MORE and more firms in York are turning to joint business boards, leading to an expansion of the city’s peer advisory scheme.

The Alternative Board (TAB) in York and North Yorkshire has seen a increase in take-up from businesses wanting to tap into the experience and expertise of joint boards.

As a result TAB York owner Ed Reid has expanded his team with the appointment of Julia Sutton-McGough and Jackie Mathers who will work to increase the offering of monthly peer-to-peer board membership and individual coaching.

Mr Reid said: “Savvy business owners know that the best advice they can get is from other business owners so I’m thrilled that TAB York is growing in response to demand from regional businesses.

“With an impressive track record of strategic leadership across diverse business sectors, Julia Sutton-McGough and Jackie Mathers will develop their own TAB boards and provide strategic consultancy and coaching to some of the many brilliant businesses in the region who want to achieve even greater success.”

Mr Reid established TAB York four years ago, and now chairs four boards involving a total of 30 businesses in the region, more than 75 per cent of which have increased their profits over the past two years.

“The expansion of my team opens up huge opportunities for other ambitious businesses to benefit from TAB’s distinctive offer,” Mr Reid added.

Mrs Sutton-McGough has a record of leading and delivering strategic projects in the pharmaceutical industry, charity sector and NHS.

She said: “My new role within TAB York fits perfectly with my desire to help organisations create a vision for the future and successfully deliver change.

“I’m looking forward to offering strategic insight and coaching to the growing number of businesses in the region which are thirsty to succeed.”

Mrs Mathers’ background includes commercial banking and, most recently, higher education as Dean of the Business School at York St John University.

She is an active member of the Institute of Directors, Higher Education Academy and Chartered Management Institute, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Association of Business Schools and York Professionals. Mrs Mathers said: “I’m passionate about personal and professional development for business owners and so I am excited about this opportunity to help innovative and inspirational businesses in York achieve their full potential.”

The Alternative Board scheme was launched in the USA in 1990 and now has more than 140 franchises in five countries. TAB UK’s headquarters are in Harrogate.