Stonna Limited provides bespoke high-end construction, design, and project management services for residential and commercial properties. It was founded by Hasan Dikme, a structural engineer.
Hasan decided to combine his passion for design with 20 years’ experience in the construction and project management industries to grow Stonna. He focused on building a strong portfolio of clients. However, he soon recognised that he lacked the knowledge and skills required to create a strategic growth plan for the business as a professional.
To facilitate this, Hasan enrolled in a 12-week Help to Grow: Management Course. This is designed to help business leaders and senior managers increase resilience, innovation, and growth.
The course was delivered by London South Bank University Business School – a recipient of the Small Business Charter accreditation that recognises institutions that support small businesses. It gave Hasan the skills needed to develop and implement an effective growth strategy. He was also able to streamline operations, rethink his leadership role, and change his mindset completely to help the business become more stable in the long term.
Since completing the course, Hasan has recruited two new site managers and five new operatives to his team of 12. This has helped him concentrate on Stonna’s growth strategy and refocus his time. This is so he can spend more time on the business instead of running low-level activities every day. This has resulted in revenue doubling every year over the last two years.
He has also expanded the business to launch another division called Stonna Steel Structures. This division specialises in industrial and residential steel structures. Hasan also plans to expand into the high-end bespoke joinery industry in the near future.
Hasan Dikme, CEO of Stonna Limited, said: “We are all good technicians, we know our work well, but running a business requires a completely different mindset and business management skills. I realised the way forward was not being the boss, but being a disciplined leader by putting systems and processes in place while focusing on managing time effectively.
“Thanks to the Help to Grow: Management Course, I now understand what’s required to take a small business to the next level. For example, when I worked on construction sites, it was all about who you knew, not what you knew. But now that I’m in a leadership position, I need to know how we can be profitable. I need to know where to invest, and how to take my vision for success and make it a reality.
Since taking this on board, I’ve managed to set a clear vision for the business and double our revenue. More importantly, I’m far more confident in myself and my business' trajectory. I'm looking forward to seeing Stonna evolve and grow for years to come.”
Besides continuing to grow his business with the skills gained from the course, Hasan is also giving back to other business leaders in his local community. He is currently mentoring two leaders by sharing his own experiences and supporting them through their own challenges to help them reach their full growth potential.
Michael Hayman MBE, Chair, Small Business Charter, added: “The Help to Grow: Management Course gives experts like Hasan the insight and tools to develop a more commercial approach to running their business. With decades of experience and a passion for his industry Hasan, like many small business leaders, wanted to structure his business for growth.
“The course delivers on this with 12 weeks development with practical business tools and frameworks as well as feedback on their experience of implementing change from small business experts, a 1-2-1 mentor and other local business leaders each week.
“With revenue doubling and a new business venture already up and running, the course has made a big difference for Stonna and we wish Hasan all the best as he delivers the next stage of growth for his business.”
To find out more about Help to Grow: Management click here.
About Help to Grow: Management
Help to Grow: Management is a 12-week course designed to support business leaders and senior managers to increase resilience, innovation and growth within their organisations.
Delivered by Small Business Charter accredited business schools, the course is available in more than 50 locations across the UK and is 90% government-funded. It is designed to fit around existing work and personal commitments. It provides business leaders with more than 50 hours of online and in-person training including 10 hours of one-to-one mentoring. Individuals completing the course automatically join the Alumni Network. This is where they have access to exclusive events, content and partner offers, as well as the support of a UK-wide peer network.
The Small Business Charter, which oversees Help to Grow: Management, is an award for the UK’s world-class business schools. The Charter was developed by Lord Young, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Chartered Association of Business Schools to celebrate business schools that play an effective role in supporting the UK’s 5.8m SMEs and their local economies by extension.