Martin Riley Business Coaching

10/09/2026

I thoroughly enjoyed delivering yesterday’s keynote talk at the Eastbourne Business Show...

“The Essential Art of Scaling through People”

With 23 years as a leadership coach, and 29 years in the industry, I wouldn’t quite say that I’ve seen it all. But I have seen a lot!

Both the pitfalls — and solutions.

I stuck to just 3 simple key themes — though there is so much more to it. Summary slides included.

And although many business think they’re doing this well. Believe me, they are not. I have enough horror stories to prove it.

So a big thank you to all who were there, and especially Reaks⚡️Emma Pearce, Paul Matthews, Christina Ewbank, Emily Perrott, Nick Bryant, 📚David Blackmore and Daniel Nugent for their kind words afterwards.

08/09/2026

Legendary quote by the great Martin Riley! 😉

Part of my Keynote tomorrow at the Eastbourne Business Show…

“The Essential Art of Scaling Through People"

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Want to know what I’m talking about? Come and find out.

I’m on at 10.40am…

I’m also an exhibitor - Stand No.1.

See you there!

Wed 9th Sept. King Centre, Eastbourne.

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26/08/2026

"The Essential Art of Scaling Through People!"

Really looking forward to being keynote speaker at the Eastbourne Business Show - Wed 9th Sept.

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If people problems are your greatest stress whilst growing your business, then this is for you.

Or even if you only have a small team, all the basics still apply.

I’d love to see you there!

See the link in the comments for more details.

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24/07/2026

Which talk would you want to hear?

Please put a 1, 2 or 3 in the comments...

1. Making a Profit in Challenging Times - vs working hard for not enough money

2. The Essential Art of Scaling through People - what every leader needs to know (to grow)

3. Strength through Adversity - how to personally survive and thrive from a crisis

I’ve got a speaker’s slot lined up, so I’d love to know what floats your boat an you’d actually consider turning up for…

Any other suggestion on a postcard please!

26/03/2026

So this time last week was my last session with the amazing Rob Reaks, - formerly Chief Commercial Officer at Lightning Fibre - where he’s been a driving force behind their success!

It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to work together for more than 2½ years, being a trusted sounding board.

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When you have a big, demanding role, it helps to have someone outside the business to talk things through with. Strategy. People. Influence. Decision-making. All the things that come with leadership.

You can, of course, work through those things on your own. But the right conversation often brings better perspective and better decisions.

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Here’s wishing Rob every success in his new venture with Cambridge Management Consulting.

Knowing Rob, his drive, talent and passion – he’ll be a huge success!

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03/03/2026

Martin Riley Business Coaching and David Blackmore are excited to announce…

We’re officially collaborating to pilot the first licensing of The Business Jet Engine business coaching method.

David is a highly respected coach and has been an advocate of the model for some time.

We’re now piloting David as the first officially licensed coach to use The Business Jet Engine with his own clients.

We’re also inviting expressions of interest from other experienced coaches who may want to explore a licence.

So, if you’re an experienced coach looking for a super-simple, tried-and-tested, highly effective framework to focus your existing skills...

Please contact David or Martin for an exploratory chat.

17/12/2025

What’s the one thing…

that if you fixed, changed or improved it next year…

and applied it consistently..,

would have the greatest strategic impact?

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For me it’s networking. I used to be a fiend, turning up at the right events consistently.

I’ve let that slide.

Next year, it’s my top priority.

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But what’s yours?

11/12/2025

If you want to win - team up with the smartest people! 🌟😅🌟

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Last Thursday was a wonderful, fun evening at Digifestive.

A seasonal celebration of all things Switchplane, Chalk Eastbourne and Digifest, in aid of the amazing charity that is Children's Respite Trust.

With bubbles, delicious food, raffle and quiz.

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And for once, I actually won a quiz!

But only because I teamed up with the 3 smartest guys in the room; brothers Joel and Tom Fielder, and Alastair Hazell.

Though Aga and I did contribute about 3 right answers between us!!! 😇

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Well done organisers Donna Fielder, Sarah Cronk and the rest of team.

Lovely to see Frida Ljungars Lawrence, Hansa Raja, Fiona Hill, Danni Drew, Neil Phillips, David Smith along with so many others…

05/12/2025

Do you have a client listening programme in place?

It’s always great to catch up with the amazing Paul Matthews of Insight6 Sussex & Surrey over a coffee. But this time we really had our thinking hats on…

We were looking at how I gain customer feedback. It’s something I’m always conscious of doing…

but as I hoped, Paul proposed some fabulous options, where I can seriously raise my game.

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Knowing EXACTLY!!! what your customers value - and where you can improve- is vital for your business.

Now more than ever!

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If you don’t have a regular way of hearing what your customers think, you need to talk to Paul Matthews at Insight6.

He’s well worth having a coffee with – and always a great guy for a chat.

04/12/2025

When even Poundland is struggling in acost-of-living crises - it’s another example of what happens when you confuse your business model.

Worth reading to the reflections of the founders who built it successfully and sold it:

The father and son duo grew Poundworld into a chain of more than 300 shops, before selling it in 2015 to an American investor.

But it soon collapsed, disappearing from the high street three years later.

"They just didn't understand the discount business," he argues. "They tried to sell other things but not in a controlled way like we do it."

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Now, more than ever, we need to be crystal clear on our business model…

Do you know what your customers truly value - and what they will pay for your offer?

And based on this, do your numbers stack up to make that all important profit?

Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?