Episode Summary

What does it take to transition from managing a £1.5 billion division with 9,000 employees to leading a fast-growing SME? In this episode, Joshua O’Connor sits down with Beverley Winrow, the CEO of AC Electrical and former Chief Operating Officer of Technical Services at Mitie.

Beverley shares her incredible 22-year journey within the Facilities Management (FM) sector, detailing how she "cut her teeth" in the waste industry before rising through the ranks of a major UK PLC. She provides a masterclass in leadership, discussing the importance of emotional intelligence, the "gift" of feedback, and why she chose to leave the corporate giant for the autonomy of an SME backed by the Storskogen Group.

Key Takeaways

The Power of People: Why HR and training roles are a "game changer" for future CEOs.
Scaling Down to Scale Up: The motivation behind moving from a multi-billion pound corporate environment to an agile SME.
The CEO’s Time Split: Beverley’s rule of thirds: 1/3 on growth, 1/3 on current clients, and 1/3 on the team.
AI vs. The Trades: Why the built environment remains a human-centric industry despite the rise of AI, and how technology should be a "tool, not a replacement."
Leading in a Male-Dominated Field: Practical advice on "owning your space," overcoming imposter syndrome, and the evolution of gender diversity in FM.
The SME ESG Gap: Why sustainability needs to move up the agenda for smaller businesses before it becomes a crisis.

Notable Quotes

"As a CEO, you have to have your finger on the pulse. If you're not making sure your current clients are getting exceptional service while you're focusing on growth, that's when you start to lose them."

"I’m a great believer in going with gut instinct... You spend far too much time at work to not enjoy what you’re doing."

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