Beverley is a tour de force in the business world – but don't even think of mentioning the 'r' word!

She’s a positive one woman tour de force, known across the Hampshire business world and beyond. 

Beverley Poole has – in her own words – “seen the best and worst that life has got to offer in terms of nurture, nature, business and people.” 

A businesswoman, consultant, trusted adviser and mentor, she wears many hats. 

And after 30 years in business and education, Beverley shows no signs of slowing down. 

Indeed, put aside any thought of the proud mother of two calling it a day. 

She said: “You mean the ‘r’ word [retirement]? 

“I have no plans at all to stop work. 

“But I do want to have more balance in my life now my daughters have grown up. 

“I have nothing to prove and everything to share and I’m very happy to do that. 

“I’m very much the feeder, the nurturer. 

“It’s about being able to support people at different times in their business growth. 

“The line I use is ‘this is no longer your job, it is your business and you need different skills’. 

A LinkedInLocal Bournemouth and Poole meeting hosted by Beverley in 2019. Credit: Justin Wharmby.

Beverley, who was born in the Midlands, started her career in finance, firstly in Bristol and then London. 

She said: “Working in the City was very challenging at times, especially as a 5ft 2in woman in her 20s.” 

After visiting a recruitment firm to look at other job options, Beverley ended up being recruited by them. 

Within weeks she was sitting down with the likes of 3M, IBM and Motorola, assisting with their recruitment processes. 

That led to a move into consultancy work and then setting up an executive recruitment company, and also training arm, with Lesley Martin. 

Beverley said: “This was the business we grew and we ended up with 25 staff and two branches. 

“Then P&O came along and said ‘we want to buy your business’. 

“We came under Sutcliffe Catering and looked after the recruiting and onboarding of ground crew at Heathrow Airport. 

“It was massive. 

“At 31 I had huge responsibility and was on the Board but it took me away from what I loved.” 

The business acquired by P&O was the first of three founded by Beverley and subsequently sold. 

After helping establish a company for the Chrysalis group – Chrysalis Interactive Training – she joined Black Horse Relocation, setting up major accounts with the likes of British Rail and NHS Trusts. 

Following the break-up of her marriage – and with her two daughters then aged six and seven – Beverley enrolled at Plymouth University. 

She said: “I had a 16 hour a week teaching job, was doing two degrees, including one in early childhood/psychology, running alongside each other together with my children and everything else. 

“It was just mad.” 

After graduating, and while her daughters – now 22 and 23 – grew up, Beverley lectured for ten years, ending up leading courses across three colleges. 

“It was another massive job but I was taking the same principle I had in business into education. 

“Treating every young person as an individual. 

“That was the important thing to me,” she said. 

In 2017, Beverley returned to the business world, starting off with Aspire Business Clubs and then Beverley Poole Consultancy. 

Two years later, and during the pandemic, she set up Aspire4BusinessAcademy to help companies, or people, to get online. 

She said: “There are about 300 training courses on there now but it’s only for hosting. 

“I’ve also got Aspire4Business.com which I describe as a one stop shop for growing companies. 

“Aspire SkillsHub will come alongside that, really on the back of a Skills Lab project I did with the Department for Education last year.” 

Fast forward to now and Beverley is working with Solent LEP and Fareham Borough Council on the Fareham Start-Up Launchpad, helping eight new businesses over 12 months. 

She’s also assisting a fintech company on all aspects of its business; bringing to market a unique project to build a boat involving apprentices from BAe Systems called FreeSpirit Embrace the Journey and holding Peer2Peer Boards at two locations. 

At the heart of her business consultancy advice is the value of creating a structure. 

Beverley, who lives in Hampshire, said: “With 30 years of business and education experience, I use a structure to help companies set up and grow. 

“It’s tried and tested and I’m a known quantity. 

“People say to me: ‘how can you do it with any company? 

“The answer is that you fill the structure with their own industry requirements.” 

Despite everything going on, Beverley said she doesn’t consider herself a workaholic. 

She said: “I love it. 

“I wouldn’t say I’m a workaholic but it’s my focus and it’s where I get my satisfaction. 

“I feel I’m doing a service to people, their life support networks, their families, the economy.”