On October 10th, 2024, the prestigious SME Business Practice Conference took place at IStructE International HQ, gathering industry leaders to explore key strategies for navigating business challenges within small to medium enterprises (SMEs).
Our Managing Director, John Staves, was a featured speaker, sharing his insights on business diversification—an area where his experience has proven invaluable.
Business Diversification VS Specialisation
John participated in Session 2: Business Strategy, alongside notable figures such as Bola Ogunmefun, Director of Tisserin Engineers. While Bola focused on the merits of business specialisation, John shed light on the benefits of diversification.
Drawing from his leadership at Michael Aubrey Barrow Ltd, he explained how expanding service offerings—particularly into architecture for residential schemes—enabled the firm to grow and adapt to client needs.
John highlighted the importance of being attuned to market demands and how listening to clients can uncover new opportunities. By diversifying into architecture, Michael Aubrey Barrow has been able to broaden its service scope while maintaining the core focus on structural engineering.
His talk emphasised the strategic balance needed to diversify successfully without compromising the business’s core strengths, helping it remain resilient during periods of economic uncertainty.
Building Safety Act
Later in the day, John returned to the stage during Session 4, co-presenting with Patrick Hayes on the Building Safety Act.
Here, he provided vital guidance on how the Act affects SMEs and the competencies required for firms to remain compliant. As Chair of IStructE Ltd and a former IStructE Board Member, John has been at the forefront of these discussions, making him a key authority on how these regulatory changes impact day-to-day operations.
John’s contributions to the conference were well received, reinforcing his position as a leader in the structural engineering community. His deep understanding of both the technical and business aspects of running a practice ensures that Michael Aubrey Barrow continues to thrive, even in challenging environments.
By engaging in critical conversations on both business diversification and regulatory compliance, John further established his expertise in guiding SMEs through evolving industry landscapes.
