Over the last five years I have spent a great deal of time speaking at conferences. Usually my role was to give the audience ideas and inspiration to help them in their business. At the end of last year it dawned on me that I had never stood in front of my own team to give them ideas and inspiration. This week we hired out the function room at The Maltings in Ely for four days with the aim of bringing the team back to where the company began and informing them of the direction that company would be going in the future.

The Senior Management team and I set out to inspire our colleagues. However, as I sit here writing this blog, I am the one who has been totally inspired. I truly have an absolutely amazing team!The last four days have been priceless. The feedback from our colleagues has been open, honest and frank and we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. The ideas that colleagues have come up with will all be implemented and their suggestions have all been heard. We have had some harsh conversations but equally we have had a great deal of laughter. Team members have had the opportunity to meet their colleagues from the various sites and I have no doubt that friendships have been forged.When I’m away on business I’m often asked “how dare you leave your business for so long” The answer has been highlighted over the last four days and from now on I will reply “it’s in safe hands!”