The Focus Group, a leading provider of mental health and wellbeing services across Hull and East Yorkshire, has boosted revenues by 53% and expanded its team by more than a quarter over the last 18 months, following a strategic transformation programme.
The transformation saw the business rebrand from Focus Counselling Services and pivot from a transactional service provider to a trusted advisor on corporate wellbeing. The company recruited nine new employees during this period to support its growth trajectory.
The Focus Group has supported the mental health and wellbeing of workers across Hull and East Yorkshire for almost 30 years, primarily through Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) and NHS-commissioned mental health services. However, with the majority of the company's income tied to the NHS, the leadership team recognised the need to diversify its revenue streams and build a more resilient business model.
The subsequent transformation has seen the company enhance its corporate wellbeing offering, develop a new brand structure with three sub-brands, and execute a full organisational redesign. The strategic pivot followed Business Development Manager Phil Hindle's completion of the Help to Grow: Management Course at Hull University Business School in 2023.
Phil Hindle, Business Development Manager at The Focus Group, said: "We have historically been more of a transactional supplier, but our goal has been to reposition as a trusted advisor on all things corporate wellbeing - opening up significant new commercial opportunities. The Help to Grow: Management Course was pivotal in driving that change as it helped us identify and evaluate different service offerings and how to package and target our services to different levels of decision-makers."
The company's ultimate objective is to move from an 80% NHS: 20% B2B revenue split to a more balanced 50:50 model, a goal it is aiming to achieve by March 2027. It has already taken on two new private sector contracts and become an approved supplier of NHS services nationwide since the brand relaunch.
Phil continues: "I'm incredibly grateful for the knowledge I gained through the Help to Grow: Management Course. It's been instrumental in giving us the confidence and frameworks we've used to deliver this successful change. I'd recommend it to any leader feeling they've hit a plateau and looking for support to reach the next level personally and for their business."
The Help to Grow: Management Course is a 90% government-funded leadership programme for SME businesses, delivered by a network of Small Business Charter accredited business schools. The course runs over 12 weeks and includes online and face-to-face sessions, 10 hours of 1-to-1 mentoring and peer networking. Its mission is to increase economic growth and productivity through improved management and leadership practice.
Flora Hamilton, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter, said: "Phil's story perfectly demonstrates how practical business knowledge and support can unlock significant growth. He had a strong business and clear vision but needed the right strategy and guidance to execute that transformation successfully.
“It's fantastic to see what The Focus Group has now achieved after Phil completed Help to Grow: Management at Hull University Business School, one of our network of 60+ Small Business Charter accredited business schools delivering the course. The results speak for themselves with new market opportunities, a clearer structure, strong staff buy-in, and a foundation for sustainable long-term growth.”
Learn more about how the Help to Grow: Management Course could unlock growth for your business here.
About Help to Grow: Management:
Help to Grow: Management is a 12-week course designed to support business leaders and their senior managers to increase resilience, innovation, and growth within their organisations.
Developed and delivered by the network of Small Business Charter accredited business schools, the course is available in more than 60 locations across the UK and is 90% government funded. It is designed to fit around existing work and personal commitments, providing 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, 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 (SBC) empowers small business success through its network of expert business schools. Developed 10 years ago by Lord Young, the previous Department for Business, and the Chartered Association of Business Schools, the SBC was established to signpost entrepreneurs, small businesses, and local economic stakeholders to business schools in their region with the expertise to help them thrive. There are 67 SBC accredited business school centres of excellence across the UK which are trusted partners of local stakeholders and the national government to deliver effective leadership and productivity programmes and small business support to drive economic growth.