Published: January 4, 2022 | Updated: 4th January 2022
It’s back to work for many but what do the next 12 months hold in store for the business world?
One thing’s for sure.
It’s set to be another roller coaster, beginning – as it ended – with Covid dominating our lives and the business landscape.
2021 saw a new feature on Dorset Biz News as we brought together ten of the county’s leading business lights for two round table discussions.
Held in association with our legal and accountancy partners, Frettens Solicitors and Inspire, they provided a unique insight into the challenges – past, present and future – faced by businesses in a range of sectors.
So, as we enter the first week of 2022, we spoke again to five of the participants, as well as Inspire Director Chris Downing, and asked them the same three key questions.
Their answers are below.
Biz Round Table returns later this year.
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Chris Downing, Director, Inspire
What do you see as your biggest challenge or opportunity over the next 12 months?
Every client we speak to – it has to be their team, building it and in turn growing their business.
What one piece of advice would you give fellow Dorset business owners for the New Year?
Now is the time of opportunity – grab it!
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt over the last 12 months?
Plans change and that’s OK, just make sure you keep changing with them.
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Matt Fretten, Managing Partner, Frettens Solicitors
What do you see as your biggest challenge or opportunity over the next 12 months?
Successful recruitment – in a very difficult recruitment market – will be key to any expansion plans in 2022 but opportunities will be there to be exploited for the brave and ambitious!
What one piece of advice would you give fellow Dorset business owners for the New Year?
Keep agile as the business world will undoubtedly produce more challenges and surprises in 2022.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt over the last 12 months?
Keeping the team engaged and incentivised has never been more important.
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Simon Mewett, Founder and Managing Partner, TECHNEDs Investment LLP
What do you see as your biggest challenge or opportunity over the next 12 months?
We, in the tech industry, need to educate business in its use and advantages even further in 2022 to try to manage the ups and downs for them.
What one piece of advice would you give fellow Dorset business owners for the New Year?
Stay focused but mindful of the situation in the UK currently.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt over the last 12 months?
My personal will is stronger than any doubters that I have met on my journey in 2021.
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Chris Palmer, Managing Director, AnyTech Solutions UK and Ping Pong Limited
What do you see as your biggest challenge or opportunity over the next 12 months?
Energy levels have taken a hit both mentally and physically, finding a working method of maintaining the spirit will be my number one priority and challenge.
What one piece of advice would you give fellow Dorset business owners for the New Year?
Try to create agility in your business so that you can react quickly to the changing circumstances, look at your business differently and embrace change, look at other sectors you could easily adapt to.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt over the last 12 months?
Recruit at the highest level, surround yourself with brilliance and do not stand for second best.
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Joshua Simons, Co-Founder, Aviary Hospitality including Chicken & Blues and Flamingo
What do you see as your biggest challenge or opportunity over the next 12 months?
The challenge will be clearly differentiating between opportunities and distractions.
What one piece of advice would you give fellow Dorset business owners for the New Year?
To continually refine and improve your product and/or service with an obsessive focus on customer feedback.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt over the last 12 months?
The mantra ‘Do it once, do it well’. A nod to not cutting corners.
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Sarah Spivey, Managing Director, Modulift
What do you see as your biggest challenge or opportunity over the next 12 months?
How the global economy will perform given current and predicted increasing levels of inflation and the impact on global economic spend on infrastructure and energy projects. Additionally how existing and impending lockdowns will impact on business in the UK and globally.
What one piece of advice would you give fellow Dorset business owners for the New Year?
Prepare for all eventualities, 2022 could be rocky.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt over the last 12 months?
The HR landscape has changed forever. Businesses need to adapt to the changing needs of the workforce.
