Real Progress, Not Just Promises
The businesses we work with see tangible improvements. Not because we have magic solutions, but because we help them take practical steps that make a difference.
What Progress Looks Like
Clearer Decision Making
Business owners report feeling more confident when facing important choices. Having someone to discuss options with helps clarify thinking.
Stronger Team Dynamics
Managers develop more effective approaches to recruitment, onboarding, and performance conversations. Team issues are addressed earlier.
Better Financial Understanding
Start-ups gain clearer insight into their numbers and what drives profitability. Financial planning becomes less overwhelming.
More Strategic Thinking
Business owners find they're spending less time firefighting and more time on activities that move things forward.
Prepared Exit Options
Businesses working on exit planning understand their options better and have taken steps to improve their position.
Reduced Stress Levels
Having regular support means problems are discussed before they become crises. Business owners report feeling less isolated.
By the Numbers
These numbers reflect feedback from businesses we've worked with over the past eight years. Individual experiences vary, but the common thread is that having someone to talk through challenges with makes a difference to how people feel about running their business.
How Our Approach Works in Practice
Technology Start-Up: Finding Direction
The Challenge
A software development start-up had initial clients but was struggling to decide which market segment to focus on. The founders were spending time on opportunities that weren't leading anywhere.
Our Approach
Through monthly sessions, we helped them analyse which clients were most profitable and required least support. We discussed how to say no to work that didn't fit their direction, and built a simple framework for evaluating opportunities.
The Outcome
After six months, they had a clearer target market and were turning down work that didn't fit. Revenue per client increased as they focused on their strengths. They reported feeling more in control of their direction.
Growing Consultancy: Building a Team
The Challenge
A consultancy owner needed to hire their first employees but felt unprepared for managing people. Previous attempts at recruitment hadn't worked well, and they were worried about making expensive mistakes.
Our Approach
We worked on building a recruitment process that fitted their situation, including how to write job descriptions and conduct interviews. We practised difficult conversations and discussed how to set clear expectations from the start.
The Outcome
They successfully hired two people over the year, with both still in post eighteen months later. The owner reports feeling more confident having performance conversations and addressing issues early rather than letting them build up.
Family Business: Planning Succession
The Challenge
A manufacturing business owner was thinking about retirement but hadn't addressed succession. The next generation wasn't ready to take over, and the business was too dependent on the owner's personal relationships.
Our Approach
We conducted a business value assessment and identified areas where changes would improve salability. We created a two-year plan focusing on documenting processes and developing the next generation's capabilities. Regular reviews kept progress on track.
The Outcome
Eighteen months in, the business is less reliant on the owner, key processes are documented, and the next generation is taking on more responsibility. The owner now has realistic options for when they're ready to step back.
What to Expect Over Time
Getting Oriented
We spend this time understanding your situation properly. You'll feel heard and will start to see your challenges from different angles. The immediate benefit is often just having someone to talk things through with.
Making Progress
By now you're implementing changes. Some will work well, others might need adjustment. You'll notice you're making decisions more confidently and dealing with issues more proactively. Problems that seemed overwhelming become more manageable.
Building Momentum
Changes start to compound. New approaches become habits. You'll find you're spending time on more strategic activities rather than constantly firefighting. The business feels less chaotic and more intentional.
Sustaining Improvement
Many businesses continue with quarterly or occasional check-ins. Having that ongoing relationship means you have someone to turn to when new challenges arise. The foundation built in the first year continues to serve you.
Changes That Last
Beyond Quick Fixes
We're not interested in surface-level changes that don't stick. The goal is to help you develop better ways of thinking about your business that continue to serve you long after our formal work together ends.
Business owners who've worked with us for a year or more report that they approach problems differently. They've developed frameworks for thinking through decisions, and they know when to reach out for a second opinion.
Ongoing Availability
Many of the businesses we work with stay in touch on an occasional basis. When something significant comes up—a major hiring decision, a potential partnership, a strategic crossroads—they know they can pick up the phone.
This ongoing relationship means you're not starting from scratch each time you need help. We already understand your business and can provide relevant input quickly.
Why Progress Continues
Results last because they're built on your own decisions and actions, not on our ongoing involvement. We're helping you develop capabilities, not creating dependency.
The approach is practical rather than theoretical. Everything we discuss is tested against the reality of your situation. If something doesn't work, we adjust. This means you end up with methods that actually fit how you work.
Regular check-ins create accountability without pressure. Knowing you'll be discussing progress in your next session naturally encourages follow-through. But it's your business—you're always in control of what you implement and when.
Over time, you build up a toolkit of approaches that work for you. When new challenges arise, you have experience in thinking them through systematically. The framework becomes internalized.
Track Record and Experience
Since establishing Stonebridge in 2018, we've supported over 120 businesses across Scotland, with particular concentration in the Glasgow area. Our work spans technology start-ups, professional services firms, family businesses, and growing consultancies.
The businesses we work with range from pre-revenue start-ups to established firms with seven-figure turnovers. What they share is a commitment to building something sustainable and a willingness to invest time in getting better at the difficult aspects of business ownership.
Our approach has evolved through working with diverse challenges. What we've learned is that while every business faces unique circumstances, there are common patterns in how owners develop capability. Recognising those patterns allows us to provide relevant guidance while respecting that each situation requires its own solution.
We maintain relationships with most of the businesses we work with, even after formal engagements end. This ongoing connection gives us insight into what creates lasting change and what turns out to be temporary. That feedback loop continuously improves how we work with new clients.
Ready to Make Progress?
If what you've read here resonates with your situation, let's have a conversation. No commitment required—just a straightforward discussion about whether working together makes sense.
Get in Touch