Mindsport Ltd, a publisher of materials to improve human performance, secured Business West as a client after receiving coaching support from Business West advisers. Mindsport developed publications like mind cards and memos on topics like business and well-being. They sold 1,000 of their Headlight Diaries, worth £10,000, to Business West. Mindsport founder Sam Kotadia received help from Business West's Neil Higginson on strategy and cash flow, and business coach Peter Weeks on evaluating their global strategy and partnerships. Sam recommends Business West's coaching support, which provides expert advice to optimize business resources and achieve the best results.

1. Case Study:
Coaching for High Growth
December 2011
Mindsport Ltd:
Publication House
BRISTOL PUBLICATION
HOUSE LANDS
BUSINESS WEST AS A
CLIENT FOLLOWING
EXPERT BUSINESS
SUPPORT... FROM
BUSINESS WEST
A ‘positive psychology’ publication
house has secured Business West
as a client following specialist
coaching support from the
organisation’s own advisers.
Established in 2006 and the brainchild
of psychologist Sam Kotadia, Mindsport
Ltd develops and licences innovative and
accessible publications, including mind cards
and positive memos, that aim to improve
human performance in subjects ranging from
lifestyle and well-being, to business and
finance.
1,000 of Mindsport’s Headlight Diaries, worth
approximately £10,000, have been sold to
Business West as an aid to their coaching
and mentoring programmes. The diary
tracks client progress and details targets and
achievements, providing a lasting record and
ensuring clients remain on a positive, forward
trajectory.
After working in performance training with
athletes, including a stint mentoring the

2. For more information call:
01275 376 233
info@growthsouthwest.co.uk
www.growthsouthwest.co.uk
football team at Colchester United, Sam
was keen to develop a business plan that
would allow him to sell his knowledge. “I was
producing content for the players – bullet
points describing how to achieve a positive
mindset off the field,” he said. “I believed it
could be packaged up and sold.”
Sam enlisted the support of Business West’s
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
programme manager Neil Higginson, who,
as a non-executive director, assisted with
the company launch. Neil said: “I became
involved with Sam and Mindsport early on. I
helped him to get an initial strategy in place,
offering practical business support including
helping the company to get to grips with cash
flow and offering guidance as to financial
predictions.”
Sam has also received support from Business
West business coach Peter Weeks. After
undertaking preliminary meetings, Sam said:
“Peter has helped us to evaluate our global
strategy. We already licence the rights to
our publications in Arabic, Dutch, Italian and
Hungarian. Peter has advised on how these
partnerships can be grown and matured.
‘Coaching
provides you with
something all
businesses need -
expert advice’
“I have also discussed with Peter various time
management techniques, outlining priorities
and highlighting the areas that represent
the best use of my time and resources to
push the business forward. I would certainly
recommend Business West. While coaching
can’t provide you with finances, it can provide
the one thing all businesses desperately
need - expert advice, ensuring you spend the
financial resources you do have available in
the optimum way, achieving the best results.”
Coaching for High Growth is currently free
for local firms that meet key criteria and
comprises a minimum of 12 hours support
from a dedicated business coach or mentor.
They work with the business leader and the
management team over a 9 to 12 month
period. This involves an independent review
of the business; support in identifying options
and formulating strategies for growth.