Make it Happen
Make it Happen has been educating and supporting the industry
for five years through workshops and consultancy. Carys Evans
speaks to founder, Sam Armstrong, about the company
Thursday, 03 Feb 2022 19:16 GMT
[ L to R ] Katie Asken, account manager and Sam Armstrong, managing director of Make it Happen
Sharing knowledge
Make it Happen was founded in 2017 by Sam Armstrong, who is also currently the president of UK sign association, ISA-UK (powered by BSGA), and was born from a vision to improve the level of support and education available to the signage industry.
A lean operation, the company is run by Armstrong as managing director and she is joined by account manager and “general lifesaver”, Katie Asken. “Katie and I are a great team and really balance each other out in the running of the company,” Armstrong says.
The company operates mostly in a virtual capacity with Armstrong and Asken both based remotely with one working at home and the other from a small, rented office at opposite ends of the country. This has meant the shift to home working during the pandemic left the pair unphased and they still have regular face-to-face meetings as required.
Seeking to improve the support and education within the industry, Armstrong describes the company’s values and ethos as: reliability, consistency, and education. “Reliability because clients need to know they can count on us, whatever their need; consistency because a service-based solution has to be committed to providing a level of excellence clients can rely on; and education because there will always be room for improvement and growth at every level,” Armstrong explains.
Having been in operation for five years, the company has grown from a small B2B (business to business) service provider into what Armstrong describes as “one of the leading training and educational facilitators in the industry”.
Today, Make it Happen provides a range of solutions including education and training workshops, consultancy, and project management. The workshops are aimed at individuals at every level and include various aspects of signage, as well as general business conduct and customer service aspects.
No day the same
With the need for training and education an ongoing issue with the added challenge of changing regulations and techniques, and the changeover and retirement of skilled staff, Armstrong explains how as an industry, we never stop learning. “I want to continue to explore different ways to make the workshops we do both relevant and productive,” she says.
Make it Happen offers a range of workshops for businesses within the sign industry
As a result of this, Armstrong says no day is the same at the company. “If workshops are being run, that will be the focus of my day from setting up of the room and equipment, running the course, and debriefing with attendees after the event. Meanwhile, calls and emails always need answering and thought and consideration to future business requirements need to be planned and discussed. Basically, I am never bored and why it is essential for Katie to be so brilliant!”
A definite people person, Armstrong can often be found socialising and networking at industry events in her naturally friendly way. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that her favourite thing about Make it Happen is the clients. “We are so proud to have been able to support so many companies and individuals within the industry. The feedback from our courses never ceases to make me both proud and thankful for the support we receive and the genuine impact that Make it Happen training courses have on the attendees,” Armstrong says.
The feedback from our courses never ceases to make me both proud and thankful for the support we receive and the genuine impact that MIH training courses have on the attendees”
One of the company’s recent testimonials Armstrong is particularly proud of is from Broadfield Signs and reads: “Sam, you are officially my hero. Your workshop was brilliant! Honestly, I had no idea what to expect or how it could be relevant for our whole team to be there, but you are a breath of fresh air and (as we all discussed on the way home) an inspiration.”
The enthusiasm felt from recent attendees of one of Make it Happen’s workshops shows the impact they are having on industry members who perhaps weren’t sure exactly how they could be of use to them. However, all attendees left feeling inspired and educated.
Make it Happen was founded from a vision to improve the level of support and education available within the signage industry
That being said, something Armstrong celebrates most is the fact that Make it Happen, really has made it happen. She says: “When I first had this idea, it took a tremendous amount of courage to take the concept from an idea to actually committing to it; and I won’t lie, it wasn’t easy. When I look back now, I am so grateful for the early support I had from business colleagues and of course my family. I am super proud that I did Make it Happen!”
When I look back now, I am so grateful for the early support I had from
business colleagues and of course my family. I am super proud that I did
Make it Happen!”
Taking the plunge and starting the business is something Armstrong says has been the biggest challenge so far – that and the recent global pandemic. Nonetheless, the company continues to operate as the world attempts to return back to a sense of normality and Armstrong is determined and focused on expanding the current workshop portfolio and continue to educate and help businesses to grow.
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