On 6th February 2025, we welcomed a diverse group of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals to our quarterly Grosvenor Business Club event. The theme this quarter? Building high-performing teams that drive sustained business growth.
We were fortunate to have the team from Alexander Daniels Finance as our keynote speakers, speaking in our very own Bar 11 space. With nearly two decades of experience in talent development, Alexander Daniels are truly ahead of the curve when it comes to recruitment and they brought a wealth of practical insights to the table. From attracting top talent to retaining your best performers, the session resonated with every business owner in the room.
If you weren’t able to make it, don’t worry—we’ve summarised the key points and highlights from the event right here!
Creating a Winning Team Starts with Attracting the Right Talent
Nick Singh, Director at Alexander Daniels Finance, opened with a point that hit home for many: your business is only as good as the people in it. Hiring the right people isn’t about filling vacancies—it’s about finding individuals who share your vision, values, and ambition.
Nick encouraged attendees to rethink their recruitment strategies and advised business owners to:
– Define their company’s core values and use these as a filter during recruitment.
– Focus on potential, not just credentials. Talented individuals with the right mindset can often outshine experienced candidates in the long run.
– Tell a compelling employer brand story. In today’s competitive job market, candidates are drawn to companies with purpose and impact.
This sparked a lively discussion among attendees, many of whom shared the challenges they’ve faced in finding top-tier talent in today’s climate.
Building a High-Performance Culture: It’s More Than Perks and Pay
The team at Alexander Daniels reminded us that a thriving, high-performing culture doesn’t come from flashy perks or big salaries. While those things may attract talent, they won’t keep people engaged and motivated over the long term. Why? Because people stay where they feel valued and challenged, as Dan Holloway, Director at Alexander Daniels, explained. He broke down his approach to cultivating a high-performance culture into several key pillars:
1. Transparency and Communication
Be upfront about your business goals and challenges. Employees who understand the company’s mission and their role in achieving it are far more likely to perform at their best.
2. Empowerment and Accountability
Give your team autonomy to make decisions and own their projects. Empowered employees feel more invested in their work, which leads to better outcomes.
3. Recognition and Growth
Celebrate wins, both big and small. Recognise hard work and provide opportunities for personal and professional development.
Retaining Your Best People: The Secret Is in the Relationship
Retention is a challenge that nearly every business leader in the room could relate to. Dan provided the crowd with advice was refreshingly simple: build genuine relationships with your team. He stressed that, while competitive pay and benefits matter, the biggest driver of retention is how people feel about their leaders and colleagues.
Dan explained that high-performing employees don’t leave organisations—they leave bad managers, so if you want to keep your best people, you need to show up for them as a leader. That means regular check-ins, mentorship, and being open to feedback.
He also shared some tactics for improving retention:
– Conduct stay interviews: Ask your top performers why they stay and what might tempt them to leave.
– Offer clear career progression paths: Employees need to see opportunities for advancement.
– Create a sense of belonging: Build a culture where people feel included, heard, and respected.
Networking and Collaboration: The Real Magic of the Event
Beyond the keynote, the evening was filled with rich conversations and networking. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with like-minded business owners, share their experiences, and explore potential collaborations.
Several attendees mentioned how valuable it was to speak with others facing similar challenges. The informal networking sessions often lead to long-term business relationships and partnerships. For many, these connections are just as valuable as the insights from the keynote.
What’s Next for the Grosvenor Business Club?
As always, our goal is to bring business owners together to learn, grow, and connect. We’re already hard at work planning our next event, which will take place in the spring.
If you’ve never attended a Grosvenor Business Club event before, now’s the time to get involved. These gatherings are designed to provide real value, practical insights, meaningful connections, and opportunities to collaborate.
Want to stay in the loop? Sign up for updates and be the first to hear about our next event. We’d love to see you there!