Peter Wilson

For over 30 years I have been helping small businesses grow, increase their competitiveness and enter new markets. Having a combination of practical and academic experience provides me with a unique set of skills that can help businesses solve their problems and become more successful. I started my career in electronics, followed by employment in the textile, shoe and apparel sectors. I eventually set up a successful UK based consulting business that I ran for more than 25 years, working with both small and large companies. I have qualifications in management, textiles, industrial engineering and my PhD is based on the “Competitive Improvement of SMEs”.

I am also a lean manufacturing practitioner, a chartered textile professional and the inventor of SEAMS; a computerized data system for establishing the time and cost of apparel and shoe manufacturing. I am an advanced computer user (MS Office applications); Balanced Scorecard and, BS EN ISO 9000 trained.

I have worked on many development programmes as a specialist in private sector development including helping companies with their strategies, export development, cost reduction, methods engineering, factory layouts, costing and pricing of products and implementing quality programmes. I have also been involved with implementing cluster initiatives, value chain mapping, institutional development, SME and entrepreneurial advancement, along with designing and delivering training programmes. I have working experience of helping SMEs in many sectors including shoes and leather, apparel and textiles, light engineering and manufacturing, retailing, tourism, ceramics, and food processing.

As well as  providing assistance and consultancy support to SMEs and private sector organisations in the UK I have worked on many international projects including Turkey, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Africa, India, Nepal, Armenia, Eritrea, Caribbean, South Pacific, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Many were funded projects with aid from international donors such as the EU, World Bank, UNIDO etc.