When Bethany Dean set up Taylored Consultancy three and a half years ago, she wanted to do something different in an industry that had not changed much in a long time. Regulatory consultancy has a reputation for being slow, technical and hard to work with. Bethany thought it could be practical and commercially minded instead, and that brands would welcome that.
It seems she was right. Taylored now supports clients around the world across cosmetics, food supplements and medical devices. In that time, Bethany has grown the business into four entities, in the UK, the EU, the UAE and Australia, so that brands can get support on the ground as they expand into new markets.
Her clients range from individual founders launching their very first product to some of the largest companies in the world.
“Compliance used to be something brands dealt with right at the end,” Bethany says. “I wanted to be involved much earlier and to understand what the business is actually trying to achieve. If you know where a brand wants to go, you can help them get there safely, without wasting time or money.”
A difficult start
Building the company was not easy. Bethany is open about the fact that the early days were hard, and that as a woman starting out in a technical, established sector, it did not always feel as though there was room for her.
“There were times when I felt like I was knocking on doors that weren’t used to opening,” she says. “I didn’t have a roadmap. A lot of it was learning as I went.”
That experience is a big part of why she now spends time supporting other founders, and female founders in the industry in particular.
“If I can help someone avoid some of the things I went through, that means a lot to me,” she says. “There are so many talented women in science and regulation who could build something of their own. I’d love to see more of them do it, and to make those first couple of years a bit easier than mine were.”
A commercial approach
At Taylored, the focus is on advice that works in the real world. The team gets involved from early product development, balancing what the regulations require with what the business needs, and keeps clients updated so they always know where things stand.
“Regulation is there to protect people, and that matters,” Bethany says. “But it shouldn’t stop good products reaching the market. Done properly, it gives brands the confidence to grow.”
What’s next
With the business now established in four regions, Bethany’s focus is on growing the team and its services while keeping the hands-on, practical approach that clients come to Taylored for.
About Taylored Consultancy: Taylored Consultancy is a regulatory and quality consultancy supporting cosmetics, food supplement and medical device brands, with entities in the UK, EU, UAE and Australia. Find out more at www.tayloredconsultancy.com.
