Open Direction “Maintain your networks” WHO? Professor Steve Bristow had worked in further and higher education in England and Wales before becoming Principal Executive of Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology from 1996 to 2002. He is married with 2 grown up daughters and 2 grand-daughters. Steve describes himself as “An intellectually curious strategist who takes on too much.”
Professor Steve Bristow put his specialist expertise to good use when he established his business in 2003. He had enjoyed a long career in further and higher education and found himself able to exploit that experience when he set up his own company. He was very quickly awarded a prestigious contract and his business has evolved from there. Steve currently spends quite a lot of time in London and values the networking opportunity that EHQ can give him, hoping that it will help him to stay in touch with his colleagues in Shropshire.
01743 341565 slbristow@open-direction.com www.open-direction.com
WHAT? Open Direction Ltd provides “Governance and strategy for an open society. It is about assisting organisations to govern themselves effectively.” After leaving SCAT Steve set up the business because, “I was not ready to retire; I wanted to find a new role and pay the mortgage.” Steve found that the support and encouragement of his friends and colleagues was crucial to giving him the confidence that he needed to branch out into his new enterprise. They also gave him invaluable practical assistance in learning how to write tenders. HOW? Open Directions was established in 2003 and very quickly won a high profile contract. The Welsh Assembly Government asked Open Directions to review ACAC which is the body responsible for their curriculums and assessment, qualifications and learning. Steve says that success was the result of, “Persistence in tendering. Networking with past colleagues and consultants proved invaluable.” Steve has also found that membership of the Association of Business Consultants has been very useful. He currently spends much of his working week in London and is looking forward to networking more with the local business community through EHQ. Home working has been the perfect bridge from one career to another for Steve, whose wealth of experience spans a range of business areas. The flexibility of working hours and location suit Steve, although he has confessed that managing the work/life balance is still difficult: “I don’t effectively; this is partly due to the fact that I am a workaholic.” Steve uses freelance contractors when necessary, and says that the biggest barrier to the growth of his business is “My own time.” THE FUTURE Steve recognises that taking a back step from the day to day running of the business can be very difficult but has a clear idea of the direction that he would like the business to take. He has established a solid reputation for himself, through applying his guiding principle which is, “Do not try to take on anything that you cannot do well. Know what your own core expertise is and do not pretend it is something else.” In the future Steve intends to, “Stay open to opportunities that allow me to do most of my work through the business.” Steve relaxes by listening to music and enjoys the odd glass of wine. He admits that rather than a cottage by the sea, his dream for retirement is “To know when I am ready to retire before my body tells me!”
www.entrepreneursnetwork.co.uk
45