Paul Pleydell is the founder and director of Pleydell Smithyman. He is a specialist design and business consultant leading a multidisciplinary team delivering strategic and design led business solutions to a range of sectors, including garden centres, rural businesses and commercial developments. His wider experience in consultancy has given him a broad skill base and the ability to lead teams of internal and external consultants delivering complex and diverse projects. Alongside his consultancy work he has been a visiting design tutor and professional practice lecturer at Birmingham City University, as well as speaking at various conferences in the UK, Europe, and the Far East.