Ep 96: In the Trenches- 7 Months Into Operating a £1M+ EBITDA SME (Fouzan Ali, MD of Combined Services)

The next acquisition accelerator is going to be in London in June (date TBC). Book your spot now for a discounted rate. If you cannot make that date, you can roll your spot into the next cohort. Join here: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/ 

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In this episode, we reconnect with Fouzan, seven months into owning and operating the 32-year-old building energy management systems business he acquired. After initially stepping into the role with humility and patience, Fouzan shares how he’s approached leadership, structured his team, and gradually introduced change—from hiring apprentices and outsourcing non-core functions to overhauling commercial performance and planning a new service division.

We dive into the realities of making an acquisition from a retiring owner, managing legacy teams, implementing tracking and bonus systems, and how he uses his tech background to drive efficiency.

This is a candid look at the transition from acquisition to active ownership, filled with insights for anyone stepping into a small business post-close. Enjoy!

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For anyone interested in EOS, Rob Liddiard is offering the buy and build community a free introductory session. As you know, Paul uses Rob to help implement EOS at Amber Home Improvements and it has been a game changer. You can reach out to him at rob@mission-group.co.uk