Show notes
Jun 9, 2025
Hi, I’m Granger Forson – you can find me at www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk or connect with me on LinkedIn. In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I sit down with Mark Nicholls, the founder of Tectona Partnership – a business that provides part-time Finance Director services to companies navigating financial complexity.
Mark’s story is one of perseverance, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of what it takes to build trust and a brand in a competitive market. Starting with just two people in 2012, Tectona has grown into a team of 17 highly qualified FDs, supporting businesses under £20m turnover who need strategic financial help but aren’t ready to bring someone in full-time.
We explore how Mark has learned the hard way about the value of delegation, why trying to do it all yourself is a false economy, and the slow but powerful growth that comes from building a reputation through networking and relationships – not just advertising spend.
Mark is passionate about helping businesses make better decisions through better data. He speaks candidly about the "price-volume matrix" and how understanding a few key levers in your business could dramatically boost your profitability.
And we dig into some rich insights on culture, growth pacing, and how having the right people – and only the right people – can make or break a service-driven business.
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So, let’s now dive into the inspiring journey of decision-making, brand building and fractional finance with Mark Nicholls.
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Most founders I speak to feel busy but stuck; plenty happening, but not always clear on what genuinely matters most this quarter. If that’s you, the G90 Summit is worth a look. A structured half-day where we work through everything competing for your attention, get clear on the three to five things that must happen in the next 90 days, then commit to them and build the system to make sure they actually happen. Quarterly, virtual, £97 a seat.
Mark can be found here:
https://tectonapartnership.com/
marknicholls@tectonapartnership.com
Resources:
The Rest Is Politics podcast - https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/42KuSr/
Xero - https://www.xero.com/uk/login/