Swingers and the rise of ‘competitive socialising’

Welcome to Business Matters. This week, we're joined by Matt Grech-Smith, CEO and founder of Swingers on the Business Leader podcast, and hear an incredible growth story from Jennifer Davidson, founder of Sleek Events. You'll also find the latest Business Leader Expert columns, with Emma Jones writing on the importance of mentorship and Zara Nanu on the double standards faced by women in leadership positions.

Swingers and the rise of ‘competitive socialising’ 

We hear from Matt Grech-Smith in the latest episode of the Business Leader podcast on how he and his business partner turned an innovative ideas into a thriving global business with a turnover of more than £35m.

Grech-Smith and his business partner Jeremy Simmonds had an idea a decade ago that they called “competitive socialising”. Bowling and table tennis had established themselves as sports you could do in a licensed entertainment venue. They wanted to do the same for mini golf, which is more often associated with trips to the seaside. They wanted to reimagine it as an activity in an indoor, inner-city venue, with guests being served cocktails and street food while they putted their way around a neon-lit course.

And so, Swingers was born.

Grech-Smith explains that the changing social media landscape influenced their thinking: “Instagram was taking off, people wanted to show off the experiences they were having. It wasn’t enough just to have the experience, they wanted people to see what they were doing because it gave them currency.”

A pop-up space was vital for letting them test their winning idea of Swingers.

Listen to the full episode here

Why you need a mentor 

As optimism rises among business owners after years of economic challenges, many credit their resilience to the support of co-founders, mentors, and coaches.

Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, shares her personal experience and insights from the Mentoring Matters report, highlighting the crucial role of mentorship in business survival and growth.

Discover the differences between mentors and coaches, the importance of a strong support network, and how Enterprise Nation is fostering a thriving community of mentors to support small business success across the UK.

You can read the article here.

Growth Stories: Shows that must go on

“When I tell someone we are going to deliver, we deliver."

This week we speak with Sleek Events founder, Jennifer Davidson on creating longstanding relationships with clients, navigating Covid-19 and building Sleek Events into a company set to turn over £22m this year.

Sleek’s beginnings in 2014 were modest. Davidson, who read business studies with German and Spanish at Bournemouth University, was working freelance in events when a client asked if she would go in-house and find an agency. “I decided to build one instead and it’s been a very happy relationship,” she says.

As for everyone in events, the past decade has been a game of two halves for Sleek. “Pre-Covid we didn’t pitch for work – everything was word of mouth,” recalls Davidson. Sleek’s startling growth was recognised in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100, where it came in at number 19.

But Davidson hasn't let this stop the. instead, they were ready to pivot from their previous pitching style, helping the company to regain its previous momentum.

She is also proud that Sleek has not had to rely on investment. “I never had a loan. It’s all mine, which makes it easier to give away,” Davidson says. “It’s never really been about the money though. I get a kick out of seeing the team in action on-site.”

You can read the article here and other articles from our Growth Stories series here.

Female business leaders and the confidence conundrum

Women in business face a confidence paradox: they're seen as either lacking it or overdoing it, never matching the typical leader's image. This double standard, highlighted by a Harvard Business Review analysis, unfairly penalises women, making leadership journeys tougher. Despite identical achievements, male counterparts are often rated more competent, showcasing deep-seated biases.

 Redefining confidence to include collaboration and empathy, implementing inclusive selection processes, and diversifying networking opportunities are key steps business leaders can take to bridge this gap.

Our expert Zara Nanu says that embracing these changes is not just fair but strategically vital for leveraging a diverse workforce's full potential. 

You can read the article here.

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