Bath-based business mentor, entrepreneur and events industry leader Franco de la Croix-Vaubois has been named as one Britain’s top 50 business advisers in an awards scheme highlighting their behind-the-scenes work.
Franco, pictured, who runs the Event Organisers Network, was selected by small business network Enterprise Nation from hundreds of advisers from around the UK for his enterprising event work, pivoting from in-person events to virtual events, connecting people and organisations and supporting the business community through these challenging times.
Franco has more than 20 years’ experience as an event consultant and recently mentored many individuals as well as setting up the Bath and Bristol Business Festivals, putting his Bath-based firm on a clear path towards future growth.
Enterprise Nation runs The Top 50 Adviser Awards in association with Xero, Dell Technologies and Neat, with the listcompiled from recommendations from fledgling entrepreneurs after they were asked to nominate an adviser who had helped them build and grow a sustainable business.
It reveals a rich vein of dedicated supporters for the UK’s expanding entrepreneurial culture – which has become even more important during the coronavirus pandemic.
Franco, who will now go through to the public vote to find the UK’s Top 10 advisers, said: “Having spent many years connecting people and businesses through events, working in and with small businesses, I understand the many challenges they face to maintain their existence.
“Add Covid-19 and a decimated event industry into the mix, and the challenge is immense. So sometimes you have to step forward and be brave; by giving my time and experience, SMEs have a better chance of survival and can drive the wider economic recovery, then that’s a satisfying role.”
Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones described business advisers as the unsung heroes behind Britain’s booming small business culture whose insight and experience were needed now more than ever.
“The awards have uncovered some incredible work that has helped firms take steps towards sustainability and growth or managing the current situation by pivoting and by taking a strategic look at their business,” she said.
“Research shows that those firms that take advice do better than those that don’t – and it stands to reason that good advice can help avoid some of the damaging, early mistakes entrepreneurs can make that can often force them to give up.
“The awards were designed to show how important this work is in action, in order to help more start-ups and small firms find out about the benefits of taking advice.”
The 50 advisers were chosen from hundreds of entries from around the UK, with 10 outstanding experts picked out.
To vote for Franco in the IT & Tech Category go tom https://www.enterprisenation.com/campaigns/top-50-advisers/
Voting closes next Wednesday, November 18, with the awards ceremony taking place virtually on November 25.
