Related Fluid Power

Challenge

Family-owned business Related Fluid Power (RFP) had ambitious growth aspirations, targeting significant revenue growth, improved margins and stronger operational performance. However, early strategic workshops identified several organisational barriers that were limiting progress. These included centralised decision-making, weak accountability, ineffective management processes, limited leadership capability, poor cross-functional communication and little formal investment in people development. 

The business recognised that achieving its growth ambitions would require more than operational improvements. It needed a stronger leadership team, a clearer strategy, improved governance and a culture capable of supporting innovation and continuous improvement. 

Approach

hgkc began working with RFP in 2023 through a two-day strategic planning and growth workshop involving the owners and senior leadership team. This established a shared understanding of the business's objectives, priorities and challenges, while introducing structured strategic planning tools and management disciplines.  

Over an 18-month growth support programme, the business received a structured package of strategic development focused on four key areas: 

1. Leadership and Management support included leadership development, DiSC behavioural profiling, executive coaching and succession planning.
2. Governance initiatives introduced an Operating Board, strengthened decision-making processes and established clear accountability frameworks.
3. The People workstream focused on employee engagement, personal development and embedding a shared vision, purpose and values across the organisation.
4. Finally, the Innovation element helped the business develop a clear innovation strategy and implement a structured innovation pipeline to identify, evaluate and deliver new growth opportunities.

Together, these interventions strengthened capability, improved organisational effectiveness and created a platform for sustainable long-term growth.

Results

Despite difficult trading conditions and a challenging commercial environment, significant progress was achieved. 

The programme delivered a step change in accountability and collaboration across the business by creating a clear and shared sense of direction, underpinned by an agreed vision, purpose, values and long-term missions. 

The introduction of defined behavioural expectations helped embed a stronger culture of ownership and accountability, while leadership development, DiSC profiling and executive coaching enhanced leadership capability and self-awareness throughout the organisation. 

The creation of an Operating Board brought leaders together around common goals, improving cross-functional collaboration, decision-making and shared responsibility for performance. 

Supported by new strategic planning, project management and performance review disciplines, the business developed greater alignment and focus. Employee engagement surveys provided valuable insight into organisational culture and established a benchmark for continuous improvement, while a structured innovation process ensured that new ideas could be identified, prioritised and translated into sustainable growth opportunities.

Get In Touch

Our approach is always to tailor the support we provide to meet the needs of clients. Whether providing a valued external opinion, taking a more practical role to define the strategy, or help to build upon the skills, knowledge and experience of the team, we have been on hand as much or as little as required.

So, whether your company seeks business continuity and growth, intends to pivot towards new markets, or needs to be able to deal with a period of unprecedented change, our team of experts is here to support your journey, every step of the way. Get in touch for a no-commitment discussion.