WELCOMEClifford Style
If you face challenges in your business, so does everyone else.
You're in good company.
Get in touch - no commitment, but plenty of potential.
ABOUTWelcome to Clifford Style – a bespoke consultancy for SMEs.
Do you lead a SME in the UK? If so, you face a diverse set of risks and uncertainties but also a great many opportunities. There are two options: grab those opportunities or be drowned by the risks. Clifford Style offers focused help founded on experience; our aim is to help you win in this environment.
WHO WE ARENick Clifford
Nick trained as a business manager at Oxford Brookes and subsequently worked in Harrods. After studying Planning at Westminster University, he worked as a policy analyst in London. In Manchester he worked on organisational change and development around the emerging sustainability agenda. He later studied for an MBA at Cambridge Judge Business School and then concentrated on corporate change in local government management. Recognising the need for more executive education for business leaders and managers he began an academic career at Alliance Manchester Business School. As a programme director and business development manager he directed, designed and delivered programmes to executives and managers in businesses of different size and scale. His PhD research was in the challenges of achieving successful organisational change.
WHO WE ARECharles Style
Charles Style commanded five Naval ships on operations, including the Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious; later he became the Commander of the UK Maritime Force. In the Ministry of Defence, he gained extensive experience in defence planning and change, equipment procurement in concert with industry, and direction of UK military operations as the head of the Defence Crisis Management Organisation. He then led and substantially reformed the UK’s senior defence leadership school in London with Fellows from over 60 nations. Later a security consultant and maritime editor, he remains actively engaged in leadership development including at the Alliance Manchester Business School where he is an Executive-in-Residence. He is also a charity trustee.
What do hard-pressed organisations most often overlook?Simple: that tomorrow's opportunies lie
buried in today's details
So our watchwords are
WHAT WE DOServices
The wake of Brexit poses unprecedented uncertainty wherever the British Economy goes.
With unpredictable changes like this, fortune favours those who see around corners, spot opportunities and summon up the sustained energy to act decisively. Not so easy. So, how do we carve out the bandwidth to think right and act right?
We're here to help you:
As Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies, Charles devised the strategy that put this iconic institution back on a positive trajectory - laying the foundations on which his successors have built. He took advantage of a period of relentless resource pressures and uncertainty to broaden the College's international membership, widen its educational offer (with more emphasis on business skills) and diversify its senior staff structure. The College's renewed national and international reputation owes much to Charles' inspiring leadership at a pivotal time.
Peter Watkins, CB CBE
Director General, Defence Academy (2011-2014)
I have worked closely with Nick in his role as academic programme director on a range of Executive Education programmes over several years. He is a superb facilitator and has a unique ability to be able to communicate complicated theories simply. Nick has worked with a diverse range of our clients, enabling them to achieve successful organisational change. He has always had a strong belief that people development must have a purpose and has been committed to understanding the challenges of each client so that he can design a truly customised intervention that will have an impact on both the individual participants as well as the organisation as a whole.
Stuart Wells
Executive Director Client Relations, Alliance Manchester Business School
Working on our on-going management programme ‘To the Next Level’ with Nick Clifford has been a pleasure; the attention to detail prior to launching the 2-year programme really paid off and ensured that all managers were engaged and benefited, despite them having hugely different levels of experience and academic qualifications.
The results can be seen in general manager engagement - their behavioural change has been demonstrated both strategically and in their day to day operations. Results are clear to see in the bottom line. But more importantly, it can be seen in their clear understanding of and engagement with the company strategy. This has resulted in a both a more positive approach and with renewed energy.
Nick’s inclusive approach to all members of the team has ensured that everyone has engaged with the process and been allowed time to express their concerns/ share experiences. Through this process they have been able to arrive at an agreed destination that understands the importance of strategy formation; leadership; change management; team-work and accepting joint responsibilities.
David Amos
Managing Director, Zeelandia UK
Read more of our thoughts and advice on our blog
Insight support – a collaborative approach to future business
Very difficult times – caught in the headlights – what next?
