Meet the Boost team: Matt Walsh

Whether you’re starting a new business, in the early stages, looking to scale up an established business or simply looking for some great business support, the Boost Business Advice team can help.

Matt Walsh is an entrepreneur with experience across multiple sectors and in navigating the possible pit falls associated with high growth. A technology specialist with experience in solutions architecture, business process improvement and AI, he is passionate about innovation and finding innovative ways to turn barriers into levers. Here Matt talks about his role in supporting Lancashire businesses. 

What motivated you to want to help other people in business and to a become adviser?

Having received growth advice and support during my journey as co-founder of beatstream and sitting down with like minded passionate business owners and helping them achieve their goals was always something I was looking to do. It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to share my failures and successes in the hope they help someone else.

Who has been your biggest business inspiration and why?

I was inspired by the owners of a small business I worked in during my late teens. They built an incredible business where the biggest asset was the team, but they also constantly evolved their offering to differentiate and enhance customer experience.

They were naturally reflective and looked back on areas where they thought they could do better. They didn’t just take their successes and assume they had cracked it, the constant cycle of improvement and not being afraid to say when they got it wrong was truly inspirational and a great example I still use today.

Why is Lancashire a great location for a business?

The close proximity of the different districts and the variation of businesses creates its own ecosystem, the fact that with the support of boost Lancashire businesses are able to access dedicated business support shows the region is dynamic and has a forward thinking attitude.

Also the reputation of Lancaster University and its close proximity to Manchester and Liverpool meaning access to their universities and research centres creates a diverse talent pool.

How do you like to start your working day?

Always a coffee and a read through LinkedIn, reading about local businesses and what networking events may be happening. I particularly look for positive success stories, what better way to be inspired than reading about other people's success? It creates a very positive mindset.

What do you consider to be the greatest challenge for Lancashire businesses in the current economic climate?

The same for all businesses, it’s about making key investments in technology to future-proof their businesses while not jeopardising their short term future amid a tidal wave of rising costs. The pressure is on to be more efficient and more productive but that in its self is a balancing act.

What are your three top tips for anyone looking to start or grow a business?

1. Look for and establish key partnerships, they can help you navigate around difficult challenges and really speed up growth
2. When hit with a challenge look around at the support available to you both from in your network and further a field. Organisations like Boost and the Growth Company have so many different and specialised departments if they themselves can’t help, they will know someone who can.
3. Have a great lawyer and an even better accountant. It’s a common price of advice but you’ll never regret having great legal and financial support.

If you’re looking to grow, scale or start your business, use Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub. We offer a range of funded business support services.  Call our Business Support Helpdesk on 0800 488 0057 to find out more or complete our enquiry form.