The Secrets of Successful Scaling

Talking Business with Blackpool Growth Business Academy’s Nikki Hesford

Advice and support for scaling your Blackpool business, from someone who really has been there and done it. For the latest Talking Business vodcast, we sat down with Nikki Hesford, leader of Blackpool Growth Business Academy.

Talking Business vodcast with Nikki Hesford,

Nikki Hesford launched her first business when she was at university, creating “clothes and lingerie for women with big boobs”. She had samples made, sold online and before she knew it she was appearing on Dragons’ Den and receiving £250,000 worth of private investment.

She knows how to grow a successful business. Perhaps more importantly as the leader of Blackpool Growth Business Academy, she knows the pitfalls too.

There’s so much for scaling companies in the latest Talking Business vodcast and we’d urge you to watch it all, but if you’re short on time, here are four quick takeaways…

Blackpool Growth Business Academy is a step change in the support Blackpool Council offers growing businesses

Nikki is keen to stress that there are £30 million-turnover businesses on the Blackpool Growth Business Academy’s books. Nor is this necessarily about relatively new businesses. “We have one business that's 78-years-old and the grandchildren are now running it. They and businesses like theirs want to do things differently, but they don't always know where to start.”

There’s more than one way to grow a business

“Everyone wants to grow their business. Even if they don't want to grow the size of the business, they’ll want to increase profitability because why would anyone not want that?”

You’re never too big to benefit from support

“Simone Biles still has a coach. What could anyone possibly teach Simone Biles about gymnastics? And yet she still has a coach every single day. “It's about that improvement, that 1%, that half a percent, just pushing those boundaries to get bigger, better, more profitable, leaner, slicker. Those types of businesses are the ones that stick around.”

On the business, not in the business

So many well-established companies operate with all the business-critical information locked in the owner’s head. “We help them put systems and processes in place where things can be checked from a bird's eye view without them being in the business, which then allows them to work on the business.”

Get fully funded support to scale your business

Find out more about Blackpool Growth Business Academy

Then, discuss your needs, explore eligibility and get in touch here.

Book your 121 session here

Talk to us

The Academies are fully-funded and here to help qualifying businesses grow sustainably. Talk to us about the support available to grow your business and take your net zero journey. Email info@blackpoolunlimited.com or call The Business Growth Team on 01253 477147