Peter Newton

Peter Newton had a long career with multi-national companies at director & senior management level.  He also has wide ranging experience of working with high-growth SMEs.

In a 16 year period with Thorn-EMI plc, Peter progressed to Divisional Engineering Director with specific responsibility for product development and, for 10 years, technology transfer with the Far East. Following the sale of the company, Peter formed a technology SME.  As Chairman, he grew the company and achieved a successful trade sale.

He then joined the Glen-Dimplex Group in 1988 as Technical Director. In his 9 years with Glen-Dimplex, he revamped the approach to new products, which led to the successful expansion of the company.

Peter 'retired' in 1997, but became bored and for the last ten years has helped SMEs, initially as a private investor and then in a mentoring and advisory role, working with Business Link.  He managed the High Growth Start-Up programme for Business Link Surrey and worked  as part-time advisor with the Innovation Advisory Service for the South East of England.

Peter's role in Understanding Finance for Business is focused around grant funding.