ActionCOACH Hastings

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

To build a great team, you need documented systems for recruiting people. If you don't have a clear process, you can only blame yourself for not getting the right hires. And once you have them, continuous training is key – it's not a one-time event.

09/09/2026

As leadership grows, you move from the tech details to empowering people. Shifting to sales brought joy in connecting with businesses and solving challenges. Now, the focus is on nurturing your own team and scaling the business.

09/09/2026

What does it take to build and scale a successful business over 20 years? In this episode of Business Spotlight, Mike sits down with Steve Masters, Owner and CEO of Accord Consulting, an award-winning Sage Business Partner based in Edenbridge.

Steve shares the story behind building Accord Consulting from its beginnings in 2003 into a 35-person consultancy helping businesses modernise their finance functions using cloud-based Sage solutions. The conversation explores the realities of business growth, customer retention, leadership, technology, AI and the importance of constantly adapting as markets and customer needs change.

Steve explains why he believes businesses can suffer from “systems drift” when the business evolves but its systems and processes fail to keep up and how Accord Consulting helps clients avoid this through continuous, incremental improvement.

He also shares some powerful lessons from more than two decades in business, including:
• Why winning your first customer is one of the biggest challenges when starting a business • How building trust and exceptional customer service drives long-term growth
• Why business owners need to focus on taking action rather than simply creating the perfect business plan
• How cloud-based software can help businesses adapt faster
• Why implementation should be the beginning, not the end, of a technology project
• The importance of hiring great people and learning to delegate • How Accord Consulting reinvented its business model after COVID
• The role AI could play in the future of finance
• Why AI accuracy and human oversight are critical when dealing with financial data
• How Accord Consulting achieved 8X turnover growth between 2021 and 2025
• Steve’s ambitious goal for the business through to 2030 Steve also shares a valuable leadership lesson: sometimes the best thing a business owner can do is “make yourself the dumbest person in the room” by surrounding yourself with talented people who can bring expertise and new perspectives to the business.

Subscribe for more Business Spotlight interviews with entrepreneurs, business leaders and founders.

09/09/2026

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Spreading your business across different industries and customers is key to a more stable income. It prevents overexposure and builds resilience.

08/09/2026

It's easy to get lost in all that technology can do. Justin's approach: identify client feedback, focus on the top 2-3 improvements, and keep developing. This prevents overwhelm and ensures progress.

08/09/2026

A slightly different kind of road trip this week… 🚗🌍

I’m currently taking part in the Club Triumph 10 Countries Run with a group of friends and, even better, my daughter has joined me for the adventure.

The challenge: 10 countries in a 50+ year-old Triumph.

We’re travelling in my 1970 Triumph Vitesse, and so far it’s been a brilliant mixture of spectacular roads, stunning scenery, good company and the occasional moment of wondering whether a car designed more than half a century ago is entirely happy with what we’re asking it to do! 😂

But that’s all part of the adventure.

One of the things I’m enjoying most is simply stepping away from the normal routine for a few days. Long days on the road, conversations with friends, incredible places and, most importantly, some proper time with my daughter.

The photo overlooking the lake and mountains sums it up rather nicely. There are definitely worse places to stop for lunch!

And as for the Vitesse… so far, so good. 🤞

Plenty more miles and countries still to come.

Here’s to old cars, good friends, great roads and making memories.

08/09/2026

What does it take to build and scale a successful business over 20 years? In this episode of Business Spotlight, Mike sits down with Steve Masters, Owner and CEO of Accord Consulting, an award-winning Sage Business Partner based in Edenbridge.

Steve shares the story behind building Accord Consulting from its beginnings in 2003 into a 35-person consultancy helping businesses modernise their finance functions using cloud-based Sage solutions. The conversation explores the realities of business growth, customer retention, leadership, technology, AI and the importance of constantly adapting as markets and customer needs change.

Steve explains why he believes businesses can suffer from “systems drift” when the business evolves but its systems and processes fail to keep up and how Accord Consulting helps clients avoid this through continuous, incremental improvement.

He also shares some powerful lessons from more than two decades in business, including:
• Why winning your first customer is one of the biggest challenges when starting a business • How building trust and exceptional customer service drives long-term growth
• Why business owners need to focus on taking action rather than simply creating the perfect business plan
• How cloud-based software can help businesses adapt faster
• Why implementation should be the beginning, not the end, of a technology project
• The importance of hiring great people and learning to delegate • How Accord Consulting reinvented its business model after COVID
• The role AI could play in the future of finance
• Why AI accuracy and human oversight are critical when dealing with financial data
• How Accord Consulting achieved 8X turnover growth between 2021 and 2025
• Steve’s ambitious goal for the business through to 2030 Steve also shares a valuable leadership lesson: sometimes the best thing a business owner can do is “make yourself the dumbest person in the room” by surrounding yourself with talented people who can bring expertise and new perspectives to the business.

Subscribe for more Business Spotlight interviews with entrepreneurs, business leaders and founders.

08/09/2026

When did you last ask, “Why do we still do it this way?”

Businesses are very good at adding things.

More meetings. More software. More reports. More approvals. More processes.

What gets asked far less often is whether all of those things are still useful.

Complexity costs time, slows decisions, creates duplicated work and makes businesses increasingly dependent on the people who understand how everything fits together.

In his latest blog, Simon Marshall explains why simplicity does not mean making a business basic. It means creating clarity around how the business works.

There is one particularly useful question to take into your next management meeting: What have we made more complicated than it needs to be?

Read the full blog here:
www.business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-articles/simon-marshall-complexity-is-quietly-killing-your-business

08/09/2026

Transitioning from doing everything yourself to building a business that can grow beyond you is a monumental shift. Establishing key milestones and developing a team are crucial for this evolution.