CHRISTINE NICHOLS OF ATLANTIC PACIFIC GROUP

Christine Nichols is a dynamic leader whose influence in the business world continues to inspire women entrepreneurs globally. Recently honoured with the Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by NatWest at the Enterprise Vision Awards, Christine has made her mark as a driving force for gender equality and international trade. As the Co-Founder of Atlantic Pacific Global, her leadership was further recognised when her company received the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, a prestigious acknowledgment of her significant contributions to the global marketplace.

Nichols is more than just a business leader; she is a fierce advocate for gender parity, actively pushing for greater representation of women in leadership. Under her guidance, Atlantic Pacific Global boasts a 50% female board, setting an example for companies striving for diversity and inclusion. Christine’s commitment to elevating women within her industry has solidified her reputation as a game-changer and trailblazer, leading the way for others to follow.

At the Scale Up/Going for Growth event, Nichols will draw from her personal experiences as a self-starter and champion of women in business to share valuable insights into scaling companies and achieving sustainable growth. Her journey of resilience and determination, combined with her strategic approach to building diverse and effective leadership teams, offers key lessons for businesses looking to expand. Nichols will also speak to the challenges of navigating international markets, providing attendees with practical takeaways for scaling globally. Her inspirational story exemplifies how empowered leadership can drive both business success and societal change, making her a powerful voice for women in business.

• Funding / Investment
• Legals
• Innovation

• Sales and Marketing
• Importing / Exporting
• HR & Recruitment

• Skills / Resources
• Ecommerce and more

Unlocking Possibilities provides award winning training & coaching specialising in NLP (neuro linguistic programming), helping ambitious and courageous business owners to unlock their potential by overcoming the ‘inside’ limits that are holding them back. Sarah Fletcher founder of Unlocking Possibilities and best selling author of ‘KISS Your Life’, is passionate about helping women to scale their business from the inside out. Running a successful business for 6 years she knows how hard it can be to keep going when the going gets tough, and how your mindset and energy are paramount in your business success. Sarah believes that your business is a reflection of you, and through learning how to lead yourself successfully from the ‘inside’ out, building a business and life of your dreams can be done with ease, joy, fun and abundance.

Meraki HR Solutions is an award winning, HR Consultancy that works with values based, people first business owners who are looking to grow and scale their business.

Emma Browning knows that to grow a business successfully, you need to recruit the right people, train and develop them so that they are performing at their best, and have a People Strategy which will ensure you can deliver your business goals!  Meraki HR have years of experience of helping businesses to grow successfully and will make sure you have the right things in place to realise your growth plans.

But managing people on this growth journey can be challenging, and they’re also here to help you with those challenging conversations and situations too, via their HR Oxygen Service, which will help you to resolve your problems quickly and pragmatically, so that you can “breathe” and get on with managing your business.

Azets is a top 10 accountancy and business advisory firm and the largest regional business advisor to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, delivering accounting, tax, audit, business and advisory services. With over 3,800 people across the UK office network, Azets are a people powered business delivering a range of accounting services, all with a personal approach.

Louise Shepherd heads up the team in the Bolton office for our Accounts and Business Advisory service line. As a senior manager at Azets, she leads a team of accountants and tax advisors who provide comprehensive and tailored services to SMEs across various sectors. She is a chartered accountant with over 10 years of experience in financial management, reporting, and analysis. Louise advises a wide range of businesses in the local area and is passionate about helping those businesses grow and achieve their maximum potential.

Louise leverages her expertise in accounting and tax solutions to advise them on strategic decisions and future plans that optimize their business performance and growth.

Zaidha Roscoe, founder of A Little Light Shine Coaching is an International Coaching Federation ACC Accredited Business and Personal coach with 18 years of independent business experience. Working with business owners and leaders who are audacious enough to want something better and courageous enough to do something about it, Zaidha takes a collaborative approach in creating bespoke coaching solutions that are uniquely right for you.

A passionate believer in the intrinsic brilliance of people and their capability to both conceive and achieve their ‘better’, Zaidha draws from a wide range of coaching knowledge, tools and disciplines to help you get really clarity on what it is you want, discover the wealth of ability and potential that is already there, dismantle the obstacles stopping you and put in place the little steps that lead to big growth and ultimately, transformation and change!

Ann Shirley of Intergen Financial Planning is dedicated to financial planning that revolves around you, your family, your business, and your goals. Their services include:

• Investment Planning: Strategies that align with your long-term growth objectives.
• Protection Planning: Tailored solutions to safeguard your family, business, and assets.
• Retirement Planning: Building a secure plan for the lifestyle you envision.

They’re committed to supporting women scaling their businesses, offering expert advice tailored to their unique financial needs, empowering them to make confident financial decisions for a prosperous future.

RTC is dedicated to empowering businesses across the North of England to innovate, compete, and grow. Their expert advisors have supported over 20,000 SMEs in commercialising new ideas and entering new markets. They offer hands-on support from concept development to manufacturing and scale-up, ensuring that businesses stay agile and competitive.

Their Approach:

• Innovate: Guiding businesses through change and nurturing ideas to drive innovation.
• Compete: Helping companies stay lean, focus on quality, and seize global opportunities.
• Grow: Providing strategic insights, international connections, and scalable models for long-term growth.

RTC is there to support your journey, offering the expertise and resources needed to make your ambitions a reality.

RTC North are currently running a Tendering Project in the Liverpool City Region, aiming to help businesses understand and capitalise on tendering opportunities. This initiative includes workshops and one-on-one support to guide companies through the procurement process, enhancing their ability to secure new contracts and drive growth. Steve Wilkinson will be on hand to answer your questions.

Greenarc is dedicated to helping businesses on their sustainable journey as they scale, providing expert guidance on low-carbon solutions. Led by Ben Duckworth, Commercial Director of Greenarc and a Director across three businesses in Low Carbon, Fuel, and Infrastructure, the company’s purpose is to “ease the world’s journey to clean energy.”

Ben, a strong advocate for collaboration and the principle of “Givers Gain,” will be exhibiting at our event, offering insights and solutions to support businesses in achieving their sustainability goals.

FW Capital specializes in flexible finance solutions to support SME businesses and property developers, offering tailored funding to help dynamic businesses grow.

Serving the North and South West of England and all of Wales, FW Capital provides loans from £100,000 to £2 million for expansion, growth, property development, and acquisitions. Caroline Turley and Carol Bolland will be available at our event to answer any questions and discuss how FW Capital can support your business journey.

Melissa Howard is joining us to capture photos of the day. Melissa of Capturing Curves is the go-to visual storyteller who makes sure your magic isn’t just seen, but felt. Passionate about empowering women with curves to step boldly in front of the camera, she captures the confidence that’s already there, turning it into marketing magic with photography, videography, and visual branding that doesn’t just stop the scroll—it demands attention. With clients spanning the UK’s top business festivals and events (😉), and press features, Melissa has a sixth sense for those unspoken moments that make a brand unforgettable. She creates visuals that don’t just sell—they let her clients see themselves as the powerhouses they are.