Marketing, systems, energy, networking & photography

Essential Marketer is Steve's digital marketing business. The work covers search engine optimisation, Google Ads, websites and lead generation for businesses that want more of the right enquiries.

The emphasis is commercial rather than cosmetic. Visitor numbers matter less than whether a business appears for the searches its customers actually make, and whether those visits turn into phone calls, forms and sales.

Through Essential Systems, Steve develops tailored Business Operating Systems for small and medium-sized businesses.

In plain terms, a Business Operating System connects the parts of a business that are often kept apart: marketing, sales, customer records, day-to-day operations, administration, reporting and automation. Instead of re-typing the same information into several spreadsheets and tools, the business works from one joined-up system built around how it actually runs.

The aim is less duplicated work, fewer things slipping through the gaps, and a clearer view of what is happening across the business.

Steve is a co-founder of and investor in Unified Energy Group, where he serves as Marketing & Systems Director.

Unified Energy Group focuses on commercial solar, energy-saving technologies and partnerships. Steve's involvement centres on marketing, the systems that support the business, and business development.

Steve is involved in business networking through Sunrise Networks and serves as chairman of a Sunrise Networks group.

His interest is in connecting business owners, building genuine working relationships and making introductions that are useful to both sides.

Alongside his business work, Steve photographs weddings with his daughter, Felicity, through 2 Wedding Photographers.

It is a smaller, more personal part of his working life, and a creative counterpoint to marketing and systems work.