Our second season of Growth Lab events continues.
Ever feel like you need a fresh pair of eyes on a situation? Do you sometimes crave an external perspective to bring clarity and context, opportunities and ideas? A Non-Executive Director (NED) could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Join our expert panel to hear what it’s really like to have a NED aboard your business. In this relaxed and interactive session, they’ll reveal the business benefits a NED can bring, what you can expect from the role, how to find and choose the right match and how to reward them for the growth they bring.
Meet the panel
Charlotte Nichols
Gary Lumby MBE
James Robson MBA
Brad Johnson
Charlotte Nichols, panel host
Founder, Harvey & Hugo
Charlotte has over 20 years’ experience in PR, 15 of those running her own business, Harvey & Hugo. Alongside this, and looking after her two young children, Charlotte hosts the PRsonal podcast which gets to know the real person behind the business professional.
Gary Lumby MBE
Focus on Success
Gary supports SMEs across the UK as a NED and consultant through management consultancy business Focus on Success. Prior to this, his career was focused in finance with roles including UK Director of SME Banking at Yorkshire and Clydesdale Banks. He is a Growth Expert on the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Programme and owns a number of businesses with his wife Hayley.
James Robson MBA
Founder, Exwold Technology
James is best known for his founding of Exwold Technology in Billingham, a business he grew from a start-up to a company with 125 staff and a turnover of more than £13million. Today he still supports the company as a NED, a role he also provides to a wide range of other regional companies. James is a member of the investment committee of NEL Fund Managers.
Brad Johnson
MD, Yellowbox Marketing
Brad founded Yellowbox in 2011 after graduating from Teesside University. The company originally focused on selling mobile-only websites before merging with a local agency to expand its offer with a team of 16 experts. Yellowbox is now a full-service digital agency working as an outsourced marketing department for SMEs to help promote themselves online. Brad recruited Gary to support his business growth as a NED.
Growth Lab Darlington
Growth Lab events are designed to focus on a range of different ways to power the growth of your business. Each time we explore a theme, untangling the true meaning and demystifying the terminology to reveal the real opportunities awaiting your business.
These value-packed, interactive sessions bring a panel of experts and the audience together in lively conversation to learn from each other about what’s working for their businesses right now.
Expect wide-ranging perspectives, fresh ideas and powerful techniques from businesses, consultants and investors in all sectors, with a chance to contribute your own questions, ideas and experiences.