Business Development & Partnerships
Build your business presence, pursue opportunities and develop valuable partnerships.
(image: St Helena’s first commercial test flight)
WHEN THIS SERVICE HELPS
Find the Right Opportunities for Your Business
You may be starting a business, looking to reach new customers or considering a partnership. An established business may need a stronger presence in its market, a fresh direction or help deciding which opportunities deserve attention.
I work with you to clarify what you want to achieve, identify relevant customers and potential partners, and develop a practical approach to reaching them. We consider the value you offer, the relationships you need and what your time, resources and capabilities allow.
The work gives you clear priorities and agreed next steps for developing your business. Depending on your needs, this may involve assessing an opportunity, planning an approach to a new market or reviewing progress as commercial conversations develop.
How I Can Help
We can focus on a specific opportunity or work together as your business develops. The scope may include one or more of these areas.
01
Identify the Opportunities
Clarify where your business has the strongest potential to grow. We assess your offer, market presence and potential customers or partners against your goals and resources. You gain a clearer basis for choosing which opportunities to pursue, what needs further investigation and where to focus your time and effort.
02
Plan the Approach
Decide how to approach relevant customers, partners or organisations. We consider their priorities, the value you offer and the relationships you need to develop. You gain practical steps for preparing your proposition, starting useful conversations and exploring whether there is a sound basis for working together.
03
Build on the Progress
Review what you are learning as conversations and opportunities develop. We assess feedback, consider potential partnerships and revisit priorities as circumstances change. You gain a clearer basis for deciding what to follow up, where to adjust your approach and when to direct your effort towards another opportunity.
Experience Behind the Work
St Helena
As Commercial Representative for St Helena, I presented investment projects and business opportunities, arranged meetings and facilitated discussions across industries and organisations. The work involved building relationships, understanding different commercial interests and helping potential partners explore opportunities relevant to the island’s development.
APK Consultancy
I founded and ran APK Consultancy from 1989 to 2005, developing international business connections, skills-sharing initiatives and management education projects. I also helped clients in Switzerland, Asia, the UK and other markets develop their websites and business presentation, connecting what they offered with the audiences they wanted to reach.
Business Leadership
During 19 years as CEO of a language-services company, I led its development from a London-focused operation into an international business delivering services online and through contracting. Revenue grew tenfold during my tenure. This experience informs my approach to business planning, new service development and the practical decisions that support growth.
WORKING TOGETHER
A Clear Basis for Working Together
We begin with what you want to achieve, the opportunities you are considering and where you need support. We then agree the scope, practical outputs, responsibilities, timing and fees before work begins.
An assignment may be a focused opportunity assessment, a business development plan or ongoing advice as discussions progress. Depending on the brief, you receive a written assessment, recommended approach, action priorities or regular review discussions. Ongoing support can be arranged through a monthly retainer, with agreed review points.
I am based in Cape Town and work internationally. My experience includes South Africa, wider African markets and international business relationships. We establish where that experience can contribute to your objectives and what additional expertise may be needed.
Taking the Next Step
Some opportunities benefit from practical involvement as well as advice. Through Commercial Representation & Liaison, I can undertake agreed introductions, support commercial conversations and maintain follow-up on your behalf.
If you first need to clarify your offer and how you explain its value, a Positioning & Message Review can help. A Creative Strategy Plan can then guide how your story, messages and presentation work together across your website and other materials.
We agree any additional work around what your business needs and what would help move the opportunity forward.
Discuss an Opportunity
Tell me about your business, what you want to achieve and the opportunities or partnerships you are considering. We can discuss where my experience would help and agree a practical starting point.