Jon Graves - Founder & CEO, Northern Telecom (growth by acquisition)

If you’ve ever considered, or want to learn more about, growing your business by acquisition, you’ll want to listen to this week’s guest, Jon Graves, Founder & CEO of Northern Telecom. Jon has grown his business by 7-fold in three years via 13 acquisitions.

Jon tells us all about his acquisition strategy, shares the learnings from some of his early mistakes and gives us all a great ‘how to’ when it comes to buying businesses via a pre-pack.

He also tells us about his ultimately disastrous purchase of a golf club and a hotel.

INTRODUCING JON GRAVES

Jon Graves is a dynamic and tenacious business owner who has carved a formidable path in the telecommunications industry. A decade ago, driven by his entrepreneurial spirit and a vision for innovation, he founded Northern Telecom in the vibrant city of Leeds.

Jon's entrepreneurial journey is characterized by bold moves and calculated risks. With a passion for challenge, he fearlessly spearheaded 15 acquisitions, often rescuing insolvent companies through pre-pack deals. These strategic manoeuvres not only expanded Northern Telecom's reach but also cemented its reputation as a major player in the competitive market.

Based in Leeds, Jon is deeply rooted in his local community. Outside of the boardroom, he finds solace and joy in the loving embrace of his wife and three children, who serve as his greatest source of inspiration and motivation.

Known for his appetite for risk and his love of challenges, Jon thrives in high-stakes environments where others may falter. His strategic foresight and unwavering determination have propelled Northern Telecom to unprecedented heights, earning him recognition as a maverick in the industry.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[00:00:30] Jon’s business background

[00:03:00] The early stages of the business

[00:08:00] Powering growth through acquisition

[00:13:00] Learning from mistakes

[00:05:00] Buying a hotel and golf club…

[00:19:00] Explaining the terms ‘distressed business’ and ‘pre-pack’

[00:21:00] Expanding the business through acquisition

[00:24:30] How to buy a business via a pre-pack

KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS

• As you get bigger, you just have to let go

• With an acquisition for the cost of a salesperson for a year, we start billing the next day

• Stick to what you know

BEST MOMENTS

“Our first acquisition then set a lightbulb off”

“We had to learn to integrate”

“Why wouldn’t you want to buy a hotel and golf club?”

“Do you want to buy an IT company? Just bring £10,000 and it’s yours”

VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU

Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com

Website: https://www.northerntelecom.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathangraves1/

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