Growth Mini Series - Ten Practical Considerations for Levelling Up Your Business

In episode 105 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin shares practical strategies for subcontractors tackling larger projects. He covers key areas such as workforce planning, hiring, supervision, supply chain management, quality control, cash flow, and leveraging technology. Jacob breaks down how to scale your team, manage suppliers, control costs, and maintain profitability as your business grows. The episode offers actionable advice to help construction business owners navigate the complexities of bigger contracts, avoid common pitfalls, and build a sustainable, high-performing operation. Perfect for subcontractors aiming to grow their business with confidence and control.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

•  Workforce Planning: Assess your current team’s capacity and consider options like hiring, using agency labour, or sub-subcontracting to meet the demands of larger projects.
•  Supervision and Training: Ensure you have adequate supervisory staff and invest in upskilling or training to handle increased complexity and compliance requirements.
•  Avoiding Burnout: Delegate tasks, avoid overextending your core team, and consider hiring admin support to keep key staff focused and prevent burnout.
•  Managing Labour Costs: Plan and budget for increased wages and incentives, and explore non-financial benefits to attract and retain talent without eroding profit margins.
•  Supply Chain and Logistics: Communicate with suppliers about increased needs, plan for storage and delivery logistics, and ensure quality and reliability as order volume grows.
•  Cash Flow and Systems: Monitor cash flow gaps, make use of technology for project management, and rigorously track costs to inform future pricing and avoid financial pitfalls.

BEST MOMENTS:

“One mistake with scaling your business is waiting until you’re absolutely desperate to hire and then taking whoever’s available, even if they’re underqualified or they’re a bad fit for your business.”

“A knowledgeable, happy workforce is more productive and you’ll need more productive when you get working on a bigger job.”

“It’s all the more important when projects are bigger and more complex, to track costs and collate information in a way that you can learn from it and inform future tenders.”

“Burnout can be real. A common pitfall for SMEs taking on big work is that the core team start working crazy hours trying to keep up with the demands of a job.”

“With good planning and good management, what you’ll find is that your small team can achieve mighty things.”

 

Jacob is on a mission to help the 1 million SME contractors working within the construction industry. If you've taken something of value from this episode, please share the podcast with someone you know, and pass the value on.

HOST BIO: Meet Jacob Austin, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with a rich background at construction industry giants Balfour Beatty, Kier, and Vistry Group. With extensive involvement in education, health, and residential projects spanning various scales, from £1000s to £100M in concurrent developments, Jacob brings a unique perspective. Having collaborated with numerous small businesses, he's now committed to sharing his expertise to drive their success. Join Jacob on his podcast, where he blends his profound insights and personable approach to offer guidance, industry secrets, and inspirational stories.

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-austin/

Instagram - www.instagram.com/qs.zone/

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