On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Simon White shares his remarkable journey from leaving school at 16 to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the IT industry.
On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Simon White shares his remarkable journey from leaving school at 16 to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the IT industry.
Summary
On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Simon White shares his remarkable journey from leaving school at 16 to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the IT industry.
He discusses his early career, the challenges of building his company Enhanced, and the pivotal moments that led to a management buyout.
Simon reflects on the growth of his business, historical moments such as the turning of the millennium, and the transition to an Employee Ownership Trust, emphasising the importance of legacy and team in his entrepreneurial journey.
Simon delves into the complexities of business transitions, particularly focusing on the journey of moving from ownership to a more advisory role.
Warren and Simon discuss the importance of embracing technology, especially AI, as a tool for growth and efficiency in business operations. The conversation also touches on happiness and fulfilment in one’s career, emphasising the need for balance and the pursuit of passion in professional endeavours.
This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…
Simon White’s journey into IT from a young age
Combining business and technology
Management buyouts
Strategic planning when growing a business
Transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust
Surrounding yourself with capable people
The importance of mentorship
The long-term implications of business transitions
The importance of growth in business
Happiness and contentment are key to success
Finding the right time to step back from your business
Embracing technology such as to solve business problems
Personal fulfilment
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:09 Early Career and Entry into IT
05:54 Building Enhanced and the Management Buyout
13:29 Challenges and Growth
21:01 Mentorship
27:07 The Transition to Employee Ownership Trust
34:32 Navigating Business Transitions
39:01 AI in Business
46:59 Embracing AI
50:40 Success and Happiness
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The Evolve Business Accelerator is a fantastic programme for founders in the early stages of developing a business idea. The programme was instrumental in helping me develop HR Diagnostics to MVP stage and I would have struggled to get where I am without this help and support. The mentors have a pragmatic and approachable style, and they are good at connecting people through their extensive network. Thank you to the Evolve team 🙂
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Working with Warren and Evolve has been instrumental in shaping DDC Dolphin’s future. The strategic advice and leadership training provided have equipped us with a clear vision and the skills to implement it effectively. We now have a stronger financial foundation and a more aligned leadership team, ready to drive the company towards new successes. We’re grateful for their support and expertise.
In the 4 years I have been working with Evolve, I have doubled my turnover.
It has opened my eyes and has been a great experience. The Business Accelerator programme has raised a lot of important questions and made me reflect, leading to a better business strategy
Attending Evolve’s Growth Group Programme was incredibly valuable. The workshops on business strategy, planning, and leadership helped me broaden my horizons and gain new insights. Meeting other leaders facing similar challenges was both supportive and motivating. Joining a business peer group has allowed me to continue benefiting from this broader perspective. Thank you to Evolve for this transformative experience.
Working with Evolve has been a game-changer for us and the businesses in their programmes. Their knowledgeable, skilled team brings real business experience and is genuinely invested in success. Their innovative approach and attention to detail have greatly improved our efficiency and impacted many businesses. Evolve’s commitment to understanding needs and delivering tailored solutions has exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to elevate their business. Evolve is more than a partner—they’re a catalyst for growth.
Evolve offers a fantastic peer group which adds huge value to myself and my business!
The Evolve team were organised, forward thinking and a pleasure to work with. The Business Festival was a success, which helped us engage with our business community, understand their challenges and build connections. I would not hesitate to recommend Evolve to any Council or public sector organisation, looking for a team to organise successful events within their region.
The Evolve Business Accelerator was brilliant for me and my business. Their support helped refine our strategy, expand our services, and achieve significant growth. The mentors were incredibly supportive and provided invaluable insights to plan and scale. All this working alongside such a great peer group of like-minded business owners, where we can all discuss and overcome challenges together! A big thank you to the Evolve team for their support, and I would strongly advise anyone starting out, or already established in business to reach out to Evolve and discuss the help available!
It’s been fantastic because we’ve had the opportunity to step out of the office and the questions have been steered. It’s got everybody opening up and they’ve been a lot more open and honest about what the gaps are, where the holes are and what we need to fill. We’ve taken that away and implemented that in the higher management meetings. We’ve implemented so much from the Evolve sessions that will go towards the company yearly objectives and I hope will continuously improve what we’re trying to do within the business.
The training provided by Evolve has been invaluable for our leadership team. The sessions have equipped us with essential skills and fostered a culture of continuous improvement. We are now better equipped to handle complex challenges, engage our teams effectively, and drive the firm forward. We greatly appreciate Evolve’s expertise and commitment to our development.
Just want to take a moment to thank you for all your help and support over the past few years. We’ve absolutely loved the away days with you – they’ve been hugely valuable for us. One of the key take-aways flowing from an earlier Away Day is that we agreed, carefully over time, to renew our team. This has brought in younger staff; and results of this and other decisions speak for themselves. This year, even at the eight-month mark, we’re on track for our best year ever! Your guidance has been instrumental in driving this success and we’re excited to see what the future holds.
The expert coaching and guidance Evolve offer is invaluable. When you view business and strategy with perspective you can have thoughts and ideas to make decisions that will impact your business in a positive way.
The programme has really kicked me to reflect and made me want this. The company is going to drive forward and not simply go with the flow.
Participating in Evolve’s Digital and Creative Growth Group Programme has been incredibly valuable. The sessions on growth strategies, planning, leadership, and employee engagement have given me the confidence and tools to drive our business forward. The new connections and perspectives I gained have been instrumental in supporting our growth. Thank you to Evolve for this fantastic opportunity.
The Evolve peer group sessions are a great place to get away from the day to day, refocus and ultimately bounce ideas off other business people. The structure of the session permits open conversation with your peers and always provides useful insights that you would not be able to get anywhere else. The specific work books challenge you and really get you thinking on what is important in your business.
Evolve’s support was instrumental in our investment journey. Warren’s expertise in developing our pitch deck and financial forecasts has given us the confidence to approach investors with a strong proposition. We’re excited about the potential and appreciate the support from the Dorset LEP that made this possible. Thank you, for helping us take our innovative sunscreen to the next level.
Warren does not see himself as a guru and would be embarrassed to be referred to that way. But when I think of seeking support from my network on any business topic, if not life topic, invariably I’m after someone who has seen, experienced and done it all, from financial to operations to strategy. From big business to little business, but who also understands the importance of family and health, and not just business ‘success’, that person is pretty much always Warren, my guru.
Working with Warren was transformative for our startup. His expertise in creating pitch decks and financial forecasts has been invaluable. We now have the confidence and tools to present our business to investors effectively. We are excited about the future and anticipate good news soon. Thank you, Warren, for your invaluable support.
Collaborating with Amy and the whole Evolve team has been an incredibly seamless experience. Amy’s professionalism is evident in every interaction and her dedication to helping businesses thrive is inspiring. Amy’s commitment to going the extra mile ensures that each programme is tailored to meet the unique needs of Dorset businesses. I highly recommend working with Amy and the Evolve team.
I have found the Evolve Peer groups provide a valuable support network with like minded local business leaders, which has created time for reflection outside of the office and as a business we have gained real advice and coaching from the Evolve team.
I have worked with Warren on a number of successful acquisitions and disposals. We often worked together many months or even years ahead of the ultimate transaction in order to achieve the optimal result. Warren’s skills include being able to see the wider commercial and strategic benefits of a transaction and therefore ensuring that a coherent and considered plan is devised and implemented well in advance. I actively recommend Warren and his team to anyone considering how they might best maximise an exit from their business.
I first met David in November 2022. Since then he has been a significant positive influence on my growth as a founder, providing invaluable advice and new opportunities for both my personal development and my business. Thank you, David, for your encouragement and help. I truly appreciate it and would gladly recommend you to any founder or organisation seeking advisory services.
Warren has been instrumental in supporting Norco in its growth and success for many years. He has guided the team and I through huge change management, leadership and development, while giving an experienced and honest assessment on a regular basis to ensure we achieve our goals and objectives and deliver on our business strategy.
Partnering with Evolve for the Ignite Start-Up programme has been brilliant for our local entrepreneurship support efforts. The comprehensive training and personalised mentoring provided to participants have led to the successful launch of numerous new businesses. The value of this programme is clear, and we are thrilled with the results. A big thank you to the Evolve team for their expertise and commitment!
Participating in Evolve’s Growth & Productivity Programme has been incredibly beneficial. The programme provided crucial insights into growth strategies and enhanced our team’s engagement through improved communication and leadership. While there is still work to be done, the progress we’ve made is very promising. Thank you to Evolve and the Dorset LEP for their support.
The Evolve team has played an integral part in making the Peer Networks programme a success in Dorset. The whole team has always acted with the highest standards and with great professionalism, be that in the management of the programme or the coordination. They are extremely diligent and organised and they have been pleasure to work with. Following their involvement with Peer Networks, they also successfully won a competitive tender for another business support programme we commissioned which they have approached with an equally excellent attitude.
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