Discovery conversation: finding a time
Email thread Kielderside Growth Agency · sales
Tom Ashdown asked Lesley Charlton for a discovery call. She agreed, wants a grants colleague and an enquiries colleague present, and asked for topics first. She can commit no budget; that sits with Keith.
What was said
What this says
As at Fri 9 Oct 2026Tom Ashdown asked Lesley Charlton for a discovery call. She agreed, wants a grants colleague and an enquiries colleague present, and asked for topics first. She can commit no budget; that sits with Keith.
Ask: Tom sought an hour-long discovery conversation and offered a topic list in advance. Lesley accepted and asked for that list.
Customer view: her question is what the business owner experiences, seeing a different part of the picture through each channel, and she needs to evidence it for the board. Procurement matters must go through formal clarification.
Next: Tom to send the topic list. Budget and outcome sit with Keith, so he is the likely decision-maker.
The thread
Updated 9 Oct 26Messages
Tom Ashdown 17 Mar 2026 11:58Hi Lesley, Thanks for getting in touch after the regional event. Good to hear that your account managers are keen to see each business in one place rather than hopping between systems. I'd like to get a discovery conversation in the diary, so I can understand how your account managers, the enquiries line and the grants team work today. No slides from me at this stage. It's mostly me listening and asking daft questions. I know you'll be bound by the tender process, so I'll keep to whatever is allowed and won't stray into anything that should go through the formal clarification route. If it helps, I can send a short list of the topics I'd like to cover beforehand, and you can tell me which ones are fair game. Could you do a call later this week or early next? It would be about an hour. If you want a colleague from the grants side or the enquiries line to join, that would be really useful, but no pressure. Let me know what suits and I'll send an invite. Best, Tom Tom Ashdown Account Executive, BG-Demo
Lesley Charlton 17 Mar 2026 14:06Dear Tom, Thank you for your note. A discovery call would be helpful, and I appreciate you being clear about the tender. To be straightforward with you, I can talk about how we work today and what the account managers are asking for, but anything about the procurement itself has to go through the formal clarification process. I'm sure you understand. The question I keep coming back to is: what does the business owner experience? At the moment someone can speak to an account manager, ring the enquiries line and apply for a grant, and each of them sees a different part of the picture. I need to evidence that for the board, so it would help to talk it through with you. I would like to bring one colleague from the grants team and one from the enquiries line. Later in the week looks better for us, as early next week is already full. Could you send the list of topics first? I'll let you know which ones we can cover. Please also bear in mind that I can't commit budget or promise any outcome. That sits with Keith. Best wishes, Lesley