- Running/ Fitness
- Reading
- Personal Development
JONATHAN MIDWOOD
Harrogate,North Yorkshire
Summary
Visionary commercial leader with 25 years of experience in market development and partner network expansion across diverse sectors. Drove Up & Running's growth to 30 sites and £12m turnover, established a franchise model adding 28 locations, and co-founded Running Industry Alliance, expanding membership to over 315 organisations. Proven expertise in cultivating commercial opportunities and delivering measurable results through strategic relationship management.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Development Manager
Acis Group
Gainsborough
01.2025 - 09.2026
- Established relationships with local authorities, funders, NHS partners, and other organisations to pursue tenders, grants, and commercial bids.
- Collaborated across the Group to identify and develop new income and partnership opportunities, creating a pipeline valued at up to £10m.
- Assisted in business planning, financial modelling, forecasting, market and competitor analysis, and evaluation of commercial viability and delivery requirements.
- Prepared growth and strategy updates and supported bid development in a not-for-profit organisation operating across housing, skills, education and community services.
Co-founder
Running Industry Alliance
Harrogate
01.2022 - 12.2024
- Co-founded and developed a B2B trade and membership organisation for the running industry, growing the network to 315+ organisations across the UK, Ireland and internationally.
- Led member acquisition and retention, enhancing commercial performance through strategic relationships with brands, suppliers and industry stakeholders.
- Utilised commercial KPIs, including margin and contribution, to guide decisions on sustainable growth and optimise member value.
Hub Manager
North Yorkshire Sport
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
07.2021 - 12.2024
- Increased regular hires by more than 70%, broadening the Hub's commercial client base.
- Established partnerships with local strategic partners and community organisations to support Hub initiatives.
- Developed recommendations for decarbonisation and property improvement projects, aligning with commercial objectives.
- Contributed to renovation and sustainability projects, delivering energy-efficiency improvements that enhanced building performance.
Founder
Jera Consulting Limited
Harrogate
03.2021 - 03.2023
- Advised organisations on proposition development, business planning and market positioning, and conducted strategic audit of UK specialist retail market to inform growth strategies.
- Established consultancy delivering tailored projects for retail and commercial businesses, enhancing client operations.
- Supported start-ups through programmes including Help to Grow, facilitating access to resources and mentorship for business development.
General Manager
Up & Running (UK) Limited
Harrogate
08.1998 - 12.2020
- Led marketing, buying and e-commerce functions, overseeing performance of 30 retail managers, including 10 franchisees, to ensure alignment with business objectives.
- Collaborated on commercial strategy and day-to-day trading, connecting central functions with store-level performance to enhance operational effectiveness.
- Built supplier and brand relationships, establishing performance targets across retail and digital channels, and reported on sales, margin and contribution to inform board decisions.
Franchise Manager
Up & Running (UK) Limited
Harrogate
08.1998 - 12.2020
- Designed and implemented franchise structure, facilitating addition of 28 retail locations from 2002 to 2010.
- Recruited and supported franchisees, set quarterly targets, and monitored trading and customer-service standards, achieving 10%+ year-on-year growth against targets.
- Managed relationships with franchisees, providing operational support and guidance.
- Assisted in the launch of new franchise locations, from site selection to grand opening.
- Oversaw the development of marketing materials to support franchisee sales efforts.
Marketing Manager
Up & Running (UK) Limited
Harrogate
08.1998 - 12.2020
- Conducted market and competitor analysis to inform brand-partner relationships and shape media and social strategy.
- Project-managed e-commerce development and launched community running initiative to enhance customer engagement.
- Created sales strategies to promote advertising offerings and motivate larger deals.
- Managed marketing budgets, allocating resources efficiently to achieve strategic objectives and maximise returns.
- Built new business partnerships to drive customer acquisition and generate revenue.
Education
Executive MBA (Merit) -
Leeds Beckett University
01-2020
BSc (Hons) - Psychology
University of Huddersfield
01-1996
Skills
- Business development
- Partnership development
- Tender development
- Pipeline management
- Market analysis
- KPI analysis
- Commercial growth strategy
- Franchise operations
- Stakeholder management
- Team leadership
- Change delivery
- Relationship management
- Partnership management
Websites, Portfolios, Profiles
linkedin.com/in/jonathan-midwood
SELECTED COMMERCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS
- Business growth: played a central role in scaling Up & Running from a single specialist store to 30 sites and £12m+ turnover.
- Franchise expansion: designed and implemented the franchise structure that supported 28 additional retail locations between 2002 and 2010.
- Network development: co-founded Running Industry Alliance and grew membership to more than 315 organisations across the UK, Ireland and internationally.
- Opportunity development: contributed as part of the Acis team to a commercial pipeline with potential value of up to £10m; this represents pipeline value, not confirmed revenue or converted contracts.
- Performance improvement: increased regular hires at Harrogate Hub by more than 70%; the source CV also cites a 60% increase in stakeholder engagement, but the measure and period should be verified before use.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Lifelong runner with interests in walking, the outdoors, live music and ongoing personal and professional development.
Interests
Timeline
Business Development Manager
Acis Group
01.2025 - 09.2026
Co-founder
Running Industry Alliance
01.2022 - 12.2024
Hub Manager
North Yorkshire Sport
07.2021 - 12.2024
Founder
Jera Consulting Limited
03.2021 - 03.2023
General Manager
Up & Running (UK) Limited
08.1998 - 12.2020
Franchise Manager
Up & Running (UK) Limited
08.1998 - 12.2020
Marketing Manager
Up & Running (UK) Limited
08.1998 - 12.2020
Executive MBA (Merit) -
Leeds Beckett University
BSc (Hons) - Psychology
University of Huddersfield