74. How to grow a business fast and exit successfully | Andrew Hulbert

How do you grow an idea into a multi-million pound business before the age of 40?

In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Andrew Hulbert, entrepreneur and founder of Pareto Facilities Management, a company he built from his bedroom into a £50 million business before successfully exiting in his thirties.

Andrew shares the journey from a difficult start in Oxford and an unconventional path into business, to scaling rapidly in a competitive industry and navigating the realities of high-growth entrepreneurship. He reflects on the mindset required to build something from nothing, the importance of winning (and keeping) customers, and why consistency and execution matter more than ideas.

The conversation explores what it really takes to scale a business, from landing pivotal contracts that accelerate growth, to building a leadership team strong enough to step back from. Andrew also speaks candidly about the personal cost of success with long hours, burnout, and the moment he realised the business he built was no longer sustainable for the life he wanted.

Now focused on family, investing, and sustainability, Andrew offers a different perspective on success that goes beyond financial outcomes.

This is a grounded and honest conversation about entrepreneurship, growth, and what success really looks like once you’ve achieved it.

Timestamps

02:17 Council estate roots

09:20 Knife lesson turning point

22:06 Bedroom startup launch

34:14 Why sell the business

42:57 Health reset and purpose

46:50 Sales tricks that work

54:47 Advice for entrepreneurs

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