Phil Wildbur: Straight out of bed and into the office

Apr 8 2009 Liverpool Daily Post

PHIL WILDBUR is managing director of business turnaround specialist, Turnaround Solutions, employing 10 people. He lives with his wife and three young children in Ruthin, in North Wales, where he also has his office. However, much of his work is in Merseyside and Cheshire. This was his day:

6.25am:My alarm goes off and it’s not long before I am actually at my desk. My journey to work doesn’t take too long, as my office is in a converted barn next to my house. I might grab a piece of toast on the way there.

7am:I log onto the computer and I start checking emails. I may also be looking at the bank accounts of clients, and I usually know what’s going on before they do.

7.30am:Go back into the house and help my wife with our three children – I have two girls, aged eight and three, and a son, aged six. We make sure the two that are going to school are on the bus for 8.30am.

9-9.30am:Set out to drive to Liverpool. If I am coming into the city, I am careful about what time I set out as the roads can get quite congested.

10.30am:I arrive in Liverpool city centre for a meeting with bankers from Lloyds TSB. They will talk to us about us working with their customers who are in financial difficulties. Banks are sometimes criticised for pulling the plug too soon on firms that are in trouble. But we find they are quite willing to help save them and therefore keep them as a customer. That is why they call us in.

11.30am:I have a meeting with a client, which is a solicitor’s practice based in Liverpool. We set out our proposals and they immediately agree to implement them. Clients aren’t always so co-operative. I’d say about six out of 10 are OK, but the rest can be hostile when we arrive, because usually the bank has given them no choice. We do the first half-day for free. I can usually tell in that time whether or not a company can be saved – not all can be. If we think they can, then we will put together a 90-day plan.