Dr. Peter Cook, Managing Director, SOG Ltd

"SOG has had a continuing ongoing relationship ever since the formation of Astral-BDS. Astral's extensive experience of a range of commercial situations has assisted clarification and focus to achieve improvements in a number of areas of SOG's business.  Examples include:

1. Devising a modular product, allowing us to offer a more flexible offering for customers.
2. Detailed market analysis of a specialised service priorto market launch
3. Working with a small specialist training consultancy team to improve business processes.
4. Devising & implementing a complete marketing & sales strategy for a new product
5. Providing an additional network of business partners and service providers, complementing SOG's own.

I would have no hesitation in recommending  Astral-BDS to any business seeking to improve its sales performance."

Lindsay Sharples, Project Director, ICDC

"Astral-BDS has provided consultancy services to the International Centre for Digital Content (ICDC) in a number of very specific areas. A key externally-funded project was not performing according to profile and appropriate remedial action was sought. Mike was selected based on his experience and expertise in organisational change and business development and his input and advice was considered to be insightful and of high quality. The nature of the funding profile of the project meant that it was necessary to challenge impacts and outputs in order that contractual commitments could be properly addressed so there was little room for error in terms of deployment of resources. Mike’s contribution enabled a more effective structure to be put in place, the management team was considerably strengthened and the project got back on track and began to deliver its outputs"

Managing Director, International Technology Company based in Sweden (Client Confidential)

“We have worked closely with Astral-BDS to develop a new market proposition and ultimately generate a market position for a new high technology product. Astral’s extensive contacts in IT and industrial sectors, including Universities, public sector and investment communities have all helped to generate early traction in the market for our product. We wouldn’t hesitate to use their services again.”

Programme Co-Ordinator, RDA Investment Programme (Yorkshire Forward)

"I worked with Astral-BDS on an R&D assessment programme for one of the UK Regional Development Authorities. The programme required assessors to review technology programme proposals both independantly and in co-located review meetings. In the latter a group of three assessors jointly reviewed, critiqued and assessed the project proposals. Mike brought great technical and commercial insights to the review meetings. As importantly Mike brought his enthusiasm and humour to the co-located meetings ensuring that the reviews were thorough and fun. A successful programme ran over four separate calls, resulting in excess of £20M being invested in focussed industrial R&D programmes."

Trevor Long, Head of Department of Media Professional Studies and Film Studies at Liverpool Screen School

"Mike is very dedicated, focused and creative. An absolute pleasure to work with, he takes on new tasks and delivers them with aplomb. Excellent feedback from both colleagues and students alike. I plan to hire Mike for many years to come"

John Lewis, Sales & Marketing Director

"Mike has been instrumental in the development of various business development projects. One of these projects included the development of a full business model for the failing on site gymnasium facility including a full appraisal of the business opportunity. This resulted in a complete revamping of the facility and is now recognised as an essential facility on the Business Park, indeed the local area. Astral-BDS ability and diversity has led to them assisting us with further projects including the development of a robust budgeting process for the Sales and Marketing Department, a Business and Marketing plan for our Health and Safety training business and in particular assisting in the completion of the Fusion Project, which is a business plan for the future exploitation of our core intellectual property. This has been presented to Cabinet Ministers, Senior Union Officials and has gained recognition from the Prime Minister as a model that should be replicated across the UK"

Sales Manager, Mobile Computing Products business (Client Confidential)

"Astral-BDS have provided mentor support to help with increasing my appointment activity and thus increase sales revenues. This engagement started out by drafting a business plan, concentrating mainly on quarter 1 and 2 sales plans.  Plans were implemented quickly and reviews held bi-weekly to discuss the success and progress being made with regular reviews of the original goals set out in the plan and to asses these against progress made.  The main benefit for me is having an independent mentor guiding and assisting me where necessary rather than actually telling me what to do. The experienced gained has had a major impact on growing reveues."