In the current difficult economic climate an increasing amount of SMEs are turning to management consultants to give their business a boost.

One such management consultancy is Turnstone, a recently formed company that specialise in increasing sales and profitability within SMEs by creating effective change. Turnstone either focus on a particular department that is struggling or offer a co-ordinated and comprehensive programme of change across a whole business.

The consultancy is headed by the ex operations director at Tesco, Mark Sykes. Turnstone works with clients seeking to create a positive change and businesses that are searching for solutions to help their businesses survive.

"It feels like the whole business landscape has changed in a matter of months, and whilst we continue to work with long standing clients to enable their continued growth, a high proportion of our new business contacts are distressed calls from businesses looking to get external help," said Sykes.

In the current economic climate it is essential that SME owners are proactive, and take steps to not only help their businesses survive, but also grow. Using management consultants is one such way that SME owners can get a fresh opinion on their businesses by experts.

Director Sykes is all to aware that some SME owners are simply hoping for the best, instead of forming new business plans and models to adapt to the current climate.

"I am meeting too many business owners who are simply hanging in there and hoping that their problems are going to be sorted out by the government and the Bank of England. Some seem to think that as long as they are not facing an immediate cash crisis then they will be able to ride it out," the company director comments.

A good management consultancy should get involved in all aspects of the business they are working with. It is essential that any SME owners hiring a management consultancy company ensure that all relevant members of their organisation speak to the consultants and that at the end of the process there are tangible outcomes; for instance, a new step-by-step business plan. The consultancy must be accountable.

Mark Sykes believes that the majority of businesses are saveable, as long as they take proactive steps and confront any problems head-on.

"The good news is that, even in the current climate, the majority of ways to get a business out of any current difficulty are not new or unique. You just need to find someone with the tools and the experience to help you."

For more information about Turnstone and a free consultation please click here