Welcome to our series ‘Meet the Entrepreneur’, where we meet the people behind start-ups in the Channel Islands to find out what they’re doing and what makes them tick.
Tom Noel is the Founder and CEO of Accelerate Consulting. Tom talked to Channel Eye to share his journey from corporate leadership to launching a fast-growing consultancy in Jersey, how he’s helping businesses scale with purpose, and why blending strategy with hands-on delivery sets Accelerate apart.
Tell us about your background and journey to your current role
I’m a proud Jersey man, educated at De La Salle College before heading to the University of Bristol. After graduating, I qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant and joined BAE Systems, one of the UK’s largest defence and aerospace firms.
After a few years in the UK, the pull of home brought me back to Jersey. Since then, I’ve enjoyed a diverse and rewarding career, most notably at JT, where I spent over a decade in senior leadership roles including Managing Director (International), Corporate Affairs Director, and Chief Product Officer. Each role broadened my perspective, from strategy and governance to innovation and commercial growth.
In late 2024, I took on the role of Interim CEO at the JSPCA. Leading an organisation with such a meaningful mission made me reflect on the impact leadership can have and gave me the confidence to launch my own venture, Accelerate.
What does your company do? What makes it different or special?
At Accelerate, we offer strategic consultancy and delivery services designed to help businesses grow, scale, or transform. We work across a broad spectrum, from early-stage start-ups to established businesses needing expert input on specific projects or phases of change.
What sets us apart is our balance of high-level thinking and on-the-ground delivery. I bring a strong finance and commercial lens, which is particularly helpful for clients needing fractional C-suite support. Our delivery arm complements this strategic support, giving clients access to project management, technical build, and operational resources. This full-service approach, from vision to execution, is rare in Jersey and one of the reasons we’ve grown quickly.
What is a typical day for you?
One of the things I love most about this work is that there’s no typical day. That said, I try to balance my time carefully. I aim to dedicate three days a week to direct client consultancy, working on strategic planning, execution, or fractional leadership. The remaining two days are focused on building Accelerate itself, refining our services, developing new propositions, forming partnerships, and networking to raise awareness of what we do.
Flexibility and reputation is key, especially in the early stages of a business. I make myself available to clients as needed, even if that means working weekends or evenings.
What are the most interesting parts of your work?
The variety is incredible. I might spend the morning helping a start-up founder prioritise funding strategies and the afternoon working with an established business on a critical project delivery. The diversity of sectors, business models, and challenges keeps me on my toes and ensures I’m always learning.
But what I enjoy most is the sense of shared purpose. I aim to build close, collaborative relationships with my clients and become part of their team, celebrating their wins and navigating their setbacks alongside them.
Tell us about your team
I’m incredibly proud to have recently hired Jake Allix, Accelerate’s first Delivery Agent. Jake brings energy, structure, and an impressive skill set as a qualified PRINCE2 project manager. He’s already making a big impact on how we support and scale project delivery.
Beyond Jake, we’ve also built a trusted network of affiliate partners who bring in-demand skills to our clients. For instance, through a strategic partnership with Miklos Braun and his company F12, we can offer affordable, high-quality software development and digital transformation services. This means our clients aren’t just getting advice, they’re getting access to the tools and talent to bring their ideas to life.
What do the next few years in your business look like?
I have big ambitions. In the short term, we’re focused on expanding our service offerings in areas that align with my background including outsourced finance and accounting, company secretarial services, and compliance support. These areas are in high demand in Jersey and provide another way we can add value for our clients.
Longer term, I want Accelerate to become a household name in Jersey and the Channel Islands, known for delivering high-quality, practical, and embedded support that genuinely helps businesses succeed. I want us to be recognised not just for what we do, but how we do it, with honesty, drive, and real-world experience.
What is the best thing about working for yourself?
There’s a common perception that working for yourself means flexibility and freedom and while that’s true in some ways, the reality is that building a business is all-consuming. It requires energy, time, and an enormous amount of resilience.
But the best thing is the sense of ownership. Every late night, every hard decision, every big win, it’s all contributing to something I’m building for my family, my future team, and my clients. That’s a level of motivation and satisfaction that’s hard to replicate in a traditional role.
What is your proudest moment so far?
Seeing happy clients return with new projects or refer others to us is the best validation I could ask for.
Hiring Jake, our first employee, was a huge milestone. It marked the transition from being a solo founder to building something bigger, something that could grow beyond me.
I’m also incredibly proud of the trust our clients place in us. Seeing happy clients return with new projects or refer others to us is the best validation I could ask for. And I’m equally grateful for the network of friends, colleagues, and mentors who have supported Accelerate’s journey so far.
Who inspires you and why?
Throughout my career, I’ve been lucky to work with people who’ve challenged and inspired me. One former boss taught me the value of ‘having a go’, failing fast, and always staying curious. That mindset has stuck with me and shapes how I approach challenges today.
I’m also inspired by the entrepreneurs I’ve met in Jersey’s start-up and scale-up community. Many are taking real risks to build something meaningful and the support within that community has been humbling. It’s an incredibly energising environment to be part of.
What do you do with your free time?
With (many) children, two dogs, and a very understanding wife, life outside work is full and lively! When I do get some downtime, I love nothing more than relaxing in our garden with family and friends, ideally in the sun with a glass of wine.
Giving back is also important to me. I volunteer with Dementia Jersey and the JSPCA, sitting on both committees. These organisations are close to my heart, and I find the work deeply rewarding. It’s a chance to use my skills for a greater good and stay connected to the community that shaped me.
At Accelerate Consulting we take a hands-on, results-driven approach to consulting, going beyond traditional advisory services to actively embed ourselves within your organisation. We work closely with leadership teams and stakeholders to deeply understand the challenges, uncover root causes, and develop pragmatic, actionable solutions that drive real impact and create momentum. Get in touch with us today by email, by telephone on 07797 933864, or on LinkedIn.
