How does a business started by a man "a quarter of an inch too short" to be a policeman grow into a £60 million hospitality giant? In this episode of Trading Up, Gavin Annon, Chief Strategy Officer at Mount Charles and son of the inch-short founder, shares his journey from a decade-long career at Tesco to leading a workforce of 3,500 employees. Gavin discusses how the company pivoted from catering to cleaning and retial, by embracing agility and customer-centric values.

He also breaks down his unique strategy framework—"Effort vs. Impact"—and the importance of co-creating plans with frontline staff to ensure 100% commitment. Drawing on his leadership at the Belfast Chamber, Gavin explores the future of Northern Ireland’s economy, the power of "positive pressure" for city development, and why Belfast is a "magical" home for investment. And he also shares some interesting insights on how his moonlighting as a DJ has important lessons for running any business.

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