Member Article

Edwards Commercial Cleaning expand horizons thanks to NBSL

Paul Edwards was running a growing commercial cleaning enterprise that had been established since 2003 but felt that he needed professional support to enable the business to reach its full potential. With a workforce of over 150 full and part time staff, the business remained firmly rooted and based from Paul’s home in Jesmond, Newcastle. Whilst the business already had almost 200 customers and a turnover of over £1 million, offering a ‘one stop shop’ for all types of commercial cleaning including carpet and window cleaning, Paul wanted to look at expanding the firm from its north east base into new markets further afield.

Learning that grant funding was available to help with the costs of consultancy to develop the leadership and management capabilities of business owners, he applied to NBSL for advice and assistance.

NBSL have been running the North East’s Leadership and Management Advisory Service since 2004 and can help businesses to access grant support of up to £1000, giving them a fantastic opportunity to access specialist help that will kick start the growth of their business.

During a meeting with Lynne Burns, one of NBSL’s Leadership & Management Specialist Advisers, Paul identified a number of issues that he wished to work on that would help him develop the business to its full potential and he identified Andy Hanselman as a consultant that he felt could assist him.

Andy worked with Paul over a period of weeks to analyse his current strengths and weaknesses and to help him understand how to maximise the performance of his staff in order to grow the company. Further sessions covered developing a new vision for the company as it prepared to move forward into the future, whilst also clarifying organisational structures, core values and developing a measurable action plan to maximise opportunities.

Paul’s goals included encouraging his Operations Managers to take on more of a managerial role so freeing him up to increase his strategic impact on the company and to lead expansion plans into new markets. Following the project the staff worked together to develop a new Operations Manual to assist in replicating operational processes following expansion and a new business development manager was appointed.

Paul was extremely happy with the impact that the consultancy project had on his business and said that Andy’s coaching rather than ‘training’ approach had worked particularly well in supporting him to take the necessary action to grow his business.

Edwards Commercial Cleaning Services Ltd are now looking towards the future and to expanding their horizons and they feel much more prepared to take the company to the next level as a result of the support they received.

NBSL still has some limited funding for businesses so for further information on how to access Leadership & Management funding for your own business, contact NBSL now on 01670 813322 or apply online via the website at www.nbsl.org.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Phil Langton .