A new consultancy providing expert advice to help firms achieve their scale-up potential has been launched. Cardiff-based Tailwind is the brainchild of leading business figures Nigel Griffiths, Angharad Neagle, and Matthew Tossell.
The three equal equity partners germinated their business concept while serving on the Cardiff Capital Region Business Council, which Mr Griffiths chaired between 2021 and 2024.
While taking a sector and 海角视频-wide approach they said they are passionate about providing tailored expertise and ongoing support to Welsh-based SMEs to execute new growth strategies after an initial diagnosis that will also utilise the power of AI.
Tailwind is currently in the process of onboarding its first clients. To date its has brought together 14 growth partners, which they are seeking to increase in number, with diverse business experience who will work with clients to implement tailored scale-up strategies.
Each new client engagement begins with Tailwind’s proprietary transforms audit, which identifies growth inhibitors and enablers, allowing it to develop and execute a targeted growth plan in partnership with clients. The outcomes of the audit drive the priority actions, but common areas include sales and marketing solutions and optimising technology for growth.
Tailwind will also provide pre-and post-deal services to investors and lenders. It aims to support at least 50 firms in its first three years.
Tailwind’s growth partners are all entrepreneurs and senior executives with combined expertise of more than 300 years. They include Jim Henderson, who is the architect of the transform methodology, David Watts, Simon Thomas, Geoff Hancock, Nick Fluck, Sean Farrington, Darryl Morton and Warren Lewis. They are also in discussions to increase its panel of growth partners.
Tailwind co-founder and lead growth architect, Mr Griffiths, established and scaled Cardiff-based FD Systems to £16m before its sale to K3 plc. He later grew Newport-based Certus IT from a £1m to a £10m turnover venture, before exiting to SysGroup plc. In 2020, he invested in Lexington Corporate Finance - tripling its run-rate fee income- before its £3.5m acquisition by FRP Advisory in 2024, where he remains a consultant.
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Mr Griffiths said: “We want to support ambitious leaders to scale their businesses and unlock all the benefits that brings to stakeholders, local communities, and the economy.
“We’re looking for clients who have already achieved some success but are eager to elevate their business to the next level. Often, leadership teams are consumed by the day-to-day running of the business, leaving little executive bandwidth to focus on growth. We understand how frustrating that can be — that’s why we created Tailwind.”
Co-founder and chairman Mr Tossell takes up a non-executive role alongside his position as senior partner at Cardiff headquartered law firm Hugh James. He also founded the firm’s first volume legal services unit for the banking industry, later consolidating this and other volume units, Involegal LLP. Serving as its chief executive he oversaw it becoming a £30m valuated business within three years.
Mr Tossell said: “Tailwind complements the existing business support ecosystem but importantly fills a significant gap by offering specialist growth support through our transform methodology and hands-on guidance from experienced growth partners who have all led businesses themselves.
“Wales is our home, and we are passionate about helping Welsh businesses scale. However, we’ll also be working with clients across the 海角视频 to deliver targeted, specialist support for growth.”
Co-founder and chief executive Ms Neagle, was previously CEO of Cardiff-based marketing and PR consultancy Freshwater, will oversee day-to-day operations at Tailwind.
She said: “We’ve assembled an experienced and talented group of entrepreneurs and executives who offer practical solutions and empathy for chief executives and founders.
“We believe that working with our partners who have already helped create millions of pounds of growth across hundreds of other businesses will give our clients the confidence to innovate and execute change quickly so they can scale up effectively.”