Staff at a thriving commercial law firm in Hampshire have taken part in a ‘growth summit’ to mark a record year in business.
The event, inspired by the founder’s recent overseas trip to meet an entrepreneurial giant of USA commerce, focused on delivering excellence for clients and business development amid rapid growth.
Graeme Quar, managing director at Fareham-based Graeme Quar & Co, said: “It has been an incredible year for us, with annual turnover rising by 37% and a number of high-profile hirings on the back of increasing instructions from businesses across Hampshire and West Sussex.
“As any business with this kind of fast ‘gazelle’ growth knows, the important thing is never become complacent, but to strive for continual improvement in all areas, however difficult, inconvenient and time-consuming that may be.
“The joy of a gazelle environment is that it encourages innovation, which itself enhances productivity and a collective sense of purpose from everyone involved.”
The firm, which has 12 staff and is in its 18th year, has commissioned local wildlife sculptor Wendy Hunt to cast a bronze gazelle as a visual acknowledgement of the record year.
“To be placed in our office, it will be a constant reminder that we must always deliver on all fronts for our clients,” said Graeme.
He recently flew to Arizona to meet in person Verne ‘Growth Guy’ Harnish, the author of best-selling business development book Mastering the Rockerfeller Habits, and a giant of USA commerce.
Verne was attending the Fortune Growth Summit in Phoenix, regarded as the Super Bowl of corporate gatherings.
“The event gave me the idea for our very own growth summit, albeit on a somewhat more modest scale and budget, so that we can continue to take huge strides to provide our clients with, to coin an American expression, an awesome service.
“A gazelle company is characterised not by its size but by increasing its revenues by at least 20% annually for four years or more, effectively doubling its income over that time, and we very much want to aim for this without comprising on legal excellence for clients.”
Guest speakers at the event, held at the Old House Hotel in Wickham, included Catherine Billam of Growth Accelerator, Sue Warden-Owen of MHL Coaching, both specialists in business training who live and work in Hampshire, and Tricia Jones of Frontline Communications.
With branches in Fareham and Petersfield, Graeme Quar & Co is a commercial legal practice to clients in Hampshire and West Sussex, including companies, small-to-medium enterprises, partnerships and sole traders.
In response to demand and market-place opportunities, the firm hired regional law consultants Michael Dalton and Lorna Palmer earlier in the summer.
