Participants on Two Zero’s Your Sales Director programme forecasting strong turnover and staff growth

Businesses who took part in a Lancashire County Council-funded service designed to improve their sales function and support their scaleup ambitions expect to recruit at least 14 new staff and grow turnover £2.6m over the coming year, according to analysis.

Launched in June 2023, Your Sales Director was a unique match-funded partnership between Two Zero, Lancashire County Council’s scaleup support service, and Blackburn-based sales training and consultancy firm Sales Geek.

It gave businesses access to an experienced sales director who worked directly with them to improve processes and systems, sales and operational infrastructure as well as sales analysis, planning and revenue.

Your Sales Director ended in May 2024, supporting nine businesses throughout the 12 month period. This included well-known Lancashire companies such as heating installation firm UK Stove Installers, meat supply company Platinum Food Partners as well as Scope Fire and Security, which provides fire and security equipment installation and maintenance.

Scope has 25 employees and a turnover of around £1.7m. The company received support through the programme to improve the structure of its sales department, its effectiveness as well as measurement through key performance indicators.

Managing director Scott Chapman said: “Working with Sales Geek through the Your Sales Director programme has given us an improved sense of direction and a clearer vision. This has reinvigorated the staff and provided them with focused responsibilities, which they are taking ownership of. 

“We are planning to grow over the coming years, and it is already looking promising that we will surpass our turnover target of £2m this financial year, which is partly due to the support from the Two Zero programme.” 

Sales Geek is itself a scaleup business and had previously taken part in Two Zero’s Scaleup Resurgence programme in 2020 which supported scaleups to quickly return to full strength after the pandemic. The firm also delivered Two Zero’s Scale to Sale programme in 2022.

Through Your Sales Director, Two Zero provided 50 percent match-funded places for the service, by funding either two or four days with one of Sales Geek’s experts. The business was also expected to contribute at least an equal amount.

Results from the analysis showed Two Zero’s investment, a total of 20 days across nine participating businesses, was matched by 60.5 business-funded days.

Amin Vepari, programme manager, Two Zero said: “Hiring a sales director is a big step for a fast-growing business and can be a costly commitment. That’s why we partnered with Sales Geek, so these businesses can receive high quality support from an expert based in Lancashire who also understands the unique challenges of growing a business at pace.

“The analysis has showed Lancashire County Council’s funding contribution through Two Zero has prompted these businesses to invest in their own development. This will bring huge benefits, not only to these businesses, but also the wider Lancashire economy. I’m looking forward to following these businesses as they continue to scale in the coming years.”