Ever wondered what happens when an acquisition doesn’t go to plan?

In this episode, I speak with Gavin Page, a serial entrepreneur with 28 years in business and a decade of buy-and-build experience. Gavin grew a group of nine companies turning over more than £8 million, but one failed acquisition changed everything.

We dive into the reality of scaling through acquisition, from structuring deals and navigating distressed purchases to the unexpected fallout from Royal Mail strikes and rising energy costs. Gavin shares how overleveraging, weak management teams, and unforeseen market changes can bring down even the most carefully structured groups.

But this isn’t just a cautionary tale. Gavin reveals how he rebuilt after collapse, why he now mentors buyers and sellers to avoid the same pitfalls, and what he’s learned about resilience, due diligence, and leadership in high-stakes M&A.

If you’re considering buying a business or preparing your own exit you’ll want to hear this one to the end.

“Trust your gut — my biggest mistake was letting my ego say yes when my instinct said no.” – Gavin Page

You’ll hear about:

• Gavin’s first acquisition and how it all began
• Lessons from buying a £1 distressed company
• The Royal Mail strikes and Amazon refunds crisis
• How overleveraging can destroy a profitable group
• Energy price shocks and their impact on M&A
• The importance of strong financial due diligence
• Avoiding personal risk through smart deal structure
• Leadership, management teams, and accountability
• Rebuilding purpose after business failure
• Coaching others to buy and sell wisely

Connect With Gavin Page

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/expertdealmaker/

Transition 360 Partners - https://www.transition360partners.co.uk/

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Find out more about our brilliant sponsor Acquisition Masters here - https://www.acquisitionmasters.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

What really determines the value of a business?

In this episode I sit down with Saul Cohen, CEO of The Expert Eye, to explore the mechanics behind valuation and why it is never just about the numbers.

We look at how strong financial controls and a clear understanding of EBITDA give both buyers and sellers confidence, and how risk management can make or break a deal.

Saul and I also unpack the role governance plays in SMEs and why culture and people are often the hidden drivers of efficiency and value creation.

We discuss the responsibilities business owners must accept if they want to maximise their exit options, and challenge some common misconceptions around the role of brokers in the sales process.

If you want to understand what makes a business truly valuable and how to position yours for the best possible outcome, you need to listen to this episode.

"Valuation is never just numbers, it’s people and risk.” – Saul Cohen

You’ll hear about:

• Why understanding financial controls is crucial for business valuation.
• EBITDA being a key metric in assessing business performance.
• How risk management directly impacts business valuation multiples.
• SMEs often overlook operational risks during due diligence.
• People and culture significantly affect compliance and operational efficiency.
• Systems and processes being essential for effective governance.
• Why business owners must take accountability for their financial literacy.
• Brokers can provide valuable insights, but owners must challenge their valuations.
• Financial literacy is lacking in the SME sector, impacting decision-making.

Connect With Saul Cohen

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cohensaul/

The Expert Eye - https://theexperteye.co.uk/

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Find out more about our brilliant sponsor Acquisition Masters here - https://www.acquisitionmasters.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

What happens when a casual side hustle explodes into a million-dollar-a-month enterprise almost overnight?

In this episode I am joined by Sam Penny, founder of Cheese Therapy, who scaled his cheese distribution business by 23x during the COVID-19 pandemic, in 18 months before choosing to exit.

Sam takes us behind the scenes of his explosive growth, unexpected founder departure, and the moment he realised he was no longer energised enough to keep going.

Sam opens up about the real cost of building a brand too dependent on its founders, and what he wishes he’d done differently to stay “sale ready.”

Whether you're planning to grow through acquisition, raise capital, or exit entirely, Sam’s story is packed with hard-earned lessons that could save you time, energy, and equity.

" You don’t sell your business when you’re exhausted, you sell it when you're energised.” – Sam Penny

You’ll hear about:

• How bushfires and COVID catalysed a 23x surge in revenue • Why relying too heavily on founders can limit long-term business value • The importance of building SOPs and internal systems early • How co-founder departures can derail momentum • Why founder energy impacts valuations more than you think • The most overlooked steps to becoming “sale ready” before burnout hits

Connect With Sam Penny

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampenny/

Sam’s Linktree - https://sampenny.com/pages/start

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Find out more about our brilliant sponsor Acquisition Masters here - https://www.acquisitionmasters.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!