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ATTN: Calling
all CEOs, Directors
and Business
Owners!
Do you
work for your business or does your business work for you?
-
Are you working when you
should be at home?
-
Does your business grind
to a halt if you're not there?
-
Do your employees,
customers and suppliers give you grief?
-
Feeling worried about how
you might recession-proof your business?
If you answered "YES" to any
of these questions then maybe you should think about taking back control
of your business - through ACTION LEARNING!
Welcome
to PALS in
Business©
A
Message from your programme leader, Mark Russell
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Dear Business Owner,
Are you feeling stressed, exhausted, can't sleep at night and
working long hours because you’re worried about your business, your
family, what to do next or who to turn to for help?
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PALS in
Business©
is an award winning business success programme designed to help you find the
real answers to real business issues.
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Endorsed by Institute of Leadership
& Management, it's
about YOU working with a group of peers using the power of action learning
to solve your business problems and learning something in the process.
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And it's jam packed with inspiration
and practical strategies to help you
take your business to the next level of success.
If you have any questions or
want to book your place,
then
call us on +44 (0) 1252 710 333 NOW!
Alternatively, send an email to me at
mark@avnpicktree.com and tell
me about your business challenges and opportunities.
The programme has been delivered to
small and medium sized businesses throughout the South East of England.
Our partners have included
Skills for Business Network and Business Link Berkshire.
Participating delegates achieved truly astonishing and profound
results and have been helped to grow and develop personally
and professionally; giving them a better business, a better life.
This is what Henley Management College
said when they evaluated the programme on behalf of Skills for Business
Network...

"The overall results were very
positive and showed that this type of development
opportunity was highly valued by the small business
owner managers involved. By the end of the
programmes real, immediate business benefits were
reported. Significant leadership skills development were
also seen in many cases."
David Black
Skills for Business Network Project Manager
Management & Leadership Programme
23 March 2006
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And in addition to being endorsed by
Institute of Leadership & Management the results are
absolutely guaranteed!

"PALS in Business©
Action Learning programme is endorsed by the ILM who are
Europe's leading awarding body for flexible courses in strategic
Leadership and Management Development.
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(Yes, I just said "guaranteed."
More on that later and don't forget to read about the
fantastic
bonuses on offer worth at least £487 including classic business books, great software to
market and grow your business and an opportunity to make the most of
your leadership style and strengths through assessment and coaching.)
PALS in
Business©
has been recognised for the results it has helped business-owners
achieve both personally and professionally.
In May 2007, it picked
up a prestigious award at a glitzy ceremony in London from the Added
Value Network (a network for leading accountants and business
advisors) as an innovative
way of helping business people solve problems and learn in the process.
Why do I need
PALS in Business ©?
Businesses like yours,
like mine face enormous challenges in 21st Century. Technology,
intense competition, changing markets, the credit-crunch and many other
issues are making it tough to do business.
Businesses and business
leaders need help to:
-
Solve problems and challenges with truly innovative
and sustaining strategies;
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Develop
people and teams who continually improve their
capacity to perform and adapt;
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Capture and apply valuable
knowledge.
Research shows that business
people prefer to listen and learn from other business leaders and peers
whom they admire and respect.
Valuable
knowledge and skills can be gained from
solving real problems in the real world rather than from formal
qualifications or the theoretical models of the academic world.
In other words, people
learn through doing in a process known as
action learning.
And this involves a group of peers working on real problems and learning
while they do so.
Reg Revans introduced
action learning in the 1940s. It's based on the premise
that:
"There can be no learning
without action and no (sober and deliberate) action without learning."
The great attraction of
action learning is its unique power to simultaneously solve difficult
challenges and develop people and organisations at
minimal costs to the business.
What is
PALS in Business©?
PALS stands for
Power of Action Learning Sets.
PALS in
Business©
is a remarkably simple programme of peer-to-peer action learning that
helps business people to solve problems and learn while they do so.
It
has SIX key components:
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A qualified problem
(project, challenge, opportunity, issue, or task) that is urgent and
important to the individual or business;
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A group of peers
or a team ideally composed of four to eight individuals;
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A process of insightful questioning and
reflective listening;
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Action taken on
the problem;
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A commitment to
learning;
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A coach.
PALS in
Business©
is:
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An opportunity to
step back and reflect on personal and professional needs with
valuable input on specific problems coming from other group members;
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A powerful and
effective way for people to learn from one another and to develop
personally and professionally;
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A process where you
support other group members and learn with and through one other;
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A way of learning
from, and being supported by, a skilled coach;
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The chance to work
on real problems in the real world and build individual, team
and organisational capabilities simultaneously all at minimal cost
to the business.
Participants in PALS in
Business© programmes are expected to raise and tackle
difficult questions, discuss sensitive and sometimes controversial
issues, and share their learning in a supportive environment.
Confidence and trust are
critical to the programme. Time is spent building a strong rapport and
bonding between group members and there is an unwritten understanding
that “what is said in the room stays in the room”.
PALS in
Business©
programmes may be run with peers from an organisation or a mixed set
where you can work with peers from different sectors and different
professional backgrounds.
What sort of results are
achieved?
Typical results
for participants include:
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Addressing your strategic problems so you can move the
business forward;
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Sharing of real world experiences, knowledge & support
from the trenches;
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A
sounding board for your ideas so you get different
perspectives;
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Asking of
hard questions that make your decisions easy;
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A unique opportunity to
develop
your strategic business & leadership skills.
How
does it work?
Once you have decided to
join, you will be interviewed by phone or face-to-face and your
eligibility for a place on the programme will be assessed.
And if you
qualify, you’ll be placed with an
appropriate PALS in
Business© Programme.
You’ll meet with a group
of peers for six sessions over a six to nine month period
- roughly every six weeks
(to accommodate business peaks and holiday periods). Each session
will usually lasts a full day.

Typically, the group
will meet at a bespoke location that is geographically convenient to
most group members. (The venue will be a dedicated training environment
with an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and enables you to take
a step back from the business and focus on developing personally and
professionally.)
Group members will
come from a variety of professional backgrounds and work in different
sectors. What you have in common is a problem to be solved and the need
for structured time to reflect and to share learning.
The power of effective
action learning is that the principles work for all
types - and sizes of business.
And this is how PALS in
Business©
works:
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The group comes
together, re-integrates and members report briefly on what has been
happening;
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Group sets the agenda
and negotiates
the time assigned to each member (which may vary depending on
need and urgency);
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Members take it in
turns to present their problem to the group;
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Through reflective inquiry and dialogue, the group helps each presenter come
to a greater understanding of their situation so that they
can reframe the problem, determine goals and
develop action strategies going forward.
The presenter is required
to:
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Take action
between sessions;
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At future meetings
report on the action taken and the results achieved.
Group members ask
questions in preference to making statements. Giving
prescriptive advice, telling anecdotes, making judgement, or comparisons to
one's own situation is often unhelpful and therefore discouraged.
In addition, part each session
may be given over to training the group in some aspect of management or
leadership.
At the end of each session
the group reflects on the process and gives feedback to each
other on what has taken place.
What does the Coach do?
Coaching is necessary for
the group to focus on the important (i.e., the learning
discovery, development and personal growth) as
well as the urgent (i.e., resolving the problem). The coach helps
the team members reflect on both what they are learning and how they are
solving problems.
The learning coach also
helps the team focus on what they are achieving, what they are finding
difficult, what processes they are employing, and the implications of
these processes.
The coaches for PALS in
Business©
will be Mark P. Russell and Rick Peet. Both have participated in
and coached Action Learning Sets and have wide-ranging experience of
working in many different types of businesses and industry sectors.
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Mark Russell MBA
(Henley)
Mark was born and raised in
Kenya and has lived in Africa, Middle East and
Europe. A retired rugby player who played
for London Harlequins (1991-96) and had
representative honours in England and
South Africa, he travelled the world
touring and playing rugby at the highest level.
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He
believes that these experiences taught him
the importance of proper planning and
preparation and the extraordinary results
that can be achieved through teamwork,
co-operation and learning by doing. After
completing his MBA in 2003, Mark set up
Oakhill Consulting and then joined forces with
Rick Peet to establish AVN Picktree Business
Strategies. Mark is a member of International
Foundation for Action Learning, which exists
to support and develop the work of action
learning in the UK and worldwide. Outside of work his time is taken up
by being an All Pro Husband and Dad, keeping an
aquarium of tropical fish and playing golf
(often very erratically!). |
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Rick Peet BA FCA
Rick Peet is Managing Director of accountancy
practice AVN Picktree and has over 25 years of
experience working with small owner managed
businesses. He has been a Finance Director in a
motor dealership, safety equipment manufacturer
and IT Recruitment Agency.
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In these positions he has helped to grow
businesses from £300,000 turnover to £20
million and profits from next to nothing to
over £1 million. Rick is also
co-director of AVN Picktree Business Strategies.
A keen traveller,
Rick has recently climbed Ben Nevis and walked
the Inca Trail to the lost Inca city of Machu
Piccu in Peru. He plays golf badly, guitar
almost as badly and enjoys a wide range of music
- often to the detriment of his eardrums! |
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So, what do
others say about it?
Here's what two of
participants said about the
PALS in
Business© programme:
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"I was appointed MD two months
before the programme and wanted help to gain the confidence to change
the company. This programme has really been invaluable. I have now
increased the level of promotional and PR activities – we produce
newsletters and ask for referrals. I now give staff briefings to keep
them all informed and we are starting to document our procedures. I am
now working on a culture change to create a more open style of
management and increased staff empowerment. I have found the group
feedback sessions really useful in helping me to develop my ideas. Thank
you!"
Mark Hutton
BPA Consulting
"The
principal benefit of the programme to the business has been to enable me
to focus and establish a personal plan to introduce and initiate changes
leading to a mutually acceptable exit from the business on my
retirement. Prior to the programme I was having difficulty resolving
many of the potential and real problems. By documenting a personal plan
and building the company future around this, it has helped me to develop
a personal and company vision for the future. This led to developing the
management team and ongoing delegation of various tasks. The real
benefit of the programme was the strength of the team formed with the
other participants and the flexible approach to the delivery. This
programme has probably saved my company from potential oblivion on my
retirement."
Chris
Munton
Turnpower Services |
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Comments from participants
on recent programmes include:
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“It made me feel positive about achieving
my goals.”
“It opened my mind but
also gave me the required focus to take action.”
“It made me think about
what I want from my business and to go and get it.”
“Thanks very much for
all your help, support and guidance. It has been a fun learning
experience, very interesting and informative and has changed the way I
think about my business.”
“A year ago I took over
the business as MD. The organisation was losing clients and money and
on the verge of folding. After a lot of hard work by the team, sales
are healthy and profit levels strong and the pipeline of new business is
robust. Challenges still remain but I am confident about the future of
the business. Key lessons that I internalised during the programme
were:
“The programme taught me the importance of
listening with empathy: to our customers, our staff, our consultants
and such like. It also dawned on me that there is no “silver bullet”
solution and that improvements must be continuous and never-ending. I
never realised how important marketing is to the success of any business
and I learnt that results can be achieved if you involve and empower
everyone in the organisation. On a personal note, I believe that it is
OK to think of what I want out of the business and to use this as a
starting point.” |
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And how much
does it cost?
Here's The Best Part -
The Price of Your Investment!
When we work with private clients we charge a minimum £1,500
per day. The business owners were willing to pay these fees because
the profits and tangible benefits they generate far outweighed the costs.
Now on
PALS in
Business©
you get access to exactly the same facilitation knowledge and expertise
for a fraction of the cost.
So, the
programme will cost you £1897 + VAT.
But,
w ith
government-backed funding of up to £1000 (that may be available from
Businesslink and other business support programmes to qualifying
businesses) it could be as little as...
£897 + VAT!
This
works out at less than £150 + VAT for SIX workshops
and includes the costs of the venue, text-based learning and support
books and materials, access to developmental assessment tools, DVDs,
videos and multi-media software etc.
To find out more...
Call
me, Mark Russell, on +44(0)1252 710 333 NOW!
Alternatively, send an email to
mark@avnpicktree.com
What
guarantees do I have?
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All Backed up by
a remarkable
Guarantee:
"I am so convinced that
your decision to join this programme is one of the most
important you will ever make, I am offering you the following
100% Guarantee:
If at any time during the programme,
you feel that you or your business has not benefited from participation in
PALS in
Business©, I will personally refund
your investment to date. That's how convinced I am that this programme
will impact your business beyond what you may believe possible.
We only want to have clients who are delighted with our services
and who will be comfortable recommending us to others."
Mark
Russell

Book your place now because this Programme will sell out. |
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What else do I get if I
sign up?
When you join PALS in
Business©,
you also receive FREE BONUSES worth an incredible:
£487!
The packages includes:
SPECIAL BONUS ONE
WORTH
£147
A range of business books and reports, such as:
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Michael Gerber's best selling book
and CD audio The E-Myth Revisited;
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The Jelly Effect - How To Make Your
Communication Stick by Andy Bounds;
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Richard Kock's book The 80/20 Principle - The Secret of Achieving
More With Less;
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Jump Start Your Business Brain by Doug Hall;
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Yes! 50 Secrets from the science of persuasion by Noah J.
Goldstein PhD, Steve J. Martin and Robert B. Cialdini PhD;
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Andy Gilbert's book Go MAD - the art of making a difference;
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DIY Handbook For Action Learners by Mandy Chivers and Mike
Pedlar.
Michael Gerber is required reading for anyone thinking about starting a business or
for those who have already taken that fateful step. Gerber believes that entrepreneurs - typically brimming with good
but distracting ideas - make poor businesspeople. He establishes an
incredibly organised plan, so that daily details are scripted, freeing
the entrepreneur's mind to build the long-term success or failure of the
business.
SPECIAL BONUS
TWO
WORTH
£195
A simple software programme that you can load onto your computer designed
to help you grow your business, increase your profits, and make
everything you do more successful.
SimpleStuffThatWorks® supplies you with the ideas, experiences,
skills, knowledge and expertise to grow your business.
And you have the
confidence to make these ideas yours because they are all proven, tried
and tested by some of the UK's most prominent, forward thinking,
owner-managed businesses. We have then managed this information so it
is not only applicable for the type of business the idea's originated
from, but can also be adapted to any type - to your type - of business.
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Increasing prices to attract MORE customers;
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How to work with your
ideal customers and lose the others;
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Creating, chasing and converting more sales leads;
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Reducing your customer defection rate so that you grow even faster;
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Getting customers to spend more AND spend more often;
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Discover your Unique Selling Points;
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Educate your customer to buy your products/services.
SPECIAL BONUS THREE
WORTH
£145
An opportunity to
use The Inspirational Leadership: Insight to Action Tool and
receive 1-2-1 coaching with Mark Russell to help you
understand and get the most out of your natural leadership styles and
strengths.
During 2004 the DTI, partnering with the Chartered Management Institute,
conducted one of the largest ever studies of workers in the UK to ask
them what inspired them to follow leaders.
The Inspirational Leadership:
Insight to Action Tool is based on these research findings and its
purpose is to enable leaders to be clearer about their most natural
leadership styles and strengths so that they can shape their roles and
those of their team accordingly.
The aim is to raise awareness of
strengths in leadership.
How do I know if it is for me?
The Programme
is for You if:
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You own your own
Business or you are Self Employed, or a CEO, Managing Director in a large business;
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You realise that you
need to solve real business problems and learn at the same time if your business is to ever reach
it's full potential;
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You are frustrated at
the lack of business success;
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You are highly
successful - but want to take things to the next level;
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You want to make more
money;
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You would like to free
up your time - more reward for less effort;
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Your business is
struggling and you want a fast turnaround;
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You want to improve your
leadership/management skills for career progression;
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You want you employees
to work
more as a team making the most of their talents;
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You want your business to be
better equipped to solve problems; to survive and prosper;
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You want to create the
success you deserve by mastering important business skills.
It's
not for You if:
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The issue or need that
you have to address is simple and straightforward (a puzzle rather
than an open-ended problem);
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The issue or need is pressing
and delay is not possible - as is the case during emergencies or
catastrophes.
If it's for
me, w hat
do I need to do next?
We do not claim
to have an answer to all your problems. Nor do we claim to have a
solution that is a fit for everyone. In fact, you may not even qualify.
But if you want to get involved in a
peer-to-peer learning programme that will help you find the
real answers to real business issues
then PALS in
Business©
is for you!
Call
me, Mark Russell, on +44(0)1252 710 333 NOW!
Alternatively, send an email to
mark@avnpicktree.com
Do it NOW, while it's on
your mind!
P.S. - Remember you get a
100% no obligation guarantee. This means you can cancel at anytime
without quibble, question or embarrassment. I guarantee it!
And we have a number of
programmes starting in
October, November and
December 2008
so don't miss the boat!
What else is happening?
September 2008 - Action Learning Conference
Mark Russell helped organise a
One Day Conference
jointly hosted by the International Foundation for Action Learning
and Henley Business School.
The event was held at
Henley's magnificent grounds on the banks of the Thames and was an
experiential day for practitioners and anyone wanting to use Action
Learning as part of their work.
Using the
principles of ‘Open Space’, delegates explored topics such as:
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What is Action Learning?
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How effective is Action
Learning (and how can we
find out)?
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How do you know which to
choose, AL or Coaching?
There
was also a
chance to work in an Action
Learning Set, either
self-facilitated or with an
experienced facilitator.
It was a great opportunity to
discuss approaches, current issues and solutions related to Action
Learning and to network with leaders in the field.
A report of the conference will be included in the next edition of
the ACTION LEARNING: Research and Practice Journal published by
Routledge.
June 2008 - IFAL Executive Committee Gets a New Member
Mark Russell has been invited to join the Executive Committee
of The International Foundation for Action Learning (IFAL).
IFAL exists to identify and encourage
a network of enthusiasts who will support and develop the work of
action learning in the UK and worldwide. It is an educational
charity and in order to do its work properly it appeals for
practical and financial support from those who believe in the value
of action learning.
To find out more about IFAL and the great work that it does, please
click here.
July 2007 - Working with the Best!
PALS in
Business©
has been selected to deliver action learning to 100 CEOs, Managing
Directors and Business Owner-managers of small
and medium sized enterprises in the South East. Funded by
European Social Fund the project is being run by
Business Link Berkshire on behalf of South East England
Development Agency and aims to bring action learning to business
people who want to develop themselves, and drive their businesses forward.
  
OK! So w ho
do I contact again?
Call
me, Mark Russell, on +44(0)1252
710 333 NOW!
Alternatively, send an email to mark@avnpicktree.com
Tell me about AVN
Picktree?
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As founder members of the South
East Leadership Academy, Added Value
Network and PROBIZ, we do all the usual stuff you might expect
from award winning Chartered Accountants, Tax Experts and
Business
Advisers
– but also MUCH, MUCH
MORE!
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And that’s good because it enables
our clients to be more successful, more profitable
and to have more fun running their business,
cradle-to-grave.
We are constantly working harder
to make your "AVN Picktree Experience"
unique and memorable by helping you:
-
Build it
- effective business growth support and
leadership development that enables you to get
more, with less and quicker;
-
Keep it
- innovative and creative tax
strategies so you hang on to more of your hard
earned cash;
-
Invest it
- wealth creation opportunities and financial
management services that secure the future of
you and your family;
-
Well being services
that help you manage your stress and improve
your physical and mental health.
Why
Should You Believe Us?
-
Running our own business means we know all about the
challenges of running a successful operation and can
empathise with your situation;
-
Award winning
business support programmes
and systems to help you build a successful and
valuable business.
-
We use plain
English, not jargon – so you will understand what
we are saying. And telephone support
is included, which means you can call us without charge.
-
Prices
are fixed and agreed upfront
so if you keep your end of the bargain you know exactly how
much you will be investing.
-
Payment
methods are designed to suit you
- most clients choose to ease
their cash flow by paying in monthly installments and we can
also offer credit facilities.
-
A great looking website bursting with
information and resources. You also have access to a
comprehensive Business Library.
-
Everything we do is
covered by a 100% no-nonsense guarantee –
if you are not satisfied with what we have done then pay us
what you think it is worth.
AVN Picktree
are a UK based firm of award winning Chartered Accountants, Tax
Experts and Business
Advisers offering
accountancy and business services to owner managed and family
owned businesses in Hampshire and Surrey, including Aldershot,
Alton, Blackwater Valley, Bordon, Camberley, Farnham,
Farnborough, Fleet, Frimley, Guildford, Haslemere, Liphook,
Petersfield and Sandhurst.
To find out more about
how we help our clients visit
www.avnpicktree.com
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AVN Picktree Business Strategies Limited
Registered Office: Picktree House, Monks Walk, Farnham,
Surrey GU9
8HT.
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 710 333 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 717 477
email:
rick@avnpicktree.com
Registered in England & Wales No. 5501728.
Copyright October 2008 AVN Picktree Business
Strategies Limited. All rights Reserved. |