Accelerated Growth Programme client Scott James of Coaltown Coffee - a successful business based in Carmenshire, is featured on the BBC news.
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Mountain biking destination pedals its way to success.
“Business Wales AGP has been an important support for the company”
Increasingly, the leisure and tourism sector is becoming a key part of Wales' economy.
Mountain bike adventure firm, OnePlanet Adventure has identified this and, led by its passionate founders Jim Gaffney and Ian Owen, it is finding growth and establishing itself as a go-to destination for the sport's enthusiasts in Wales.
In the latest in our blog series, Jim Gaffney gives insight into OnePlanet Adventure's story, its plans for the future and advice for others who are taking a similar journey into the world of business.
Tell us about OnePlanet Adventure.
We set up the business when we saw an opportunity to operate a mountain bike centre on land owned by a private company. We'd been asked to help set up the centre – and a few years later, led a management buyout of it and the land at Coed Llandegla in Llandegla near Wrexham. The site now includes bike trails, a visitor centre, bike shop, bike repair unit, car park and café.
We attract around 170,00 visitors a year – from both the UK and overseas.
Ian and I approached several support agencies and the local authority for help. Business Wales AGP has been an essential support for the company.
What are your proudest moments in business so far?
It has to be the successful conclusion of the purchase of the visitor centre in December 2018. It was a long negotiation process, and there was a time – several months in fact – when we thought we wouldn't get the deal over the line. To get it done was a fantastic feeling. Before we'd bought the building, we were leasing it – which meant we had much less control over the direction of the business. Now we are masters of our own destiny.
If you were starting again, what would you do differently?
When I look back over the last 14 years of running OnePlanet Adventure, there are so many things that, in hindsight, I would have done differently. But when I look at where we came from, to where we are today, I wouldn't change anything. We have certainly made a few poor decisions along the way, but they are often the decisions you learn the most from, and without those tough lessons, we wouldn't be the business we are today.
How has support from Business Wales AGP helped your business?
We had significant support from Business Wales AGP, especially from coaches Ray Howard and Bill Pearson who helped us with business planning, operations and financial planning.
What advice and guidance would you give other businesses starting out?
● Don't be afraid to seek out external assistance. You cannot be an expert in all aspects of your business. Recognise where your weaknesses lie and seek out experts to assist in those areas.
● Make sure you know and remain focused on your end goal. It is easy to get distracted and veer off-course without realising. If you are clear on where you want to get to, it makes difficult decisions much easier.
● Make sure you dedicate enough time working on the business, not just in the business. It is easy to get caught up in the day to day running of the business, but you need to be looking at the bigger picture and planning for the future. Easier said than done, but it is a must.
● Take time to look at where you have come from – it is too easy to focus on the hurdles that lie ahead. Sometimes, just taking a moment to see what you have already accomplished is all it takes to help realise that the problems that lie ahead of you are in no way insurmountable.
For more information on OnePlanet Adventure, visit here.
Further information on the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme.
PF Director takes web-based solutions to accountancy and financial advice sector
“Business Wales AGP has surrounded us with expertise which would not have otherwise been easily available”
We have been talking to the businesses we work with, finding out about the journey they have been on, their ambitions for the future and tips for future success. The latest business we look at is PF Director.
PF Director was founded by Gareth Salomon. He is a chartered accountant who has been helping business owners navigate their accounting and taxation responsibilities since 2003. Gareth noticed a gap between what the average accountant does and their clients’ expectations of what they should be doing. In 2018, he started to develop PF Director – an intelligent web-based advisory solution for accountants, financial advisers and growth experts.
Here, Gareth Salomon shares what he's learned on his business journey so far.
Tell us about PF Director
PF Director focuses on the underlying business owner, rather than looking solely at the business. We plan to launch in autumn 2019, and there’s been significant interest from proactive advisers around the UK. I expect to recruit more people into the team as the business grows in the next few months.
When I began work on PF Director, I had already been running a small accountancy firm for 10 years. It meant I had to fit developing the idea for PF Director around all that. Then I saw a post on social media about Town Square’s co-working space in Wrexham and decided to use the Enterprise Hub as my base while working on PF Director. It was there I had an opportunity to enrol on Business Wales AGP, which helped me to develop the concept at a faster, more structured pace. I took part in a pitch event at Welsh ICE in Caerphilly in July 2019 which has opened the doors to further opportunities.
What are your proudest moments in business so far?
I have to say, I am proud of managing my time to juggle the accounting firm and the new development process. It may not sound like much, but when you start a business whilst also working another full-time job it can be tough to prioritise and get everything done. Ultimately, something has to give. For me, it was the decision to delegate some of the work that I have always done myself within the accountancy firm to others. This allowed be to free up the time to work on PF Director.
If you were starting again, what would you do differently?
If I was starting out with PF Director from the beginning again, I would put together a bare bones concept – on paper or in the form of a pitch deck – of what I wanted to achieve and talk to my target customers at a much earlier stage. This maximises the use of time and money, allowing you to focus on the work that is most relevant to your customers’ needs.
How has support from Business Wales AGP helped your business?
Business Wales AGP is helping me to structure PF Director’s start-up and growth processes around a proven framework, maximising the business’ chances of success. Business Wales AGP has surrounded us with expertise which would not have otherwise been easily available.
What advice and guidance would you give other businesses starting out?
Don’t let unconditional praise from family members about your business idea cloud your judgement. Let it motivate you, but don’t use it as a basis for business decisions.
Talk extensively about your product/service with your target market to gauge demand from those that matter – before the main development process starts.
Surround yourself with highly knowledgeable people, who are experts in their field.
You can stay in employment while starting your own business. You will know when or even if the time is right to take the plunge into full-time self-employment.
The fact that your idea may not have been done before is, more often than not, a warning sign. Sometimes, the best business ideas merely make an existing product or service better.
For more information on PF Director click here.
Further information on the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme.