CASE STUDY
SDM Fuel Solutions
Growing a mission-critical fuel services business from £1.5m to £10m turnover.
Key Improvements working with James
567% increase in turnover
Improved team structure
Sunday Times Top 15 fastest-growing companies
Enjoying quality family time
About the business
Founded in 2011, SDM Fuel Solutions is a 24/7 specialist in fuel and fuel-related engineering services including tank cleaning, fuel filtration, fuel testing, fuel management, emergency fuel supply, fuel polishing, fuel cleaning and providing HVO fuel and GTL fuel. A mission-critical business with a growing team of industry experts, they lead the way in dealing with all fuel-related issues that affect many industries.
A family owned and run company, Simon Mayne took over as MD from his father in June 2019. In the last two years, SDM Fuel Solutions has seen exponential growth — an incredible 567% increase in turnover — and has been named in the prestigious 2023 Sunday Times Top 15 list of the UK’s fastest-growing private companies.
The challenge
Simon took over running the company in very difficult and sad circumstances following the death of his father in 2019. Simon had previously worked for SDM as a business development manager, before becoming Fuel Solutions Manager — very different roles from the one he was now taking on. He recognised that he had to ‘change’ into an MD and move away from that more hands-on, shop floor role.
Simon wanted to respect and retain his father’s legacy whilst still putting his own stamp on the company. He wanted to set in place rock solid processes and structures. He’s very driven to grow and develop the company and was full of ideas. Simon is organised, structured and with a great ability for planning and thinking things through — but he needed a sounding board, someone who could help, advise and support him through these new challenges.
In 2021, Simon contacted James via his website and made contact simply by calling the office.
James’ input and the client relationship
James and Simon clicked immediately. They get on extremely well and have a mutual respect for each other’s abilities. Simon came to James with a 5-year growth strategy to help build a successful and profitable business — as well as the business being independent of him being there, which meant building a management team around the business.
From his position outside the company, James was able to look objectively at the strategy and highlight potential issues. He helped Simon forecast what could happen for the business and to plan accordingly, to be ready to seize and build on opportunities. James highlighted gaps in the team, essential roles that would be needed to develop and grow the business — right across the board from developing a correct and able management team to developing new routes to market.
Simon is a great client to work with and is very driven to build a profitable business with a turnover in excess of £50 million. He’s open minded and responds positively to new ideas and different approaches. James challenges him, asking difficult questions that are probing and provocative, making Simon look at issues from a different perspective, helping him to focus and prioritise. Simon has the ability to make good decisions quickly and then implement them. He gets things done. As a coach, mentor and trusted advisor, this has been very rewarding and exciting for James to witness.
The results
SDM Fuel Solutions has enjoyed remarkable growth in the last two years with turnover increasing from £1.5m to £10m. This has inevitably brought many new challenges and Simon has had to learn very quickly how to manage and optimise this level of growth.
During this time, James has acted as a coach, mentor and trusted advisor — someone that Simon can turn to and rely on. James has helped him through a period of growth that could have been overwhelming and all-consuming, leaving Simon with little or no time for family, friends and a life outside his business.
Instead, Simon is in the process of buying a beautiful 60ft catamaran so he can pursue his passion for sailing and enjoy quality time with his wife and two daughters!
In Simon’s own words
“It’s been so good and so useful. James asks you difficult questions to challenge you and gives an external perspective. James has helped grow my business. He helps me focus, helps point me in the right direction and gives a good steer on what we should be looking for. A coach isn’t just one dimensional, he doesn’t need to have all the answers but he’s able to help educate and focus. Sometimes advice from James has just been him telling me to chill out — and that’s exactly what I needed!”
Simon Mayne, MD, SDM Fuel Solutions
Find support to steer your business forward
Are you looking for a way to move your business forward? James has worked with a wide range of businesses to help leaders gain the perspective they need to make better decisions. If you’re ready to gain experienced support and guidance, get in touch to start the conversation.
