It's always a good idea to have a goal in life.
And Shepley-based Jenny Kilburn is clear about her ambitions for her business, the intriguingly-named Synergos Consultancy.
Her husband Steven came up with the name.
“When I launched the business I didn’t want a traditional company name,” she explains.
“I wanted something completely different.
Synergos is Greek – and means ‘working together’ – which is what I do by working with businesses and other organisations to help them make improvements to how they operate.”
Jenny set up Synergos Consultancy only in May last year, but adds: “I want it to become a national business and a recognised brand. I would like to see the business have a head office in Huddersfield and several branch offices around the country to ensure we are close to the businesses and organisations we aim to help.”
Among its areas of activity, the consultancy provides customer service training, auditing of systems and processes, research and data analysis and business improvement seminars.
Clients range from local authorities and construction companies to a dancing school and an osteopathy practice.
What they have in common is a need for guidance and advice on how to improve their internal systems and external relations to make them more efficient.
Says Jenny: “Typically, a business owner has a goal in mind, but lacks the strategic training to implement the measures needed to realise that goal. There might be issued around communication within the company or systems and processes that need to be streamlined to stop the business wasting time and money.
“Problems can result from management not being able to get their vision for the business across to their team. They might have it clear in their heads, but the vision gets blurred the further down the line it goes – particularly with tiers of responsibility.
“The business owners and senior managers who come to me want the business to be more successful and more efficient. I am asked to come in and analyse how things operate and provide recommendations for action.
“It might be a case of talking to staff and walking around the premises to get a feel for what’s going on. It might be that the business that’s just plodding along and wants help clarifying its direction. It might want more customers, but doesn’t know how to get them.”
Jenny says its more important than ever for firms to have a clear vision of where they want to be. “Economically, we are beginning to turn the
corner,” she says. “It’s time to be looking at where the business is heading and how it is growing.”
Previously, Jenny had 20 years working in social care.
Her first role was at Kirklees Council’s family services, where she worked with vulnerable young people. She has also liaised with the police, social workers and drug treatment specialists.
She gained a degree in youth and community work at Huddersfield University and more recently completed an MBA.
She explains: “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I was at school. It wasn’t until I started working in social care that I felt ‘this is my goal’.”
She moved through the ranks and eventually worked as a non-executive director of a number of charities.
Jenny sees similarities between social care and her current trole.
“Although I don’t work in the public and voluntary sectors any more, it’s still about making improvements.
“There’s great satisfaction in working with someone and seeing them benefit from your advice and efforts. I want to try to make a difference,” she says.
Jenny has also launched a service and seminar series specifically to help women get ahead in the workplace – at a time when more and more women are starting up their own businesses or climbing the career ladder.
She says: “There are lots of support networks, but what I am providing is a focused structure that sets weekly objectives for the businesswoman to meet and help drive the business forward.
“It’s very easy to get sidetracked when there’s nobody peering over your shoulder to make sure something gets done.”
Being in the boss’s chair can be a lonely place, Jenny acknowledges. “Even business owners who have a small team can feel lonely because they they may not have a right-hand person to help them grow the business. It’s all heaped on their shoulders. They are the kind of people I can help.”
Jenny says she has been giving 100% to her new venture, but finds relaxation in tap dancing and walks with her family.
“I went to dancing school as a child and now I attend adult tap dancing classes,” she says. “It’s a good way to keep fit and have fun.”
She’s also keen to add more letters to her name – and harbours hopes of undertaking a PhD when time allows.
“I like learning,” she says. “I have to keep up with my knowledge in order to help my clients. I’ve always got my head in a book – but its rarely
general. It’s all business strategies and advice.”
And she adds: “You have to have an idea of the road you are heading on. Having a vision in business stops you being disheartened when things get tough. If everything’s a bit woolly in your mind you’re more likely to give up. If you keep in mind where you are heading, you are more likely to get there.”
Jenny Kilburn
Role: Director
Family: Married to Steven with twins Collette and Lisa, 27, and Abigail 10
Holidays: We go to Scotland and also try to get abroad to somewhere in the sun
First job: Washing hair in a salon on Friday evenings and all day Saturdays
Best thing about the job? Meeting people and being able to help people
Worst thing about the job? The ‘back office’ admin.
Business tip: It always surprises me how many businesses don’t plan. You have to have an idea of the road ahead
Work: Business consultancy
Site: Shepley
Phone: 01484 817444
Holidays: We go to Scotland and also
try to get abroad to somewhere in the sun
Email: info@synergosconsultancy.co.uk
