We were very proud to be asked to tell the Potter Space story at the inaugural National Family Business Show held at York Racecourse Conference Centre on 9 May.
The show, which was formally opened by Julian Sturdy, the MP for York Outer, attracted more than 240 delegates and 50 exhibitors.
Paul Andrews, organiser of the National Family Business Show, says it was born out of a desire to provide a real platform to showcase the sector, provide a forum to learn and network and enable family business owners to come together to share insights, stories and how to address certain challenges too.
Potter Space’s Managing Director, Matthew Lamb’s presentation on the Insights Stage, was entitled ‘The evolution of a family business.’
He gave the packed audience and excellent insight about how the company had gone from Derrick Potter carrying bulk grain and fertiliser locally in a 10-ton Bedford truck, more than 50 years ago, to becoming an award-winning logistics business employing 280 people.
He then covered how the Group successfully transformed into a commercial property business, using the five strategic sites, acquired during the logistics days, which cover 1.6 million square foot with plenty of room to expand.
Critical to the transition, he said, was the belief in building strong long-term relationships, the amazing staff that make up the Potter Space team and continued investment. And of course, maintaining Derrick Potter’s mantra to use the following simple words, which continue to have a huge impact: hello, please and thank you.
Finally, he outlined the way the new Potter Space brand had been ‘brought to life’ and communicated to the target audiences.
We’ll leave the last words to Julian Sturdy MP, who said,
“In a modern economy which can often feel impersonal and complex, family enterprises provide a human focus and attention to quality which other business struggle to match, benefitting both consumers and employees.
“Family-run enterprises are rooted in their areas and serve customers with pride and care. It is in everyone’s interest to see them thrive in Yorkshire and across the country.”
We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.
