In conversation with Ben Tansey, Managing Director of low carbon heat specialists Reheat, about the importance of leadership training
Please tell us more about Reheat, and your role within the business
Everything we do at Reheat is about cutting carbon emissions for our clients and communities, and driving sustainable development. Reheat offers a range of services, from helping our clients understand the best choices to decarbonise, through to design, install and support with cutting edge renewable technologies.
As Managing Director, I see my role as supporting the brilliant team we have to do the best work they possibly can.
What leadership training have you done to support your role as Managing Director of Reheat?
Back in 2019, I started the Entrepreneurs’ Forum Scale-up Leaders’ Academy. I’d been running a business since 2011, but had no formal training in doing exactly that. It was a real eye opener for me, and it set me off on a journey to get better at leading and to work on the business, not just in the business.
You recently took part in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme with The University of Oxford. How did you find out about the leadership programme, and why did you decide to enrol?
I’d been speaking with a former graduate of the programme about the support available for leadership, and what we were both doing to help our businesses thrive. She said if I was up for a real challenge, I should apply for the GS10SB (Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses) programme. I looked into it, was intrigued, so decided to apply.
How has taking part in the programme benefitted both you and the business?
I finally know what my job is. It sounds odd, but the biggest thing I got from the programme was gaining a true understanding of my role in the business, and a much better understanding of what leadership should, and can be.
It was an intense programme; it filled gaps in my technical knowledge of business and examined best practice in many areas. The programme included world-class, inspiring lecturers, combined with coaches and access to brilliant resources. But more importantly than all of that, it very cleverly creates a community of like-minded business owners who collectively hold each other accountable and support each other with ideas and challenge.
Why should other high-growth small business consider joining leadership programmes like Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK?
I would 100% recommend it, and have done to several business owners since I completed the programme. Be prepared though – it’s intense, but very rewarding. Following the end of the programme, the network it creates is extensive, and the support continues.
I’ve recently been invited to sit on a panel to advise how small businesses can help contribute to the UK’s sustainability agenda as part of Goldman Sachs’ ‘Generation Growth: The Small Business Manifesto’, which aims to kickstart a new generation of small business growth in the UK.
I also joined a Generation Growth Hackathon to help develop strategies, resources, best practice, and practical steps for business growth to be shared with government and policymakers. I was invited to look at climate & sustainability – one of seven key themes explored on the day.
Even after completing the GS10SB programme, it continues to provide opportunities to expand my learning and work with some very talented people.
Reheat was awarded B Corp status in February 2024. Why was it important for Reheat to achieve this globally-recognised accolade?
For us, it was a no-brainer. When Neil (my co-founder) and I saw the B Corp movement for the first time back in 2018, we both immediately agreed it was the kind of business we were and we should go for it. A busy couple of years followed, but we eventually got around to putting the application in – which was no small undertaking - but it’s changed the business for the better. Having the benchmarks to measure our impact are really important to us for the future.
What qualities do you think make a great leader?
Leaders I admire possess a combination of humility and ambition; empowering others to do the best work of their careers. Supporting the team around them to have enough freedom to learn, grow, and take accountability for actions is hugely important I think.
What’s the best piece of leadership advice you’ve ever received?
Be open to new ideas and to learn. Whilst I knew something about forestry, and a bit about biomass boilers and renewable energy, I knew very little about the right way to run a business and how to lead. I’m still learning, but I’m now more open to learning from those that have done this before, and have done it better than I can. It’s inspiring to listen and learn.