Property consultancy strengthens its team structure after Boost support

By Boost Business Lancashire

26 Nov 2019

anderton-gables-senior-management-team.jpg

A Preston-based property and building consultancy has sights on doubling in size over the next three years after receiving business coaching from Boost’s Bespoke programme.

Anderton Gables Limited specialises in commercial building, surveying, and project management services. It is set to grow its team to 50 and plans to expand its locations across the North of England.

The practice was set up in 2007 by directors Jonathan Shaw and Andrew Whittle. It has commercial clients based in the North as well as national clients including Boohoo, Halfords, Manchester Airport and DHL.

Jonathan previously received support from Boost’s Growth Accelerator programme and was seeking further advice to reorganise and strengthen the team to support future growth.

He was introduced to the Boost Bespoke programme via Boost’s business relationship management service.

Jonathan said: “Operationally I knew we were not quite on top of things. Margins were down but turnover was up. We needed a reshuffle to be more efficient with our team resources.

“The support from Boost really gave us time to reflect and think ‘who managed you well in the past, and what did you learn from them?’ I started to see a shift in my own thinking during the programme and a change in my leadership approach, then a positive change in the team.”

Boost is Lancashire's Business Growth Hub and is led by the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and Lancashire County Council and supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Boost Bespoke programme is designed to support businesses with the potential and determination to achieve significant and sustainable growth.

Jonathan worked alongside Boost business coach Hayley Caine. A diagnostic of the practice revealed that its strategy was on target, but the ‘growth pains’ were in the team structure.

Hayley helped Jonathan formalise a more effective operational structure and forward-looking development plan, in order to embed a continual improvement culture throughout the practice.

Hayley said: “Anderton Gables has an appetite for growth. Jonathan is keen to establish an improved discipline towards company structure and team projects with an emphasis on leadership and management as the team continues to grow and develop.

“We developed business teams each with a team leader. This will help to reduce staffing issues and improve delegation of duties. There’s since been notable improvements including regular meetings between teams and better lines of communication.

Anderton Gables currently has 17 employees in Preston, and seven more spread across its two offices in Sheffield and Manchester. The new company structure will help to identify key skills, people, processes and equipment required to deliver this year’s and future growth targets.

A recruitment drive is now planned across the teams including building and quantity surveyors as well as project managers and technicians. The practice also plans to open more offices to service its growing client base.

Jonathan said: “You start your career training as a technical person with a specialist skill, but if you then go on to start your own business, you go from having one skilled job you can do really well, to juggling ten roles you can’t do at all!”

“The support and coaching received has really helped us take a step back from the business, focus on the strategy and set real objectives for growing the practice. Our growth going forward can certainly be tracked back to what I’ve learnt from the Boost Bespoke programme.”

Anderton Gables recently moved into a new head office on Cross Street in Preston and is now able to house the Preston team under one roof.

Jonathan added “Our new office has really helped with further team motivation. By taking into consideration what we learnt through Boost, we’ve designed the internal layout to engender a positive workspace.”

Boost has received £3.8m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for ERDF. Established by the European Union, ERDF funds help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.  For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding. 

Latest news

1

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November Gary McEwan managing director of Interfloor

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

10 Sep 2025

2

Lancashire Combined County Authority unveil plan to Get Lancashire Working Lancashire Combined Authority

Lancashire Combined County Authority unveil plan to Get Lancashire Working

10 Sep 2025

3

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and BAE Systems’ FalconWorks announce strategic collaboration Collaboration between BAE Systems FalconWorks and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and BAE Systems’ FalconWorks announce strategic collaboration

09 Sep 2025

4

High street retailers urged to ‘take advantage’ of new funded support programme Brian Moore, Lee Johnson, Anne Williamson and Andrew Leeming

High street retailers urged to ‘take advantage’ of new funded support programme

08 Sep 2025

5

Beaverbrooks invest in the high street in difficult conditions Mark Adlestone And Anna Blackburn Beaverbrooks

Beaverbrooks invest in the high street in difficult conditions

08 Sep 2025

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
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

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

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

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 LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin