Case Study - A S Miles Consulting

Introduction

A S Miles Consulting Limited, based in Glenfield, Leicestershire, were established in 2015 and provide management consultancy services to the transport industry ensuring businesses and their transport operations are safe, compliant and profitable.

Managing Director, Andy Miles, had seen the family business develop but growth had started to slow, he had the sense that something needed to change but lacked confidence in the best way to move the business forward. The ideas he had all seemed too risky…...he needed some help.

Andy heard about the Help to Grow: Management programme and was initially sceptical and cautious about whether it could really help his business. A phone call with the School of Business helped him understand the course and identify key areas where it could help. Andy recognised that although he’d previously invested in training for his employees, as Managing Director, it was now time to commit to his own development and so he joined Help to Grow: Management with the University of Leicester School of Business in April 2024.

Growth

Following successful completion of the course, Andy has driven forward many positive outcomes for the business including a 20% increase in turnover, a 4% increase in profit, work booked in 14 months ahead, rather than just 3 months ahead, and 1 additional employee with plans for at least 1 more employee in the coming months. They are also benefiting from more work with larger clients and a greater complexity and variety in the work completed.

Business Transformation

Andy achieved these developments by making several key changes in his business which have enabled him to effectively take advantage of new opportunities.

Marketing activity has increased massively, using a blend of conventional and digital approaches and is now led by a new digital marketing manager who ensures that marketing efforts are strategic and that marketing messages flow from the company’s mission and values.

The business has partnered with an external organisation that provides streamlined customer services and outbound lead generation with follow up, opportunities and queries passed back to 3 key staff members within A S Miles Consulting who are then able to triage and respond in an efficient and agile manner.

There have also been several significant changes that have fostered better team engagement and improved morale.

Internal communications have been prioritised and streamlined with two key meetings each week for the business as whole, with one being a team meeting and the other being more focussed on upskilling staff and changes to legislation.

Staff are now back in the office much more, making communication and decision making more effective. They have also been encouraged to contribute to decision making and to understand how changes made will benefit both the business and themselves.

Andy has also invested in a 6-month leadership programme for key employees which will improve both internal leadership and management of relationships with external clients.

The course also led Andy to ask difficult questions about his own role in the business which has resulted in an improved alignment of roles and tasks in the business. A combination of outsourcing, upskilling and delegation has meant the skills and knowledge within the business are utilised to a much greater effect. Andy is now able to spend more time on developing the business and has also put in place a succession plan to secure the ongoing success of the business.

Andy has also explored new directions and markets that the business had not considered before.

Tachograph data is a central element of logistics and analysis of this data was previously a small part of the company’s activities. However, following improvements in their marketing activities, they were approach by a Danish company looking to collaborate in the UK market. This aligned well with the vision of the business and their new-found agility enabled Andy to respond and secure this opportunity rapidly and effectively leading to a substantial new revenue stream.

The business has also recently harnessed its expertise to help a multi-billion turnover company resolve a very significant problem with potentially costly legal implications. This has only been possible as a result of improved communications, agility and focus developed through the changes Andy has put in place.

The Help to Grow: Management course had a substantial impact on the business bringing a broader perspective, new ideas, leaner management, improved task alignment and better internal communications resulting in the whole business stepping up a gear with a real excitement for the future.