Andy Key Business Coach

Andy has been involved in a number of business ventures as owner and partner, so he knows the pressures and rewards only too well.

After a successful corporate career in the car industry Andy realised that his true vocation was coaching. “I retrained as a coach with the world leading Adler International Learning Group in Canada,” he says, “and I was fortunate enough to win the Ology New Start Coach of the Year award in 2008.”

Keep it simple

Andy’s particular specialism is business strategy, about which he holds very strong views: “Most people’s working lives are complicated enough without the confusion caused by overly complex and impractical business and management theories. There just isn’t the time and, fundamentally, you just want results, not an MBA.”

The three big questions

In fact, Andy believes that success begins by getting the answer to just three simple questions: What are you trying to achieve? Why are you doing it? How are you going to do it? “How a client answers those questions and implements the answers can have a profound effect on them, their customers, their team and their business,” says Andy.

Peace and quiet

Andy works closely with his business partner Juliana Mclean from their office and meeting facility in rural Cheshire. “Our location allows us to host strategy workshops and client sessions in an undisturbed off-site environment,” he says. “Clients can escape their day-to-day issues to immerse themselves in the future of their business without distraction.”

Andy on getting results…

“I worked with a software company operating in the satellite communications market. The firm had been established for over ten years and had plateaued in its growth.

We began by helping the board to address the key challenges facing the business. These included establishing a strong growth strategy, resolving a shareholder dispute and improving the leadership and culture of the organisation.

Less than four years later I had helped that business to grow from under £1m turnover to £4.6m.”

Andy on networking…

“I was working with a start-up firm operating in the mobile geo-spatial mapping marketplace. One of my first tasks was to introduce them to venture capital providers, who delivered £150k to acquire another business and grow their cash flow.

I’m currently working with that same client to attract further funding for three new associated projects. As well as business adviser I am also a non-exec director on behalf of the VCs. Another introduction I was able to make was to accountant and Bowdon Business Club member Chris Wrighton, who’s now helping the business to reduce the time and costs of their financial management.”