South West-based consultancy firm, hgkc, which supports UK owner-managed businesses with leadership, growth, innovation and preparation for exit, has today announced the appointment of Sarah Chilcott (pictured) to join their team of directors.
Sarah was Managing Director of the national Planning Portal for eight years, after leading its transition from a central Government unit into the private sector. Following the privatisation, she led the successful commercialisation of the business, expanding its range of services in the UK planning and built environment sector. 
hgkc supported Sarah through that transition and she has been working as an advisor with the firm for the last 12 months. In that time, she has been supporting clients from a range of sectors with business growth and transformation work, as well as helping business owners to prepare for exit.
She joins hgkc at a pivotal point in its evolution and over the coming months she will continue to strengthen hgkc’s partnerships, client base and consultancy services in the South West and nationally.
hgkc Co-Founder, Peter Quintana, said: “We are delighted that Sarah is joining us at such an exciting time. She embodies the hgkc values – happy, giving, know how and challenging – and I am looking forward to working together with her, delivering projects for some fabulous existing and new clients.”
Sarah added: “I’ve long been an advocate of hgkc’s people-centred approach to business growth and transformation, which was so valuable to me and the leadership team through our transition. I’m therefore delighted to be joining the team as a director and look forward to working together to drive the long-term success of hgkc and our clients.”
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