In this episode, Tom Griffiths sits down with Michael Potter, Founder and Managing Director of Curve Workplaces, to explore the remarkable growth of his office fit-out, furniture, and lighting group—now in its tenth year and turning over more than £30 million across its divisions.

Michael begins by sharing the origin story of Curve Workplaces, which started in 2016 when three industry professionals transformed an existing business into a new design-and-build venture. He reflects on the early days of operating from a serviced office, setting ambitious targets, and unexpectedly hitting a £2.12 million first-year turnover—despite the number being chosen on the spot. Michael walks listeners through the company’s rapid progression, from hiring its first employees to reaching nearly £10 million in year three and gaining recognition through regional awards and the Sunday Times Fast Track list.

Tom and Michael then delve into the business model, explaining how Curve refurbishes and fits out office spaces for clients across all sectors. Michael emphasises their responsibility for both design and practical delivery—ensuring everything from lighting to air conditioning works seamlessly and complies with regulations.

A significant portion of the conversation examines scaling challenges, particularly around cash flow management in a high-turnover, low-margin industry. Michael offers candid insights into late payments, the pressures on supply chains, managing overheads, and why transparent communication with clients is critical. He also highlights the systems, people, and financial processes that enabled sustainable growth without borrowing capital.

Looking ahead, Michael discusses exciting expansion plans for Curve’s furniture and lighting businesses, both of which are securing major projects beyond the core fit-out operation. He also talks about the ongoing focus on team development, ensuring that people are supported, aligned, and positioned to thrive.

This episode offers a practical, honest look at what it takes to build and scale a construction-related business from the ground up.

Contact Michael here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-potter-mrics-44bb3b15/

In this episode, Tom Griffiths sits down with Toby Henry, CEO of Accelerator Solutions, to explore how learning and development is evolving in a fast-changing business landscape. Toby shares an overview of his work helping organisations strengthen their talent, leadership capabilities, and service culture—particularly in sectors where people are the core differentiator, such as consulting, legal services, social housing, and construction.

A major theme of the conversation is how companies can build the human skills that technology can’t replace. Toby discusses the rising demand for training in communication, trust-building, commercial awareness, and relationship development—skills that remain essential even as AI reshapes workplaces. He explains how Accelerator Solutions designs highly tailored, immersive programmes, often incorporating real-world case studies, external experts, live client pitches, and ongoing coaching to ensure genuine behaviour change.

The pair also examine the common challenges organisations face before seeking support, including skill gaps, cultural misalignment, lack of investment in people development, and uncertainty about how to adopt new technologies like AI. Toby describes how his team helps diagnose these issues and create practical, contextual solutions that improve performance and employee experience.

The conversation then shifts to Toby’s journey acquiring Accelerator Solutions, the first year of transitioning into ownership, and his priorities in shaping the business for scale. He shares insights into building operational excellence, clarifying roles and responsibilities, implementing EOS for better metrics, and focusing on strong gross-profit discipline within a people-based business.

Finally, Toby offers a look ahead at future plans for organic growth and potential acquisitions, including exploring roll-ups, bolt-ons, and platform businesses that complement learning and development.

Contact Toby here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toby-henry-79498b13

In this episode, Tom Griffiths is joined by Jeremy Middleton, co-founder of Homeserve and an experienced investor in small- to medium-sized enterprises. Jeremy takes listeners through his entrepreneurial journey, from his early days at Procter & Gamble to co-founding Homeserve and transforming it into a cash-generative, FTSE 100 company over 30 years.

Jeremy shares how he and his business partner Richard Middleton identified opportunities in the property and plumbing sectors, including the pivot from a traditional plumbing contracting model to an insurance-based, subscription model that provided homeowners with peace of mind. He explains why understanding customer needs and designing a scalable, predictable business model was critical to long-term success, and how the right marketing and partnerships amplified growth.

The conversation also explores Jeremy’s transition from operational entrepreneur to investor. He discusses his approach to backing growth-stage businesses through his family office, focusing on proven business models that are profitable and capable of scaling. He highlights the importance of providing flexible, patient capital—often through minority equity stakes—and supporting entrepreneurs with strategic guidance rather than pushing for aggressive growth driven by external pressures.

Jeremy emphasises the value of strong financial systems and visibility in early-stage companies, advising on forecasting, cash management, and the role of fractional or full-time finance directors. He also shares how his team identifies investment opportunities, prioritising proactive outreach and research over responding to polished investor decks, and how they tailor support to each business depending on its needs and management capability.

This episode offers practical insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in scaling businesses thoughtfully, highlighting the balance between capital, strategy, and patience in building sustainable success.

To Contact Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemiddleton/

In this episode, Tom Griffiths sits down with Neil Fagelman, Managing Director of Merco Facilities Management, to explore his journey from operations manager to business owner. Neil shares how, after years of running the business on behalf of the previous director, he acquired Merco in 2022 and stepped into the responsibility of leading a company with over 100 employees.

The conversation delves into the challenges of transitioning from operations to ownership, particularly the financial pressures and the learning curve of managing payroll, profit and loss, and business strategy. Neil reflects openly on the mistakes he made along the way, including exploring side ventures like Airbnb cleaning, and how those experiences helped him refocus on the core business: commercial cleaning contracts.

Neil highlights the importance of recurring contracts over one-off jobs, noting how long-term relationships with clients—particularly schools and commercial property managers—drive stability and sustainable growth. He also discusses his approach to team management, from supporting office staff to implementing systems like Zoho for onboarding and CRM, enabling scalable operations without proportionally increasing fixed costs.

The episode also covers Neil’s strategy for business development. Rather than traditional networking, he has leaned into social media marketing and organic referrals to grow the brand and pipeline, reflecting on the balance between social and business networking.

Looking ahead, Neil shares his growth ambitions, including expanding the team, pursuing tenders through bid writers, and increasing the number of contracts while maintaining healthy margins. His ultimate goal is to build a company that employs over 200 people, delivering value for clients while supporting his own family’s lifestyle.

Listeners will gain insight into the practicalities of running a service-based business, the challenges of scaling operations, and the mindset required to grow a company responsibly and sustainably.

To Contact Neil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-fagleman-a27aab58/

In this episode, Tom Griffiths sits down with Matt Hunt, founder of the Protein Ball Company, to explore the journey of building a pioneering health snack brand. Matt shares his entrepreneurial story, from his early experiences working in a fruit and nut store to launching his first business, Olafs, which became a global success. This foundation laid the groundwork for the Protein Ball Company, which he and his wife Haley started 11 years ago, aiming to bring natural, bite-sized protein snacks to the UK market.

The conversation delves into the inspiration behind the company, highlighting Matt’s observation of the US protein trend at Expo West and the decision to differentiate their offering through natural ingredients. Unlike many protein bars that rely on artificial additives, the Protein Ball Company focuses on simple, wholesome components like dates, nuts, seeds, whey, and plant-based proteins, catering to increasingly health-conscious consumers.

Matt also discusses the operational and financial challenges of scaling a business. From bootstrapping the early days with minimal investment to managing cash flow and expanding internationally, he provides insight into navigating growth while maintaining quality and brand integrity. The episode covers strategic approaches, including private label partnerships, export markets, and a recent rebrand to refresh the company’s visual identity and messaging.

Innovation and adaptation are recurring themes. Matt shares the company’s latest venture into healthy, human-grade protein snacks for dogs, demonstrating their commitment to hedging business risks and exploring new market opportunities.

Listeners gain a candid look at the realities of entrepreneurship: the highs of rapid growth, the complexities of international logistics, the importance of financial oversight, and the value of staying true to a brand’s mission. This episode is essential for anyone interested in business growth, food innovation, and the art of building a sustainable, values-driven company.

To contact Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthunt001/

In this episode, Tom Griffiths is joined by Jeremy Middleton, co-founder of Homeserve and an experienced investor in small- to medium-sized enterprises. Jeremy takes listeners through his entrepreneurial journey, from his early days at Procter & Gamble to co-founding Homeserve and transforming it into a cash-generative, FTSE 100 company over 30 years.

Jeremy shares how he and his business partner Richard Middleton identified opportunities in the property and plumbing sectors, including the pivot from a traditional plumbing contracting model to an insurance-based, subscription model that provided homeowners with peace of mind. He explains why understanding customer needs and designing a scalable, predictable business model was critical to long-term success, and how the right marketing and partnerships amplified growth.

The conversation also explores Jeremy’s transition from operational entrepreneur to investor. He discusses his approach to backing growth-stage businesses through his family office, focusing on proven business models that are profitable and capable of scaling. He highlights the importance of providing flexible, patient capital—often through minority equity stakes—and supporting entrepreneurs with strategic guidance rather than pushing for aggressive growth driven by external pressures.

Jeremy emphasises the value of strong financial systems and visibility in early-stage companies, advising on forecasting, cash management, and the role of fractional or full-time finance directors. He also shares how his team identifies investment opportunities, prioritising proactive outreach and research over responding to polished investor decks, and how they tailor support to each business depending on its needs and management capability.

This episode offers practical insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in scaling businesses thoughtfully, highlighting the balance between capital, strategy, and patience in building sustainable success.

To Contact Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemiddleton/

In this episode, Tom Griffiths sits down with Neil Fagelman, Managing Director of Merco Facilities Management, to explore his journey from operations manager to business owner. Neil shares how, after years of running the business on behalf of the previous director, he acquired Merco in 2022 and stepped into the responsibility of leading a company with over 100 employees.

The conversation delves into the challenges of transitioning from operations to ownership, particularly the financial pressures and the learning curve of managing payroll, profit and loss, and business strategy. Neil reflects openly on the mistakes he made along the way, including exploring side ventures like Airbnb cleaning, and how those experiences helped him refocus on the core business: commercial cleaning contracts.

Neil highlights the importance of recurring contracts over one-off jobs, noting how long-term relationships with clients—particularly schools and commercial property managers—drive stability and sustainable growth. He also discusses his approach to team management, from supporting office staff to implementing systems like Zoho for onboarding and CRM, enabling scalable operations without proportionally increasing fixed costs.

The episode also covers Neil’s strategy for business development. Rather than traditional networking, he has leaned into social media marketing and organic referrals to grow the brand and pipeline, reflecting on the balance between social and business networking.

Looking ahead, Neil shares his growth ambitions, including expanding the team, pursuing tenders through bid writers, and increasing the number of contracts while maintaining healthy margins. His ultimate goal is to build a company that employs over 200 people, delivering value for clients while supporting his own family’s lifestyle.

Listeners will gain insight into the practicalities of running a service-based business, the challenges of scaling operations, and the mindset required to grow a company responsibly and sustainably.

To Contact Neil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-fagleman-a27aab58/

In this episode, Tom Griffiths sits down with Matt Hunt, founder of the Protein Ball Company, to explore the journey of building a pioneering health snack brand. Matt shares his entrepreneurial story, from his early experiences working in a fruit and nut store to launching his first business, Olafs, which became a global success. This foundation laid the groundwork for the Protein Ball Company, which he and his wife Haley started 11 years ago, aiming to bring natural, bite-sized protein snacks to the UK market.

The conversation delves into the inspiration behind the company, highlighting Matt’s observation of the US protein trend at Expo West and the decision to differentiate their offering through natural ingredients. Unlike many protein bars that rely on artificial additives, the Protein Ball Company focuses on simple, wholesome components like dates, nuts, seeds, whey, and plant-based proteins, catering to increasingly health-conscious consumers.

Matt also discusses the operational and financial challenges of scaling a business. From bootstrapping the early days with minimal investment to managing cash flow and expanding internationally, he provides insight into navigating growth while maintaining quality and brand integrity. The episode covers strategic approaches, including private label partnerships, export markets, and a recent rebrand to refresh the company’s visual identity and messaging.

Innovation and adaptation are recurring themes. Matt shares the company’s latest venture into healthy, human-grade protein snacks for dogs, demonstrating their commitment to hedging business risks and exploring new market opportunities.

Listeners gain a candid look at the realities of entrepreneurship: the highs of rapid growth, the complexities of international logistics, the importance of financial oversight, and the value of staying true to a brand’s mission. This episode is essential for anyone interested in business growth, food innovation, and the art of building a sustainable, values-driven company.

To contact Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthunt001/