Meet the team of Business Growth Hub

Richard Jeffery

Director of Business Growth

Richard established the Business Growth Hub which has developed into a £20m per annum enterprise, now employing over 150 people.

Richard currently leads the Hub’s wide range of business support services which include support around funding options, in-depth insights about exploring new markets at home and abroad, supplying expert advice on the latest innovations and digital tech, sustainable growth solutions, and business strategies that shape workforces. He currently manages over £60m worth of publicly backed business support programmes including over £30m of ERDF projects.

Richard has over 19 years’ experience in developing, implementing and evaluating business growth strategies and services. He has worked at various senior levels in the private and public sectors designing and implementing an extensive range of business support services for regional, national and international organisations.

Richard gained extensive international and domestic experience as a management consultant developing and delivering commercial services to private sector high-growth clients. These clients ranged from North of England-based SMEs to global corporations including Cargill Dow, BASF and Burberry.

Chris Greenhalgh

Head of Innovation and Programme Development

Joining the Manchester Growth Company in 2011 as the Business Growth Hub Manager, Chris was instrumental in developing the Hub’s growth services, from initial design through to the current level of activity.

Following the significant expansion of the Hub over the last two years, Chris’s current role gives him responsibility for the development of future Hub programmes, Innovation services and partner development. He also supports the contract management of the Hub’s ERDF and RGF funded growth programme.

Chris previously worked at various senior levels in the private and public sectors, designing and implementing business innovation services and finance products at a local, regional and European level.

Janine Smith

Head of Growth Services

Janine is an experienced operational and development director specialising in managing multi-million-pound successful contracts and programmes both in the public and private sectors in the business support, workforce development and education sectors.

Janine started her career in sales and marketing for a national property development company before moving into teaching where she taught Business and Management Studies. 12 years ago Janine entered the world of business support where she was initially a workforce development adviser before moving into management roles with Business Link and then becoming a director of a Lancashire based enterprise agency.  

Philip Hargreaves

Head of Access to Finance

Philip has worked in commercial and corporate banking for the past 35 years. He is now responsible for the Hub’s Access to Finance Team, together with the North West Business Angels and the Grants Advisory Service.

Working closely with partners in the business and professional communities, Philip and his team are passionate about supporting local SMEs who are looking to grow.

“Fundraising in the current marketplace is often complex, requiring time and specialist understanding of all the available options. Putting the right finance in place, at the right time, can mean the difference between success and failure.”

Samantha Nicholson

Head of Manufacturing and Low Carbon

Sam specialises in turning low carbon policy into successful business support programmes, helping thousands of companies convert environmental risks into competitive advantages and seize the opportunities presented by the transition to a low carbon economy.

Before joining the Business Growth Hub, Sam spent 11 years working at ENWORKS. She played a key role in building the service into an internationally recognised example of best practice in environmental business support. Sam has an MSc in Environmental Resources and a BA in Architecture, and is also an Associate Member of IEMA. 

Ian MacArthur

Head of Sectors Programme

Ian heads up the Sectors Programme which is a targeted service delivering sector development and specialist support to SMEs and their supply chains in the digital and creative, life sciences, advanced materials and manufacturing, and low carbon environmental goods/services sectors.

Ian joined the Business Growth Hub from a Business Improvement Consultant role and he has previously worked at various senior levels within public and third sector organisations, leading national and regional policy and delivery across the environmental, health and regeneration sectors. From 2003 to 2010 he was the Northwest Regional Director for the Groundwork Federation.

In the 1990s he spent four years working for the World Health Organisation operating extensively across Eastern Europe and Central Asia on capacity building and structural reform.

Katie Peate

Head of Creative, Digital and Tech

Katie manages the Hub’s offer to the CDT sectors along with the Digital Growth programme, as well as overseeing the Hub’s own Digital Transformation Project.

Katie spent four years at a Manchester digital consultancy, working her way up to director level and handling accounts for the Arts Council England, Big Lottery Fund and the University of Manchester. As part of this role, she was seconded to Singapore to launch a key enterprise project and manage a staff training programme.  

In 2014, she was placed third on The Drum’s list of the top women in digital under 30, while also picking up an international Stevie Award for Women in Business.

Peter Gaunt

Relationship Manager

Peter joined the Hub in 2016 to lead the development of the Business Growth Hub's long-term strategic collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, Greater Manchester's ten Local Authorities, business partners, national programmes and sponsors.

Peter has over 30 years' experience in SMEs and multi-national corporates, including over 25 years of senior management experience up to director level. He has worked for many years on SME business support programmes as both coach and programme manager, and 18 years in business development and relationship management.

Simon Dickinson

Business Enquiry Advisor

Simon has several years’ experience in business information and research roles, having worked for Chambers of Commerce and Business Links in Bradford, York and Manchester.

Most recently, he worked as a project manager for a local market research agency and for the charity Keep Britain Tidy, where he studied for the Advanced Certificate in Social and Market Research.

As a business enquiry advisor, Simon’s varied experience helps him to diagnose client needs, providing and matching them to the appropriate source of support.

Mike Newton

Business Enquiry Advisor

Mike joined the Growth Hub Enquiry team after spending the previous two years as part of Hub’s Mentoring Team.

Prior to this, he worked as a case owner in customer relations for the North West’s electricity distributor. He has a genuine passion for helping people and strives to provide the best service he can.

Mike has had a great deal of experience making sure compliance is met with governing bodies, having previously worked under OFGEM and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) projects. He also has extensive experience dealing with businesses from SME’s to large corporations having spent a number of years working for the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce as an account manager.