Overview

"When there are 6 million private sector small and medium sized businesses within the UK, why is it that just 4% of them scale beyond 10 employees/around GBP1m turnover? And, equally importantly, what is preventing 75% of these from then scaling beyond 50? Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. By reading this book and following BizSmart's system, you will: - Truly understand what it takes to become one of the 4% and build a more valuable business - Become a more effective and confident leader - Rediscover your passion in your business and be inspired to aim higher - Understand how to harness the power of your people and gain more control over your business - Increase the productivity and profitability of your business and make sure that you get 'paid first'! BizSmart's programmes are based on decades of experience and the system on which this book is based has recently joined a select group of programmes endorsed by the ScaleUp Institute in the UK. ""In Kevin's book you will find the answers to unlock any issue that is preventing you from scaling, together with extremely valuable advice that will put you on the right track to achieving your plan and goals."" Mark Wright, BBC's The Apprentice winner, CEO of Climb Online, Forbes 30 Under 30, 2017 If you have been in business for more than 5 minutes, you will recognise that there are always challenges (problems, if you prefer!) in business. They normally fall into challenges around people, cash and time, and most business books and advisers will home in on these. We can spend increasing amounts of time troubleshooting these challenges but we never seem to get them to go away - and in fact as we grow we can get to the point where we cannot imagine being able to cope with our business being any bigger. We can get increasingly stressed, being pulled in many directions, to the point that it takes us away from our families and no longer seems fun to be a 'business owner'. This is because these problems are 'symptoms' and troubleshooting symptoms will only provide a temporary fix at best, just like taking paracetamol for a migraine may provide some relief against joint pain but won't cure the underlying cause and therefore won't help to reduce the frequency of reoccurrences. In fact, as we grow our business, the frequency and severity of 'migraines' will only increase. This book is not about short-term fixes and glib tricks and promises - it is about putting a system in place that will enable you to strengthen the underlying business (and you!) so that fewer symptoms emerge, and when they do (because they inevitably will), you will have a structure for the business (note: the business, not you) to deal with them. The intent of this book is to become your 'companion' as you navigate through your ScaleUp Journey - a kind of 'handbook'. We'd love it if you write notes in the margin, highlight sections and turn down the corners of pages you find particularly useful - and refer back to it regularly as your business evolves."

Full Product Details

9781739708306

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Reviews

As a founder owner of a small business I found this fascinatingly useful. I tend to work in glorious isolation so I've become an avid(ish) reader of business books - probably 4 or 5 a year, plus podcasts and audiobooks - and I've found it rare to get so many takeaways that seem to relate directly to me in one book. Every page seemed to contain a useful nugget so I will indeed be turning over page corners, making notes all over margins, highlighting sentences and referring back to it time and again. Nigel Busby, Founder/Director, InControl Marketing ESUS is a great guide for any business owner who is serious and committed to scaling up their business. It provides an invaluable checklist of tasks, processes and above all a change in mindset that needs to be addressed and mastered for the business to operate effectively without the business owner. For me it's a great reference point to constantly refer back to, rather like a reference manual to make sure that the right systems and processes are in place, that everybody in the organisation is going in the same direction and to make sure that everybody understands why we need to grow. John Dillon, Managing Director, GJS Dillon Commercial Property Consultants This is a brilliant handbook for anyone running their own business. It's full of practical wisdom, based on evidence and experience. As someone who has run an SME, I know you can learn the hard way, but this book will help you avoid many painful, costly lessons. If you want to understand what some entrepreneurs do that means they succeed where others don't, then this book is for you. Whether you are just starting out on your own, you have 1 or 2 employees, or a team of 50, this book will help you to grow a strong business that has real value and future potential. Liz Taylor, former Managing Director, Logistix A great book that everyone with a business should read. It has the legendary Kevin Brent attention to detail, fact-checked analysis and proven pathway to help the reader achieve significant improvement in their business - I thoroughly recommend it. Peter Roper, The Family Business Man and Founder of the Family Business Practice This is an excellent book for anyone starting a business or working within a long established business. Kevin has managed to create a book that gives you practical work-throughs that will drive positive change in a business of any age. At times it's a feast of information and made me constantly think about how I could apply the methods to my business. I have done and continue to apply what Kevin recommends with continuously positive outcomes. If you want a business that not only stands the test of time but continues to improve this is a must-read. Daniel Walton, Founder, OLPRO, Queen's Award for Enterprise - International Trade This book is an invaluable resource for those wanting to take the ScaleUp Journey with practical techniques, strategies and takeaway actions that can easily be implemented. This book can be used as a checklist and workbook and is a goldmine for business owners and business leaders. What a brilliant resource. David Lynes, CEO and Founder of Unique IQ As a busy mom, wife and business leader, I love to solve problems, plan and capitalise on opportunities as efficiently as possible. This book and the support of Kevin and the team are my go-to solution and this has enabled our business to grow quickly and capitalise on opportunities, attracting investment whilst retaining customers and employees. Clare Vale FCCA, Managing Director, Sign Solutions

Author Information

Kevin Brent founded BizSmart(R) in 2012 with the aim of supporting business owners to build scalable, sustainable and ultimately valuable businesses. Over that time, Kevin and his team at BizSmart have worked with hundreds of business owner-managers and have developed their scaleup programmes to the point where their flagship SmartBoard(R) service incorporating ESUS has gained full endorsement from the ScaleUp Institute. Following gaining his private pilot licence at 17 and jet training in the RAF, Kevin has had an extensive and wide-ranging business career spanning three decades. He gained an International Masters in Business at world-leading business school INSEAD in France, has combined senior level corporate experience in the pharmaceutical industry with high-level strategy consulting at a top tier management consulting firm, and has set up four of his own businesses including BizSmart. He built his own eco-friendly home and earned his Association of Racing Drivers Schools UK motorsport licence, competing in the BRSCC Mazda Super Cup.

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