Breaking the Revenue Ceiling: Why Management Training is Your Hidden Growth Lever
May 27, 2025
In this episode of Small Business Black Holes, Alan Pentz sits down with Gavin Howarth, CEO of Howarths, to explore the delicate art of family business succession and modern HR challenges. From successfully transitioning a family business without damaging relationships to navigating the complexities of workplace culture in a post-pandemic world, this conversation offers invaluable insights for business owners. Whether you're managing a family enterprise or seeking to build a high-performance culture, you'll discover practical strategies for growth, including how to leverage data and AI while maintaining the human element in your organization.
In this episode of Small Business Black Holes, host Alan Pentz speaks with Gavin Howarth, CEO of Howarths, a UK-based HR consulting firm. Their discussion covers the delicate process of family business succession, current HR challenges facing SMEs, and how companies can build high-performance cultures in today's rapidly changing business environment.
What You'll Learn:
What You'll Learn:
- How to successfully transition a family business while preserving relationships and maintaining business continuity
- The "Two Contracts" framework for family business succession: managing both legal and emotional agreements
- Why creating post-transition roles for departing leaders is crucial for successful ownership changes
- How to build a high-performance culture through data-driven HR practices and employee engagement
- The critical importance of developing middle management capabilities in growing SMEs
- Why "power skills" (traditionally called soft skills) are essential for business growth and productivity
- How to navigate modern HR challenges including Brexit impact, remote work, AI integration, and multi-generational workforces
- The emerging role of AI and data analytics in transforming HR practices and decision-making
Highlights:
[07:00] The Two Contracts of Family Business Succession
[07:00] The Two Contracts of Family Business Succession
[28:20] Building a High-Performance Culture Framework
[32:45] The Critical Role of Middle Management Development
[22:15] Navigating the AI and Data Revolution
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