On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Ryan Bransome shares his unique journey from a local government employee to a professional butler, and eventually the founder of U-Crew.
On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Ryan Bransome shares his unique journey from a local government employee to a professional butler, and eventually the founder of U-Crew.
On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Ryan Bransome shares his unique journey from a local government employee to a professional butler, and eventually the founder of U-Crew.
He discusses the challenges he faced, including mental health struggles and the lessons learned from high net worth individuals.
Ryan reflects on the demanding nature of being a butler, the insights gained from working with successful people, and the decision to transition into entrepreneurship.
Ryan emphasises the importance of asking for support, and his aspirations for the future of U-Crew and beyond.
This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…
Insights from working as a butler for high net worth individuals.
U-Crew and its aim to change the recruitment landscape.
How funding is a significant challenge for startups.
The importance of networking.
Why asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
The importance of being present and enjoying the journey.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:54 From Local Government to Butler Life
06:44 Mental Health
09:55 The Transition to Butler Profession
11:51 Experiences in the Butler World
15:10 Lessons from High Net Worth Individuals
18:41 Risk, Reward, and Business Insights
22:08 Extreme Situations as a Butler
24:09 Deciding to Start U-Crew
26:38 Recruitment Challenges During COVID
31:22 The Funding Journey
37:44 Building a Network
43:28 Future Aspirations
45:31 Personal Reflections
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
Evolve offers a fantastic peer group which adds huge value to myself and my business!
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
The Evolve team have a huge amount of real world experience over many years in the entrepreneurial and business growth sector.
Great humans, running a great business, offering real solutions and support with integrity and authenticity. No fluff, just fast paced learning and support.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 🙂
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.
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 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.
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