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SmartStartup Ltd.

Start up the Smart Way with SmartStartup

Starting or taking control of a business should be exciting, challenging and liberating. However, many budding entrepreneurs see it as a time of stress and worry where they are distracted from the real business in hand by the extra paperwork and lack of broad skills needed to simply set the business up properly ‘right first time’. This is why a new Cheshire based company SmartStartup, has been formed.

Smartstartup Ltd. was the inspiration of a group of experienced professional advisers from the finance and marketing sectors who recognised the need for a single, expert point of contact for individuals and management teams wanting to start – or buy – a business – quickly.

Strategy and Finance Director at SmartStartup, Noel Guilford;
"Rather than speaking to separate lawyers, accountants and marketing firms, SmartStartup will provide a single point of contact to ease and speed the process of developing the business idea into business success. The real difference we offer is that each of us has already developed successful businesses ourselves and we have done this for lots of other companies too – we have a track record of success."

Marketing and Media Relations Director, Jane Harrad-Roberts;
"We believe that what we are offering is unique. There are lots of organisations offering this type of advice, including the Chamber of Commerce but they don’t have the ‘hands on’ capability we have or the experience. Between us we have helped launch or develop between one and two hundred businesses across the UK."

Finance and Accounting Director, David Cooper;
"As well as offering the strategic advice needed, we can also actually undertake the work needed in parallel so the new organisation is up and running in as shorter time as possible. We also have a unique payment model."

SmartStartup has no connections whatsoever to any business advisory services such as Business Link or Chamber of Commerce. It is looking to appoint one or two partner advisors in all the skill areas needed to advise business startups.

ENDS – 350 words

Smartstartup Ltd. was the inspiration of a group of experienced professional advisers from the finance and marketing sectors who recognised the need for a single, expert point of contact for individuals and management teams wanting to start – or buy – a business – quickly.

BIOGRAPHIES

David Cooper is an accountant with over 25 years experience, the majority of which has been spent working with new and small businesses. Having trained with Price Waterhouse in Liverpool, David moved to a local Chester firm to gain experience of smaller businesses and then became the manager of the small business department of HLB Kidsons.
In 1995 he set up his own practice in Chester specialising is acting for sole traders, partnerships and small limited companies. David W Cooper & Co. provides accounting, payroll, tax and business advice but does not carry out audits, so that David can concentrate of providing advisory services to his clients. The increase in the audit threshold to £5.6m will allow David to act for many more Cheshire companies.
David devotes much of his spare time to charitable work.

Noel Guilford has 25 years experience in corporate finance and business advisory services and is a member of the Securities Institute. He has advised the shareholders and management of private companies and has led and arranged acquisitions, management buyouts and disposals, raised development capital and provided strategic business advice. His public company experience includes advising companies that have floated, and the independent directors of offeree companies under the Takeover Code. He is a non-executive director of four North West companies in addition to Smartstartup Limited and his own company Guilford Consulting.
Noel is a keen cricketer & ale tester.

Jane Harrad-Roberts Jane set up her own marketing consultancy in 1995 after a career involving IT and Pilkington plc. Marketing Projects was ‘Chester New Business of the Year’ in 1997 and won an e-commerce award from the DTI two years later. London offices were opened in 2000. The consultancy helps other companies achieve their business and marketing ambitions, specialising in practical “help, not just advice”.
Previously Chair & President of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Merseyside & North Wales, Jane is a director of Novus Young Professionals and the marketing/PR advisor for Manchester based ‘venture catalysts’ e-Cradle. She works on committee for both the Cheshire branch and North West region of the Institute of Directors for whom she is also press relations officer.
Jane was runner up in the Women in Business ‘Business Person of the Year 2000’ Award. She is married with three children and ambitions ‘to make a positive difference’ to anyone with whom she comes into contact.

More information or 300dpi+ photos available at the press office at: www.smartstartup.co.uk
Contact: Jane Harrad-Roberts on mobile: 07785 395705
Office: 01244 330000
Email: press@smartstartup.co.uk

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