Cheryle Britton is the founder of YOLO Wellbeing, a Lancashire headquartered business which provides workplace health and engagement services to help employers support the mental and physical health of staff.
She also took part in Two Zero’s Women Scaling Up programme, specifically targeted to support female-led fast growing businesses. In the latest instalment of Two Zero’s Scaleup Q&A, Cheryle discusses key lessons, the business advice she has received and the vital metrics she uses to measure growth.
What is the most important quality of a scaleup business leader and why?
For me, the most important quality of a scale-up leader is knowing when to take calculated risks. It’s about having a clear vision of where you want to go, staying flexible about how to get there, and leaning on a strong network when you don’t have all the answers.
How have you grown and developed as a scaleup leader?
I’ve grown as a scale-up leader by embracing a growth mindset, learning from my mistakes, and continuing to move forward even when things feel uncomfortable. I’ve learned the value of truly listening to others and recognising when it’s my moment to step up and lead decisively.
How do you inspire and empower your people?
I inspire and empower my team by leading with energy and passion, bringing people with me on the journey. However, I’ve learnt that to achieve sustainable success you need to have clear processes and structure in place, so everyone understands their role and can grow and perform collectively. When you get this right, it takes away a lot of the pressure.
What is the best piece of business advice you have received and why?
The best business advice I’ve received is to do more of what’s already working and stop getting distracted.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned on your business journey, and how has this impacted you?
Leadership is very different from being an employee, and you don’t have to be brilliant at everything.
I launched my business at 45, and scaling quickly brought real pressure and self-doubt. Accepting my weaknesses and building the right team has made all the difference.
What scaleup business do you admire the most and why?
That’s a difficult question because I’m fortunate to know so many inspiring scale-up leaders. I really admire The Fun Experts, led by Sunny and James Sandwell, Brysdales, led by Elizabeth Porter, EnergyAce with Eileen Vizzard and The Wellbeing Farm, founded by Celia Gaze.
They’re all forward-thinking, innovative, and deeply knowledgeable about their industries. I admire how they stay close to what’s happening in their markets while continually evolving and finding new ways to grow.
What key metrics do you look at everyday in your business?
Pipeline, cashflow and delivery.
What is the legacy you want to create?
I want to create a legacy of healthier, more sustainable businesses by helping people take self-care seriously. When leaders and teams look after themselves properly, performance improves and businesses become stronger, steadier, and better places to work.