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Mentor helps spark new life at electrical contractor

Mentor helps spark new life at electrical contractor

Electrical contractors Mark Wardle is set to recruit up to 10 new staff following a dramatic turnaround in fortunes.

The Burslem based company suffered a turbulent 2012 but now has a very promising future, according to Managing Director, Mark Wardle.

Mark credits the help of Let’s Do Business Mentor Sean Canavan in helping revive his flagging firm.

“I don’t mind admitting that things looked fairly critical, we were up to our neck in water,” said Mark.

“Sean’s support and guidance helped greatly with the turnaround. He helped me deal with staffing issues and business processes. Our focus and organisation has improved and I now have confidence to take on new work,”

The new outlook has led to six new jobs in recent months and Mark has set his sights on taking the workforce from 22 to 30-plus staff in the next two years.

“Business is booming and I can see us going up to 30 or even 40 staff,” added Mark.

Organisational change was crucial to the turnaround and the employment of two new experienced employees has helped the company land new business.

The business thrived and moved to offices in Leonard Street, off High Lane, Burslem, three years ago.

“We were growing too big, too fast at one point and I don’t think we were properly prepared for it,” admitted Mark. “When the business stalled we descended into a very tough situation.”

Mark joined the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce around a year ago while looking for funding opportunities.

He was briefed about the Let’s Do Mentoring programme through which experienced business people are matched with companies who are seeking the help of a mentor.

Mark added: “I would highly recommend Let’s Do Mentoring Service. We were matched with Sean, a mentor with great experience in project management and staff development,

“Just having a listening ear is vital. Sean reassured me that we could turn things around and then encouraged me to move forward in creating a new team.

“He encouraged me to look at how the business was structured and we have now become far more organised. It didn’t seem like we were taking huge steps but all the small changes have added up.

“The business now runs more efficiently and I have the confidence to go out and look for new work.”

Around 80 per cent of the company’s business is working with housing associations on new build projects.

“Our new found success is a combination of an improvement in confidence in the market and our ability as a company to work smarter,” concluded Mark.

Sean Canavan commented: “I am delighted that things have worked out for Mark. In the time that we spent together it was clear that he needed reassurance - he had the answers but the pressure he was under didn’t allow Mark to get focused.

“The mentoring programme is a two way process which worked in this case because Mark was fully committed and we were able to sort things out.”

Positive outcomes

Jobs:
Six new jobs with more forecasted to follow.

Business Practice:
Mentor and client work together to improve efficiency and work smarter.

Prospects:
Plans for new jobs and growth.