My name’s Phil Hitchen and I like to take people for a ride! For the past 20 years I’ve directed a bus and coach hire business called Belle Vue Manchester.
We’re a 70 strong fleet – and this year we will turn over 4m. In 2011 we were turning over 1m. You would think that by raising the turnover by an extra 3m, I would be working harder. The fact is I’ve just been working smarter! And I’ve had a greater work life balance in the process.
You see, back in 2011, I used to come into work early – and stay late. I worked in the business – and ran the business. If there was a problem – I used to fix it. If drivers never turned up for work – I used to go out and drive the coach. Operationally, it felt like I was fire-fighting all day, every day.
Then one day, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g changed. I was diagnosed with cancer and had to spend 3 months having chemotherapy. During the second period of chemo, I woke up one night and asked myself this question: ‘If I would have died yesterday, would I have been happy with my life? The answer was – not entirely. You see, I realised I wanted a greater work life balance in favour of life, and I wanted a greater income. Right there, right then – in that moment in hospital – I made some new goals and values.
Since that momentous day, we’ve turned Belle Vue Coaches into a fast growing brand that has repositioned itself as a recognized quality branded service operating across the northwest and the UK. We are the market leading transport provider for education across Greater Manchester. If your kids are going on a school trip – they’re probably coming with us!
After my EUREKA moment in hospital, I’ve made it my personal responsibility and obligation, to show other company directors, an easier way to make more money with less stress. We’ve documented the strategies and systems that took us there and turned it into the UK’s first ever Leadership Development Program for Company Directors.
Our program is specifically designed to transform businesses, and turn them into huge assets, ready to be sold for a multi-million pound pay day, or passed on to the family as the ultimate legacy. We have an award winning training program called iMA. iMA shows people how to use our team building software, so they can delegate more effectively. iMA can help you identify and utilize your human resources, to build teams that peak perform. Using iMA we’ve humanized our business, and we’ve developed a passion for helping people to live a richer, fuller life. The results speak for themselves! £1M turnover to £4m plus. Greater work life balance, more holidays and more fun in the working environment.
I believe hundreds of small to medium size enterprises in our economy are vital to the economy’s growth, and for tourism in the UK in particular. By showing other company MD’s the vital skills of using iMA in management and leadership, we can help them make more money with less stress, so they too can enjoy a greater work life balance, just like we did.
We’re now looking for 10 ambitious MD’s who are looking to scale in 2020. If you would like a greater work life balance in favour of life, that goes hand in hand with a growth strategy for your business and one that will release you for future entrepreneurial opportunities, come and have a coffee with me!
My name’s Phil Hitchen. You can reach me at phil@bellevue-mcr.com
Whatever type of business you are running, ‘live your dream in 2019.’
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