About Us - sell a business with Lucas and Weston
Based in the beautiful Georgian city of Bath, we represent businesses for sale from all over the UK. Worth from £250,000 to £10 million, our clients range from PLCs and Limited Companies to Partnerships and Sole Traders.
To us, selling a business is more than just numbers and volume. It's about understanding a business, its owners, employees, what it does and the environment/sector it operates in. We bring together experience, expertise and enthusiasm and marry it with creativity, hard work and determination to ensure we deliver the results our clients demand. No jargon, waffle, or smoke-and-mirrors. Just results.
Below are a few of the things we value and believe in. It gives you an idea of what you can expect working with us and how we operate. For more information on our skills and services visit: why choose Lucas & Weston.
Lucas and weston in numbers
From day one our business has been built on relationships and our clients are usually our best source of new business and referrals; in nearly ten years almost 70% of our work has come directly from referrals which we feel speaks volumes. This allows us to keep our own business quite private, in terms of promotion, and for us to be selective about the projects that we undertake.
As a result we can deliver impressive and often peerless results. Last year a staggering 91% of our clients received one or more offers for their business following our marketing efforts. This compares to an industry average of just 12%.
We consistently negotiate and complete deals worth millions of pounds for our clients. Visit our testimonial page or see some of our recent deals.
We deliver
We are rightly proud of our work and enjoy what we do. Getting a business sold takes commitment, on both sides, and we work with you tirelessly to deliver a sale and have a proven track record of delivering success.
Confidential and discreet
We operate with total discretion at all times. Without this, we don't have a business.
Director led project management
You should work with the people who actually do the job, someone responsible and accountable to you and whose interests are aligned. Also someone who understands your position and is motivated to help you realise your goals. So, a director of the firm works directly with you so you don't have to play chinese whispers with revolving account managers or call centre staff. You will get to know us and you can expect to see the same faces from start to completion.
Experience
As our client you'll benefit from 39 years of frontline business sales experience in nearly all sectors of commerce and industry. Having built, run, managed, bought and sold several of our own businesses we know what works and why, which means you'll save time and money.
An excellent return on investment
We only take engagements where we can add value in excess of the fees we charge.
Looking after your best interests
We offer clients advice that is in their best interests, even if this means we profit less.
We don't sell the same business twice
Increasingly some brokers seem to recycle their documentation and presentation for multiple clients, making the business fit the design rather than the other way around. Your business is unique in terms of its offering and we believe in understanding why, so that we can present your business to the right audience in its best possible light. You are never just a number at Lucas & Weston.
Continual investment
We continually invest in the best training, IT and systems to ensure our clients benefit from our remaining the clear market leader.
transparency
Sounds obvious doesn’t it? However, frequently it is not the case. We believe strongly in transparency where it comes to fees, our engagement with you and in not hiding costs. We agree all our fees and terms with you in advance so there are no nasty surprises at the end. We can then concentrate on getting you the best deal.
Independent
We're an exclusively senior team, own our business and we're independent. This means it's up to us how much time we invest into a project. We believe in attention to detail and getting things right, even if that takes more time and effort.
communication
Regular communication and a clear understanding of what's going on are vital to any business sale. Our clients receive prompt accurate feedback and reporting which keeps them informed at every stage of the process.
Well connected
We are members of the Institute of Directors, as well as one of only four UK members of the International Business Brokers Association. Our proven direct approach makes the process of selling a business easy to understand. We have been asked to write for the BBC as well as other media outlets and have advised the Government on selling businesses through their Business Link website service.
All things to all people
We can’t be, and nor should we. We believe in being up-front and honest. We are well connected and work with some of the leaders in their fields including PLCs, private equity, venture capital, high net worth individuals and sophisticated investors. We’ll take responsibility for your business sale from start to completion.
Meet the people you will deal with:
Julian Lucas - Non Executive Director
Julian has an impressive 45 year career in business and is an experienced managing director, having owned and run large companies across Europe specialising in the investment, property development, business turnaround, leisure and hospitality sectors.
Julian is a non-executive director of our business and his experience, advice and enthusiasm are invaluable.
Happiest when: sailing rough seas
Howard Weston - managing Director
Howard qualified as one of the UKs youngest ever commercial divers at the age of 18. Quickly realising it wasn't a long term career option, he subsequently went on to start, own and sell several businesses.
As well as being entrepreneurial, a thorough understanding of the corporate world comes from working for a Fortune 500 company as European sales and marketing manager, where he was directly responsible for a divisional sales increase of 400% inside two years. Insider marketing know-how comes from his role as advertisement director for a leading magazine publishing and media company.
Howard also spent a number of years as a business broker for a national brokerage firm before starting Lucas & Weston with Julian. For the past twelve years he has been successfully advising owners, shareholders and investment groups on selling their businesses. He has been responsible for sales of companies worth millions of pounds. Howard, a qualified financial advisor, is regularly invited to speak on business sales and company valuations and has written articles for the BBC and other media.
Main interests: aikido, scuba diving, rugby, reading, travelling and playing the guitar badly.
Happiest when: swimming with the sharks.
Jeanette Weston - Director
Jeanette has worked for architects, designers, auction houses, hotel groups, investment firms, the Home Office and United Nations. She is a qualified and practising psychotherapist and offers our clients unique insights into business psychology.
After over 24 years in business Jeanette knows what makes a company successful. She is always very happy to enlighten company owners on the subject, usually making their profits rise.
Main interests: the mind, neuroscience, reading, travel, art, antiques and gardening.
Happiest when: hunting for rare artefacts.
Jennifer Walker - office Administrator
Your most likely first point of contact with L&W. Jenny has worked extensively in the automotive, FMCG, logistics and cosmetic sectors and is, fortunately for us and our clients, very efficient.
Happiest when: visiting friends and family and playing the drums.
Jill reeves - researcher and analyst
With a keen eye for detail and a reputation for leaving no stone unturned, Jill is the research powerhouse behind the firm. She has worked in a wide range of fields including school dinner lady, van driver and tour guide. We are always grateful for her positivity and calm under pressure.
Main interests: reading, crosswords, beachcombing and family gatherings.
Happiest when: travelling (slowly) around the UK
So, how can we help YOU?
Call 0845 644 0266 or 01225 460777 for a free appraisal of your business today.
Contact us to discuss your requirements, or arrange an appointment with one of our directors.
Join one of our mailing lists for news, new opportunities and relevant updates.
Learn more about selling or buying a business.
Visit our sister website www.businessvaluationreport.co.uk for our specialist valuation services.
