South West Growth Service was formed by independent and experienced business consultants Chris Lorimer, Andrew Southall, Katharine Bourke and Phil Johnston in 2016. The four partners are passionate about the South West, and their combined determination to make a difference in the region is driven by a sense of responsibility to their communities.
The South West has some of the most innovative and creative small- and medium-sized businesses which, with the right support, could become global case studies.
In addition, the South West has some of the finest business expertise that SWGS can help showcase to benefit aspirational organisations who need external support to progress.
Born on a Dartmoor farm, Katharine is a passionate supporter of and advocate for businesses in the South West. From starting out recruiting accountants for the City, she built an IT business with her husband from a good idea to a business employing 10 staff before returning to consultancy. She spent four years as a Growth Manager for the government's GrowthAccelerator and Business Growth Service in Devon and Cornwall.
Chris' background is originally in banking, where he worked as a Head of Small Business and a Corporate Director at Barclays and then led operational excellence activity across International and Private Banking. He has been an independent management consultant since 2013 and his client base spans education, training, marketing, manufacturing, business services, and the public sector. He is the founder of two active business networking groups.
Andrew is a Chartered Geologist and Water and Environment Manager with 35 years' business experience. He has been working independently with businesses seeking change since 2010. His client base spans civil engineering contracting, utilities (especially water), renewable energy, environmental technology, legal and the public sector. He also holds two trustee roles and is a volunteer mentor on a national programme.
Phil has over 30 years senior commercial and marketing experience in both public and private sectors, with a significant track record of helping brands and companies accelerate growth by evolving and implementing effective marketing and brand strategies. Phil excels at getting businesses in any sector to attract new customers as well as getting existing customers to come back again and again. Phil has worked extensively as a business expert for the Business Growth Service as well as being a Marketing Strategy, New Product Development and Launch Innovation Specialist for Business West, Innovate to Succeed and Horizon 2020 business programmes.
Born on a Dartmoor farm, Katharine is a passionate supporter of and advocate for businesses in the South West. From starting out recruiting accountants for the City, she built an IT business with her husband from a good idea to a business employing 10 staff before returning to consultancy. She spent four years as a Growth Manager for the government's GrowthAccelerator and Business Growth Service in Devon and Cornwall.
Chris' background is originally in banking, where he worked as a Head of Small Business and a Corporate Director at Barclays and then led operational excellence activity across International and Private Banking. He has been an independent management consultant since 2013 and his client base spans education, training, marketing, manufacturing, business services, and the public sector. He is the founder of two active business networking groups.
Andrew is a Chartered Geologist and Water and Environment Manager with 35 years' business experience. He has been working independently with businesses seeking change since 2010. His client base spans civil engineering contracting, utilities (especially water), renewable energy, environmental technology, legal and the public sector. He also holds two trustee roles and is a volunteer mentor on a national programme.
Phil has over 30 years senior commercial and marketing experience in both public and private sectors, with a significant track record of helping brands and companies accelerate growth by evolving and implementing effective marketing and brand strategies. Phil excels at getting businesses in any sector to attract new customers as well as getting existing customers to come back again and again. Phil has worked extensively as a business expert for the Business Growth Service as well as being a Marketing Strategy, New Product Development and Launch Innovation Specialist for Business West, Innovate to Succeed and Horizon 2020 business programmes.
