December Talk with Barrie Smale

IT’S December and 2021 is drawing to a close. What have been your highlights in business this year? What milestones have come and gone? What’s your vision for 2022? Today we're talking to Barrie Smale who is a director of Inspired2learn which is based in Devizes.

December – is this a busy time for your business? Why? If not, how do you make the most of the time you have this month? 
December is usually one of our quieter months, but this year is going to very busy because of the business growing in the last six months. We always close down for a complete break from 23rd December to 2ndJanuary. Our eldest daughter’s birthday is Xmas Eve so that needs to be celebrated properly and not merged into Xmas festivities!

Christmas is coming – what does Christmas mean for you? 
I’m not at all religious so Christmas has always just been a lovely ‘feel good’ family time of year and a complete break from work. I do wish Xmas wouldn’t start in October/November though!

What’s on Santa’s List for your business in 2022? 
Possibly a new website. Watch this space and we’re shopping around if anyone reading this is a developer!

And what’s on your list personally? 
I’ve been set back since February with the effects of long covid. A real nuisance. This is slowly improving so I’ll be more than happy with Santa delivering a restoration to full health and the ability to start riding my mountain bike again.

What has been your greatest business lesson this year? 
The business can survive and thrive without me when the right people are on the bus. 

Yes, you’ve heard it from me. I’m not indispensable! Who would have thought it?

What have been your business highlights in 2021?   

• March ’21 was year end for our ‘Covid Year’ and we had managed to remain profitable and debt free. I hope that doesn’t sound horribly smug. I don’t mean it to be. We are proud of this because it took a great deal of hard work.
• We are in our 20th year, but probably not celebrating this enough!
• Year end March ’22 is on track to be our best ever turnover year for over 10 years. 

What have been your personal highlights in 2022?
To be very honest I’m feeling pretty grumpy about 2022 because long covid has clipped my wings, but I still managed a bumper harvest on my allotment!

What will you do differently in 2022? 
Improve and increase the testimonials and case studies we have at our disposal for marketing. We don’t blow our own trumpet enough. 

We know that we are at least equally as good at what we do of some of our competitors who routinely claim global domination and thought and market leadership!

Is ‘giving back’ important to you, your business? Why? 
Yes, but we tend to get involved in things on a personal basis rather than through our business. For example, Clare belongs to the ‘Clean Up Devizes Squad’ regularly picking up litter that others have casually discarded.

Will you have a nominated charity for 2022? If so, tell us about it and what you plan to do to support that organisation? 
We will continue to support Julia’s House in Devizes in various ways. We love the work they do.

If you are planning to recruit in 2022 – share a little of your hopes around the growth of your team. 

We will probably need to take on some more admin support next year and need to work through how to best achieve this. 

Also, a work in progress is our succession planning around me continuing to step back from the business into retirement.

Have you got any special offers or deals you’d like to mention? 
20% discount for anyone quoting this feature 

What would be your best piece of advice for anyone in business for 2022? 
Have clear strategic and tactical plans and objectives, but be prepared to change them very quickly to take new opportunities and/or respond to any challenges.

And finally:
Here’s to a happy and fulfilling 2022 

Find out more by visiting https://www.inspired2learn.co.uk/