongoing basis, with much project and troubleshooting work too.

BOSS Consulting uses a simple methodology and a modern approach to consulting. With over 35 years of business experience, Bev understands the challenges that business owners face on a day-to-day basis.

She can help people with company and personal growth, systems and processes, team leadership and what is sometimes the biggest challenge – the effective management of your time.

BOSS Consulting was created in October 2022, when Bev saw a huge need for business support within her local community across Merseyside and Lancashire. She has a keen eye for detail and is able to walk in the footsteps of the business owner within their company.

Bev Howard said: “I have always been someone who has enjoyed helping other people.

“There are very few people in business who can do everything on their own.

“Everyone has their own unique skills and abilities but rarely take time to use them.

Bev Howard of Boss Consulting. Photo by Kate Swerdlow

“Very often there are huge time pressures on people running businesses, and it’s difficult to achieve decent family time, and proper quality of life.

“Sometimes it helps to have someone come in to support what you are doing, identify positive improvements and ensure that nothing is missing that should be in place.”

Bev had a happy childhood where her inspirational Dad often called her ‘the boss’ – it’s one of the inspirations behind the name of the business she runs today.

She said: “I am the eldest of three daughters, my Dad always calls me ‘the boss’.

“It has a double meaning with my business, BOSS Consulting, which stands for Business Operational Support Service.

“When I was growing up, Dad started his own business and I remember him often coming home late at night after working non-stop all day, sometimes seven days a week.

“I am well aware of the traps you can fall into as a business owner. It can be really hard.

“That is where I come in. I want to help people to look at how they operate in the way that is most beneficial to them.”

Bev has plenty of experience to draw on, from working in different industries, she loved working in retail and became a manager in her early 20s. Her biggest challenge was the opening of BHS in Southport town centre.

Whilst there, Bev met her husband Mal, next was a move to Norfolk, where the couple’s two children were born. After eight years they moved back up North and ended up in Ainsdale in Southport, where Bev began her career in the expo and event management industry, working for The UK Wedding Shows, putting on wedding expos across the country in locations such as London, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.

Bev found herself heading up a sales and marketing team, and an operations team, and before she knew was a director at the company.

Another exciting challenge appeared when she was invited to manage Pangea Sculptures in West Lancashire, a firm which sells unique metal art sculptures created by artists in Africa.

Bev’s skill and passion has always been in making businesses succeed and so embraced the challenges that came with working in partnership with businesses overseas.

During Covid she trained as a business coach before launching her own company where she has more freedom to support clients in ways most beneficial to them.

Bev said: “One of the things I took away from my training was the saying ‘make something good happen every day’.

“I think that is a really good philosophy to have in business.

“When I take on a business, I will always do an initial assessment, see what they need in terms of support.

“We look for opportunities together and find simple practical solutions to help the business run like a well-oiled machine.

“Sometimes in life a business can just tick along without really developing as well as it could.

“I will help the owners to get more out of it.

“I have several retained clients who I support on a regular basis, and I also enjoy doing project work which can include anything from writing manuals to mystery shopping:

“If you want to experience positive change in your business, or you need someone to pick up the pieces so that you can focus on the bigger picture, then we can make great things happen together.”

Through BOSS Consulting, Bev is keen to get to know you, hear about what you want to achieve and most importantly, how you fit into your business model.

At the initial appointment she aims to:

Identify the needs of your company, and the BOSS Consulting approach best suited to you

Estimate the time commitment needed from both parties

Agree a schedule that works for you and your business

Together, you will calculate future growth through planning and goal setting. BOSS Consulting will be beside you every step of the way to steer you in the right direction.