The Plough in Harborne: The growth journey behind a much-loved local institution

Adam Johnson has spent more than two decades building The Plough in Harborne into a local institution. In that time he has extended the business three times, purchased the building next door and grown a team of around 85 people. It’s a sizeable operation and, as he puts it, one that has absorbed a lot of his time. The day-to-day pace of hospitality meant he rarely had the space to lift his head, take stock and plan the next phase of growth.

After the disruptions of Covid, Adam found himself at a crossroads. He could see the potential to scale but was struggling to locate the right contacts and clear advice on routes to finance. Options multiplied rather than narrowed, and close as he was to the detail, it was hard to gain an objective view of what should come next.

Adam joined the Business Growth West Midlands Investment Readiness Programme delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice, and through the Founders’ Collective, discovered exactly the combination of perspective and practical support he needed. The peer environment introduced him to experienced founders beyond his usual network - people who were both inspiring and candid about their own journeys. At the same time, curated introductions opened doors to professional advisers outside hospitality, widening his circle of trusted expertise.

One-to-one sessions proved pivotal. Working with Connor McManus, one of Oxford Innovation Advice’s Business Finance Specialists, Adam finally had the chance to sit across from someone who understood how businesses grow and who could act as a sounding board. Together they unpacked ideas for ‘the next version’ of the business, including how best to approach raising capital, and distilled a long list of possibilities down from five or six to a focused one or two. That clarity translated quickly into action.

On Connor’s advice, Adam pursued a partnership model - providing the food and beverage operation within another company’s venue. The new venture has now launched and, a quarter of the way in, is performing strongly. Confidence rebuilt and momentum restored, Adam and his team are already exploring a further opportunity. A long-held ambition of ten units in ten years suddenly feels within reach; based on the pipeline now forming, he can see up to six viable opportunities emerging over the next year. In his words, the experience has “certainly accelerated our growth.”

For a founder who had been immersed in the ground-level demands of service, the Investment Readiness Programme created much-needed headspace, structure and access. Oxford Innovation Advice’s combination of peer learning, expert introductions and focused mentoring gave Adam both the network and the know-how to move from possibility to plan and from plan to performance.

Want to explore support for your own business?

Business Growth West Midlands offers fully funded guidance to help founders and business leaders gain clarity, build confidence and unlock new growth opportunities. From investment readiness and finance advice to sector expertise and one-to-one mentoring, our specialist advisers can help you navigate your next steps.

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