INSPIRATIONAL LEADERS
The business builder
A cursory glance at Len Simmons’ CV provides sufficient evidence of his managerial credentials. He has an enviable track record of building successful businesses by leading, motivating and managing talented teams of employees.
In a 20-year-plus career in engineering, he built up and sold three businesses before stumbling upon his latest challenge. Len explains: “I’ve always been a keen cyclist and about two-and-a-half years ago I bought an electric bike. The process, though, was really difficult; I spoke to people who worked in the bike shop and was astonished by their lack of product knowledge. I had to call the manufacturer in Germany to get the answers I was looking for. “I realised there was a business opportunity so I approached Steve Dann, the owner of Highway Cycles, last year. I invested a small amount of money in the business and eventually took it over in May.”
Highway Cycles stocks a wide range of popular bike brands, including Trek, Merida, Scott, Frog, Moustache, Riese & Muller and Mafia. Under Len’s stewardship, the company implemented a strategy to increase sales, improve operational efficiencies and help employees become more knowledgeable about the bikes they sell. All of these goals have been achieved. Since June 2019, annual revenues have grown 50%. Marketing activity and engagement with potential customers has been ramped up, particularly via social media campaigns. New online systems have streamlined existing processes and made it easier to measure financial performance.
There has also been significant investment in staff training to boost their product knowledge and overall productivity. Now Len’s aim is to increase engagement with the local community by getting more involved with local Chamber events. “Good leaders have a clear vision and a plan for achieving it,” he says. “That’s what I’ve tried to do at Highway Cycles. I’ve also taken the time to communicate this vision to my staff and give them the tools to measure progress against our business goals. “Our shop remains open for business and people can buy from us online. We’ve taken steps to ensure that social distancing rules are observed and that staff and customers are as safe as possible.”
Adaptability can reap rewards In the COVID-19 lockdown, Carol Massay is doing things differently. The CEO of construction software specialist EasyBuild UK, Carol is finding new ways of engaging with customers and staff and getting on with tasks that can keep her business in a position of strength. She says: “It’s a strange position to be in. We had a great start to the year, picking up seven new clients in the space of four weeks and then the coronavirus happened. Workflow has dipped a little so I’ve been trying to use this time positively by encouraging staff to look more closely at the way we operate. We’re developing an online marketing campaign to reach out to potential customers and we’re evaluating the effectiveness of systems in place for existing customers.” The ability to adapt to unusual – in this case, unprecedented – circumstances is a mark of good leadership. With more than
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INSPIRE
30 years’ involvement within the construction industry, Carol has an impressive track record of managing and growing teams of employees, helping them to execute strategies that achieve sustainable business growth. She joined Borehamwoodbased EasyBuild UK as CEO in November 2015 and since then has grown the business, which has 15 staff, into one of the most recognised providers of ERP (enterprise resource planning) software to the construction industry. The award-winning software addresses all of the operational needs of a modern construction business, covering
finance, commercial, project management and compliance. It is customisable with easyto-use applications providing all trades within the industry – including main contractors, civil engineers, demolition, interior fit-out, roofing and cladding, joinery, rail and utilities – with the tools needed to manage projects in a timely and efficient manner. Available as a cloud-based package, it enables users to work within a single, centrally sourced, up-to-date information model in real time. Carol says: “Our software helps the industry to identify and
manage risk on construction projects and track spend against the whole life-cycle of the project on a day-to-day basis. It gives companies and professionals the vision that perhaps they didn’t have previously. This is a highly competitive sector where margins are typically very tight, so it’s vital as a CEO to have a good understanding of the day-today challenges that customers face. That’s why it’s important to establish and maintain strong relationships with them, and help them use technology to get great results for their business.”
