Barrie Smale from Inspired2Learn - Summer Q&A 2021

It’s June already and we’re half way through the year – it’s also officially the first month of summer, and what a glorious weekend we've just had!

Let's continue to celebrate the fantastic business owners we have in our region and beyond. Today we're talking to Barrie Smale who is a director of Inspired2learn based in Devizes, Wiltshire. For more information visit www.inspired2learn.co.uk.

JUNE is the first month of summer – what will you be doing this summer in your business?

In September we will start our 20th year of trading as Inspired2learn. It should also be the year in which I ‘step back’ from the business. So, we will continue to pay attention to our succession planning which has been a work in progress over the last couple of years. Inspired2learn will continue to thrive under Clare’s continued leadership.

What are your personal plans for summer activities?

Clare and I are very much looking forward to a week in Croyde in North Devon at the end of June. We will be joined by our two daughters with their partners and Teggy, a mad Hungarian Vizsla puppy. We are going to spoil our girls after the challenging year they have had as nurses in NHS hospitals.

I grew up in North Devon so can also bore everyone with my memories of old haunts and escapades! I’ll also be seeking out a pint of Exmoor Ale early in the week – arrival day probably. 

Does June hold any particular significance for you or your business?

June is always the month when we finalise our year end accounts with our accountants. This means a joyful round of answering reconciliation queries in Xero etc. and, of course, finding out our latest tax bill for Mr Sunak.

June is National Smile Month. With that in mind, what things in your business/organisation/role make you smile? 

The following three things always raise a smile:

1. Winning a new client

2. Getting great feedback from an existing client

3. Sending a client their certificate when they have completed their hard-earned professional qualification with us. 

Are there any things in business generally which make you ‘less smiley’?

1. Late payers

2. Clients either cancelling appointments at short notice or not turning up at all because they are ‘busy’ – like I’m not? 

3. Procurement processes with, amongst other issues, extremely vague specifications and a subsequent reluctance to engage meaningfully in a clarification Q&A.

June is often associated in nature with growth and abundance – what are your plans for growth in your business?

Having trained and accredited many coaches over the years, we have recently started delivering the ILM Level 7 Coach Supervision qualification. We are targeting this for growth over the next couple of years.  

As we hit this mid point in 2021 and we’re still coming out of the pandemic – which one business has really supported or helped you over the last quarter? 

Early in May we had our latest annual surveillance audit for our ISO9001:2015 certification. We retained our certification and for this with we value greatly the help we get from our internalaAuditor, Looey Law of Cotswold Consulting in Blunsdon, Swindon. 

Have you got any summer services or special offers you’d like to mention? 

Clare is donating 100% of her e-Book proceeds in 2021 to Julia's House Hospice. There are three e-Books to choose from and each is just £10 and can be ordered on our website.

• A-Z Coaching Handbook e-Book

• Step by Step Guide to Coaching e-Book

• Transform your goals with VISION e-Book

And finally: 

All of us in business will continue to face various challenges over the next couple of years as the longer-term impacts of the pandemic take effect. 

Let’s remain empathetic and kind to all those who need help and support.