The People

The governance, management, operations and general business of GK Partners is undertaken by its directors, associates and staff, with support from external independent professionals. Client work is led and delivered by the directors and associates, with support from office and project management staff. All the people with company responsibility are highly competent professionals with recognised qualifications and appropriate practical experience. (The interns and trainees who benefit from our pro bono schemes are keen and diligent people seeking to develop their competencies and career).

  • The Directors:

    GK Partners is run by co-directors Gibril Faal and Katharine Ford, who were the two specialist business advisers who piloted a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) project to develop and provide Social Enterprise (SE) business support through Business Link for London (part of the UK government's national business support agency). They have over 30 years business, consultancy and research experience between them. They have worked with FTSE100 companies, academic institutions, SMEs, social enterprises, voluntary organisations, charities, international NGOs and government bodies. The directors are recognised as leading social enterprise experts and practitioners and they also have extensive knowledge, experience and insight on inter alia: multiple bottom line business planning and management; social enterprise and ethical finance; corporate governance and legal structures; supply chain and corporate responsibility; organisational growth and development etc.

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As pioneers in the field of formal social enterprise business advice, between 2002 to 2006, they worked at different levels with 300-400 social enterprises, responsible businesses, charities and NGOs. The directors have outstanding empirical knowledge and understanding of the needs, wants and expectations of responsible businesses. They are recognised as exemplary advisers, trainers and mentors.

  • The Associates:

    GK Partners work with associates who are experienced business advisers and consultants with specialist expertise in a range of disciplines such as Environmental Management, Product Development, Branding, Access to Finance and Human Resource Management. All the Associates are qualified and accredited in their own fields of specialism. These are complemented by: SFEDI Business Advice accreditation (a government approved scheme for enterprise development); SFEDI-endorsed Social Enterprise Core Practice Modules training (run by Social Enterprise London [SEL]); and internal social enterprise orientation training and induction. The GK Partners associates are registered on the DTI and other lists of approved consultants.