After stepping down from his position as chief operating officer of CPI Group Digital Division in April 2012 to enter retirement, Bell decided to take up a new role as advisor with HB Prime Advantage at the end of October.
Founded by James Caan the company helps SME owners and management teams, through a network of advisory partners with specialist sector knowledge, to strategise and grow their businesses over a two- to five-year timeframe to work towards a profitable exit.
In his role Bell intends to use his expertise to focus on supporting businesses involved in manufacturing across a range of sectors.
He is currently working with an electronics firm and a foiling company and he told PrintWeek: "Whether you’re making a book or a printed circuit board it is still a product and still has to be manufactured and while the processes are different, the principles are very much the same."
He said that many SME owners, particularly those in print, were so tied up with the day to day running of their businesses that they had no time to step back and think about their wider strategy for success.
"It is often the case that these owner-managers simply don’t have time for blue-sky thinking or planning strategies. They have their wealth tied up in the business and at the end of the day it is very difficult for them to get the money out unless they sell it," he added.
"We want to help them take the business forward and give them a different perspective."
Citing his background at CPI Bell said that he was now eyeing the print industry.
"My background is obviously in printing and I can think of two or three companies in the industry who are exactly as I have described, owner-managed and wanting to take their businesses forward in a very difficult market. I will definitely be approaching them in the months ahead."
