“Seeing the bigger picture”

Speciality Bites with

Paul Hargreaves

Chief executive of Cotswold Fayre

• Becoming a B Corp
• Top trend predictions for Christmas 2021
• Self-sacrifice: The importance of building a leadership legacy centred on others
• Undercover Boss
• Can/should bosses really be close friends with their staff?

I was in London over the weekend and as I last visited the Tower of London when I was 10, I thought we should pay it another visit. To stand in the same space as William the Conqueror nearly 1,000 years ago is amazing, when you step back and think. And to think all the people who throughout our history who have been within those buildings is absolutely amazing, from Henry VIII to the Duke of Wellington and many, many more – some of them lived to tell the tale! Thinking of such a long period of time, it does make me think how small I am in comparison

This could be perceived as a negative perspective, but it does not have to be. I have met up with two old friends within the last week, both of whom I haven’t had a heart-to-heart with for many years. Strangely the discussions took a similar tone. We all want to make a difference in the world through our businesses for the better, but are well aware that for this to really happen, there needs to be a movement of like-minded people.  Yes, we can all “do our bit” but for change to happen we need to be influencing other people. The most powerful transformational movements are generally made up of lots of “small” people all doing their own thing, but realising they are part of a larger movement.

The influence of the current David Attenborough programme on TV, Blue Planet 2, is a good example. There is more awareness than ever in the UK of the damage we are doing to 70% of our planet, the sea. Now is the time for us to act, but it needs the majority to change our behaviour for anything to change. Let’s start actively thinking of ways we can run our businesses in more environmentally-friendly ways. The huge number of deliveries to retailers within this sector is a constant source of frustration for me and others who care about the environment.

Finally, on change, I was encouraged by a visit to the Irish embassy last week. The Irish government minister for food and agriculture was passionate in needing a Brexit that resulted in no trade barriers and customs. This was the day before the announcement on Friday and I do believe now that the Irish could save us from the disastrous hard Brexit.

God rest ye merry Brexit men, let nothing you dis-May!