about me
Who?
I am Paul Hollowday. 30+ years experience of advising, running and investing in small businesses. My experience includes: corporate finance advice at Schroders; investing and advising in Special Investments Group (co-founder) at RBS, Cognis Capital Partners (hedge fund I co-founded), ZAIS (investment funds) and Whetstone Advisers (company I founded). I used to be an officer in The Parachute Regiment too and aspects of that are still useful every day (less so the jumping out of aircraft bit). You can find more generic information about me by clicking on my LinkedIn below.
What?
I advise start-ups and small businesses just like yours. I have been doing that as a specialism for donkeys’ years, but it was a side project for a while with word-of-mouth referrals and people who already knew me. Advising small businesses is now my sole focus. I advise companies that are doing well and also those that are having issues. I want to make it easy for business owners to get good advice without any nasty cost surprises, so I offer specific services with fixed prices.
Where?
I am based in the north-west of England, but I advise companies all over the shop, including elsewhere in the UK, Hong Kong and South Africa.
Why?
I see such wasted potential in small businesses. Their owners are good at the things that made them want to start the business, but they don’t know (can’t know) everything they need to know. I want to help fulfil that potential. I enjoy it and I’m good at it (although those two do normally go hand in hand).
How?
We would have an initial discussion. Then if you want to work with me and I want to work with you we can agree an option from the menu of services, or I can tailor something for you. I advise companies mainly through a combination of virtual meetings, phone calls, emails and interpretative dance.