Tony, while running his businesses, has held many NED and Vice President positions for national organisations which support enterprise and entrepreneurs. In 1996 he founded the SFEDI Group – the Sector Skills Body (includes the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs) for Enterprise, which he co-owns. He is Patron of the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, Director of Yorkshire in Business and is a judge for the Great British Entrepreneurs Awards. Tony is the co-founder, with Tina Boden, of the #MicroBizMatters movement and annual #MicroBizMatters Day.

Tony was honoured in 2001 with an OBE for services to small firms and is a recipient of two Lifetime Achievement Awards for Enterprise. He is in the top 100 of UK influencers on Entrepreneurship. He has written five business books, three fictional satires including ‘Freedom from Bosses Forever’ and one novel – ‘Loose Cannon’.