Carl Bradshaw F.APS, MIOEE
Business Mentor
Favourite saying 'Just do it!'
Enterprise Nation Adviser Awards nomination 2024
About the founder
I am a business mentor, I help high achievers attain high growth, & make more time for what matters most to them..
I like to help people like you grow past their expected potential - that's right people just like you - learn to think straight, act with confidence & develop the tools to help you win at work & life.
I have developed the skills needed to succeed over a 25-year career that has seen me own and run businesses in Commercial Finance, Advertising, Digital Marketing and Consulting, as well as work for some major corporations.
Here are the top five reasons I became a business mentor:
1. Mentoring fosters my passion for people and building connections.
2. Mentoring allows me to excel in what I do best.
3. It offers the chance to collaborate with inspiring individuals.
4. I get to be creative in business every day.
5. Provides a fulfilling way to support my lifestyle, with the bonus of a commute-free virtual setup.
You are not alone Find out more about me at the bottom of this page.
Bright Ideas!
Remember the —80/20 rule— (Pareto) applies to every single area of life. Most of the output will always be produced by just a few key factors.
Carl Bradshaw started Positive Business Development in 2008, designed to provide a freelance business development service to small businesses that couldn’t afford to pay for a full-time member of the management team.
Over the years this grew into something bigger, with a number of different services on offer, so Carl rang around his connections looking for quality associates to add to the ‘B-Team’.
Now there are several of us, all experienced, and all with past failures and successes. One of the reasons that we have stuck with the Jigsaw piece as a logo, is something one of our first clients said about us:
“You are like a one-man BNI, if you don’t know the answer you always know someone can fit and fill the skills gap”
So the Jigsaw remains our logo to demonstrate that we have the pieces to assemble the right team to help you and your business achieve your goals and ambitions.
Bradex Business Solutions services includes:
Services can generally be bought by the session or specialised packaged services from as little as £135. For more information about Business Mentoring or our Virtual Mentor Services either follow the links or use the menu above we look forward to working with you and your business.
Achieve your goals!
We help business owners who want to succeed! —people just like you— to get the clarity, confidence, and tools you need to win & succeed at business & in life.
Discover the value we add to our clients:
Its been a pleasure having Carl as our business mentor. He's listened, given insightful business advice and above all else, helped us to focus on the stuff that really matters. Its been worthwhile for our charity - Iain Pearson - LinkedIn.
Carl has been amazing with my business growth advice and support! One change alone has increased our business turn over by a minimum of 25%. Can’t rate Carl enough. - Oliver Alcock - LinkedIn.
Carl has provided virtual mentoring to me. Carl is definitely the go to man! Full of knowledge and experience and extremely easy to communicate with. Carl has built my confidence. - Gail Howarth - LinkedIn.
Carl came in and did nothing but prove the value of not only his business mind but also, a warm feeling of sincere care for myself and the business. The knowledge he carries, beggars belief and I’d have no issue taking him on in any manner. Business Utilities Group - Gavin Hall - LinkedIn.
The ideas that followed through conversations in the sessions we had with Carl are now being implemented and helping our business grow quicker, run smoother and more efficiently! We can't thank him enough and we had a great laugh throughout our time together! - Tom Cook - LinkedIn.
Carl was able to guide me, whilst at the same time making suggestions that have completely changed the way I run my business, allowing me to step back and be able to see the bigger picture, not just day-to-day, which is what my business needs from me in order to progress and to survive. - John Cawood - LinkedIn.
Carl has been supporting our clients on a variety of projects. He has worked with growing businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs, inspiring and supporting so many people in their journeys. - Amy King - LinkedIn.
Carl provided me with a non-judgemental listening ear, valuable expert advice and support through a period of difficult circumstances in my role as a Charity Chief Executive. I value the time and support provided by Carl. - Jill Boardman - LinkedIn.
Carl helped me to look objectively at the business which allowed us to grow and create more jobs. At the same time he challenged me about the less profitable parts and to concentrate on the more profitable areas. - Graham Coulston-Herrmann - LinkedIn.
More about your Business Mentor in Lancashire
I know what it feels like to be in over your head — to have your success outpace your ability to manage it, while still attending to the things that matter most—family, health, and community.
For many years, I, too, struggled to get off that same treadmill. All too often, my success came at the expense of my friends and family, and in 1997 the stress of success affected my health too.
As the former Managing Director of a successful commercial finance and insurance brokerage, and now as a successful entrepreneur, I have had to face the reality that there’s is always more to do than there is time left in the day. But I also realised the end result isn’t simply to get more done in the short amount of time we have. The answer is to get the right things done in the right order.
Learning to balance my work with the other passions in my life has taken time, and I am now able to pass on some of that knowledge via coaching and mentoring.
Make time for today.
Today, I am able to manage the balance between being successful and giving back. I am a Trustee for a local charity, and although it is currently only small, we have big plans for giving back to the community.
I am also a member of the Association of Business Mentors, a non-profit organisation that wants to increase the professionalism of business mentors across the country and a Fellow of the Association of Professional Sales (F.APS).
I am the founder of Bradex Business Solutions a group of impassioned business mentors that are excited to help people and businesses just like you.
I have been with my wife, Clare, for over 20 years. ( I know what your thinking that's two life sentences with good behaviour but she understands me) We have one son and two grandchildren. We live just outside of Manchester, in Ramsbottom.
All You Need Is a Business Mentor
I would like to be your business mentor, helping you navigate the challenges of work and life, so that you can succeed at both and enjoy yourself.
You don’t have to continue to feel overwhelmed. And, you don’t have to choose between success in your business and success in your personal life. You can reach your potential in all areas of your life.
Start by making time for what matters most and make the decision to find a mentor today. (Even if it's not me!)