Dr Scott King is award-winning business growth advisor, entrepreneur, investor, published author, lean practitioner and Chartered Engineer.
For circa 20 years he has worked and travelled across the globe providing direction, assistance and leadership to an ever-expanding list of multi-sector organisations. Here we took 15 minutes to find out what makes him tick...
What do you do (in 10 words or fewer)?
I use knowledge and experience to add value to organisations.
Three main attributes you need for the job:
You must listen to what a client is telling you and pick up on what they aren’t.
Experience and perspective gained across multiple sectors and business avenues are also invaluable when advising clients.
A sense of humour! Work should be enjoyable and cracking a joke is a great way to break the ice.
Path to this position:
I gained a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, followed by a PhD. I then embarked on a career within the Aerospace sector, was awarded Chartered Engineer status and founded the NI Advanced Composites and Engineering Centre and Advanced Engineering Competence centre.
This led to a role as a Strategic Partnerships Manager in the manufacturing sector, during which time, myself and my now business partner, Robert McConnell, realised that we shared a common goal of nurturing the growth of NI businesses. We established Pinnacle Growth group together to achieve this in 2018.
What’s your dream job (present position excepted)?
I’d love to have my own whiskey distillery. Everyone who knows me, knows I love a nice dram!
What are you most proud of (work-wise)?
Creating Pinnacle Growth Group, and nurturing it to become a successful professional services consultancy with a multi-sector client footprint across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and GB.
What are you most proud of (in life)?
Being the first person from my family to go to university.
How did the coronavirus pandemic affect your organisation and how did you adapt?
We were already used to operating remotely, so had infrastructure in place to support homeworking.
During Covid, we took a proactive approach to marketing, team development and innovation. We also managed to avoid furloughing staff and even hired!
Our post pandemic strategy is focused on supporting clients across three pillars: Finance for growth; Business Improvement; and Sales and Export Growth.
What lessons did you learn about yourself during lockdown?
That I’m 100 per cent committed to achieving my goals, although my patience could improve!
Who is Northern Ireland’s brightest business brain?
I’m blown away by the talent pipeline across our schools, colleges, universities and businesses.
I see much of this first hand through my role as a School Governor within Lagan College Belfast and have no doubt that our next generation can successfully propel Northern Ireland forward.
What do you wish you had invented?
Google.
Favourite App on your phone:
Google Wallet, so handy!
Apart from Belfast Live and your own, what’s your favourite website? LinkedIn - fantastic for engaging, growing your business network and identifying new prospects.
If you were spending the day in Belfast where is your dream breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks?
General Merchants for breakfast and Ruby’s in Montgomery Street for lunch.
Dinner would have to be Flame for unbelievable steak and the best Irish Coffee.
Drinks would be at the Duke of York for its cracking whiskey selection.
Where’s your hidden gem in Northern Ireland?
Murlough National Nature Reserve in Dundrum - a stunning location.
Where’s your favourite place in the world?
Port Douglas in Queensland Australia - so laid back and the perfect place to visit the Great Barrier Reef.
How would you describe Belfast to someone who’s never been?
A humble city, which has contributed so many positives to the world, and great craic, so it is!
In 10 years’, time I’d like to…
Be happy and healthy, have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and have gotten my private pilot’s licence.
I would also like to see Pinnacle Growth Group positively impact on the business landscape here in Northern Ireland, through straightforward and honest business advisory. We’ve helped clients create hundreds of jobs here to date and hope to continue this trajectory as we expand.
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