{"id":13588,"date":"2023-10-11T13:31:22","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T13:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/atwdev.co.uk\/workingknowledge\/?page_id=13588"},"modified":"2025-06-03T07:47:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T07:47:25","slug":"treading-water-to-50k-growth","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/atwdev.co.uk\/workingknowledge\/treading-water-to-50k-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"From Treading Water to \u00a350K Growth: Helping a West London CEO Step Back and Scale Up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

From Treading Water to \u00a350K Growth: Helping a West London CEO Step Back and Scale Up<\/h1>\nWest London Homes<\/strong>
\nShared living in happy homes<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\"Steve\n\t\t\u00a32,400\n\t\t\t\t\t

Recruitment fees <\/h3> We found West London Homes four exceptionally strong candidates, but for them, Connor stood out.\n\t\t\u00a3550\n\t\t\t\t\t

Training investment <\/h3> Steve’s apprentice has received coaching, training and support from our dedicated marketing experts.\n\t\t\u00a350,000\n\t\t\t\t\t

Value added <\/h3> Within ten weeks of joining the Marketing Academy, Connor added more than \u00a350K value to the business.\n\t

Taking marketing off my hands enabled me to see the bigger picture<\/h3>\n

The Challenge<\/h2>\n

Can you describe the marketing problem you were having before you discovered Working Knowledge?<\/b><\/h4>\nI’m the owner of a lettings company specialising in professional house shares in West London. Being a small company, I was acting as not only the CEO but also the Chief Marketing Officer.\n

Most of my time was taken up with operational duties – managing digital advertising, coming up with creative ideas, and then implementing them. I was the whole marketing department in one.<\/p>\n

This part of my role was vitally important because without it, we would get no sales – almost 100% of our sales happen online. Because I didn’t have enough time, I was cutting corners, and the problem manifested itself in our occupancy level. 100% occupancy is what we were aiming for, but I was struggling to keep it above 90%. We were just treading water. I needed help to get things done.<\/p>\n

Also, even though I have lots of marketing experience, I needed help understanding how the digital world fits together. So there was a strategic element I felt was missing. And as it has transpired, we were missing quite a few bits!<\/p>\n\t

Our apprentice has added over \u00a350,000 of value and because the marketing has been taken care of, we’ve been able to add another house.<\/h3>\n

You asked Working Knowledge to recruit new talent – how did that go?<\/b><\/h4>\nWe are a small company, and when you go through evolution, as we have, a lot of the time, the recruitment strategy is – who’s around? Who’s available? And it’s a really bad strategy for hiring people. It’s important to have a proper recruitment strategy, irrespective of the company’s size.\n

The recruitment process<\/a> that Jo Trendall ran was very robust. I’ve worked in big corporations for many years, and compared to many recruitment campaigns I’ve seen there, it was impressive and thorough.<\/p>\n

We were so impressed with how much thought each candidate had put into the exercise. It was an affirmation that what we were doing here at West London Homes<\/a> was a good thing, and that came through in the recruitment process as the candidates heard that as well.<\/p>\n

By the time I got involved in the shortlist at the end, Working Knowledge had chosen four really good candidates. Any of them would have done well, but Connor was the stand-out guy for us.<\/p>\n

Our competitors will be wondering how we can do all of this stuff and it’s because our engine is more efficient<\/h3>\n\t

The Outcome<\/h2>\n

So your apprentice, Connor, has been with you for about 10 weeks now. Can you take me to the moment you thought, “Yes, this is going to work!”<\/b><\/h4>\n

The main portal that we advertise through is Spare Room and we need to be on it all the time to make sure that we are visible – now Connor takes care of that.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

One of the moments I realised this was going to help solve our problems was when we handed Connor the responsibility of the dashboard. He presented back to us with ease at our morning huddles and he’s got really great insights!<\/p>\n

I remember there was a day when we had a blip in the data and Connor pinpointed what had gone wrong. I realised that if our apprentice hadn’t had been here, then we would not be able to find the answer to that – and it could have cost us! I don’t even think about this side of the business now I just know it is done – I don’t need to even check on him.<\/p>\n

Then finally, there was a moment where I woke up and thought – you know what, I’ve got more time and space in my life now! I could feel that my mind was lifting out of the weeds into strategic thinking and decision-making. This is what it gave me – the ability to think about the big picture and SEE the big picture.<\/p>\n\t

It gives me confidence to know we’re implementing the right strategy in our company.<\/h3>\n\t

Has your apprentice given you a return on investment?\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n

The net effect is that our occupancy levels have gone up, and this is because we have had the right insights and have been able to adjust our marketing message. Since Connor has been with us, our sales have gone up. He’s added over \u00a350,000 of value, and because the marketing has been taken care of, we’ve been able to add another house.<\/p>\n

We are in a competitive market, and it can be difficult to differentiate. In order to keep prices competitive, you have to have operational efficiency. A marketing apprentice gives us operational efficiency, and that’s a hidden differentiator. Our competitors will be wondering how we can do all of this stuff, and it’s because our engine is more efficient.<\/p>\n

How has joining our marketing academy made you feel about the future?<\/b><\/h4>\n

It’s nice to have someone young onboard who is new into the working world and is excited and I like working with him.<\/p>\n

From a business perspective, as a CEO, I am reassured I have done the right thing, and it gives me confidence to be bolder in what we are doing. It gives me confidence to know we’re implementing the right strategy in our company.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Client stories\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"gideon\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow a 33-Year-Old Apprentice Solved This London Business’s Marketing Challenge\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"Frank\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarketing Apprentice vs Marketing Graduate: Hiring for Junior Roles in Oxfordshire\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"Holly\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUnlocking Growth: Birmingham Business Transforms Marketing In-House\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t