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Specialist business development consultancy to help mission-driven organisations grow, plan, and thrive.

Enterprising solutions for positive social change

I specialise in providing consultancy services to the social enterprise and charity sector, helping mission-driven organisations grow, plan effectively, and demonstrate their impact.

How I Can Help

I work with organisations at all stages of development, offering tailored support in the following areas:

  • Visioning & Strategy Development – clarify your purpose, set strategic priorities, and plan for long-term impact.

  • Business Planning & Financial Modelling – develop robust business plans and financial models to support growth and sustainability.

  • Investment Readiness – prepare for funding by strengthening your case for investment and aligning your financial strategy with investor expectations.

  • Social Impact Measurement – design practical frameworks to capture, evaluate, and communicate the difference you make.

A Bespoke, Collaborative Approach

I work closely with each client to understand their specific context and challenges. My approach is:

  • Flexible – services shaped around your needs and capacity.

  • Solutions-focused – practical support that leads to real change.

  • Collaborative – a trusted partner, not just a consultant.

Whether you’re a start-up social enterprise or an established charity looking to evolve, I bring insight, experience, and commitment to every project.

I provide a flexible, solutions focused, bespoke approach tailored to your individual needs

Strategy Development

Business Planning

Investment Readiness

Impact Measurement

Business Mentoring

Enough Talk, Let's Build Something Together

Mark Cotton FRSA is founder of Mark Cotton Consultancy

Our purpose is to explore and implement enterprising solutions as a means to supporting you to bring about positive social change.

We have been providing bespoke business development consultancy services to social enterprises and charities since 2013.

Former Senior Head of Regions for the National Lottery Community Fund

Mark was previously Senior Head of Regions for the National Lottery Community Fund, the largest distributor of National Lottery funds to good causes, where he was responsible for several regional teams overseeing policy and programme development and delivery, local intelligence, public affairs, communications and external relations.

Development of National Funding Initiatives

At the National Lottery Community Fund he led the development of several multi-million pound national funding programmes from conception, through design and production, to final delivery and has experience of managing multi-million pound operational and funding budgets.

Associate Consultancy

Mark works with a number of larger businesses and consultancy firms in Associate Consultancy roles, such as impact investor Resonance Ltd, and is a Business Advisor for the School for Social Entrepreneurs.

Social Investment Roles

Mark is previously Social Investment Consultant for Somerset and Devon Community Foundation’s, where he managed their social investment funds.

Non Executive Appointments

Mark is currently a trustee of KARST, Plymouth’s largest independent contemporary arts space. He is also a former Chair of Kaleider, an Exeter based arts production studio, and Cosmic, a digital skills agency and social enterprise based in Devon.

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Look Inside

Why We’re The Consultancy Business For You

“Mark has been brilliant. Appointed as our external counsel on a detailed implementation review with a major grant maker, he met the high expectations we had with flair! In these projects people often lean towards attention to detail or maintaining the wider purpose / perspective. Mark managed to steer our team holding both in a healthy tension. I couldn’t recommend Mark highly enough.”

Daniel BrewerChief Executive - Resonance Ltd

“Mark brought clarity, structure, and insight to our strategic thinking through his Theory of Change work. He translated our mission into a clear and compelling framework that aligns our team, stakeholders, and impact goals. His collaborative approach made the process engaging and energising. We’re now much better equipped to demonstrate the difference we make, and how we make it.”

Emma LowerCEO - Lendology CIC

“Mark worked with me for a number of years, helping us to shape and deliver the first iteration of Somerset Community Foundation's social investment fund. He provided expert guidance to our applicants, many of whom were applying for social finance for the first time, and expert advice to our panel when we were making decisions.

He's highly committed, highly organised and highly effective, with a real eye for detail. Our fund exceeded our expectations largely thanks to Mark. Whatever he has for breakfast, it works.”

Justin Sergeant OBE DLChief Executive - Somerset Community Foundation

“Mark served as Chair at Cosmic in the period from March 2016 to October 2020, having served as Director on the Board since 2013. Alongside this Mark has worked with Cosmic over many years as consultant, mentor in our leadership programmes, evaluation partner and also assisted our work to develop social impact frameworks, measures and reporting tools. Mark's tenure as Chair supported Cosmic through substantial challenges and change management programmes, not least during the early years of the pandemic. His strong values, insights and commitment to social impact led to major improvements in systems and in our leadership too.”

Julie Hawker MBE FRSACEO - Cosmic

We've worked with some amazing organisations:

Contact us today!

Send a message on our form or give us a call on 07801 430988

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    Contact Us

    T: 07801 430988

    E: mark@markcotton.net