The Alternative Board grows by 80% in Scotland in the past nine months

The Alternative Board (TAB), a peer-to-peer advisory and networking platform for business leaders, has grown in Scotland by 80% in the past nine months.

The Alternative Board grows by 80% in Scotland in the past nine months

Jonathan Smith, Chris Rigby and Helen Mill, facilitators at Aberdeenshire-east TAB

TAB has grown from six boards to 11 across Scotland. It now has five in the north-east of Scotland, three in Glasgow and three in the Edinburgh area. The combined turnover of companies on Scottish TAB boards is more than £150m.

TAB boards meet monthly with support from a TAB facilitator. Each TAB board comprises up to eight business owners, directors or decision-makers at companies. The boards provide a trusted space for experienced entrepreneurs to share experience and knowledge.



TAB in the Aberdeen area is led by Helen Mill and Chris Rigby, who both previously held senior roles at Robert Gordon University, and Jonathan Smith, a former executive with a global energy firm and a winner of the Inspirational Mentor of the Year at the 2019 Elevator Awards.

Andrew Todd, formerly a senior vice-president at energy research and consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie, is responsible for the two boards in Edinburgh, while Steve Cook, former head of retail operations for West Europe at HMD Global, leads the Edinburgh West.

Campbell Ure heads up the three boards in the Glasgow area, with his broad range of business expertise and proven track record of developing and leading teams.

Helen Mill, facilitator and business coach at The Alternative Board in Scotland, said: “The value of TAB and the peer-to-peer engagement where business leaders advise and support each other has been welcomed by company owners and executives.

“Sharing ideas and talking about experiences is a modern approach to solving business issues and implementing solutions. We’re delighted with the growth.”

Scottish digital marketing agency Moment credits a 400% uplift in turnover as a direct result of being a TAB board member.

The Alternative Board helps business owners and leaders to confidently see new opportunities and achieve strategic goals, by offering busy entrepreneurs a powerful, streamlined programme that includes – peer advisory boards, one-to-one business coaching, workshops, expert speakers, robust strategic business tools and invaluable TAB connections.

Scottish TAB boards cover a broad range of sectors including energy, engineering, finance, manufacturing, health, software, transport, retail and marketing.

TAB has grown across the UK, with a 42% increase in revenue at the end of May 2021 compared with May 2020.There are now 455 members on 70 TAB boards in the UK. The Alternative Board started more than 30 years ago in the United States and there are now TAB boards across 20 countries.

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