Expion Thoughts document

Strategy MaHers…

Prepared for Richard and James Expion Search and Selec2on

THE BIG BANG PROJECT | COPYRIGHT2013

SeKng the scene...

Hi Richard/James,

Further to our recent meet – as promised, I have prepared this informa2on to help give you both a more detailed understanding of what I do and how this might benefit you and your business.

Clearly, at this stage, I only have a superficial apprecia2on of Expion, its vision, values and aspira2ons. In this respect, I’m only part qualified to share my observa2ons, thoughts and ideas. No doubt, should we decide to work together – the detail will emerge over 2me.

That said; I am hopeful that you will find enough in this document to provoke your interest in further exploring poten2al value hotspots, growth opportuni2es and an aspira2onal ‘wishlist’ of what you and others need and expect from the business.

There are essen/ally three elements to what I do:

I. Side by Side collabora2on with you as owner managers, directors and shareholders – working on strategy, direc2on and your own professional development as execu2ves and leaders. The mentorship is typically discrete and confiden2al.

II. The ‘Academy’. A bespoke and ac2on based Con2nuous Development Programme (CPD) the scope of which is designed to extend across the whole of the business (some2mes beyond as I have a few private clients who offer some aspects of what we’ve developed together to their closer/trusted clients).

III. Bring what I am and can do to the table as a Strategic Partner. An example being the design, development and launch of a new E-­‐commerce B2C retail plaaorm for a manufacturing client of mine. Effec2vely the outsourcing of key projects to me-­‐ allowing the business to remain focussed on its core ac2vity.

SeKng the scene...Virtuous Circle Vision , values & culture Expion as an enabler to deliver personal life aspira2ons and

Corporate Strategy and a defini2ve plan

Again, without knowing the deep down detail, over and above the steer you gave me with:

Value enhancing • A need for a plan Marke2ng and PR • A commitment to develop your people

I have ventured the following as being poten&al smart areas that you might to work in the businesses.

Business structure, ownership and accountability

Tech, CRM – integrated digital strategy

People development

Results, agility and = sustainability

The best people, the best performance and an iden2ty to be proud of…

People

Plenty of businesses know ‘what’ they are aiming for – some know ‘how’ – the essen2al and final ingredient of course, is ‘want’. The desire and passion that dis2nguishes an ordinary business from a great business, comes directly from the people.

The fact is however you can’t simply ‘do’ mo2va2on to someone. Having a driven, focused and energised team is achieved through a combina2on of; shared values, trust, culture, an ‘in it together’ philosophy, exemplary communica2ons and extraordinary leadership.

• Execu/ve and Management Coaching and Mentoring • High Impact Learning and Development Programs • Search and headhun/ng • Peer2Peer Exper/se • Team Building • Keys to Personal Effec/veness • Labour Strategy and Labour Provider Service Improvement

Performance

We are all about quickly delivering improvement to boHom line performance, s2mula2ng more profitable thinking, behaviour and ac2vity. Our goal is to equip organisa2ons with the tools, aKtude, confidence and mo2va2on to independently sustain the gains achieved.

• Harnessing technology and innova/on • Recovery and Turnaround Interven/on • Business Development Strategy • Remodelling, Restructuring • Posi/ve Change Management

Personality

Is it not the case that in life, our most meaningful and longstanding rela2onships are underpinned and sustained by shared values, interests, trust, lifestyle and even sense of humour?

We believe that a business can, and should work to connect with its customers on an emo2onal level, in a way that allows the customer to iden2fy with the business as something more than a corporate en2ty, brand or provider. GeKng up close and personal, builds passion and profit!

• Corporate Iden/ty • Culture and Mission • Sales and Marke/ng Strategies • Brand Development • Communica/ons and PR • Social Media and Web

Poten2al cornerstones…

SeKng the scene...

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Behaviours for successful leadership.

The Vitality Curve -­‐ the A’s, B’s and C’s in business and what to do about it.

Posi2ve change management.

Prac2cal mo2va2onal theory.

People and culture strategies.

‘We are one’ – ownership, alignment and individual contribu2ons to the Vision.

Planning for THE Goal.

Future Expion execu2ve team Developing guiding principles, mission, values and Vision.

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Leadership, culture, CI and sustainability

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Iden2fying and unlocking the real value within Expion.

The best of the best – what’s different?

Measuring and benchmarking ‘the difference’.

Building brand value through CSR and wider engagement.

Iden2fying, profiling and approaching fer2le markets.

Opera2onal, tac2cal and strategic marke2ng.

Further evolving the Expion brand and profile through high impact PR strategic marke2ng plan marke2ng.

THE BIG BANG PROJECT | COPYRIGHT 2012

Brand, technology and the sales and marke2ng strategy

Vision and strategy and R and J’s personal aspira2ons

People, teams, structure and con2nuous professional development

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The 1, 3 and 5 year MUST achieve opera2onal, tac2cal and strategic goals.

Business engineering, ‘Halos and coffins’, burning plaaorm and Expion SWOT. Scaling up, organic/M&A, diversifying and innova2ng to add value.

Crea2on of a senior management/ leadership team (poten2al future junior board/succession strategy).

The business model and route to market.

‘THE Goal’ – MBO/MBI/Exit/trade sale/JV succession – something else?

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Mentorship for owners, SMT and others in exis2ng/emerging management/leadership roles.

Dedicated Expion CPD Learning and Development programme.

Barriers or Breakthrough – problems solved!

Internal and external communica2ons.

Progression and succession in the context of CPD. Low maintenance, self managing, high performing teams.

Individual and team projects.

Teambuilding – beHer together thinking and doing.

Delivery and what involvement might look like…

1:1/group coaching and mentorship Special projects -­‐ growth/ problem solving

Ac2on based learning and development

Associate/ NED

Company logo

Interim and targeted interven2ons

To collaborate as a key strategic partner, with Expion and its people, to ac/vely and measurably contribute where needed, and in such a way that makes a significant difference to the performance of the business – everyday.

Work to help inspire and nurture a pervading ins2nct where adding more value, inves2ng more energy, assuming greater ownership and sharing the vision and values of the business is what its people are hardwired to do.

• Improving their ability to problem solve -­‐ ie: provide more answers than they bring ques2ons.

• Teamwork -­‐ change behaviour so that collabora2on in improving the business is in its DNA.

Side by Side in the role and on the job collabora2on

Retained as a strategic partner

• A culture of doing the right thing and doing things right • Know who the A’s B’s and C’s are, and what to do about it.

• Deliver ‘The Plan’ come what may.

What is The Big Bang Academy?

For Execu2ve and Owner Managers

Reputa2on and Crisis Management

Management Fundamentals

The Big Bang Academy

Finding and Keeping the Best People

Step Change Sales and Marke2ng

Essen2al Leadership for Growth

Dynamic Account Management

The Big Bang Academy creates, develops and delivers bespoke and ac/on based learning programmes designed to quickly delivering improvement to boRom line performance. The Academy is all about s/mula/ng more profitable thinking, behaviour and ac/vity whilst equipping the organisa/on with the tools, aStude, confidence and mo/va/on to independently sustain the gains achieved.

The Execu2ves and Owner Managers Toolbox

• Structuring and re-­‐structuring your business • Which way next – essen/al strategies • Succession, MBO/MBI and exit planning • Execu/ve well being • Crea/ve thinking for the board • Taking control of the beast • Smart finance for business

Management Fundamentals

• Personal produc/vity and effec/veness • Coaching for performance • Situa/onal leadership • We are one – building effec/ve teams • Finding and keeping the best people • Inci/ng ownership in others

Essen2al Leadership for Growth

• Behaviours for successful management • Posi/ve change management • Risk, crisis and reputa/on management • Crea/ng a vision for the business • Prac/cal mo/va/onal theory • People and culture strategies • Introduc/on to strategic thinking

Dynamic Account Management

• Understanding the key rela/onships • Legisla/ng for the unexpected • Maximising value up and downstream • Strategy and innova/on in key rela/onships • Advanced communica/on skills • Understanding the client agenda • A ring of steel around your key accounts

Step Change Sales and Marke2ng

• Developing real compe//ve edge • Strategic sales management • Managing the sales process • The psychology of selling • Campaign project management • Developing business & social media • GeSng to ‘Yes!’ nego/a/on skills

Finding and Keeping the Best People

• Winning the talent arms race • Becoming an employer of choice • Grow your own talent • What really mo/vates people • Being an Employer of Choice • Con/nuous professional development • Why culture and leadership maRers

Reputa2on and Crisis Management

• Recovery and turnaround • Emergency finance and re-­‐capitalisa/on • Key account rescue • Managing communica/on in a crisis • Essen/al intensive care for your business • Leadership when the pressure’s on • Crea/ve thinking and redirec/on

Steve Street » Quick profile Founding Partner of The Big Bang Project and successful hands on business owner/leader, with a proven track record of delivering consistently excellent results in my own enterprises and in those of my clients.

Working with the board, I led a planned for and successful exit -­‐ achieved through the outright commercial sale of RRGL to SPL in February 2011 and in doing so, maximised earnings & value for the shareholders.

Retained by the acquiring business to manage the people, cultural and commercial integra2on of the businesses, and to successfully undertake the transfer of assets, including an impressive, high value client base.

Non-­‐execu2ve director mentor and strategic partner to other business principals and owners, helping them to develop their business strategies, evolve their management & leadership teams' capabili2es, to improve their performance and contribu2on and in doing so, help drive growth and change.

Special/es Strategic direc2on, accelera2ng top and boHom line growth, turnaround work, troubleshoo2ng, improved efficiencies and ROI, re-­‐modelling, posi2ve change, individual and group mentoring, business leadership, building progressive/sustainable businesses through a combina2on of above and beyond ownership of the goals, trust, empathy and 'can do'.

Personal mission To launch planned community enterprise, suppor2ng young people with Au2sm, Aspergers and addi2onal needs into work, work placements, internships and work experience.

Community Fundraiser for pupils from the Chellow Heights Special School in Heaton.

Steve Street » Academic and Voca2onal New start in 1996 with seed capital; grew to £mul/-­‐ million, award winning and recognised sector innovator, that delivered significant growth year on year un/l

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trade sale in 2011.

The Ins/tute of Directors | Director Development

Featured in the Catalyst Top 50 Fastest Growing Businesses by sector in 2010, and

Successful Strategies for Sales Accelera2ng Company Growth and Harnessing Tools for Expansion Strategic Sales Direc2on Master Class in Managing Change Powerful Presenta2ons Understanding the board Keys to personal effec2veness The role of The Board

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At the vanguard of technological change -­‐ reposi/oning and remodeling the business from mul/ opera/on retail plahorm to online/onsite hybrid model, taking over £440k of cost out and growing earnings by over 35%.

Led highly successful strategic exit in 2011 and in doing so, maximised value for shareholders. Engineered and executed highly successful succession and integra/on plan to protect the investment for the acquirers.

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preferred strategic partner to some of the most respected brands and Blue Chips.

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Strategic Thinking Finance for non-­‐financial directors Leading change Corporate Governance Business Performance Improvement

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Experienced and trusted advisor and NED to tech, manufacturing, online retail, business services, supply chain and crea/ve and marke/ng businesses.

In a nutshell... ‘return on investment’.

More focused, energised and produc2ve people and teams

Improved competency, capability and enhanced skills sets

Leadership, management and communica2on strategy

Iden2fica2on and securing of more opportuni2es

More ideas, less problems and self managing/high performance people

There is much to know both ways about your both, Expion, my skills and capabili2es and how these can be brought to bear to protect the exis2ng value that you have built and ul2mately maximise opportuni2es in the future.

In the spirit of our open and honest meet – my own personal plan is to dedicate the next 2 – 3 years to a select/handpicked group of businesses/leaders where I feel that I can make the biggest posi2ve difference.

Perhaps once you have given some thought to what you see your op2ons to be as far as investment in yourself, your team, the business and its future plans – we can explore the way forward together.

Speak soon.

Regards,

Clear strategy, structure, sustainability plan and Vision – succession/exit.