Ambassador profile Paul Aisthorpe, Scale-Ability

Describe your role as an ambassador

Promoting the benefits of the IoD and becoming a member. Representing the IoD at regional events and supporting the planning, management and follow-up of these events. Being a role model IoD member and director

What is your job?

I am sole director of a Lancaster-based business made up of associate mentors, coaches and consultants. We provide coaching, mentoring and other business support services to private business clients or through regionally and nationally funded business support programmes.

Previous roles

Prior to 2013 I spent more than 17 years in the food industry supplying food and non-food products to the catering trade, working for a national supplier. More recently, I have held roles as commercial director and corporate standards director.

Other roles

I am a trustee for Home Start Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre and a Boost & Co partner (Boost is Lancashire County Council’s Growth Hub).

What do you do to relax outside work?

I spend time with family, enjoy rugby league, football and the outdoors.

How long have you been an IoD member?

Around 15 months.

What part of IoD membership do you value most?

The events, connecting with other business owners and directors and the Information Advisory Service (IAS).

What are the top three things about your branch area?

We have a great ambassador team with a broad range of experiences and skills.

The opportunity – after a few years of little activity, we can now develop a much stronger network of directors who can support each other, influence change at national and regional level and drive economic growth.

The diversity in businesses across the region provides the opportunity to be innovative in our approach.

If you could give one message to the Prime Minister, what would it be?

Start taking responsibility for your own and your party peers’ behaviour.

What are you most looking forward to in the next 12 months?

Supporting our Lancashire chair to put the IoD on the radar of directors as an organisation that will be essential to their growth plans.

Supporting my trade organisation, The Association of Business Mentors, to continue putting business mentoring on the government agenda as the single most impactful business support intervention. To continue campaigning to protect the professional integrity of business mentoring.

What advice would you give to yourself when you started out in business?

You don’t have to feel isolated. Prioritise developing a network of trusted, like-minded peers – a team you can support and who can support you. In essence they become your unofficial Board of Advisors.

Would you like to raise your profile and get closer to the North West business community?

We are looking for members to join our regional committee as IoD ambassadors.

As an ambassador you will be a ‘go to’ person for members and other directors. You will provide thought leadership, support and guidance. Interested? Contact [email protected]