Experienced CEO leadership without a full-time CEO
Welcome to Sterling Walker
Your business has grown. Has the way you run it kept pace?
Revenue is rising but profit is not. Too many decisions still come through you. Your management team needs direction, and the business struggles to work without you.
Sterling Walker works alongside owners of established SMEs to improve profitability, build capable management teams and put clear accountability and practical systems in place. You get experienced CEO-level involvement for an agreed part of the month, without the commitment of a full-time appointment.
Work directly with Steve Walker, CEO, entrepreneur and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. With more than 20 years of experience building, acquiring, restructuring and operating SMEs, Steve understands the pressures of people, cash flow, customers and growth. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors and the Turnaround Management Association, and author of 30 Day Blueprint for Success.
This is hands-on leadership: setting priorities, leading management meetings, reviewing cash and the sales pipeline, improving pricing and helping your team follow through. The aim is a stronger business that depends less on you.
Specialist support when you need it
Welcome to Sterling Walker
Grow Your Business
We All Need Help Sometimes
Our Core Services
Fractional CEO
Experienced executive leadership for owner-managed SMEs ready for their next stage. Steve works with you and your team on priorities, weekly leadership meetings, KPIs, cash flow, sales pipeline, pricing and accountability. The focus is better performance and less dependence on the founder.
Strategic Advisory & NED
Board-level perspective and constructive challenge for owners who need a trusted sounding board and a clearer plan. Support can include strategy, management structure, growth decisions, succession and exit preparation. The scope and responsibilities are agreed for each engagement.
Business Turnaround
Practical support for underperforming businesses: understand the cash position, identify urgent priorities, improve operations and assess recovery options. Sometimes you simply need a confidential conversation with an experienced business professional: speak to Steve without obligation, before deciding what support you need. Where legal or insolvency advice is needed, we work alongside appropriately qualified professionals. Sterling Walker is not an insolvency practitioner.
M&A & Investment
Support with acquisition opportunities, business readiness and exit planning. Sterling Walker also considers selected UK SME investments and acquisitions. Any investment discussion is separate from the scope of an advisory engagement.
Work with an operator
Steve continues to operate and develop UK businesses alongside his advisory work. His advice comes from current experience of people, cash flow, customers, systems and growth.
Start with a confidential conversation about your business and what needs to change. We then agree priorities, the level of involvement and measures of progress. Steve works with you and your team to turn the plan into action.
Scope and fees reflect the time your business needs, without the commitment of a full-time CEO appointment.
Book a confidential conversation
If your business depends too heavily on you, let’s talk about what needs to change. Book a free 15-minute introductory call with Steve using the calendar, or send a message using the form.
Speak openly about your business in a confidential, no-obligation first conversation, without committing to an engagement or formal process.