Unlocking Growth: Birmingham Business Transforms Marketing In-House

Grosvenor House St Paul's: Virtual Office Solutions

it's a very cheap, cost-effective way to get world-class Marketing knowledge on your business.

Ian Mourbey, Managing Director

A Costly Marketing Challenge

Hire for personality, train for skills. This philosophy guides Ian Mourbey's approach to business. As Managing Director of Grosvenor House, a thriving virtual office and coworking space in Birmingham, he knew marketing was crucial, but found external agencies disconnected and costly.

"The tap was on, but the plug was out," recalls Holly Mourbey, Sales & Marketing Manager at Grosvenor House, describing their marketing challenges. Like many small businesses, they added clients but lost just as many. When Holly showed interest in taking on marketing responsibilities, Ian saw an opportunity to put his hiring philosophy into practice.

Developing In-House Expertise

Rather than hiring an experienced marketer or continuing with agencies, Ian invested in training Holly through Working Knowledge's Marketing Academy. The programme provided practical, hands-on training that directly benefited the business.

"What really stood out was that while you're learning marketing, it would be all about your company," Holly shares. "Instead of making up analogies about fictional companies, I could apply my knowledge directly to Grosvenor House."

The impact has been remarkable:

Their client base grew from 360 to 600 clients
Saving £1,000 monthly in marketing costs
Adding 5 additional clients per month
Generating £3,600 extra monthly revenue
Launched a new e-commerce website
Implemented effective PPC campaigns
Established a strong social media presence

Sarah, our marketing coach, was instrumental in everything we've done in the last 12-18 months.

Ian Mourbey, Managing Director

The Power of Expert Coaching

A key factor in this success has been the high-calibre training and coaching provided through the Marketing Academy. "Sarah, our marketing coach, was instrumental in everything we've done in the last 12-18 months," Ian explains.

"Her experience has been fantastic. To have her working and helping Holly on our business, giving advice, telling us what she would do in certain situations, it's a very cheap, cost-effective way to get world-class knowledge on your business."

Staying Ahead in a Competitive Market

Holly's approach shows a deep understanding of business dynamics:

We're trying to grow by at least 30 clients a month because I understand businesses will leave our coworking space as they grow. It's important that our marketing changes constantly to stay relevant and differentiate us from competitors.

This time last year, an e-commerce website was just a thought, but with the training, I was able to take risks and be confident in the risks I was taking.

Holly Mourbey, Sales & Marketing Manager

A Strategic Investment in Growth

For Ian, investing in Holly's development wasn't just about cost savings, it was a long-term growth strategy.

"Over the next 12-18 months, I hope Holly will become an instrumental part of our group marketing function, spreading her expertise across multiple businesses."

His advice to other business owners?

"You have to be prepared to let them have a go. There are so many instances where people wouldn't have let a junior marketer do the level of things we've let Holly get involved in. It's been highly successful for us."

- Ian Mourbey, Managing Director

Could You Have Hidden Marketing Talent in Your Team?

For small business owners feeling stuck with their marketing efforts, this approach offers a viable solution: invest in training your existing talent rather than relying solely on external expertise. As Ian concludes, "If they are serious and want to have a career and learn and develop, it is one million per cent worth doing."