Two Years of LEAP:
A Chat with Ben and Gaz
To celebrate LEAP Global’s second anniversary, we sat down with co-founders Ben and Gaz to reflect on the journey so far, from the early days of uncertainty to building a trusted name in retail design, engineering and manufacturing.
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How does it feel to be two years in?
Is this where you thought LEAP would be?
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Gareth:
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" Honestly, it feels amazing. Time has flown, but I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. You never really stop to look back because we’re so driven as a team, we are always looking forward for our clients. Ben is the ultimate optimist, always ready for the next challenge, and I’m there saying, “I’m knackered, but, hey, let’s go again.
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When I think back, it has gone far beyond what I expected. Two years ago, we were all going through our own challenges, but we put our heads down and got on with it. This business was born out of that determination. Even before we officially registered the company, we were working for clients and suppliers helping us all through a tricky moment. It was built on doing the right thing, and it has been phenomenal to see where that has taken us."
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Ben:
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" It feels like we have always been here. It sounds cliché, but it really does. There is a huge sense of pride, not just in what Gaz and I have done, but in what the whole team, our suppliers, and our customers have helped us achieve.
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I still feel like we are building. We have achieved a lot, but we are not finished. Over the last two years we have become a well run, dependable and slick business. Cash flow, operations, structure, all those ‘grown-up’ things you do not think about when you start a company, were in place early on.
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We are grounded and driven, and we know every foundation we lay is for the next stage. So far, every project has met or exceeded expectations because we’ve followed through on what we said we’d do."
When you started LEAP, what was the biggest goal,
and have you achieved it?​​
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Ben:
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"At the start, our goal was simple, do not leave our customers, suppliers, or colleagues in the lurch. That was it. We had both seen businesses collapse and people be left stranded. We did not want that for our old clients, turned friends.
Once we steadied the ship, the next goal was to build a business properly. Within three months we had the structure in place and a foundation to grow from. The last year and a half has been about strengthening that, becoming prudent, efficient, and sustainable. I am still amazed at how quickly we did it."
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Gareth:
" Same for me. At first it was just about delivery. We had two big clients relying on us and we needed to prove ourselves. Once we did that, it gave us the confidence to go again.
From there, we asked what we really wanted LEAP to be. We realised we love design, we love making one offs and prototypes, and we are good at it. We are small and agile, and that is our strength. Taking on our studio space was a turning point. It brought the team together and made us stronger almost overnight. That is when it really started to
feel real. "
If you could give yourself one piece of advice at the start,
what would it be?​
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Ben:
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" Believe in ourselves more. We had a lot of goodwill, but we were still second guessing whether we could really do it. Once we realised we could win work on our own and deliver to the same high standard, that was the turning point. Confidence changed everything for us going into year two."
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Gareth:
" We were trying to please everyone instead of concentrating on where we were heading. Once we shifted focus to the bigger vision, everything fell into place. "
Are there any standout projects that define what LEAP does today?​
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Ben:
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" For me, the Tesco work. To have the UK’s biggest retailer trust a small company like ours to deliver their flagship store was phenomenal. The faith they showed in us was huge.
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Then there is Adidas Global. I have always been an Adidas fanboy, so working on their most iconic brand spaces is something special. Knowing there are Adidas stores around the world with our team’s fingerprints all over them is incredible. "
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Gareth:
" He is right. The foundation of this business is built on Tesco and Adidas. One that really stands out for me recently was Ellis Brigham, a store we engineered and delivered from start to finish. It was a full shop fit, every detail from lighting to finishes. We worked to a tight budget and timeline, and we still delivered quality.
The client said they had never seen a site so calm three days before handover. That summed us up perfectly, calm under pressure and focused on a beautiful result. "
What have you learned about each other since starting the business?​
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Gareth:
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" I have learned Ben’s strength. When you are working for someone else, you never feel the full pressure of running a business. When it is your own, you see what people are really made of. The challenges we have faced could have knocked anyone off course, but he meets them head on. "
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Ben:
" I always knew Gaz was a superstar. When it is your own neck on the line, you see a different side of someone. He is strong and reliable, and I know he has my back. There is no hidden agenda, no politics, just honesty. That is rare in business, and it is why we work so well together. "
What do you disagree on most, any who usually wins?​
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Gareth:
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" The office décor, probably. But seriously, we challenge each other in the right ways. Ben drives the ideas, and I make sure they are deliverable. I am the realist, the one asking if the juice is worth the squeeze. "
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Ben:
" Gaz keeps me grounded. I am more of a try it and see person. He makes sure it is actually possible. We rarely disagree on where we want to go, just sometimes on how to get there! "
What has been harder than you expected?​
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Gareth:
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" The balancing act. Knowing what we need versus what we want, what to invest in and what to hold off on. It is about keeping the team happy, valued and safe, keeping the business stable, and doing right by suppliers and customers. That learning curve has been steep. "
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Ben:
" Limited long-range visibility comes with being a project-based business as we typically work a few months ahead. Three months of secured work is a good place to be; six months would be exceptional. While that uncertainty is always present, it keeps us focused, hungry, and disciplined. It forces us to stay sharp and continuously earn the
next opportunity. "
Why do clients keep coming back?​
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Ben:
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" Because we always find a way. Whether it is a time challenge, a budget challenge, or a technical challenge, we figure it out. We are not just a say yes and deliver agency. We ask why. We take a strategic view, not just a transactional one. That is what sets us apart. "
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Gareth:
" And it is about performance. You are only as good as your last job. If you deliver well, they call you again. It really is that simple. "
Looking ahead, what do you hope the next two years bring?​
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Gareth:
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" More of the same. That might sound simple, but if we can have another two years like these first two, I will be over the moon. Same team, same energy, same drive."
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Ben:
" Agreed. It is not about standing still, it is about consistency. We want to keep building, keep delivering beautiful stores and fixtures, also keep working with people who trust us. Most of all stay true to who we are as people, if we can do that, we will be happy. "
Finally, sum up LEAP in three words?​
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Ben:
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" Studious, Innovative, Considerate."
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Gareth:
" Passionate, Driven, Underestimated."
Here's to the next two years and beyond.​
