Group Directors

Glenys Chatterley

Managing Director of Effective Business Network (UK) Ltd (ebn)

Glenys has over 30 years of professional management experience, through running her own businesses (interior design, then catering, event management and business networking). Prior to that, she was a senior manager in the Post Office.

She has particular expertise in customer relations, event planning and staff management. She has a BA in Social Science and Politics from the Open University.

Sara Barnes

Chelmsford Group Director, Baddow Group Director

Sara Barnes studied law at the University of Sheffield attaining an Honours degree in Law before completing her Legal Practice qualifications at Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne. She trained with a well known large high street practice in Sunderland.

Since qualification in 2002, Sara has practised exclusively in family law, firstly at Archers Law LLP in Stockton on Tees, and later at Lowthian Gray Family Law. Both were highly regarded Legal 500 firms. She has been a member of Resolution for many years and adopts the Resolution Code of Practice when dealing with family disputes.

Sara has a wealth of experience in all areas of private family law, most particularly in divorce/separation and financial disputes, acting in a number of complex matters.

Sara is extremely client focused and acutely aware that each individual client's needs are different. Sara prides herself on being understanding and approachable, and believes in giving realistic and sensible advice.

Sally Laking

Southend Group Director

Sally's career to date has been client-focused, working with a mixture of corporate companies and private individuals, across a range of industry sectors, on their marketing strategies.

Being in a privileged position, working as a financial adviser has allowed her to nurture good relationships with her clients, by understanding their plans for the future.

Together with each client, they look at the key financial priorities and work at getting the finances on track, so that the client can enjoy being in a better financial position.

Networking has been a vital part of her business as she has been able to get to know, like and trust the people with whom she meets regularly. Each meeting is booked in Sally's diary as a business meeting, and it gives her a wonderful start to her day.

Sally Laking Wealth Management is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

SJP Approved 31/01/2023

David Lee

Billericay Group Director

After an early career in banking, David moved into sales finance and then into the computer industry.

He has always had an interest in computers, from the first Sinclair ZX80 his Dad brought home, to DOS-based machines. He always took the opportunity to learn all he could, taking advantage of any courses and specialist training on offer.

He has worked with and for a number of small and medium sized businesses in various positions, before moving from a position of General Manager of a multi-million pound company into his own business.

David prides himself on being straightforward and honest with clients and suppliers alike.

Asked recently what one word best summed-up his attitude to business, his response was "integrity".

Debbie Glover

Brentwood Group Director

I help people streamline their utility bills by introducing them to UW - a multi-utility company committed to giving members savings, simplicity and service.

Utility Warehouse is a British PLC company with its Head Office based in London. With over 30 WHICH? Awards including Utility Brand of the Year 2020, you can be sure your gas, electricity, phone, broadband and mobiles are in safe hands. But that's not all - there are other benefits of being a member such as Cashback on everyday shopping (on the high street and online), our highly competitive green energy tariff (along with our other green initiatives) and unlimited data on our mobile SIMS!

A review to see what savings and benefits you qualify for is FREE.

Are you looking for a Plan B source of income in these challenging time? Then a business with Utility Warehouse could be a fit for you. For recommending essential services that people use on a daily basis, you could earn a residual income forever.

Maisie Emans

South Woodham Ferrers Group Director

Pocknells is a Chartered Accountants based in South Woodham Ferrers. Our clients range from owner-managed micro-businesses up to larger SMEs and are in diverse industries including construction, freight and medical practices.

Our services include keeping your books in order providing annual accounts and quarterly management accounts, tax planning and management, payroll, HMRC investigation support, company secretarial services, systems advice and digital accounting systems.

Richard Pickering

Colchester Group Director

I made a decision just before lockdown, during an NLP Master practitioner course, to bring my two main areas of coaching (personal and running) together to form one business. Although due to COVID that process has been longer than I had expected, I feel as if I have now transitioned into my new world and my work now falls into 3 main areas:

Personal coaching: mainly for athletes to deal with everything that can happen away from the road, track or trails. There could be any number of subjects from 'I get nervous before races' to 'my recent break up is really affect my ability to focus on training'. All are equally important and can directly or indirectly affect an athlete's ability to perform at their best.

Training programmes: I write personalised training programmes for runners who generally fall into two areas. They are either new to running or have signed up for a big event and need some help with their training. Or, they are more experienced athletes who require some support, often over a longer term, to take them to a higher level.

MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator): This is a personality profiling tool. I am a qualified practitioner in Steps 1 and 2 and have started to collaborate with a friend and ex-colleague to promote this in more detail. We can either do 1-1 feedback sessions for people who have competed the MBTI online questionnaire. Or we work with groups of people who may be looking at personality profiling as a development tool or team building exercise along with a number of other modules which we are due to launch next year.

Previously I worked for John Lewis for a long time, and for a good period of that in training and development and coaching type roles. My last role being in head office delivering management training and working as an internal coach. I took redundancy in 2017 following a large re-structure of the Personnel function and for the last few years have enjoyed the opportunity to work for myself, do something different and meet some new people and work with new clients.

I became Group Director at EBN Colchester in October 2019 and am enjoying the challenge of developing the group, particularly through the challenging circumstances we have had to endure during the Corona virus pandemic.

I am a runner myself and have run 17 marathons (although I've slowed down a bit of late). As well as my private work, I also coach the top group at Colchester Harriers as a volunteer and also do some work with a fabulous community club called Running Colchester.

I live in Colchester and have a wonderful 8 year old daughter called Olivia.

Leanne Grafton

Rainham Group Director

Michael Smith

Hornchurch Group Director

Michael Smith qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant with a provincial accountancy practice before joining a boutique tax consultancy in London's entrepreneurial west end, spending 3 years gaining the Chartered Tax Adviser qualification whilst working with a highly sought-after tax planner and investigations specialist. Subsequently, Michael spent 2 years in 'Blue Chip' industry - employed by Kimberly Clarke as its UK Tax Manager. A period of freelance consultancy followed, advising high net worth and international clients in which time Michael obtained his Trust & Estate Practitioner qualification.

Having relocated to Essex, Michael established his practice - Michael Stuart Associates, which principal office is in Warley.

The firm's clients range from the self-employed sole trader, contractors, through to entrepreneurial companies with annual turnover exceeding £10M. In addition, the firm acts for individuals, trusts, and a substantial number of property investors/ developers - located throughout the UK and overseas.

Aside from ensuring clients meet their statutory accountancy and tax obligations, as a dynamic and client focused practice, Michael Stuart Associates provides a holistic tax planning service. Michael Stuart Associates prides itself on offering holistic advice, considering each option from the personal/commercial angles – together with opportunities for tax efficiency.

The firm also provides Probate activities, provided through our associated practice.

Michael Stuart Associates continues to enjoy strong yet sustained growth. Every client to date has been gained through personal recommendation/referral.

Graeme Parrett

Braintree Group Director

I specialise in assisting company owners with tax efficient ways of financial planning. As well as this I help people ensure their pensions and investments are performing properly as well as ensuring their lives and businesses are fully protected.

James Grand-Scrutton

Southchurch Group Director

Hi, I'm James, founder of GSGraphicDesign. I've been freelancing for over a year now, with numerous satisfied clients.

I pride myself on a personal service with fast delivery at an affordable rate. All my clients are offered a free consultation where we can discuss your brand's needs and what I can do to improve your brand.

So what do I actually do?

Well... I design anything and everything, from business cards and flyers to social media graphics. While I don't provide printing personally I liaise with my trusted printer connections who will make the whole printing process seamless.