Learn how to build a billion-pound business with practical lessons from Richard Harpin, founder of HomeServe, who grew the company to £4.1bn.
Learn how to build a billion-pound business with practical lessons from Richard Harpin, founder of HomeServe, who grew the company to £4.1bn.
I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and I started young.
I’ve been building businesses for as long as I can remember – from selling conkers in the playground and performing magic tricks at children’s parties, to turning fishing flies into earrings and running ventures that paid for my first house.
After learning the ropes in marketing at Procter & Gamble and strategy at Deloitte, I launched HomeServe in 1993 with just £50,000. Three decades later, HomeServe had grown into a global business with 8.5 million customers and was sold for £4.1 billion.
I know how hard it is to scale nearly running out of cash, the desperate search for the right business model and losing focus by adding activities two steps removed from the core. I’ve been there. Which is why I’m focused on helping other ambitious entrepreneurs achieve the same kind of breakthrough.
Through Growth Partner, I invest my own capital and experience to help mid-sized UK businesses scale faster and stronger. Through Business Leader, we’ve built a Growth Programme, peer groups and coaching that helps founders scale.
I now have a Growth Blueprint I wish I’d had when I started – practical strategies, proven lessons and real-world insights that make the difference between staying small and scaling to greatness.
Less than 5% of UK CEOs and Founders scale their mid–sized business to greatness. We exist to change that.
Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and Founders of mid–sized companies in the UK. Our mission is to double the number of large businesses in the UK by empowering mid–sized CEOs and Founders to scale effectively, unlocking new growth opportunities and shaping the future of UK business and our economy.
If you’re serious about scaling with at least £3 million of annual revenue, this is where you’ll push through boundaries and gain access to the tools and support you need to grow faster, scale smarter and win.
I founded Growth Partner in 2015 to back exceptional, brand-led consumer businesses with bold ambition. We combine investment of £5–£20 million with hands-on operational support to help founders scale faster and stronger.
We make a small number of high-conviction investments each year, focusing on profitable businesses with £10m+ revenue, 30%+ growth, and £1m+ EBITDA. Our portfolio spans 14 category-leading brands, generating over £0.5bn in revenue and creating thousands of jobs.
With a team of experienced investors and operators across London, Manchester, and Newcastle, we go beyond capital – bringing strategy, expertise, and real-world know-how to help founders reach their full potential.
Scaling businesses isn’t just about what happens inside a boardroom – it’s also about the wider environment entrepreneurs operate in. That’s why I use my platform to influence national debate, shape policy, and share lessons with the widest possible audience.
I regularly appear in the media to champion entrepreneurs and mid-sized businesses, bringing the voice of ambitious founders to a national stage. From broadcast interviews to print and podcasts, my goal is always the same: show what’s possible, and make the case for policies that help businesses scale.
As a founding member of the Mid-Size Market Council, I’m working alongside government, NatWest, Sage, Deutsche Bank and others to support the UK’s 7,500 mid-sized firms. Our mission is clear: double the number of large UK businesses by 2034. Recent progress includes:
I work closely with government and partners to ensure entrepreneurs know about and access the resources available to them. Key programmes include:
Through this work, my aim is simple: to make Britain the best place in the world to start, scale and succeed in business.