Pratap Executive has worked with some of the most successful SME growth stories across Yorkshire and the East Midlands over the past five years. We help them to support their successful businesses with leadership teams, people strategies and key hires to sustain and be a catalyst for even more growth.

Timing is always important – when is the right time to build a stronger board? The answer is almost always “sooner than you have probably planned for”.

Building a board or an SLT should come at the start of a value creation journey and not just when an exit strategy becomes clearer. Future--focused board composition is about much more than preparing for a sale. It’s about building a business that’s resilient, strategic, and ready to seize growth opportunities—whenever they arise.

A Strong Board Is a Strategic Growth Asset

Boards of directors shouldn’t be treated as a formality or a checkbox for regulatory compliance. Too often, businesses overlook the transformative value a high-functioning board can bring. As a company matures and enters new phases of growth, its board must evolve in tandem, shifting from a passive, supportive role to one that actively contributes strategic insight, oversight, and accountability.

A well-structured, future-ready board can become a true growth catalyst. It brings external perspective, seasoned experience, and objective challenge to leadership. In particular, a strong board can:

• Constructively challenge and guide the CEO and executive team, helping to sharpen decision-making and avoid blind spots.
• Spot new market opportunities and inform growth strategies, drawing on diverse networks and deep industry knowledge.
• Enhance credibility and trust with investors, partners, and customers, reinforcing confidence in the company’s direction and governance.
• Navigate complex transitions, such as entering new markets, restructuring, or preparing for funding rounds, acquisitions, or IPOs.

In the early stages of a company, boards are often composed of founders, friendly advisors, or early investors-those who know the business intimately. While this model may work in the beginning, it doesn’t always scale effectively. As the stakes get higher and the business becomes more complex, so too must the expertise and independence of the board.

Tip: Ask yourself: Is our current board built to guide our future, or simply to reflect our past? A board that grows with your business can be one of your most powerful assets.

Strengthening for Scale – How SBD Apparel Built a Future-Ready Leadership Team

We’ve recently partnered with SBD Apparel, a world-renowned sports brand that manufactures premium performance clothing, technical supports, and clothing worn by elite strength and fitness athletes globally. SBD is a privately owned manufacturing company headquartered in purpose-built, state-of-the-art offices at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Sheffield. As they prepare for their next phase of growth, we’ve supported them in making several newly created, key appointments at both board and senior leadership levels.

This forward-looking approach reflects a strong commitment to building the leadership infrastructure required for scale. By proactively enhancing their executive team, SBD is now better equipped to drive strategic expansion with greater clarity, resilience, and confidence.

As a business, this was our first experience working with an executive search firm. Pratap Executive provided invaluable support and guidance throughout the process, helping us define the best approach to attract top talent.

From setting clear role objectives and benchmarking rewards to planning candidate pools, timelines, and governance, they brought structure and insight to every stage. Their ability to tailor the process to our specific needs ensured a thorough and well-managed search.

Most importantly, they focused on finding the right match, not just in terms of skills, but also cultural fit, personal values, and alignment with the motivation and vision of our existing team.

Overall, we were thoroughly impressed with the professionalism, expertise, and results delivered by Pratap Executive – William Islip, Commercial Director‍