Growth Lab: Darlington
Growth Lab: Darlington is a series of workshops aimed at making business growth easier to understand and achieve. Each month, we’ll demystify a different topic by translating business terminology into straightforward language to reveal the real opportunities awaiting your business.
Join us every month at Innovation Central to uncover powerful tactics, meet local businesspeople who’ve tried and tested them and explore the difference they could make to your own growth.
How to grow a family business without the family drama
Family-owned businesses share the same concerns as any other. But with their personal and professional spheres so deeply intertwined, they also have their own set of unique challenges.
So, how do you navigate the growth and transformation of your family business without the family drama? How can you capitalise on your family values without being limited by a lack of diverse outside perspectives?
Next event // 2nd May 2024 / 9:30am - 11:00am
What I’ve learned about growing a family business
Dale Smith, Director, Host & Stay
Dale has transformed his family business from a single holiday home to 1,000 holiday homes and a team of 400 employees. He’s been at the front end of decision-making throughout this rapid growth, encountering challenges including debt, investment, digitisation, value proposition, business planning and leadership.
In this frank and honest conversation with Growth Strategist Graham Robson, Dale will open up about his experience of this business transformation. He’ll share the challenges he’s overcome so far on his own growth journey to help you on yours.
Format
Fuel up first with a bit of breakfast before the main event, facilitated by Graham Robson and Debbie Simpson. Afterwards, there’s a chance to network and meet others who can support your growth with information and opportunities.
The Growth Lab programme covers 6 growth tactics in 6 months. Each guest speaker will explore one or more of these topics at each event.
- Innovation
- Investment
- Market expansion
- Diversification
- Digital transformation
- Scaling
“Family businesses are the backbone of the UK economy and they share common challenges when it comes to tradition, innovation and change. Dale’s journey will resonate with all of us. This is not just a journey of success, but a journey of individual growth, critical decision making, addressing challenges, and realising opportunities.”
Event facilitator Graham Robson, Growth Strategist at Business Doctors