Specialist sets up city office to help small businesses

BUSINESS Plan Services has set up an office in Leeds as it looks to target start-ups and small businesses in the Yorkshire region with its offering.

Established in 1991, BPS specialises in business planning and bespoke business plan writing for firms looking to grow or raise finance.

The business, which is headquartered in London, has also just opened an office in Cambridge. BPS is based on a franchise model and its London office has a turnover of £350,000 with three permanent staff.

It works with a team of 80 consultants across the UK.

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Leading BPS Leeds is local businessman Peter Rivett-Jones, a former director and co-owner of Leeds advertising agency Poulters. Mr Rivett-Jones has built and sold several businesses and undertaken non-executive roles in the marketing agency sector as well as running The Data People, a data planning consultancy.

Managing director and founder of BPS, Jane Khedair, said: “We work with businesses that are on the move: in start-up situations or actively trying to grow. The culture of enterprise and innovation that exists in Yorkshire makes Leeds an ideal location for us.

“Ambitious businesses recognise they need help to grow, and we can help them do that.”

Mr Rivett-Jones said the business tends to work predominantly with firms with a turnover up to £5m and 30 to 50 employees, but he said it does have customers which are larger in size as well.

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He said: “Yorkshire is a great location for BPS due to its active business community as demonstrated through the likes of The Yorkshire Mafia, Brand Yorkshire, Yorkshire Talking Heads and Downtown Leeds.

“It also has a well developed business angel network (YABA) and many dynamic business support organisations. Although trading is clearly tough there is an unsuppressed enthusiasm for business here.”

He added: “We work with some of the finest minds around to provide specialist help in a wide range of business planning disciplines.

“I am very excited to be bringing our services and expertise to Yorkshire.” Ms Khedair said. “Funding is out there, be it through wealthy individuals, business angel groups, corporate venture funds or even the banks, but the competition for that funding is greater than its ever been so you rarely get a second chance to pitch your business.

“That’s where we come in, we’ll get you ready in terms of your business plan and your pitch and help you to source the best finance too.”

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