Business Doctors new franchisee opens in Doncaster

Business Doctors, the franchised support network for small and medium-sized firms, has a new franchisee for South Yorkshire.

Describing its unique offer as 'somewhere in between consultancy and coaching', the network provides hands on support to owners of SMEs in every sector.

The new territory, which includes Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster, has been bought by former commercial vehicle major player Paddy Limb.

Paddy was previously co-owner and MD of the most profitable independent Volvo truck dealership group in Europe.

He said: "When I sold my interest in the dealership and left the business, the greatest satisfaction I got was the notes from people who worked for me, thanking me for the support and guidance I had given them both personally and professionally.

"I have run my own one man band business with little or no spare resources and I have also been a partner in a £160 million turnover company. It is this broad range of experience that I believe helps me to have empathy with SME owners. This is because I have been there and I understand the challenges they face and how to overcome them. Business Doctors allows me to use the skills and experience I have gained over the years to support small and medium sized business owners to get their businesses working for them. I've always loved business turnaround TV programmes like 'I'll Show Them Who's Boss' with Gerry Robinson and 'Troubleshooter' with Sir John Harvey Jones and now I'm part of the Business Doctors network, I get to do it for real every day."

Since humble beginnings above a Cheshire takeaway in 2004, franchisors Rod Davies and Matt Levington were set on building the go to company for SME advisory and consultancy services.

With over 30 Business Doctors territories now operating around the UK, the ambitious pair took their first steps beyond British soil when they launched in South Africa in May 2014. Today, Business Doctors' territories are up and running in eight regions of the country, including Johannesburg, its largest and wealthiest city. In 2016, Business Doctors launched in India, Malta and Republic of Ireland and in 2017 they appointed a master franchisor for Belgium and the Netherlands

Rod Davies, Business Doctors' co-founder, said: "I am confident that Paddy will be able to use his experience to transform the fortunes of small and medium sized companies in South Yorkshire.

"He shares my belief that SMEs need hands on, practical support and not just consultancy. Business Doctors offers an affordable and jargon free middle ground between coaching and consultancy and Paddy is well placed to deliver this service to an exceptional standard."