Tag Archives: Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year

The Importance of Successful Recruitment

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“My business would be so much easier to run if I didn’t have to employ people!” Anon.

Every entrepreneur has to deal with people issues while growing a successful business. Your people are central to your success, and the culture of your business must reflect this so you can nurture your people.

But here’s the challenge; how do you retain your core values, while ensuring your business is full of the right people, in the right seats, with the right attitude and shared goals?

Former Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Richard Dixon of Vets Now and Exchange board director Colette Grant, Grant Management, have both grown successful businesses with a fundamentally similar approach – a strong company culture and a focus on employee engagement. Their experiences proved educational for members at the Focus Dinner, particularly Callum Bastock.

“It’s important to start with recruitment and check suitability to company culture and values.

“Too often we have hired people that don’t fit in with our culture,” admitted Callum. “I remember Anne Rushforth saying to me years ago ‘you can’t run a marathon with a stone in your shoe, when its wrong move quickly and remove it’. However, all that happened was that new starts often didn’t last very long.

“By taking more time to test that candidates fit with our culture will save both money and time in the long run.”

Callum, of CCL Logistics, said his key tips from the evening were:

1. Culture is not a bolt-on, take it seriously from the top of the organisation down
2. Watch out for internal terrorists
3. Start with recruitment to check suitability to company culture and values

“When there’s a good culture, both customers and your own people notice it and benefit from it. For me a good culture means: externally – I want CCL to compete on service, this means the customer experience will be consistently better than our competitors.

“And internally – CCL will be recognised as a great employer. In today’s economy this has to be a Unique Selling Point.

“I’ll be implementing a recruitment policy with immediate effect.”

Feedback
“Tips I took from the evening – have few values and simplify – ensure to embed values in the questionnaire when recruiting new people.”

“My key tip was the importance of leadership in creating the correct values and culture.”

Brand Power

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What is a brand? It’s a living, breathing entity that succeeds or fails as a direct result of every action undertaken in your business. It’s about so much more than logos and packaging; it must reflect the values at the very heart of your company.

Exchange Director Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne of Genius Foods has spent years nurturing the Genius brand and she shared the wisdom garnered at a recent Exchange Focus Dinner.

Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne

Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne

For the members around the table, the knowledge and experiences shared are already having a direct impact on their businesses.

Keith Wight of SST Sensing believes a brand is much more than a company or product name, it is a combination of a promise to customers of quality and reliability, and something they relate to meeting their needs.

When creating a brand you should start with the needs and expectations of the customer, ensuring the brand resonates with importance to them rather than simply being a quirky name.

Keith, the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2011, added:” I am currently looking for an International Business Development Manager and will put greater emphasis on branding for the position than I would have previously done.”

Highlights for Andrew Robert Gordon were being able to pass on benefits of experiences and ideas for others at the table.

“Don’t be afraid to punch above your weight is a good reminder to those who already do, like myself,” said Andrew, whose business is Andrew Gordon Butchery and Fine Foods.

“The points that resonated with me and my business were that of having your team having the belief and passion for what the business is all about, and for them to fully understand my reasons for high standards, top quality produce and first class customer service.

“I will be introducing new booklets and wall charts within my business detailing our company values and standards as a reminder to all what we stand for.”

Feedback from other attendees:

“The value of this event was hearing anecdotes from the range of experience in the room and not just the speaker.”

“Key tip for me was to focus on what your brand means, and building personality and character in the brand.”

Speaker biog – Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne

Nominees for Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2012

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Tonight we’ll reveal the winner of the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 – here are our outstanding finalists:

Alan Bonner – Pinnacle Technology Group plc, Gilad Tiefenbrun – Linn Products, Peter Bruce – Entier Ltd, Michael O’Hare – thebookingroom and Hermann Twickler – PressureFab Group.

Alan Bonner
Pinnacle Technology
Based: Stirlingshire
Started: 2002
Employees: 60+
Turnover: £6.3m

Alan Bonner displayed entrepreneurial instincts as a 17-year-old school leaver when he started a video library that soon became profitable.He moved into the telecommunications industry in 1996 following stints in insurance brokerage and in sales at the BUPA private healthcare operation.

Quick to recognise the opportunities created by deregulation, Mr Bonner developed a firm that sold telecommunications products on behalf of suppliers, which was bought by a rival based in Kent. Since acquiring the then loss-making Glen Group (now renamed Pinnacle Technology) in 2007, Mr Bonner has developed an entirely new service offering. The firm has won a range of big contracts covering events like the London 2012 Olympic Games and used acquisitions to increase its customer base.

The company has reported profits and aims to expand overseas.

Deloitte verdict: “Turning around the failing Glen Group and creating a platform for sustained growth is a major accomplishment, particularly when achieved with no external debt.

“While building his resource steadily, Alan is attuned to the growth potential of his business and has the proven tenacity to overcome challenges when they arise.”

Peter Bruce
Entier Services
Based: Aberdeen
Started: 2008
Employees: 473
Turnover: £25.5m

A trained chef, Peter Bruce spent 11 successful years at Compass Group before spotting an opportunity to start a new business specialising in catering for staff on offshore oil and gas rigs as well as onshore venues.

After quickly building a customer base that includes big North Sea operators such as Apache, Entier has almost tripled turnover since 2008. The company is on course to make its first profit in 2012 with further growth forecast in 2013.

Entier has invested heavily in research and development, developing packaging to ensure produce is as fresh as possible when it reaches offshore sites. The company has won business in overseas markets like Canada, Egypt and the Gulf of Mexico and started working with clients in other industries.

Deloitte verdict: “Despite Entier Services still being in its infancy its rapid growth over the past four years is nothing short of impressive and, with almost 500 employees, it can hardly be viewed as small.

“Peter’s commitment to a quality product and service, combined with a loyal team, makes Entier very well positioned for continued success and the possibility of becoming a real powerhouse in the offshore catering sector.”

Michael O’Hare
thebookingroom
Based: HQ in Glasgow with offices in Edinburgh, London, Paris, Hong Kong and New York
Started: 1999
Employees: 133 (excluding drivers sub-contracted for additional international work)
Turnover: £12.8m

A former golf professional at Glasgow’s Sherbrook Castle, Michael O’Hare moved into the transport business by providing cars for weddings at the venue. After buying a limousine, he expanded into offering transport services for corporate events and financial road shows through his Charlton Chauffeur Drive operation.

Mr O’Hare went on to develop thebookingroom as a business which harnesses the internet to offer a chauffeur-driven service specialising in niche markets like events and private aviation.

Based in Scotland, thebook-ingroom now has offices in London, Hong Kong, Paris and New York. Clients include giants like JPMorgan Chase, MTV and Deutsche Bank. The company has maintained a growth rate of around 20% and is now planning further expansion into new markets such as Brazil.

Deloitte verdict: “Michael clearly has a strong understanding of the practical steps required to develop his raw ideas for expansion into tangible business success.

“The continued development and refinement of thebookingroom’s bespoke logistics and customer management software indicate Michael’s awareness of the importance of innovation in staying ahead in the market and gaining a competitive edge.

“To have developed into a business with international scope is testament to Michael’s entrepreneurship and determination.”

Gilad Tiefenbrun
Linn Products
Based: Eaglesham, near Glasgow
Started: 1973
Employees: 174
Turnover: £17.257m

With a background that includes a degree in electrical engineering and five years working in areas like mobile phone operating systems at Symbian, Gilad Tiefenbrun joined his father’s business, Linn Products, with a highly sophisticated understanding of technology

He proceeded to lead a turnaround of Linn with an emphasis on research and development. This resulted in the company ceasing manufacturing CD players in 2009 and focusing on technology designed to capitalise on the rise of digital streaming of music. Appointed managing director in the same year, Mr Tiefenbrun increased the company’s focus on innovation with the creation of a 50-strong product development team.

The company recorded a 21% increase in net profit in 2012 and eliminated its outstanding debt.

Deloitte verdict: “Gilad is an impressive entrepreneur with a very inclusive leadership style. He has successfully steered Linn through a challenging time and has completely reinvigorated the business by adhering to his clear strategy.

“At the heart of this is a commitment to quality and investing in the future of the business, both in product development and the team of people he has working alongside him.

“Under Gilad’s leadership Linn has the potential to do something very exciting in the marketplace.”

Hermann Twickler
PressureFab Group
Based: Dundee
Started: 2009
Employees: 85
Turnover: £6m

A master engineer and shipbuilder by trade, Hermann Twickler honed his skills in the shipyards of Northern Germany and North America before becoming operations director of VT Group in Portsmouth.

After spurning offers of other big jobs, Mr Twickler decided to start his own offshore equipment manufacturing business. He invested his life savings, including the sale of his house and car, into creating PressureFab Group.

Started just three years ago, the group now counts some of the largest operators in the oil and gas sector among its customers and employs 85 staff. It has been profitable since inception.

Mr Twickler says he has no desire to grow the company for exit, but instead has set his sights on wealth creation and achieving long-term growth. The company has plans to expand into new facilities, scheduled to complete in 2013.

Deloitte verdict: “Hermann has built an excellent company serving some of the largest companies in the world and has successfully bucked the trend by exporting Scottish engineering and manufacturing to the Far East and the US.

“Hermann has created almost 90 new jobs in three years, doubled revenue each year and always made profit, and he’s achieved all this during the biggest recession since the 1930s.”

The winners – Keith Wight named Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year

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Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, Keith Wight.

Founder and chief executive of sensor design and manufacturing company SST Sensing, Keith impressed the judges after identifying a gap in the market to sell bespoke products and specialist technical support directly to original equipment manufacturing (OEM) customers, enabling SST Sensing to develop a closer relationship with its client base and provide a more efficient service.

The result was an increase in repeat business and new opportunities with SST Sensing’s customer base increasing six fold to 450 in just two years with plans to expand into new international markets and cement itself as market leader in the next five years.

Jim said: “The most successful entrepreneurs know their market, identify a customer need that is not being met, and then fulfil it. Keith has done exactly that. His innovative approach has allowed the business to establish itself as a key player in the industry and has placed it in a strong position for future expansion into new markets. I was delighted to see Keith’s achievements recognised at last night’s event and look forward to following the next few chapters for SST Sensing.”

Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist – Stuart Mitchell, Flexlife

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Stuart Mitchell established his entrepreneurial credentials when he set up Flexlife four years ago with co-founder John Marsden. An Aberdeen-headquartered business it supports companies with subsea interests inspect, maintain and repair their flexible piping.

Working as an engineer within the oil and gas sector, Stuart’s vision was for a consultancy which offered tried and tested industry solutions while radically changing the way consultancy projects were priced to ensure goals were aligned with those of the customer.

Flexlife opened for business as a two-man operation in April 2007. Word quickly spread throughout the industry, both in relation to the success of the innovative engineering solution and its approach to pricing.

The first major contract came in the form of a well project in Tunisia, which provided the security of cash in the bank and allowed Stuart to start on his second vision for the business – to combine the engineering consultancy with patented products for the inspection, monitoring, repair and protection of flexible pipes.
This award-winning technology is now widely acknowledged as a step change for the industry.
Earlier this year, Stuart strengthened his Board with the appointment of two non-executive directors in David Cassie of Subsea 7 and Sandy Clark of Amec, both considered to be energy industry leaders.
The last 18 months have seen the company position itself to take advantage of international growth and it now has a presence in Brazil, the USA and Asia-Pacific and has secured a clutch of high profile contracts with Hess, Statoil, Total, Shell, Maersk Oil and CNR among others.
The recent injection of equity, long term contract wins and strengthening of the Board has meant Stuart is now well placed to continue the business’ impressive growth through the £20million turnover barrier and beyond.
Jim Boyle, partner and head of entrepreneurial business at Deloitte and judge for the awards said: “Stuart is a focused and determined individual who spotted the opportunity to address dissatisfaction in his industry and did something about it. In four years, he has created a business unlike almost any other in the industry and which has a relentless focus on adding value.
“He has executed on his strategy in an incredibly short space of time, managing the company’s rapid growth without compromising on the approach which has made Flexlife the success it has been to date.”

Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist – Margaret Lang, Intelligent Office UK

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Margaret Lang first established herself as an emerging talent in 2001 when she used the experience she had gained from a number of years living and working in London and New York to successfully complete a management buy-in of Docuserve. Docuserve would subsequently become Intelligent Office UK, a firm that specialised in providing outsourced administration to the professional services sector.

Over a ten year period, Intelligent Office has transformed from a single service, regional provider of document handling services, to a business process outsourcing provider operating throughout the UK. Intelligent Office now also offers transcription and consulting services, providing clients with strategic advice and guidance on the optimum use of resources, systems and processes. This transformation has cemented Intelligent Office’s position as market leader with a particular strength in the legal sector.

During the credit crisis in 2008, Margaret was quick to recognise that the internal structure of the company needed to be streamlined in order to compete effectively in the new economic climate. Overseeing a radical restructure of the business in January 2009, Margaret ensured Intelligent Office was not dependent on external bank debt and was well-placed to capitalise on the budget cutbacks in the legal industry, which increased demand for outsourcing.

Margaret’s ambition continues to drive the business forward and she plans to extend Intelligent Office’s market reach through a combination of organic growth and acquisition.

Jim Boyle, partner and head of entrepreneurial business at Deloitte and judge for the awards said: “Margaret is a very impressive leader with a clear understanding of the market. Intelligent Office has a growing reputation as well as a strong and clear strategy for future expansion. A key factor in the company’s success is its ability to adapt and refine its commercial proposition in accordance with demands in the market. This is testament to Margaret’s forward planning and fundamental reorganisation of the business at a time of great economic uncertainty.”