Natalie Wells, director of Wells Interiors Ltd, explains why Michael Wells should win the Leader of the Year category of the Guardian Small Business Showcase competition:
Michael founded Wells Interiors as a sole trader in 2010 with savings from working on superyachts.
His leadership has been key in the growth and success of the business since then. Very few men lead with the heart and integrity he calls on daily. He holds a strong vision of excellence for the whole company. He has transformed a largely unknown trade into a craft respected within the industry. He always leads by example.
Michael motivates his team members to be the best they can be. He understands the need to create a strong culture in order to offer an excellent service of unparalleled quality. He holds regular breakfast catch-ups at a local cafe for team briefings and runs a WhatsApp group for day-to-day communication, sharing of problems and celebrating successes.
When asked why he would nominate Michael, one team member said: “Easy. He provided me with an opportunity to better myself and do something i can take great pride in. He’s always pushing me and is someone I aspire to be like”. Michael taught this employee from scratch and he’s now one of the top installers in the country and a brand ambassador.
Michael now plans to launch an apprenticeship scheme including leadership training to support future growth.
All entries which meet the competition criteria are published and our judging panel select a shortlist of the top three for each category. Winners are announced at an awards ceremony in summer 2016.
