Dragon’s Den type duo determined to stop businesses from going bump

Oldham’s start-ups, small concerns and even established names are being given free advice from consultants to stop them going over the brink.

Upturn is hosting gurus John Townsend and Andy Hill, who have half-a-century’s experience in planning, marketing and finance and could rival Dragon’s Den judges for their acumen!

And with figures showing that 71.1% of new businesses fail within their first three years, their advice could prove priceless in the borough’s bid to regenerate and move forwards.

“Oldham is full of creative people with innovative ideas but having business nous is just as important” said Anwar Ali OBE, Managing Director of Upturn. “Businesses tend to fail due to poor fiscal management, inadequate planning, an aversion to change, ineffective marketing, and cash flow problems. These are all areas of expertise for John and Andy and could save hundreds of potentially buzzing businesses in our borough.”

The duo are consultants with different areas of expertise. John is a leadership coach, psychologist, and author with a focus on helping businesses and individuals with leadership, boundaries, and personal development. Andy specialises in helping organisations grow, offering services like strategic planning, marketing, and operational improvements. 

What Anwar Ali is calling, “resilience clinics” are another benefit being offered to businesses in Oldham by Upturn. The Oldham online Trading Platform puts large and small concerns in touch with potential partners, customers, and suppliers. They also manage The Hive, a co-working space that already houses everything from crime prevention enterprises to accountants for charities.

“In Oldham, we have recognised that businesses working together rather than purely as competitors makes the borough stronger, with the large serving the small and vice-versa” concluded Anwar. “Many of the skills required to make it were just never taught, and so Andy and John’s insight will be of enormous benefit.

If I were running a business in Oldham and saw all that was going on at The Hive, my response would be just like that of the Dragon’s Den judges – “I’M IN!”