About The Big Red Tomato Company

My dad was one of these people who left a well paying corporate job. 4 weeks holiday a year and a pension, by buying a retail pharmacy, when I was 6 years old.

For 16 years he didn’t take a holiday. Or a day off.

In effect he not only created one job for himself, he created many jobs: pharmacist, book keeper, administrator, cleaner, sales person, store keeper… business owner.

With the very best of intentions, my mum and dad’s career advice to me was to get a good education and get a get a good job.

So I went to University and got a degree in Accounting and Finance.

I became a graduate trainee with Rolls-Royce and became an accountant working inside the business, before moving onto Experian Plc where I was Head of Finance.

Along the way I got qualified as an accountant and I’m now a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and CPA Australia and also a Member of The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply – basically, I know how to grow businesses and reduce costs.

In the late 00’s I set up and ran a successful wedding photography business, photographing over 200 weddings. I even managed to take a few photos when I married my best friend, Emma, in Grenada in 2008.

In 2003 I started building a residential property business, which despite a few hairy moments during the financial crisis is still going strong.

I have over 20 years corporate experience in providing advice on strategy, business improvement, change and transformation, as well of course, finance.

Throw into this being a husband and a father, a love of travel (having visited 45+ countries and 20/50 US States), cars, power kiting, and mixed martial arts (especially Krav Maga) you kind of get the picture.

Quite simply, I have worked in some of the world’s largest businesses and also some of it’s smallest. I know how business works and I understand that the health of your business impacts the lives of those around you.

How This Journey Began

I have worked with some major and diverse clients such as BT Openreach, DHL and De Montfort University; where I led a project to raise £110m ($160m) through the issue of sterling Eurobonds on the London Stock Exchange.

In mid 2009 I launched this blog as a personal project. Initially it was a location to keep my notes on books or articles I’d read or ideas I’d discovered and to share some of my experiences working with clients.

But since late 2010 following the birth of my Son, and the desire to spend more time with him and my wife, it’s been a focus for building a business that didn’t require my physical presence, so as well as Interim Management Services, I now offer coaching and courses to the owners of small businesses.

It has been an interesting journey!

A journey that has not only brought financial reward, cool clients, free stuff (always nice), book offers and speaking opportunities, it has also introduced me to some fantastic people who have allowed me to think that little bit bigger and grow my business.

It’s also given me the opportunity to take some of my professional experience working in large organisations and applying that to smaller businesses and seeing the fantastic results that they have achieved.

“you know, we should move here, it would be a great place to bring up Sam” To my surprise she agreed.

On return to the UK we set about the process of moving to New Zealand. A journey which as many have written elsewhere, is a bit of a minefield, but nevertheless, we moved house and flew out on 16th September and for the first time ever we all saw sunshine on Christmas Day.

Would I give the advice to my son my parents gave to me? No, but you’ll have to read the blog to find out why 🙂

Not sure where to start? Then Start Here.

Each week I send out my best growth hacks and tips to grow your business. Think of this as your inside track to growing your business.

If you’d like to know more or see how we can work together to grow your business click here.

Don’t forget to say hello on Twitter or Facebook.

To your business success!