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VIVALDA
“ Ben Jayes joined the business a few months after I ’ d started , having worked together at a previous company . He had a range of skills and experience which were invaluable to the company , and I was thrilled to have him on board . I ’ m more comfortable with logistics and administration but when it comes to the bread and butter of business , such as closing deals and making strategies for the future , Ben was a major asset . Once he joined , things really started to take off . We were the perfect team .
“ In the beginning , we lived and breathed the business . Every day was a battle to make sure we kept our heads above water , and eventually it paid off as by 2003 , we had grown to a sort of critical mass . We had enough cash to take us through , even if we had a standstill month . That was a good position to be in because we could start expanding and investing . We purchased our own warehouse as
well as some new cutting machines , all of which needed operators and delivery drivers . This expansion marked the start of a real growth spurt . Thanks to Ben ’ s leadership , we employed more salespeople , taking the company to the next level .
Agility and adaptability
“ In 2008 , I had just passed my 51st birthday and felt it was time to hand over the reins to Ben . He was doing an amazing job leading the business forward and I knew it was time to make way . Under Ben ’ s management , the company ’ s turnover rose from £ 8 million to £ 40 million . In that time , he navigated the business through the financial crisis and the Covid lockdown which hit everyone very hard . I think that shows just how capable he is .”
When the 2008 recession hit , Ben , now MD at VIVALDA , was tasked with navigating the company through rocky
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