Client Testimonials
“Kevin's training was one of the first steps I took as a bio-entrepreneur. He has a style that is particularly good at guiding newcomers into the complex world of bio-business. Many of my students have also benefited from his courses.”
Prof. Andrew J.R. Porter
Chair in Molecular & Cell Biology, Aberdeen University. Founder of Haptogen
“Kevin's training was certainly interesting; to us and other innovation driven companies, and what we learned was relevant to the growth of NovaBiotics in its early stages.”
Dr Deborah O'Neil
CEO, NovaBiotics Ltd
“In general, I don't have a lot of time for consultants and business advisors. However, I didn't mind working with Kevin. He did actually listen to what I was saying, and wasn't afraid to ask questions about the technology even if he didn't understand it all at first. As a result, he was the first commercial person to recognise the potential of bacteriaphage vaccination, and ultimately that helped me to form BigDNA.”
John March
Chief Executive Officer, BigDNA Ltd
“Having started the company straight out of University; the problem when you start up in business, is not only that you don't know very much, but you don't even know what you don't know! Kevin is a great mentor and consultant for early stage companies because his experience is so wide, and he is good at imparting knowledge without it terrifying you.”
Mark Paul Buckingham
Managing Director, Reactec
“Lux and Nipht are businesses based around luminous eukaryotic cells in fungi - a difficult concept to get across. Kevin helped me write the presentation for my first investor conference and my first grant funding applications. The conference chairman, who specialises in physics-based businesses, said it was the first biotech pitch he had ever really understood!”
Dr Patrick Hickey
Founder, Lux Biotechnology, Nipht Limited
“Kevin has an excellent talent for understanding what people do and recognising the potential of their technology. This forms the basis for the effective mentoring and help he delivers. In particular, Kevin helped me to recognise the importance of understanding your target market and potential customers. This has been particularly useful as I have developed APS”
Dr Alison Blackwell
Director and Founder, Advanced Pest Solutions Ltd
“Kevin offered valuable mediation in the negotiation between entrepreneur and university. Helping to keep both party's expectations on a realistic footing and providing me with much needed support and advice as I took my first steps towards running a company.”
Dr Alan Wrench
Managing Director and Founder, Articulate Instruments Ltd
“Kevin's advice was instrumental in the formation of Timber Sonics Ltd as a new start-up company. His valuable experience enabled the corner stones of the company to be formed and gave insight into the work of business”
Dr Shaun Mochan
Forest Research, Founder, Timber Sonics Ltd
“Kevin's training courses on Financial Management consistently achieve excellent feedback from our delegates.”
Martin Davies
Director of Training, British Institute of Facilities Management
“As usual, all the delegates loved Kevin”
Dr Patrick McCarthy
CEO, Genecom
“Not just the best teaching I've had at University, but actually the most I've enjoyed any class since primary school”
Student
Innovation and Enterprise course, University of Edinburgh
“Kevin's real-world insight, energy and enthusiasm mean that his Management Accounting course has always been very popular with our Operational Research MSc students”
Dr Julian Hall
Operational Research MSc Programme Director, University of Edinburgh
“The first time anyone has ever made a finance course enjoyable!”
Sharita Padruth
Dunbartonshire & Argyll Regional Manager, The Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust
“I am, to be honest, very very wary of customer reviews in due diligence as they can often be done very poorly and cause more harm than good. I have to say though that the feedback from those I've spoken to has been extremely positive, with the most frequent comments being 'professional, friendly and thorough'”
Confidential Client
Customer interviews with global heads of operations at major credit card companies, regarding Financial Services Software
“Kevin mentored young entrepreneurs on a number of projects Edinburgh Technology Fund has invested in. Rather than doing market research, feasibility studies and business plans for them, he showed them how to do these things for themselves. As a result of his efforts, not only did they produce remarkably good results at the first time of asking, but they were all able to repeat the process as their businesses grew”
Keith Winton
Managing Director Genomia, Edinburgh Technology Fund
“Kevin's map reading and team building work with a group of vulnerable young people really built their confidence and helped them settle into High School.”
Lea Taylor
Community Learning & Development Worker, Mid-Lothian Council
“Working with Kevin and KKI was my first introduction to the world of business and I have never looked back. The coaching and mentoring I received really helped me to make the difficult step from academia in to the commercial landscape.”
Alex Graham
Consultant, Egremont Group
“This was the best weekend of my life.”
Alessia Sacchi
Oracle Italy, Cultural & Education Visit to the Highlands
“This was the best weekend of my life!”
Anon
9 Year Old, Cub Scout on weekend 'Fellowship of the Ring' Camp
“In 2007 when Kevin mentored our Biotechnology YES team I realised that I did actually have good ideas and skills, and that I was in a position to do something with them. Less than 2 years later, I'm starting my first company, talking to investors, and separately applying for a £400,000 research consortium grant. At some point I still have to make time to finish my Ph.D.”
Nicky Craig
Post grad student, University of Edinburgh
“When I was 8, Kevin showed me how to ski and said I could be an instructor myself one day. I didn't really believe him at first but I do now - I qualified in New Zealand last year and spent the winter instructing in Canada. Its really given me confidence for my degree course as well”
Tom Frankau
Sports Science Student, University of Leeds
“Fabulous BioYES Mentoring and now I'm using it on a real project.”
Charmaine Love
Post grad student, NPU Edinburgh
“Kevin's training, and then entering Biotechnology YES, was a formative experience that opened my eyes to a lot of new career opportunities!”
James Lapworth
Business Formation Executive, University of Sheffield
“Kevin did an exceptional job in training my team during BBSRC Biotechnology Young Entrepreneurship Scheme in 2009 Scottish Heat and several other training sessions in research commercialization in Heriot-Watt and Dundee University. I also found his trainings in 'accounting for non specialists' and 'developing brilliant ideas' are exceptionally good, thought-provoking, and inspirational! His conception, wonderful work flow, creativity and understanding of commercialization created the environment that supports innovation. I would highly recommend him to anyone anywhere in the world. Believe me, he is going to inspire you in the good way!”
Hosea Saputro Handoyo
PhD Student in Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation Unit, Dundee, UK
“Kevins finance course for the PSYBT is excellent and has been very beneficial in helping run our business. He has written a budget finance spreadsheet just for us to suit our specific needs. I wish I'd had it when we started up!”
Martin Gillespie
Piper and Band Admin, Skerryvore folk-rock Band