Danbro's Damian Broughton inspires businesses at 52M event

By 52M Consulting Ltd

21 Feb 2020

At the first in a series of monthly events being organised and hosted by 52M Consulting in 2020, an audience of Lancashire business leaders heard an earthy, honest and insightful account of how Damian Broughton and his wife, Helen, have grown Danbro into a £170m-a-year business since starting it in the family home.

Damian explained how the husband-and-wife team first considered running a pub and then a cross-stitch franchise before eventually starting an accountancy business providing a full range of advisory, tax and compliance services to contractors and freelancers.

Despite the success enjoyed by the business today, Damian was very candid about the obstacles it has faced along the way, including the acquisition of an accountancy practice elsewhere in the country that didn't work out as planned.

He told the assembled audience that Danbro owes much of its success to embedding the right processes, being disciplined, having a marketing plan and sticking to it, investing in people, supporting them and giving them space to deliver, and not being afraid to outsource non-core activities to external specialists - valuing the acquisition of this expertise as an investment and not a cost.

Olivia Carter, from the Athena Network for women in business, attended the event and said afterwards: "It was fascinating to hear how Damian Broughton and his wife have built their company from scratch into the successful business it is today. I really learned a lot from listening to Damian recount his experiences in what was a relaxed, down-to-earth setting."

It's a sentiment that others have been busy expressing on social media, with Gillian Seville, head of business development for Napthens Solicitors branding it "a fabulous inaugural event" on Twitter and commenting that it provided "a fascinating insight into an incredible business". Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at Lancashire County Council, described it as "a great opportunity for businesses to network" and said that he "enjoyed the honest insight given by Damian Broughton" with Poulton-le-Fylde based Code Galaxy also describing Damian's story as "fascinating" and saying that it had learned some lessons that it plans to implement in its business.

It was fascinating to hear how Damian Broughton and his wife have built their company from scratch into the successful business it is today.

The event, held on the first floor landing at Bizspace on Marsh Lane, Preston, also saw a lively Q&A and was supported by a number of local organisations that exhibited on the night, including IT experts NetDec, Shout Network and Lancashire's growth hub Boost.

Lee Petts, managing director at 52M Consulting, said he is delighted by the response and can't wait to host the next event in the series: "It was such a pleasure to see so many people brave the terrible weather and come along to hear what was a genuinely inspiring talk from one of Lancashire's most successful entrepreneurs.

"I think everyone will agree that they left feeling invigorated and that they'd learned something valuable that could improve their growth prospects.

"Next month, we have a very different guest speaker in the form of hairdressing entreprenuer John Kersey. His story started when he opened his first salon aged just 18 before going on to grow one of the largest independent chains in the North West of England, and I'm really looking forward to giving him a platform to share it."

Businesses wishing to attend the second event in the series can find out more and book here.

Enjoyed this? Read more from 52M Consulting Ltd

Latest news

1

Chiptech announces major innovation initiative at high-profile reception with the New Zealand Prime Minister in London. The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds, the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon and the Rt Hon Steve Reed (L-R Front Row) David Hammond, and Daniel Knowles

Chiptech announces major innovation initiative at high-profile reception with the New Zealand Prime Minister in London.

30 Apr 2025

2

Northstone secures full planning permission for 50 new homes in Edenfield Edenfield housing development

Northstone secures full planning permission for 50 new homes in Edenfield

29 Apr 2025

3

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction celebrates completion of Dovestone Gardens Dovestone Gardens launch

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction celebrates completion of Dovestone Gardens

29 Apr 2025

4

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success Louise Kirby

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success

29 Apr 2025

5

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire Lidl

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire

29 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2
EV-land-2025-05B.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships
30478 Skills Bootcamp open day setting.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships

University of Central Lancashire, Preston , PR1 2HE

14:30 - 15:30

Celebrating 50 years of KTP
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Celebrating 50 years of KTP

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

16:00 - 18:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin