How attending an FSB workshop changed everything for one business owner

“Every day’s a school day, you never stop learning – I understand that now.” Wise words from FSB member Liam Hobbs, who owns and runs More Than Loft Ladders in Derby.

Liam started his business when he bought in to the national franchise nearly 10 years ago, which helps homeowners create more living space by opening loft areas up as dedicated storage.

Last summer Liam had four vans, and six staff and was working hard to grow the business. But like many entrepreneurs, he’d hit the ‘blockage’ with the business and was increasingly aware he needed to do something about it – but didn’t know what or how.

But after attending a series of FSB half day business improvement workshops, Liam was empowered to take the next steps he had been mulling over. It’s led him to buying the entire franchise outright, invested in his staff, and is on course to doubling his profits in a year.

Liam explains: “The business was doing OK, but I was acutely aware I had hit a bit of a barrier. I also had a dream of buying the franchise out, which was born from my frustrations as a franchisee as I knew I could run it much better, but I was so busy with my own franchise I just didn’t have the time or the skills to make a change or just go for it.

“There were other issues within the business with staff that I wanted to change but was scratching my head as to what to about it,” he explained.

“It was around this time that I saw FSB were putting on a series of events in Greater Manchester around business improvement, quite by chance. They didn’t cost that much and I thought, you know what, I’ll give them a punt – and I’m really glad I did,” he added!

The sessions were delivered by Manchester based business consultant, Paul Clarke from UK Business Mentoring – also an FSB member. There were three events in the series: Growing Your Profits, Leadership & Managing Your People, and Planning for Success.

Continues Liam: “You don’t know what you don’t know, and it was really important for me to hear the learning delivered during the sessions. It was definitely a ‘wake up and smell the coffee’ moment for me as a business owner.

“The Leadership and Management workshop particularly has been instrumental in the changes I have gone on to make,” he explains. “I’ve got myself out of the day to day side of running my ‘old’ business; I now leave that to the foreman to do. It’s the same people there, it’s just that they’re now upskilled and I have been able to empower them to know they can do it without me being there all the time.

“The course gave me a perspective on how to manage, not just better, but in a totally different way. To see things from both sides of the fence, and giving me an understanding of why staff might not be performing. I used to think staff just came to work and did their job, but quite often there a root cause as to why things aren’t working. I came away from the event and was able to put things in to practice immediately.

“Ultimately it’s got me out of that business to give me the time to get in to the new one as own of the franchise, develop the franchisee network and give support to the franchisees like I wish I’d had when I started out.”

And thanks to the sales and marketing workshop, business is booming for Liam’s original franchise by implementing some of the knowledge learned there. He’s taken on a number of new staff, and has added another van to his fleet.

“It’s all going great, and while 2023 will have its challenges, I am hopeful we can rise the storm out and we are in a much better place now as a business than before.”

If you are interested in learning how to do things differently in your business, why not try one of FSB Greater Manchester’s half day workshops? FSB members and their staff get half price entry (￡15). The next one is on January 31 and covers Sales & Marketing in a Recession, whicj explores cost effective ways to promote your business, win new clients, and boost your bottom line during a downturn. This event is on January 31st in Central Library, Manchester city centre. More details and to reserve your space HERE .