Our Flying Start Delivery Team

The Flying Start service provided valuable support and resources to help businesses navigate the challenges of their formative years. This contractual service was funded by Boost and completed in March 2025.

Delivered from October 2023 to March 2025, this service was aimed at ambitious future business leaders, with a focus on building business acumen and to acquire and apply the core skills required to establish the business and drive sustainable business growth. Our team supported entrepreneurs who were looking to turn a brilliant business idea into reality or take their new business to the next level by helping them achieve their personal and business goals.

In partnership with Boost, Selnet led the Flying Start service and brought together a team of experienced advisers. Find out more about them below!

Adviser Team

Chris Trickett  |  Business Advisor |  Community CVS

Chris’s role involved assisting organisations to improve and enhance their sustainability through professional business advice, best practice management, leadership consultation and training.

His specialisms include business processes, logistics, media, marketing, tech, leadership and management.

• From October 2024 until March 2025, Chris hosted monthly Flying Start Business Networking meetings in Blackburn, focused on everything related to starting and running a business. From industry tips to share or growing business ideas, these sessions provided an excellent opportunity to make new connections in the business world.
• Each session featured a business adviser and guest speakers to keep attendees informed about the latest developments, both locally and beyond. They also answered questions and directed towards the right resources. Here is feedback from a peer networking event attendee.
• The ‘Meet the Boost Team Q&A’ from Chris was posted by Boost in July 2024. As a chartered business adviser with over 12 years’ experience as managing director of an award-winning creative branding and advertising agency, Chris talks about his role in supporting Lancashire businesses.
• Chris wrote the Flying Start article ‘Bid smart, win big: Five top tips for bid writing and commission readiness’ which was published on Boost’s website in February 2024.
• There are examples of the business advice and guidance from Chris through the ‘I Use Boost’ posts shared by Selnet. Chris actively supported new businesses through our Flying Start service – this is a great example regarding AI, and so is this for HR!

Lynn Trickett  |  Business Advisor |  Community CVS

Lynn’s role involved extensive experience of delivering professional business advice and training, specialising in business set-up, growth, social enterprise, business law, and all areas across the logistics of set up and growth.

Her specialisms are all rooted in leading each client to a reality of business sustainability.

• Ahead of future business support events, the ‘Meet the Boost Team Q&A’ from Lynn was published by Boost in June 2024. Lynn is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a qualified business advisor with a distinguished 24-year record in facilitating business support.
• Fortnightly Business Advice Surgeries for budding entrepreneurs were led by Lynn since August 2024 until March 2025. These were run to explore ideas, seek guidance, or learn more about the opportunities available through Boost.
• There are examples of the business advice and guidance from Lynn through the ‘I Use Boost’ posts shared by Selnet (including Blackburn-based clients and Pendle-based clients, with many more posts shared across social media by Selnet with the hashtag #useboost.

Tony Carr  |  Business Advisor |  Social Enterprise Solutions 

Tony’s role included 1:1 coaching to enable business start-up and growth, including for social enterprises. His specialism is enabling creative thinking to inspire and enable entrepreneurs.

• • The ‘Meet the Boost Team Q&A’ from Tony was posted by Boost in July 2024. As a professionally accredited social enterprise business adviser and mentor, Tony talks about his role in supporting Lancashire businesses.
  • Tony’s advice “’Are You Being Served’…. Correctly?”is about how customer service is a key ingredient in business, and how it is important to get the basics right!
  • Tony organised workshops and delivered ongoing one-to-one business advice. There is fantastic feedback to share that highlight Tony’s expertise – here’s a great example of feedback received from a Fylde-based client, and another from a Wyre-based client!

Lateef Badat  |  Business Advisor |  Shout Network

Lateef’s role included 1:1 business advice, mentoring, coaching, peer 2 peer support and masterclasses, specialising in digital, creative, media and professional services.

His ethos is focussed on enabling business growth through entrepreneurs’ empowerment, motivation and inspiration.

• • In October 2024, Lateef’s article Choosing the right structure for your business was published by Boost. He explores some of the most common structures, along with their advantages and challenges, to help entrepreneurs make an informed decision.
  • As a ‘mindset magician’ Lateef helps business owners and teams to work smarter and perform better through empowerment, motivation and inspiration – and his ‘Meet the Boost Team Q&A’ was published in June 2024.
  • Masterclasses led by Lateef in 2024 included ‘Build your personal brand on LinkedIn’, ‘Build and grow your digital footprint’ and ‘Empowering your start-up: Accounting, bookkeeping and finance tips’.
  • Great feedback from Lateef’s clients includes a South Ribble-based Consultant and Chorley-based Therapist.
  • In August 2024, Ian Coupe, co-founder and director of Shout Connect provided insight into the importance and impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for startups and pre-start businesses.

Alistair Clarke MBE  |  Business Advisor |  Tick the Publicity Box

Through Flying Start Alistair supported people thinking of starting a company as someone to talk to, ask a million questions of and to inspire their confidence to get out there and make it work.

As an accredited, specialist social enterprise business advisor, Alistair has a wide range of experience from advising private businesses to grow, take on more staff and diversify their products and services, and supporting hundreds of  social businesses that want to do good in the community.

“The first 20 years of my career were in broadcast radio so I enjoy advising creative companies and bring lots of skills to clients about marketing, communications and effective use of social media. I’m here to take the worry and stress off clients who want to start a business but don’t know where to start.”

• • The ‘Meet the Boost Team Q&A’ article about Alistair was published by Boost in September 2024 on his role in supporting Lancashire businesses.
  • Alistair delivered a range of workshops including Marketing Masterclasses on using printed materials, social media and presentations the best chance of turning enquiries into sales. His industry tips, hints and ideas helped to kickstart understanding about the public image of entrepreneurs and new businesses.
  • Alistair’s business advice and support helped entrepreneurs across a wide range of businesses, and we are sharing these on social media. There are lots of great examples of Alistair’s work in action – from Digital Marketing Masterclass in Fylde to one-to-one business advice in Chorley.
  • In March 2024, Alistair’s Inspiration and Spotlight article on ‘Harnessing the innovation in social entrepreneurship in Lancashire’ was published on the Boost website.
  • Feedback from Alistair’s clients includes West Lancashire-based mural artist and a Chorley-based entrepreneur.

Daniel Fenton  |  Business Advisor |  Practical Performance Coaching

Daniel’s role involved 1:1 coaching and masterclasses, with specialisms in branding, digital marketing, client engagement, pricing, sales, social media, business development, pitching and book-keeping.

His specialisms were rooted in changing lives of entrepreneurs by coaching and upskilling start-ups, and creating lasting & sustainable value & change.

• Daniel’s advice on ‘Why SMEs should be selling solutions not products’ was published in June 2024, covering how adopting a solutions-based approach to sales not only enables continuous improvement but also shifts your objectives to ones which are more customer centric (and remove the “urgh” most people feel when they think of the word “sell”).
• Daniel led masterclasses including Business Start-Up Essentials, Financial Management for SMEs and SMART Marketing for new businesses.
• The ‘Meet the Boost Team Q&A’ from Daniel was posted by Boost in April 2024, and case studies of Daniel’s clients are shared across our social media.

Read Selnet’s message here.

Kerry Stevens  |  Business Advisor |  Beanstalk Business Centre CIC

Kerry keeps in contact with the Flying Start team although she has a reduced role in delivering topical masterclasses. This includes overcoming imposter syndrome, building confidence, business communication skills, and effective networking.”

• • Kerry’s ‘Managing Mid-Night Thoughts for Entrepreneurs’ article was published on the Boost website in April 2024, and her Meet the Boost Team: Kerry Stevens response was published in May 2024.

Selnet’s Management Team

The Flying Start service is led by Selnet, and our team includes:

Nina Cowell   |  Account Manager |  Selnet Ltd

Nina is an excellent ‘networker’ and loves talking to people and finding solutions to help them move forward. Now as an Account Manager on the BOOST Flying Start Programme, she is helping entrepreneurs and businesses get the support to meet their needs.

She recognises the importance for businesses in Lancashire to get the help and support they need and is currently working towards Level 5 CMI Diploma in Professional Consulting.

Her skills include introducing project clients to new links and opportunities that can have a positive impact on their business, their enterprises and their own inspiration.

Alina Belousova  |  Project Administrator |  Selnet Ltd

Alina joined our team earlier this year. She has a BA in Events Management and brings over 3 years’ experience working in the cooperative business sector as a project administrator.

Alina is an avid reader and proofreader and shows great interest in productivity, streaming and organisation. She uses her interest in behavioural science to make communication with others as smooth as possible. Outside of work, Alina runs her local organic veg box scheme in Preston, as well as plant-based cooking demos and masterclasses.

Yvette Holden    |  Account Manager |  Selnet Ltd

Yvette has been the front face for Selnet members for three years and excels at helping business leaders to market and promote their business. Now as an Account Manager on the BOOST Flying Start Programme, she is helping Entrepreneurs and Businesses get the support to set up and grow their businesses.

Yvette enjoys speaking to people and hearing about their business ideas, ambitions and plans and is now working towards Level 5 CMI Diploma in Professional Consulting.

“It’s really satisfying to support entrepreneurs progress to turn their ambitions into realities”.

Liz Tapner MBE  |  Programme Accountability  |  Selnet Ltd

Liz is a chartered business adviser and business mentor with extensive experience of business support programmes and the driving force behind Selnet. She is responsible for developing Selnet into a major infrastructure organisation and securing over £25m investment into Lancashire enterprises.

Her passion is supporting people to achieve their best and in the main her experience has been gained creating new enterprises and enabling growth. Liz loves to see viable and sustainable businesses operating for social good.

Dawn Welham  |  Marketing and Promotion Manager |  Selnet Ltd

Dawn is the marketing and promotion manager for Flying Start. With a background as a business advisor, she also has experience in coordinating cross-sector collaborations, bid writing, reporting, marketing and publicity.

“The scale and diversity of the support available through Flying Start is the most fantastic opportunity to empower entrepreneurs, businesses and enterprises.”

Want to know more?

If you’re starting, growing or scaling a business and want to find out how our funded services can help you, please contact our experienced team today. We’d love to support your growth ambitions.

Visit Selnet’s Flying Start page for more information, call 01772 200690 or email nina@selnet-uk.com or yvette@selnet-uk.com

As part of the Boost partnership, there is a range of services being delivered through partners including the Growth Company, Growth Lancashire and Selnet. Find out more here.

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