I found help I needed to turn round my firm
to the senior commercial role five years ago. Throughout this time, he’s supported a wide variety of SMEs and corporate clients in West and South Yorkshire.
While he takes up a newlycreated role at Crowther Accountants, Mr Busfield has been an associate of the firm for many years.
He said: “In the past, we’ve shared some of the same A BATLEY furniture component firm is celebrating record growth – just two years after the boss almost closed it down and called it quits.
Sampson Products, whose brands include Vinor Bedmakers, is working flat out to meet orders from existing customers and is attracting regular good quality new business.
Simon Banks started Sampson Products after 25 years in a job with the same firm, which was secure but lacked the job satisfaction he craved.
“I wanted to prove to myself that I could run my own business,” he said.
“I felt I had it in me, but had previously lacked the bravado to leave a secure job and do it. Sampson Products was a failing manufacturer that made components for the bed industry and I was armed with 25 years experience and tonnes of enthusiasm that I felt would help pull it round.”
Simon quickly realised he needed more than that. Two years in and he was struggling with production inefficiencies, poor staff behaviour and making tough management decisions on his own. As the pressure mounted, he was thinking of giving it all up to re-join his ex-employer who had offered him his old job back.
Said Simon: “The problem for me was that others relied on me for their livelihoods, customers and I’ve always been impressed with the way Crowther do things. The team is extremely proactive, on-theball and quick to spot opportunities for clients. So when this new role became available and I saw their plans for growth, I decided that I wanted to be part of it. I’m excited to be joining such a great team.”
Michelle Crowther, the firm’s suppliers had given me credit on trust and I did not want to go back to my old employer branded as a failure, so I was determined to make Sampson Products work.”
Simon met up with Wakefield business mentor Dougie Brown. “Dougie invited me to attend The Alternative Board (TAB) to see what it was like,” he said. “Despite my scepticism I quickly realised the other members of the board could help me.
“The Alternative Board is made up of other company directors, often facing similar challenges on their own. At the first meeting, they helped me recognise what my real issues were and then formulate a solution.
“It was a game changer and helped to save Sampson Products. I was able to go back to the factory and implement subtle changes that made a massive difference.”
Simon hasn’t looked back and Sampson Products is not only successful, but is growing and expanding. business development director, added: “We’ve always had a fantastic working relationship with David — it’s been built on mutual integrity and trust over a number of years.
“He’s a very well respected member of the Leeds and Huddersfield business community and we know that he’ll be a great ambassador for the firm.”
He believes that TAB membership and his fellow TAB members have played a key role in that.
“I was cynical about TAB at first but it has genuinely made a huge difference to Sampson Products, and this year I was awarded UK TAB Member of the Year which is great recognition of my progress as a TAB member and the significant progress Sampson Products is enjoying.”
Said Dougie: “Simon joined TAB with an element of scepticism. However, he is an experienced man, makes decisions quickly and was determined that under his leadership a success could be made of the ailing business that he had taken over.
“Simon has transformed his business and played a valuable part in enabling others to do the same.
“He is valued for the quality and clarity of his advice, his directness and preparedness to be controversial and offer ‘alternative’ perspectives that buck the trend.” A HIGH-POWERED panel of judges has been assembled for the 14th annual Startups Awards – and new businesses in Kirklees are invited to take part.
Judges for the 2017 awards include Active Skincare boss Liz Earle, Dragons’ Den star Touker Suleyman and Ella’s Kitchen founder Paul Lindley.
Start-ups from all sectors are invited to enter for categories including App of the Year, Crowdfunded Business of the Year, Export Business of the Year, Franchisee of the Year, Innovative Business of the Year, Lean Start-up of the Year, Product Business of the Year, Retail Business of the Year, Service Business of the Year, Tech Business of the Year, Venture Funded Business of the Year,
Women in Business Award, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Social Impact Award and People’s Champion Award.
Previous winners include Notonthe highstreet.com, Purplebricks, The Cambridge Satchel Company and 2016 overall winner Onfido.
The awards are open to all independently-owned businesses in the UK that started trading after August 1, 2013. The awards ceremony will be held on November 30 in London.
The deadline for entries is Friday, September 15. Go to www.startupsawards. co.uk