Insights from real businesses to power your growth
Running a business and eyeing up growth or innovation? What if you could tap into the real-life experiences of others who’ve already overcome the common challenges? Those who’ve made mistakes, learned lessons and tasted success – and are prepared to share their journey to help yours.
Join us the third Thursday of every month for Growth Lab: Darlington, where we bring peers together to learn from each other and accelerate the growth and innovativeness of their businesses. Places are limited therefore booking is essential.
Next event // 18th May 2023 / 9:30am - 11:00am
How staff are my greatest asset and biggest stress
With John Heward, Managing Director of JH Mechanical Services
In this series of candid, fireside conversations at Innovation Central, successful local business leaders share real-life experiences of overcoming common challenges involved with growing a business.
Staff. They’re your greatest asset as a business leader but boy, can they be difficult to manage!
How do you deal with so many different characters when every person is unique, unpredictable and motivated by a specific set of factors? And how do you cope when your team is resistant to the changes you’re so passionate about? Let’s ask John.
In this frank and honest session, John will open up about the challenges he’s overcome to evolve from being a ‘man with a van’ to a multi-million-pound business in just 10 years.
He’ll share the highs of contract wins, client retention and impressive growth, as well as the lows when it felt like his own business was working against him. And he’ll reveal why – despite the stresses and strains – he wouldn’t change it for the world.
Format
This series of informal conversations and interactive sessions dives into key topics that enable business growth and ignite innovation.
Each month a local businessperson will chat about the hurdles they’ve cleared on their road to success. And you’ll get a chance to ask your own questions so you can get to the heart of what you need to know.
Fuel up first with a bit of breakfast. Then after the main session there’s a chance to network and meet others who can support your growth with information and opportunities.
The sessions are facilitated by Graham Robson and Debbie Simpson.
Other events in this series will cover:
- Building the foundations for growth
- Understanding the market opportunity
- Developing a competitive advantage
- Demystifying strategy
- Effectively implementing a growth strategy