Celebrating the amazing success of business owners at Bill’s Big Bash 2022
On Tuesday 21st June, Bill Squires Business Coaching gathered with clients, connections, and business partners to celebrate clients’ hard work and achievements.
Pictured: Attendees gathered at Bills Big Bash 2022 at The Blackburn Wing, Bowcliffe Hall.
The event returned to The Blackburn Wing, Bowcliffe Hall, on the longest day of the year in beautiful sunshine. With over 80 businesses in attendance, there was ample opportunity to meet new people and network. Attendees included clients, business owners, charity representatives, and business partners who enjoyed an evening full of delicious food, drinks and mingling. The pinnacle of the evening was the Awards Ceremony which celebrated the achievements and successes we’ve seen in our client community in the last twelve months.
Judging the entrants and presenting the awards were Helen Davey, CEO of Mind in Bradford; Quentin Smith, Chairman of Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby; and Tracey Greig, Employment & Skills Senior Manager at Leeds City Council. Like the previous year, the Award Ceremony focused on three categories; Growth, Innovation, and Community Impact.
Pictured: Helen Davey, CEO of Mind in Bradford, Tracey Greig, Employment & Skills Senior Manager at Leeds City Council, Bill Squires and Quentin Smith, Chairman of Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby.
The well-deserved winners this year were…
The Growth Award
Lee Cole from Leeds Access Company won the Growth Award, presented by Quentin Smith from Wooden Spoon.
Pictured: Guy Cole, Lee Cole from Leeds Access Company and Quentin Smith from Wooden Spoon.
Leeds Access Company specialises in scaffolding services for the construction industry and the restoration, conservation and refurbishment of listed and historic buildings and properties.
The company has grown 33% in terms of revenue in the last year and is now forecasting and is on target for a 43% increase in revenue this year. This results in over a 200% increase in net profit before tax in this financial year! Not only this, they have doubled the size of the team in order to achieve this growth.
Lee has also adopted a new mindset making a massive difference to him and the other company directors, allowing them to constantly review how the company works, benefitting the rest of the workforce and encouraging them to push harder to achieve the company’s goals. Coaching has massively improved the level of teamwork and enabled them all to deliver these impressive results in profit, which is why they were awarded the Growth award this year.
The Innovation Award
Paul Van Heeswyck from Crucial Engineering received the Innovation Award presented by Helen Davey from Mind in Bradford.
Pictured: Helen Davey from Mind in Bradford and Paul Van Heeswyck from Crucial Engineering.
Crucial Engineering specialises in supplying and servicing all types of aluminium doors. However, this year Paul expanded his business to create a new solar-powered traffic barrier with interchangeable batteries, which is the first of its kind. The barriers are easy to install for engineering teams, with no mains power required to operate them. This will positively impact the industry’s carbon footprint and is a huge step toward delivering a widely adopted environmentally friendly solution.
The solution impressed the judges because of its long-lasting impact on the local workforce and our environment by contributing to the industry’s net zero carbon targets. There is potential for Highways England to invest in these barriers to use during road works, which would set a new industry standard. This stunning creation makes Paul a deserving winner of the Innovation Award.
The Community Impact Award
Tracey Greig from Leeds City Council presented the Community Impact award to Rory Mason, Kyle Findley, and Zac Evans from 21 Degrees Digital.
Pictured: Tracey Greig from Leeds City Council with Rory Mason, Kyle Findley, and Zac Evans from 21 Degrees Digital.
The digital marketing agency has a significant focus on neurodiversity and involving neurodivergent people in the workforce, so much so that 70% of the staff at 21 Degrees Digital are neurodivergent. The company has also developed a much-needed space for the BAME community, with 20% of their team representing the community (including two directors!)
They have recently partnered with the Lighthouse Futures Trust, which focuses on changing the lives of young adults aged 16-25 by helping them with vital social and employability skills. 21 Degrees Digital supports them through donations and advice but importantly, they bring them into the business, offering work experience, both part-time and full-time opportunities.
The judges commended 21 Degrees Digital on its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and recognised its work with the Lighthouse Futures Trust. Tracey was impressed by their impact on the local community and deemed them a worthy winner!
Each year Bill sets himself a challenge, and this year is no exception (and also explains the presence of two fantastic charities on the judging panel!) In August, Bill and his cycling buddy Steve Coleman of Picture Perfect Data will be biking over 900 miles from London to Edinburgh and back to London, with only 125 hours to complete the route, raising funds for Wooden Spoon, the Children’s Charity of Rugby and Mind in Bradford.
Pictured: Steve Coleman from Picture Perfect Data and Bill Squires.
To support Bill and Steve with their fundraising you can donate here.
The turnout for Bill’s Big Bash was fantastic, and the evening went very well. Attendees said they had a great time and that it was wonderful to see local entrepreneurs unite and celebrate one another’s accomplishments. There was fantastic entertainment from Scott of Northern Acoustic. Sam Toolsie from Toolsie Photography captured the fabulous photos from the event, and 21 Degrees Digital took care of the videography. We are incredibly proud of the fun and progress we have seen in these events and are excited to start planning for next year!
Pictured: Scott from Northern Acoustic providing the entertainment at the event.
The Bill Squires Business Coaching team is determined to help good businesses become great businesses. We pride ourselves on helping business owners create cultures that will enable them to achieve their business goals and have more life.
Pictured: The Bill Squires Business Coaching Team; Bill Squires, Joanna Ferguson, and Lindsey Brocklesby.
If you’re a business owner looking for help or advice with running your business, contact the team at Bill Squires Business Coaching.