When Josh Stone founded Ignite Coaching, he recognized that engineering firms needed more than technical excellence to thrive – they needed robust systems. Today, he specializes in implementing systems for engineering firms, helping them scale to £10 million and beyond, with proven success across more than 100 business owners.
The Consultant’s Revelation: A System-Sized Gap
“Where I see most business owners falling down is delivery,” Josh recalls, describing the common challenge among engineering consultancies. Despite their technical prowess, these firms operated without documented systems, with critical processes existing only in the owners’ heads.
“The systems and processes stuff isn’t sexy,” he explains. “A lot of people like the concept of going out and jagging that new big client, but if you don’t have the right systems for engineering firms in place, you’re going to make a fool of yourself.”
Breaking the Bottleneck: A Strategic Approach
The wake-up call comes when engineering firm owners realize they’ve become bottlenecks in their own businesses. Through Josh’s guidance, they discover that implementing proper systems for engineering firms is crucial for scaling beyond owner dependency.
“You can’t separate away from a business that still requires you to be involved and requires the knowledge in your head,” he emphasizes. “Until you build systems and processes and then train your staff to run those systems without you, you’re just going to be trapped.”
Crafting Systematic Solutions: The Ignite Coaching Method
Josh’s transformation process begins with a structured approach:
- Value-Based Systems: “I’m always a believer in getting paid for what you do”
- Client Qualification Processes: Creating clear systems to identify ideal clients
- Project Management Systems: Implementing robust kickoff and delivery protocols
- Team Development Systems: Building procedures that enable staff autonomy
Measuring Success: Beyond Traditional Metrics
The implementation of systems for engineering firms yields remarkable benefits:
Revenue Growth Through Systems
Engineering firms could take on larger projects, expanding their revenue potential without sacrificing quality. Without proper systems and processes, Josh believes that firms risk damaging their reputation when attempting to deliver on larger projects.
Profitability in Engineering Consultancies
Creating repeatable processes and reducing owner dependency directly impacted bottom-line results and created more sustainable business models. Josh identifies delivery as the most common area where engineering business owners encounter challenges.
Empowering Engineering Teams
The most transformative outcome was the effect on team capabilities. Engineering firms that implemented systems could operate smoothly without constant owner involvement. Systematically documenting processes empowered teams to work more autonomously and efficiently.
The Long-Term Vision: Engineering Firm Transformation
Josh’s experience offers valuable insights for engineering consultancies looking to scale:
“If you want to be able to walk away from your team and have everything running smoothly, there’s no way you’re going to be able to do that without systems in place,” he advises. This is especially true for firms serving medium-sized property developers, where project values range from £2 million to £10 million.
Beyond Survival: Creating Sustainable Success
Josh continues helping engineering firms implement robust systems that enable growth while maintaining quality and work-life balance. His approach has proven particularly effective for firms serving medium-sized property developers who value trusted advisor relationships and are willing to pay appropriate fees for quality service.
For engineering firm owners looking to follow in Josh’s footsteps, the message is clear: “If you want to be able to walk away from your team and have everything running smoothly, there’s no way you’re going to be able to do that without systems in place.”
Ready to transform your engineering firm with the proven systems that helped Josh’s clients achieve remarkable results? Start your 30-day trial of systemHUB today and experience the power of streamlined processes, efficient workflows, and empowered teams.
