in the South West
strategic direction
navigate the business landscape
welcome!
Would you like a lifestyle you love, built around a business you love?
At Upland, we help business owners build businesses that sustain and enlarge their lives – across the life cycle from startup to exit, and everything in between. We specialise in the human side of business, and we love to work on the hard stuff.
Why business growth? The number one reason is to get a life (back)!
Would you like to pause the treadmill, have time to think about where you’re going? To feel less isolated in your business? To have the confidence to grow your business sustainably? (Hint: it doesn’t take an MBA or innate genius.) Would you like your family business to live on as a legacy and asset for future generations?
You can do this, but you know what? You can’t do it all on your own.
Upland Consulting has tools and programs to help you achieve all of this and more. Our motto is “Head, Heart and Bottom Line”™, and we help businesses from the micro to those who have, or need, boards of directors.
I’m Iain Massey, Upland Consulting is my business, and helping business owners achieve their dreams is my work. I’m known as the Board Bloke™ for my work with boards and advisory boards. I also have programs for small businesses, family businesses, and not-for-profits.
Here you’ll find ideas, insights and facts that can immediately help you. Also details and testimonials. Enjoy.

I love to see businesses and their leaders grow, succeed and excel themselves. Can I help you in this? Will we work well together? Contact me, let’s have that conversation and we’ll find out.
Knowledgeable, professional and relevant. Thanks Iain
Loved the slogan/point of difference: Head Heart and Bottom Line. Passionate and a good listener.
Thanks Iain. This session has created the collaboration and discussion we needed…
Iain’s assistance was invaluable in improving our corporate governance policies and procedures. He took the time to understand the business, was responsive to our needs and a pleasure to work with. I would have no hesitation in recommending Iain and Upland Consulting.
Loved the slogan/point of difference: Head Heart and Bottom Line. Passionate and a good listener
I have worked with Iain for the last 6 months through his Peer Magic programme. His business knowledge is first class and I look forward to working with him into the future. Highly recommended.
Iain brought a new dimension to our company. Lifting our board performance away from the coal face with his knowledge of corporate governance, management skills, and systems development whilst maintaining a strategic 40 paces view. Iain has a very valuable skill set that can assist you out of the box.
Thank you so much for the facilitation, [it] was exactly what I expected from you, a safe and open forum to discuss and work through the process. We have a great starting point to get moving forward.
Iain at Upland Consulting specialises in Business growth. Through working with him I have developed more clarity regarding why I do my work at Horse Vision, where to go next with it and what the needs of my clients are.
Iain is a highly talented individual able to lead a team by being part of the team. Leaders need to surround themselves with honest straight-talking advisors that are able to help lift an organisation's performance with insight, balance and with humanity - Iain is perfectly suited to deliver such support. He is one of only a few individuals that I would recommend without hesitation.
Easy terminology and thought-provoking delivery
If you are starting up a new business involving a board of directors, a directors' workshop run by Iain is vital and will be money well spent.
Professional and valuable content that is very relevant to my role as a board member.
Very practical examples. Enough flexibility to allow us discussion. Excellent and relevant to our board.
Iain's facilitation invites participants to reflect on their own business, identify what is required, and find the motivation to more forward.
Great to think and listen to new ideas.
Good perspective and relevant to all. Iain has great career experiences to draw from and can adapt to many different audiences.
Clear and concise explanation and clarification.
Upland Consulting provided a friendly and efficient service. Added to this, the end product was on time, on budget and included the rare combination of being practical and innovative.
Wisdom @ work.
Iain is a really knowledgeable person and delivers a great strategy session.
I found [it] very easy to understand, topics allowed me to put in perspective [my work] on this board.
Iain's presentation was very thorough and informative. I took away lots of useful information.
Great talk, Q&A in particular.
Iain's practical approach to delivering his material makes the workshop very enjoyable. He's walked the road of business management before, so his advice comes from the heart, and is totally backed up by logic.
I love that Iain focussed on the importance of believing in what you're doing.
Thanks Iain. This session has created the collaboration and discussion we needed...
Iain conducts a very informative and engaging session. Inspirational and thought-provoking: many thanks.
Iain is very knowledgeable on his subject and a good, honest bloke.
Well authored and simply explained concepts.
Iain is an absolute pleasure to work with, as he is not only professional, responsible and efficient, but also very friendly and personable.
This presentation has been very informative and was a really good snapshot.
the method of presentation and... discussion was excellent. The content was very relevant and a bit of an eye-opener.
Iain is very knowledgeable in business strategy and has many tools that can help you spend time working ON your business rather than IN it.
The presentation was very well delivered and relevant...
I can see where a number of my clients could benefit from this [Peer Magic] programme in collaboration with my industry.
A great interactive session to look at and work on my business.
On-topic discussion that involved and engaged participants. Moved through in a timely manner... Enjoyed that it was delivered in a personal format and not by PowerPoint!
Very good, Iain, you delivered some amazing information and everyone had the opportunity to speak and share. Was terrific! Great guidance.
Nice presentation, easy-going and meaningful.
Prompted lots of thinking and new ideas.
Very informative. If you are in a family business, it is very worthwhile attending one of these sessions.
Iain is a fantastic presenter, and can help you explore and grow your business.
Strengthened my governance knowledge.
Iain Massey consults in business succession and exit planning. He is thoroughly professional and very knowledgeable on this complex topic. In my experience Iain delivers great value, great service and great results.
Thank you. Lots to think about, lots to re-motivate.
I found it extremely helpful and look forward to learning more. Very well explained, thank you.
Raised many issues that need addressing and combining into a risk management plan
Iain poses questions that get his audience talking about issues that are really important...
Good to sit down with both board and senior staff to explore and air concerns... Facilitation was excellent.
Two excellent presenters [the other was Mike Ansell], who worked well and encouraged audience participation
Very interesting seminar. Thank you.
Taking time out to reflect, learn and understand our business... was really worth it. Always take time out to work on the business, not just in it. Highly recommended.
Very informative and something I have been planning on doing. No excuses now!
Relaxed style of delivery, easy to understand.
Time well spent.
Iain's professional and guiding manner enabled a valuable interactive workshop.
Interesting and insightful presentation.
Do you hold the four aces?
If you’re going to benefit from an Upland business growth program, you need to be ready for some changes. We’ll walk the journey with you, but that won’t help if you’re not up for the journey.