Management Committee for Small Business Focus

Geoff Bartlett

As a Business Link Adviser and Coach Geoff Bartlett has spent the past 9 years assisting businesses to become more sustainable and to grow, working on either a long term or an individual issue basis with his clients.

Previously a senior manager for Nat West Bank he spent many years working closely with small businesses, providing informed advice on all aspects of management, including planning, recruitment, finance, marketing and sales.

Geoff joined Business Link in 2002 and has since assisted over 900 businesses in a variety of industry sectors prior to the closure of the Regional Business Link service in November 2011.

During his time with Business Link Geoff carried out several team management roles as well as delivering advice and coaching support for his clients.

Richard Chapman

Richard has over 25 years of sales, media and marketing experience.

Richard has worked in the music industry, event management, publishing and business development in the UK, US and Asian markets.

He has overseen website, publication and business launches and has been a ‘dragon’ for business consultants, business ‘incubators’ and investment banks.

Richard still applies his experience on a range of projects, but now principally runs a property investment and development company.

Alistair Colston

Alistair’s training and career development can be charted through his time working with and for some of the profession’s leading firms, including Richard Ellis and Chesterton plc. Since moving to the West Country several years ago, Alistair has held senior positions at both Crisp Cowley and Cluttons LLP.

Consequently, during his professional life as a Chartered Surveyor, Alistair has worked for the widest range of clients, from the Crown Estate and top FTSE 100 corporates, to local property developers and businesses as well as private individuals.

Alistair’s professionalism, skill and reputation as a Chartered Surveyor is reflected in his court work as an expert witness. He has provided evidence on a wide range of cases, from fraud and matrimonial to disputes regarding lease renewals and dilapidations. Alistair was also involved in the leading Court of Appeal land contamination case of Blue Circle Industries v Ministry of Defence.

Alistair is committed to the development of his own profession and maintains close links with the University of the West of England where he is an external examiner at the School of the Built and Natural Environment.

Throughout his career Alistair has always remained at the heart of business and the decision-making process. He is an active member of the Bath Chamber of Commerce and is currently on the City and Economic Development Committee.

Alistair has been a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for over 20 years.

Angela Ladd (Chairman)

Angela has been running her own business, Angela Ladd German Translations, since 1993, She is a fully qualified translator, interpreter, tutor and cultural awareness consultant - with extensive experience in the aerospace, automotive, hotel and tourism sectors.

She was Chairman of the FSB Bath Branch for over five years, received the RDA's Woman Enterprise Champion Award 2009 and has been regularly featured as one of The Bath Chronicle’s ‘key business people’ in Bath.

Alex Schlesinger

Alex is known to many as the champion of the London Road and Snow Hill Residents Association, London Road and Snow Hill Partnership, London Road Traders’ Association and The London Road Partnership.

Alex runs Old Bank Antiques, is an occasional property developer and is the general standard-bearer for matters of policy, legislation and procedure. Not much gets past him and has been making a real difference to the lives of residents and businesses in Bath for a number of years.