Growing your business and keeping control

Often earlier than owners think. Growth feels like a good sign at first, and only later do you notice that processes, structure or people policy have stopped growing with it. The Growth Scan maps what already needs attention and what can still wait.

You keep a grip by first seeing where the growth is pinching: in cash flow and working capital, in the processes, with the people or in the structure. Then you decide what has to change first and what can wait. The SSP Growth Scan maps that out, before the growth itself causes the problems.

That is exactly the question many growing owners ask themselves too late. We look together at what happens if you are away for a week, and at what that says about how far the business still depends on you. The Growth Scan shows where the business still leans on you and what it takes to change that.

Yes. Building, recruiting and keeping the right team, absence management and fitness for work, and employer obligations are all at the core of what we do, alongside structure and processes. Sophie Pluim is an HR specialist with more than 20 years' experience in HR, recruitment, organisational development and absence management.

There is no set number of employees for that. The moment usually comes when recruitment, absence and staff matters take more time than you have as the owner, or when mistakes in them cost money. SSP helps you set up people policy, from recruitment to absence and fitness for work, and looks at what HR support your organisation needs.

If 50 or more people normally work in your business, Dutch law requires you to set up a works council (ondernemingsraad). Below that, a works council is not compulsory. SSP helps growing businesses get their employer obligations in order, so a threshold like that is no surprise and employee participation is arranged in good time.