Name: Steve Hemsley
Business: Hendrix Training
Location: Tunbridge Wells
Founded: 2008
➡️ What sparked the idea for your business?
Hendrix was formed by journalist Steve Hemsley and actor Lucy Morgans. We wrote a book in 2008 which explained how drama techniques can boost children's confidence.
Boost Your Child's Confidence: 52 Brilliant Drama Techniques to Help Your Child Shine
Lucy Morgans, Steve Hemsley
ISBN 10: 1905940475 / ISBN 13: 9781905940479
Published by Infinite Ideas Limited 18/04/2008, 2008
Language: English
From this we knew that a lot of the techniques would work in business to boost employee confidence.
➡️ How did you win your very first customers?
We used our business contacts. As a journalist Steve Hemsley had written a lot about employment, HR and training. We suggested a few taster sessions to show potential clients how the training would work. First clients included East Sussex County Council.
There was also some PR activity which was successful in the trade press.
➡️ What has been the toughest challenge you have faced as a business owner so far?
As a small business, marketing is always the toughest job. you can be so involved in the day job that you can forget to keep marketing to ensure a pipeline of future work. Luckily we have many loyal customers who work with us every year.
The challenge has often been how much to spend on marketing and who to partner with.
Covid might have been a big challenge but we moved training online.
➡️ What moment has made you feel most proud of your business?
The business has grown steadily over the years . Proud moments include winning big clients such as Sports Direct, Body Shop and the UK's largest council Westminster City Council who have worked with us since 2010.
➡️ What do you enjoy most about running your own business day to day?
It's fun.
Training as an industry can be made over complicated. Lucy and I see it as sharing knowledge and helping people to become more confident presenters are work or just more confident people by having a better understanding of their personal brand.
We enjoy meeting the learners and seeing the progress they make during the sessions.
Running your own business gives you amazing flexibility and the freedom to try new ideas. You just need to not be afraid to fail.
➡️ Have any mentors, role models, or other business owners influenced your journey?
I have worked for a number of training agencies as a media and presentation trainer. They have not really been mentors, but I have picked up some great tips on what makes a good training company business model.
Having said that, as a business journalist for more than 30 years, writing for publications such as the FT, the Sunday Times and many business magazine, I have interviewed many top business people over the years. I am sure some of their insight has helped.
➡️ If you were starting your business again today, what would you do differently?
I would have spent more time on the launch. It started as an aside business with Steve still a working journalist and Lucy running a drama school All The Arts in North Kent.
I might also have taken out a business loan to boost marketing at the start rather than rely so much on organic growth via networking and contacts.
➡️ What advice would you give to someone in Kent who is thinking about starting their own business?
My advice would be ask yourself the 'why' question.
Why do you want to start a business and why would people want to buy what you are selling?
Also, be clear on your target audience and don't be afraid to fail as you go. Failure is great feedback to make your business stronger.
➡️ Where do you want your business to be in five years' time?
We hope to have doubled the size of the business and maybe have to ready to sell on.
We already run sessions with overseas clients occasionally. We would like to have grown the international client base.
➡️ What is your favourite place in Kent to grab a coffee, take a break, or find inspiration?
The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells. Tunbridge Wells actually has many great coffee shops. It is a very creative town. A bit of a creative hub and the community is amazing for that and business idea generation.
You can contact Steve and the team at Hendrix Training here:
Name: steve hemsley
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07816329970
Website: https://hendrixtraining.com
LinkedIn: Hendrix Training
Twitter/X: @HendrixTraining
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hendrixthedog
Instagram: @hendrixtraining
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