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Gotta question? Ask the experts! PRIME has teamed up with a bevy of business experts who know about different aspects of setting up and running a business. You can tap into their expertise by asking a question here for free. Because of the high volume of questions we receive, we can’t promise to reply to your particular question directly, but we select questions that reflect widely encountered issues. You are also very welcome to contact PRIME directly for other purposes like receiving our free information pack or booking onto events. Read recent questions and answers
PRIME’s expert panel includes:
Dick Stroud
Author, managing director, lecturer 
With a background in digital marketing Dick Stroud wrote his debut book; Internet Strategies: A Corporate Guide to Exploiting the Internet. In 2004 Dick used his knowledge to found and expand his own marketing consultancy company 20plus30, focusing on 50-Plus consumers. Dick is a course director at the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a visiting lecturer at London Business School. His latest book is The 50-Plus Market.
Robert Ashton
Author, speaker and small-business owner 
Born in 1955, Robert has a background in sales and marketing. He has been his own boss since 1990. Robert has a very practical approach to business, having started, grown and sold one major company, before turning his hand to writing. Robert is now a popular business speaker and runs ‘Business Boot Camps’ for entrepreneurs seeking growth. He has written eight books, including best selling The Entrepreneur’s Book of Checklists. His books have been translated into 13 languages. Robert attributes much of his success to networking and to asking awkward questions. View Robert Ashton’s website here.
Emma Jones
Business woman, author and editor 
Emma Jones is founder and editor of Enterprise Nation, the home business website, and has started two businesses herself from home offices in London, Manchester and rural Shropshire. Emma’s columns have been syndicated to business start-up websites and customer magazines including for Orange, Viking Direct and Brother. She is regularly called upon by the Government to speak on the subject of home business and she advises Regional Development Agencies on how to encourage and support homeworking. Emma’s first book Spare Room Start Up was published by Harriman House in May 2008 and promoted as Waterstones business book of the month.
Robert Tull
Chartered Marketer and Enterprise Awareness Manager at Business Link 
Robert Tull leads the team of Enterprise Awareness Managers at Business Link in the East of England, advocating the self employment option. Robert has previously run his own company, and is a Fellow of The Institute of Business Consulting and The Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Vishvas Kanji
Tax Consultant for Mishcon de Reya Solicitors 
Vishvas Kanji is a Tax Consultant for Mishcon de Reya Solicitors. He advises on the UK tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions, restructuring, joint ventures and the raising of capital. He also advises on employee incentivisation schemes and the structuring of commercial transactions. Vishvas works with a wide range of public and private companies and partnerships. He regularly advises on international and cross-border transactions – often as part of a team of tax lawyers instructed to cover the jurisdictions involved.
Gilbert Gaynor Manufacturing Advisor Consultant
Gaynor was Managing Director of two successful companies for 22 years. She is six sigma trained and has expertise in lean manufacturing. She was featured in the Sunday Express Business profile and is a fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. Gaynor would now like to work with small manufacturing businesses carrying out six sigma projects where necessary.
Steve Carroll
Managing Director, consultant, bid-writer 
Steve Carroll is MD and Lead Consultant of his own company, CarrleyTM Business Consulting Ltd. Steve has worked in international, corporate and consumer banking, and spent ten years running business support initiatives in the public sector. Steve is a Fellow of the Institute of Business Consulting, Member of The Institute of Directors, and Non-Executive Director of social enterprise Community Health Action Partnership (CHAP).
Nicola Dickins
MD, trainer, consultant 
Nicola Dickins is the founder and Managing Director of Make it Happen Consultancy Ltd, an organisation that provides Training, Business Development Support and Consultancy to the Third Sector. Nicola is co-founder and Director of the Social Training and Enterprise Programme for Success (STEPS) CIC; a Social Enterprise set up with the aim to raise awareness of Social Enterprise both nationally and internationally. Nicola is an Associate member of CIPD, the Social Enterprise Coalition, Charities Information Bureau and the Institute of Fundraising.
Will Kintish
Business networker, speaker and trainer 
Will Kintish worked as a chartered accountant for 30 years before setting up Kintish, a company offering motivational seminars, workshops and training on business marketing, networking and promotion.
Jason Collis
Workplace Team, The Pensions Advisory Service 
Jason Collis has been in the pensions industry for over 10 years. He has worked for both multinational and small companies, and has run his own business. Jason now works within the Workplace Team for The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS), liaising with employers, working with volunteers and presenting talks on retirement issues. The Pensions Advisory Service is an independent non-profit organisation that provides free information and guidance on the whole spectrum of pensions, including state, company, personal and stakeholder schemes.
Last but not least ….
PRIME
Sometimes we answer the question ourselves, or add something to what the others have said. The PRIME team may have come across the question before and so have a good answer to hand. Or we may know who to ring, and just do it. Pose your own question here. We can’t promise to reply to all questions directly, but instead select questions that reflect widely encountered issues. We post new answers roughly once a fortnight. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and are not held by PRIME unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only and does not constitute legal, accounting, tax or other personalised advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. It is not a substitute for independent, professional advice for your own particular situation. Read all previous questions and answers
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