Institute of Management student Richardson celebrates business success

Part-time Executive MBA student Nick Richardson is celebrating the success of his Manchester-based business, which has grown at an accelerated rate since it was founded in December 2016.

Nick, who currently studies within the Institute of Management (IoM), launched the market research and insights company Bee Industrious after redundancy encouraged him to take a leap of faith and start-up on his own. Since its launch, the business has gone from strength to strength, now employing six staff and boasting international offices in both New York and Lagos.

Nick explains: “I initially enrolled in the Executive MBA course while working for my previous employer in order to develop my skills and grow within the business. After being made redundant, however, I decided it was time to establish my own business focusing on research and insights, an area in which I already had significant experience.”

Following the company’s success, things are also looking positive for Nick’s most recent venture Kids Insights, which is an online data portal, giving brands real-time understanding of kids, tweens and teens.

The young business, which launched in March 2017, has already attracted some of the world’s largest brands including Penguin Random House, DC Thomson and Guinness World Records and recently received a six-figure investment offer at the Business Growth Hub's Venturefest event. Nick continues: “The great thing about this course is not only doing it gives me the confidence to start, but it also gives me a weekly opportunity to remove myself from my business and think strategically about different elements.

"While the course is not only suited to business owners, each assignment helps me establish strategies for my company, whether involving leadership, management, human resources management (HRM), innovation or change management. For example, key insights from the recent HRM module has enabled me to develop recruitment, development and retention strategies."

Plans for both Bee Industrious and Kids Insight are now being put in place to continue their expansion, with a focus on developing an international presence.