IN the first of our new Behind the Business features for Gloucestershire, management consultant Paul Drabble explains how he uses his experience with international brands such as Coca-Cola and Cadbury to help county companies grow.

AFTER over 25 years of creating business growth plans for companies worldwide, Paul Drabble set up his own consultancy firm which he runs from his base in Rodborough.

Paul, who is 61 and has been living in the Stroud area since 1981, gained his management pedigree with Coca-Cola, Cadbury Schweppes and Ferrero UK, holding senior commercial positions in both international and UK markets.

During his corporate career he delivered new growth plans for many of today’s most recognised companies such as McDonald’s, Shell, Exxon Mobil, British Airways, BAA, Warner Bros. and Tesco.

Today, Paul runs his own management consultancy, Creating Business Growth (CBG) Ltd, specialising in delivering high-growth business plans, and he is currently partnering with The Growth Hub, Gloucester and Cotswold Taste to deliver a new business model for Gloucestershire’s food and drink industry.

The shared goals are to deliver sustained industry growth, create new jobs and promote locally produced food and drink.  The partnership will launch the new business model on June 19 at The Growth Hub at the University of Gloucestershire.

On how he uses his experience with global giants to help local businesses, Paul said: "The journey from corporate to local business has taught me that you have to be better, faster and more agile than your competitors."

He added: “I’m passionate about building and investing in Gloucestershire’s economy and developing the next generation of talent produced by our excellent schools, colleges and universities. I’m equally passionate about, yet sometimes frustrated by, how public money is invested in the county. I believe that local investment should focus on better and a more measured return, improving productivity, attracting the next generation digital industries, innovation and entrepreneurs, retaining the talent generated by local education system, improving both our transport and digital infrastructure and promoting Gloucestershire as the best place in the UK to live and build your career.”

Paul calls himself an ‘ageing sportsman’. He played local rugby in his younger days and squash for 40 years but injuries forced him to hang up the boots and racket. Now his leisure time is spent cycling in the Cotswold countryside and walking his Labrador on Rodborough Common.

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