Paula Newton
Business Consultant
Paula Newton is an independent business consultant with over 15 years' experience advising SMEs across a wide range of industries. Through her consultancy, Growth Guru, she has developed hundreds of business plans, financial models and strategic documents, undertaking commercial research, assessing business viability and advising clients on strategy and organisational development. She is also Principal Consultant at RandDTax, assessing R&D projects and supporting evidence against regulatory requirements. Her earlier executive career includes leading business strategy at VIVA Travel Guides and operational change at BSkyB. Alongside her consultancy work, Paula has extensive experience developing professional training and assessment materials covering business, leadership and workplace skills. She is Chair of South Downs Leisure, a trustee of YHA and a Non-Executive Director of Brighton Energy. She holds an Executive MBA with Distinction.
Training Experience
Extensive experience developing professional training and assessment materials for business clients, including workbooks, facilitator scripts, training needs analysis tools and pre- and post-training assessments. Subjects include leadership, coaching, employee engagement, communication, customer service and workplace skills. Previously developed and delivered operational training at BSkyB and VIVA Travel Guides, supporting staff development, new systems and changes to working practices.
Consulting Experience
Over 15 years as an independent business consultant, advising SMEs across diverse sectors on business strategy, commercial viability, market and competitor research, financial modelling, business planning and organisational development. My work involves critically assessing proposals, challenging assumptions and developing practical, evidence-based recommendations. Also Principal Consultant at RandDTax since 2015, assessing R&D projects through interviews with technical staff, analysis of supporting evidence and application of regulatory criteria. Earlier executive experience includes leading business strategy at VIVA Travel Guides and contributing to a successful one-third reduction in departmental operating costs at BSkyB.
Industry / Sector Experience
Cross-sector experience through consultancy with SMEs in a wide variety of industries, including businesses undertaking research, development and innovation. Direct executive experience in media, digital travel publishing, tourism and operational management. Substantial charity and not-for-profit sector experience through board roles, including Chair of South Downs Leisure, Trustee and Nominations Committee Chair at YHA, and Non-Executive Director (Finance) at Brighton Energy. These roles involve strategic oversight, governance, financial scrutiny, risk management and organisational effectiveness.
Countries / Regions Where You Can Work
United Kingdom