Mentoring boosts performance for Lohen

Lohen, based at Raleigh Hall, Eccleshall, has seen its own performance hit new heights, recording 85 per cent growth and employing four new staff in the last two years,

Mentor Vince Craig said: “Lohen was a success before I got involved but growth had stalled. We have worked to identify barriers to growth and to then break them down.”

Founded in 2004, Lohen is run by Andrey Magiy and is a market leader in the supply and fitting of specialist performance equipment for the popular BMW Mini brand.

He was introduced to Vince in 2016 after expressing an interest in how a mentor could help Lohen move up a gear.

Explained Andrey: “The business was established but we had hit a bit of a plateau in terms of profits and turnover, maintaining them at around the same level for six years. I knew that we needed to make the next leap forward and the offer of support from a business-minded, independent voice was available through Let’s Do Mentoring.”

Vince added: “We started with looking at the basics and asking questions such as what are your current sales and profits, what do you want to achieve and what are the barriers to getting there?

“I see the major benefit as giving Andrey the space to think about his business, giving him time to look at the elements that build success. The Managing Director’s chair can be a lonely place, my task was to provide Andrey with a sounding board and a place where he could discuss ideas, dismiss some and take the best ones forward.”

Andrey added: “Having a mentor helps to give me time to think about business strategy and get feedback from someone else who has led a business.

For further information on the Let’s Do Mentoring scheme contact Ann Steele at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce. Email ann.steele@staffordshirechambers.co.uk.