Former Sunseeker and Lotus Cars chief executive Phil Popham to offer business advice

Firms in the BCP Council area will be able to benefit from a masterclass and three one-to-one meetings with Phil Popham.

Mr Popham was responsible for global marketing sales and service for Jaguar Land Rover during a period of unprecedented growth before his stints as chief executive of Sunseeker and then Lotus Cars.

BCP Council has awarded grant funding to Dorset Chamber for its Transformation Programme to support post-Covid recovery for businesses.

• Sunseeker chief executive Phil Popham leaving company to 'pursue other challenges'

Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling said: “This is a fabulous and extremely rare opportunity for businesses to have fully-funded one to one advice and support from the former CEO of Sunseeker and Lotus Cars.

“In his 30-year career Phil has acquired an astounding amount of experience in transforming businesses and this represents a rare opportunity to learn from the best.”

Business owners, directors and senior managers of businesses based in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole can register their interest to attend one of three 90-minute virtual workshops.

The events will cover the drivers of transformation and key elements of a robust business plan as well as issues arising from Covid such as flexible working, acceleration of technology and the changing requirements of leadership.

• Sunseeker chief Phil Popham on its turnaround as Britain's biggest boat builder

Twenty businesses attending a workshop will then have the opportunity to have three virtual one-to-one follow up sessions with Mr Popham at board level.

Mr Girling added: “Demand is likely to be very high for this programme and we’d urge businesses to book quickly to secure a place at a workshop and then register their interest for the bespoke one to one support from Phil.”

The workshops run from 9.30-11am, with the first on July 8 fully booked but places available on August 5 and August 26.

Mr Popham spent four years at Sunseeker International, during which time the luxury yacht maker returned to profit. He was appointed chief executive of Lotus Cars in 2018 and led a long-term turnaround and growth plan which included the development of the first British all-electric “hypercar”, the Lotus Evija.