Oliver Chapman: The leader behind the UK's fastest-growing company

OCI is a trailblazing commercial process outsourcer that possesses the power to reshape supply chains and propel organisations to unprecedented heights of growth. In addition to bagging the prestigious Overall Scale-Up Business Award at the esteemed 2022 Scale-Up Awards, the company was also named the fastest-growing company in the UK and the third fastest-growing company in Europe.

At the helm of OCI, is the company’s founder Oliver Chapman. Under his tutelage, since its founding in 2010, the company has ungrown astronomical growth and revolutionised the supply chains of some of the world’s largest companies. We talk to Oliver about his hustle mindset at a young age, being a business disruptor, why the UK is anti-industry and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Did you always have an entrepreneurial mindset? (00:45)
• Could you give us an overview of your career? (03:24)
• Did you find youth to be an asset when you were setting up your business? (08:45)
• How have you grown OCI to where it is today? (12:01)
• Have you always been a disruptor in and out of business? (16:50)
• Could you tell us about how you've overcome the challenges of growing your business? (20:00)
• You’ve described yourself as stubborn - how have you found securing the right talent to grow your business? (22:25)
• What has your funding journey been to this point? (25:22)
• What real impact have you seen from the war in Ukraine? (29:54)
• Do you get frustrated when big global issues that affect UK business aren't reported on correctly? (35:00)
• As an international company, would you say that the UK is an attractive destination for investment? (37:46)
• What are your long-term plans for OCI? (46:09)
• Have you had a chance to reflect on your journey and appreciate where you've come from? (50:10)
• The Good News Postcard: What was your dream job when you were younger? (51:48)
• What makes a great business leader? (53:57)

Thanks to Leo from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

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