Kate Barrett

Kate Barrett, Thoroughbred Business Management,
www.thoroughbredmanagement.co.uk

Name: Kate Barrett
Business name: Thoroughbred Business Management
Web site: www.thoroughbredmanagement.co.uk

Tell us about your business or position:

I am Kate Barrett and I run Thoroughbred Business Management providing flexible Finance Director support to the SME market across many clients and many sectors. I am a qualified accountant with over 25 years experience in many different businesses including the Legal & Care Home sectors, Printing, Retail, Recruitment, Pub/Restaurant, E-Commerce and Clothing manufacture to name a few!

My mission is to drive profit through people, processes & procedures and so when I work with any business my 'drive' is to absorb as much information as possible in a short period of time to enable me to identify how I can help. By doing this businesses become more efficient and effective, with the right people in the right jobs, adding value, ensuring everyone works well together. Work is something we should all enjoy, not endure. Happy staff mean happy customers, happy customers keep buying from you which leads to only one thing.... a happy business owner running a successful business!

My wealth of experience both within Finance and Operationally in a many businesses enables me to support business owners with many different challenges including discussions with banks & investors, helping raise capital, implementing systems & best practice processes & procedures as well as preparing accounts, cashflow reporting and identifying what is most profitable in the business. This enables the business owner to focus their energies on what they are good at and what makes them successful whilst allowing their staff and associates to focus on what they are good at!

What achievement in your career/business are you most proud of?

After facing redundancy a number of years ago I decided that I potentially had alot to offer to a number of businesses, not just a single employer. As a result "I took the bull by the horns" and set up Thoroughbred Business Management and have enjoyed sharing my experiences and knowledge with many businesses since then.

Three top networking tips:

• Smile and be approachable
• Be enthusiastic & passionate about what you do
• Be yourself 

Three top business/career progression tips:

• Don't let the competition get in the way..... keep your eye on what they're up to but don't loose site of your goals, even if you need to tweak them to stay ahead.
• Don't let a set-back discourage you - we all have them and those that treat them as a temporary blip are the people who will reap the rewards!
• Always follow your gut feeling - it's usually right!

Favourite book/film/piece of music 

Books:
Kane & Abel - Jeffrey Archer
The Tea Rose - Jennifer Donnelly and I absolutely love all the James Herriot books!

Films:
Miracle on 34th Street (the Richard Attenborough version)
Father of the Bride
and Steel Magnolias

Music - too many to mention - almost impossible to pick a favourite.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet and why? 

Agatha Christie..... what a remarkable story teller with the ability to leave the reader wondering 'whodunnit' right until the last page! She also spent alot of her life in Devon, one of my favourite places...

What important lesson has life taught you?

We all have the ability to make an impact on the world and we should grab that opportunity with both hands and make the most of it! Life isn't always easy, and we all make mistakes along the way.... it's how we learn by those mistakes that matters.

Your thoughts on the future of the economy 

Economies like the one we are all experiencing at the moment enable the best business minds to go into overdrive and seize the opportunities! We must avoid the negativity that surrounds us and remain positive and focussed. Those that stay strong and grab potential opportunities will be successful and reap the rewards...

What benefit have you or your business gained by being a Forward Ladies member? 

For me, being a Forward Lady has enabled me to meet many women from many walks of life. I have developed friendships and business relationships I cherish and I have met and listened to people who have inspired me in life and in my work.

There is no other network which provides us all with such a mountain of opportunities for us to make friends, provide business support, share ideas and experiences. Etta Cohen has achieved a remarkable thing & I will continue to hold on to her coat tails (whilst ever she allows me to) !

Exclusive offer to members:  Free 1 hour consultation assisting you with any Financial or Business questions you may have.

A further 20% discount for any further work through until the end of July 2011. 
www.thoroughbredmanagement.co.uk