Dom & Ali Beavan
Trailblazers are the extraordinary people who make things happen in
business. They lead from the front, spot new opportunities and challenge convention.
Over the last 12 weeks Business Leader has received applications from across the region – here are the Top 40.
DOM BEAVEN & ALI BEAVAN: CEO Prezola
Prezola is the award-winning online wedding gift list service where couples can choose gifts from 30,000 products provided by 300 separate retailers, alongside a honeymoon fund, cash gifts and charity donations; all on one list.
The business was launched by husband and wife team Dom and Ali Beaven from their home in Bath in 2010.
Founded in 2010 the business shows exceptional growth. Annual sales rose from £70k to £240k, on to £2.4m and most recently £5m in the year to August 2015; a CAGR of 315%.
The business is set to break the £10m barrier in 2016, making Prezola the largest dedicated e-commerce platform in the UK wedding industry.
FRASER BESANT: Owner Ablectrics
Fraser took over the business from his father eight years ago, just ahead of the global recession. At the time it had just one member of staff and a single branch selling electrical supplies to the trade.
Using the recession as a plus, Fraser set about expanding the business, buying new domains and setting up an online sales function.
He then set about opening new branches, a new showroom and employing five new members of staff.
With clients on board such as Marco Pierre White and Hilton, Fraser became the first electrical wholesaler to open a lighting showroom and has grown the business year on year.
STEVE BOWEN: Founder and MD Steak of the Art
Having an idea is one thing, but following up that dream and making it a reality is an entirely different matter altogether.
However, for Steve Bowen, owner and visionary of Steak of the Art, that is exactly what he did having got fed up with working in London for over 20 years. Merging food and art, Steak of the Art has been a runaway success, with restaurants also now open in Cardiff and Southampton.
Steve has shown you can be successful, in what is a tough sector, and from a standing start he now employs over 60 people.
Ellen Green
DAVE BROADWAY: Managing Director of CFH Docmail
Dave Broadway is Managing Director of CFH Docmail, the largest hybrid mail company in the UK with a turnover of £42m, up 37% year on year.
He has transformed the fortunes of the family business by diversifying from conventional print into hybrid mail; allowing businesses of every size to save money and, as importantly, reduce their impact on the environment by providing a mailing service which allows customers to print and send post from their PC.
ED BROWN & GRIFF HOLLAND: Friska
Ed Brown and Griff Holland set up Friska in order to change the way people think about breakfast and lunch. Inspired by similar concepts in the US, they launched the business during the recession; and in a tough market have grown to six retail units.
All about service and food – there aren’t many food and drink outlets in the region that have seen such a meteoric rise.
KARL BROWN: Commercial Property Lawyer, Clarke Willmott
Elected as the first ever black president of the Bristol Junior Chamber, Karl has challenged social conventions and used his status as a commercial property lawyer for a leading firm to tackle issues around education, skills and social mobility.
Karl has tirelessly worked to make a positive difference and was recently also named a business fellow for the University of West of England (UWE).
PAUL BROWN: MD Mail Handling International
MHI has morphed from the mail packing business Paul established in 1993, in the days before the internet, to a business that routes in excess of 25,000 e-commerce postal items a day to the four corners of the world.
Paul has innovated constantly since he set up and the firm and generates 25 per cent of its energy on-site. Paul has also structured the business to deliver a ‘Triple Bottom Line’ and a couple of years ago this required a restructuring of the directors and the exit of one who just ‘did not get it’.
Global in its reach, Paul has built a business that employs 88 people, has a turnover in the multi-millions, and is helping to re-build and re-position the under loved South side of Bristol.
Simon Brown
SIMON BROWN: Director Forrest Brown
From a standing start in 2013, with no external funding, Simon has established a fast-growing business as a R&D tax credit consultancy.
Benchmarking against a turnover of £1.2m for the 2014 financial year, in the 2015 accounting period the company posted revenue of £3.2m, which represented growth of 166%.
Under Simon’s stewardship the firm also recovered over £25.5m in R&D tax credits for its clients in 2015. In a short period of time Simon has seen Forrest Brown move to new 3,500 sq ft offices, see staff count hit 21 and recruit serial entrepreneur Mark Mason as Chairman.
DARREN CLAPP: Director Glentworth Lettings, Keystone Property Reports, Rookery Manor, Cobux, Glentworth Maintenance.
A serial entrepreneur In 1998 Darren Clapp, 33, left his further education route to help his family business diversify from farming to hospitality.
During a decade of hard work Darren was a major factor in changing a once working pig farm to an award winning wedding venue, Rookery Manor, supported with various shops, spa, hotel, restaurant, limousines and so on that collectively boasted over 180 staff.
Darren is also well-respected in the property sector and is Director of Glentworth Lettings and Cobux Property. An innovator, Darren also introduced pioneering new software to the market, via his business Keystone Property.
Across the whole group Darren has overseen year on year growth and boasts a client portfolio that spans the world. In 2016 alone Darren has already recruited more than five staff.
His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, as he has been headhunted to appear on a new property TV show that will be on SKY TV soon.
Craig Davidge
CHARLES COOK: Founder and Managing Partner Cook & Co Solicitors
Fusing entrepreneurial thinking with the law – Charles set up Cook & Co Solicitors aged 28, from scratch. He has developed the firm over nine years into a leading practice, employing over twenty lawyers and boasting an enviable client list and offices in Clifton.
Now also an active investor, Charles is pioneering new approaches to business and law; and as non-executive director of Gloucestershire Cricket Club was involved in a £6.5m redevelopment of the England standard venue in Bristol, successfully tendering to host the 2019 World Cup.
NEVILLE COLES: Principal Priory School
Neville has trailblazed in the education sector, overseeing a quiet revolution in Weston-super-Mare, where he has taken a coasting school to become one of Britain’s best Academies, and one that has been publicly praised by Sir Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden.
A no-nonsense operator, Neville led the school to become one of the first to obtain Academy status in 2011, and now to become a Multi Academy Trust called the Priory Learning Trust.
Neville’s innovations have been constant. From massages for staff, giant hedgehog mascots to an evening school for students, and using Britain’s youngest teacher aged only 17 to teach maths, he is not afraid to try new things.
CRAIG DAVIDGE: MD Rosemont Recruitment
Craig (31) set up Rosemont Recruitment – dedicated to the built environment – in 2012 at his dining room table. The company now operates out of Aztec West and has seen off the long and tough recession to achieve revenues of more than £250,000 and clients including EW Beard and Galliford Try.
A former semi-professional footballer, Craig says you can’t win without the right team and teamwork and plans to grow the business and employ more staff.
WESLEY DAVIDSON & SARAH FOX CLINCH: Directors Fox Davidson
What started out as a joke between two friends, is now a fully-fledged successful mortgage broker.
Set up in 2013 by Wesley Davidson and Sarah Fox-Clinch, the pair have driven the company from a standing start to one that has seven staff, a half a million pound turnover and over 2,000 clients; with the firm gaining 60 new clients each month.
NICK DAVIES: Founder Neighbourly
Nick Davies is a Bristol-based entrepreneur and founder of neighbourly.com – a social platform that connects local community projects with companies that want to make a difference.
Under Nick’s guidance, Neighbourly has inspired companies including: Marks & Spencer, Starbucks, OVO Energy, Heineken, Natwest, Microsoft, British Airways and many more SMEs to use the platform to make a meaningful difference in the communities they serve, empower employees, and bring transparency to their CSR programmes.
Since launch, companies have pledged a combined total of over £2m in funds, over 9,200 volunteer days, and backed over 485 projects.
GEMMA DAY: Director Dowlas UK Ltd
When Gemma (29) had the baton of leadership thrust upon her she took it with both hands. As director of Dowlas UK Ltd – a locally based developer who produce turnkey design and build packages at Weston Gateway Business Park (WGBP) – Gemma has tirelessly worked to promote Weston-super-Mare and Junction 21 to investors outside of the region and has also helped to raise the profile of the area.
On her watch, Knightstone Housing and Greene King have re-located to the site and she has also delivered a vision to create Enterprise House – a 26,000 sqft office building.
BRIAN DUDLEY: CEO Broadway Lodge
Brian has been CEO at Broadway Lodge for nine years, and in changing times of funding restrictions, he has turned a charity turning over £1.6m into a business worth £3.5m; creating an organisation supporting 97 beds for treatment programmes and over 120 staff as opposed to the 24 beds when he first joined.
Brian has also pioneered innovations and become the first treatment centre of its kind to launch digital platforms, such as iPhone apps, in order to give people access to information around addiction.
LEON FEAR: Director Fear Group
Leon started his first business whilst at school buying and selling mountain bike equipment by mail order. Fast-forward to the present and Leon is a director of Fear Group – an established property and investment group.
Fear Group also deal in corporate M&A and work with businesses to enhance growth and jobs. Currently, Leon is working to innovate in the housing sector, and has launched Ethical Homes which enhances the availability of housing for the rental and buy sector.
A visionary, Leon is also involved in a mixed use project in Newport for a £60m development, with a development value in excess of £90m. Credited with changing perceptions around Newport, Leon is creating the future today and is an advocate for a Severn Powerhouse and closer links between Wales and the South West.
BRADY GEORGE: MD Almeda Facilities Management
Managing Director of Almeda Facilities Management at the tender age of 29, Brady is one of the region’s standout business performer already.
Having steered the company to a record turnover of £6m, Brady is changing the way business is done in the FM sector, having become one of the only companies in sector to launch a catering division.
With plans to hit the high street with this food and drink concept, Brady is also pioneering ideas around health and wellbeing in the workplace.
JOEL GIBBARD: CEO Open Bionics
Joel has built an award-winning company recognised globally for its outstanding innovation and contribution to the fields of robotics and healthcare.
This year Open Bionics has made Bloomberg’s top UK most innovative companies list, Fast Company’s top 50 global innovative companies list, and Robotics Business Reviews’ global top 50 most innovative robotics companies list.
Last year Joel won the James Dyson award for engineering and has represented the UK’s most innovative robotics alongside his award-winning co-founder, Samantha Payne, at conferences around the world.
ELLEN GREEN: Founder and MD Blue Badge Company
It takes a brave person to turn down the investors on the famous TV show Dragons Den but that is exactly what Ellen Green did. Principled and ambitious; Ellen has re-engineered the disabled badge sector by launching a textiles manufacturing company that challenges norms in the industry.
Turnover has soared by a factor of five from £64,000 to £350,000 over the last three years, and Ellen is currently on target to increase turnover by 55% this financial year to nearly £500k and has plans to expand overseas.
ROB HALL: Founder Wriggle
Rob is the founder of Wriggle – a Bristol-born mobile-app and website marketplace for independent restaurants, cafes and bars to get the customers they deserve.
Rob, a former corporate lawyer, started Wriggle single-handedly in mid-2014, walking the streets of Bristol to sign-up local restaurants.
Since then, the start-up has flourished under his guidance – with almost 500 businesses across Bristol, London and Brighton using it and more than 40,000 customer downloads.
The team has now grown to eight people and the start-up has raised over £500,000 of investment to expand their vision across the UK.
LOUISE HARRISON: Founder Cocoa Libre
Described by colleagues as ‘one of the most inspirational business women’ Louise saw a problem and turned it into a business opportunity.
When her son was diagnosed with dairy intolerance she realised there was no decent chocolate on the market for families.
She was a graphic designer but decided to change her focus into finding a suitable product for her son. She threw all her energy (and savings) into setting up Cocoa Libre.
Now employing six people working from a factory in Nailsea, Louise has an enviable list of clients including Holland and Barrett and Boots. She has also won awards for her product and was voted Entrepreneur Mum of the Year 2014.
HELEN LACEY: MD Red Berry Recruitment
In 2007 Helen Lacey set up Red Berry Recruitment and nine years later she has three offices, 21 staff and a business turning over £3.6m. Boasting a string of regional and national awards, Helen was one of the first recruiters to take advantage of video and also innovated her own video business card.
AL KECK: MD toinfinity
Al is the founder and managing director of toinfinity. Through his leadership, business growth has doubled monthly and an annual financial target of breaking £800,000 is well underway to be achieved.
Figures over the next four years see the company projected to hit £5m.
With plans to employ 5 new team members in the next couple of months, Al plan’s to make his company one of the leading digital marketing and e-commerce agencies in the UK.
OLI MOCHIZUKI: CEO and Founder Fundsurfer
As founder of Bristol-based crowd-funding platform for SMEs Fundsurfer, Oliver Mochizuki has helped numerous arts, business and charity projects in the South West region and beyond achieve the funding that they require in order to get their initiatives off the ground.
Since its inception in 2013, Fundsurfer’s profile is growing by the day and the business is well on its way to establishing itself as a ‘go-to’ funding platform for small and medium-sized charities, not for profit and business organisations in the South West region and beyond.
Oliver has also pioneered conversation around crowdfunding and brought the platform into the mainstream.
ANNA PEPLER: MD HR Dept
Anna (now 28) started with the HR Dept as a placement student seven years ago and within 5 years was made a director and shareholder, before being named MD in January 2016.
With relentless energy, Anna has innovated new solutions around employee benefits, and has been largely responsible for a 50 per cent increase in profits at the company in the past twelve months, with turnover climbing by 11.4 per cent during that time.
Since 2014 Anna has also sat on the board of a charity (Young Enterprise Agency). She is passionate about supporting young people into work and giving them the skills to be able to do so.
DR PAUL PHILLIPS OBE: Chief Executive and Principal, Weston College
“Weston College will be dynamic, entrepreneurial, sector-leading and customer focused.” That’s what Dr Paul Phillips promised its Governing Body in October 2000.
Today, it is one of the top-performing colleges in the country, with an annual turnover in excess of £51m. Dr Paul has trailblazed in every corner of the business, entering new sectors, changing perceptions and ultimately creating a business that is on everybody’s lips.
MATT PORT: Managing Director Port Payroll & Bookkeeping
Matt launched Port Payroll & Bookkeeping in February 2015. By not competing on core accountancy services, the firm is able to work in partnership with several accounting firms.
Matt started the business from his front room with no clients. He then secured a start-up loan and invested enough of his own money to sustain the business for twelve months.
After 12 months Matt now has four employees and last month posted record revenues.
STEVE PRESTON: MD Heat Recruitment
Starting out in his back bedroom in 2006 – following twelve years in the Royal Marines – Steve has enjoyed a meteoric rise as MD of Heat Recruitment. The company now employ over 50 staff and recently struck a deal to move to bigger premises in Bristol.
A flurry of awards have earmarked Steve and Heat Recruitment out as true trailblazers in the recruitment industry; and turnover has steadily increased by 123% in 2012 to 142% in 2013 to 212% in 2014 and 228% in 2015.
Helen Lacy
MIKE ROBBINS: Principal Bridgwater College
As Principal of the highly-successful Bridgwater College, Mike Robbins has played a leading role in the political and economic landscape of Somerset as it undergoes one of the biggest surges in economic activity that the South West has ever seen, driven largely by the construction of the UK’s first nuclear power station for 20 years.
Mike’s strategic vision has enabled Bridgwater College to thrive in economic conditions that have seen many colleges forced into partnerships and mergers.
The recent award of a highly prestigious Queen’s Anniversary prize for Higher and Further Education underscores Mike’s exceptional achievements in the business arena.
HAYDEN RUSHTON: MD, Britannia Windows
By the middle of 2011 the double glazing industry was suffering from a 25% drop in turnover and most companies faced serious cash flow issues.
In a mature industry, established in the early 80s, with a lot of business owners at retirement age. Hayden spotted and opportunity for rapid growth through acquisition.
Between June 2011 and 2015, group turnover grew from under £5m to £25m and staff numbers grew from under 50 to 300.
A modern approach, innovation and exponential growth allowed Hayden to lay a solid basis to deliver organic and acquisitive growth moving forward.
DARREN RYEMILL: CEO Opus Professional Services Group
Darren Ryemill is an industry leading pioneer. As an award winning entrepreneur, he founded Opus Recruitment Solutions in 2008 to provide an innovative recruitment offering like no other.
While the recession saw others fall by the wayside, Darren’s confidence and his impenetrable resilience turned this huge financial risk into a global fast-track business; beginning with 4 employees and a £1.25m turnover, and growing to a headcount of 170 and a £45m turnover
in 2015.
A born risk taker and entrepreneur, Darren’s never say never attitude and relentless energy, ensure a bright future for the group.
GARY SHEPPARD: CEO Helm Construction
Having developed a successful career in the telecoms sector, that culminated in the sale of his business in 1999 and then becoming a director of a FTSE 250 company, you’d have expected Gary Sheppard to take it easy.
But as a serial entrepreneur, the effervescent Sheppard isn’t one to just sit back and take it easy. Instead he set up Helm Construction.
Founded in 2006 and billed as the ‘John Lewis’ of construction, Helm Construction has developed a reputation of providing a range of construction services including full turn-key solutions.
Helm now employs over 50 people, operating primarily across Greater Bristol and is renowned for tackling some of the area’s most challenging sites.
JON SIMON: Founder and MD Pieminister
The Pieminister journey began in 1994 – when Jon Simon was at university and was studying in Australia and he came across Harry’s Café. It was a kiosk where you could buy pie and mash.
There was nothing like it in the UK and together with his business partner Tristan, Jon pioneered the concept in the UK.
Fast forward to the present day, Jon has a chain of restaurants, supplies product to the supermarkets and a thriving wholesale business. They said it couldn’t be done – but Jon has changed the face of pies forever.
CAROLINE THOMPSON: Head of Entrepreneurial Spark
Sometimes the next generation of trailblazers and business gurus need access to vehicle that will harness their success and ideas. Which is exactly the service that Caroline Thompson and her team at Entrepreneurial Spark provide. Set up by
NatWest and led by Caroline E-spark provides an environment where 80 entrepreneurs can receive the coaching and support they need to make their business idea a reality.
Completely free and with no ties to Nat West Bank required, the concept has proved a huge success and pioneered a new link between traditional high street lenders and the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
NICK STURGE: Director Engine Shed
Nick is the executive director of The Science Research Foundation (SRF), a subsidiary of The University of Bristol, which operates the Bristol SETsquared Centre and Engine Shed.
When Nick became a director of SRF, it had a turnover of £250k pa and had no management accounting practices.
Prior to Engine Shed opening in 2013, the turnover had slowly risen to c. £300k pa.
It is now close to £1m turnover with a full governance and financial management system, with a strategy and implementation plan to expand both the SETsquared activity and Engine Shed, within the next 3 years, to become a £2m turnover business.
With countless awards and high-profile visits, Engine Shed has become a symbol of Bristol’s innovation and risk-taking. A true trailblazer, Nick has established a reputation as being the entrepreneur that entrepreneurs go to for advice.
Paul Brown
ROB VIVIAN: CEO Pure Comms
Rob set up Pure Comms with nothing but a simple vision to innovate a new approach to telecoms for businesses across the South West.
With a turnover just shy of £2m; a long list of impressive clients that includes Cooperative & Bonhams; in just five years Rob has created a business that employs 16 staff, operates out of two offices and has become one of the leading examples of a fast-growing firm.
Rob was also crowned winner of the Insider 42 under 42 awards in 2015.
BEN WARREN: MD The Window Outlet
Ben Warren (32) is managing director of The Window Outlet, a fast growing aluminium window and door manufacturer based in Bristol.
Ben founded the company in 2014, setting himself the ambitious goal to turn The Window Outlet into the biggest aluminium trade supplier in the UK.
Ben helped the company turn over £1m in its first year. Considering only 1% of the UK’s 5.4million businesses hit £1m turnover, to achieve this in year one is outstanding and Ben has pioneered new ideas around lead times, 24 hour quotes and challenged the status quo in his industry.
Neil Way
NEIL WAY: MD Jeff Way Electrical
Following a career in the Royal Air Force, Neil Way joined the family business in 2007 when it turned over £1.5m and employed 26 staff on domestic social housing contracts. He has steadily developed the business and nine years later it has grown by over 800 per cent and boasts a turnover of £11m and employs over 120 people.
Neil has also overseen some major contract wins at iconic locations such as Electricity House and Paintworks and is passionate about training and development, having recruited over 40 apprentices under his stewardship.
In 2009 Neil opened a training centre at Jeff Way, and in 2015 Neil Joined the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership board as an SME champion.
Neil has taken Jeff Way from being a domestic electrical contractor to a robust, multi-faceted, award winning contractor within a few years.
Yet to hit his forties, Neil’s ambition is to establish Jeff Way as the very best electrical contractor in the South West.
ADRIAN WILD: Managing Director HBXL
Having started out over thirty years ago in the building industry, Adrian Wild knew first-hand how difficult it is to run a small building company, having worked late nights and weekends to turnaround quotes for clients.
As a result he then set about writing his own software to estimate jobs, and as a result HBXL was born.
With over 12,000 users, he has created a business that not only saves builders huge amounts of time and money, but increases the chance of winning the work quoted for and helps them improve profits.
An innovator in his industry, Adrian is now employing 29 people from his HQ in Bristol and the company is constantly developing new ideas and concepts and also offers a new estimating service that has already gone down a storm across the sector.
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