Did the week deliver? What moved forward, what wrapped up, and what left the team thinking on the drive home?
This week had a different feel to it. A mix of closing chapters, fresh starts, and one of those conversations nobody planned on but walked away from quietly glad they had. Let’s dive in.
Monday — Early start, steady progress
Monday began with an early start at Woburn, making the most of the day on site. Dave Dunford continued with the fire risk assessment update, while Stuart Partridge has started adding real value in support of statutory compliance requirements. It was a good day all round, with solid progress made and the site continuing to move in the right direction.
From there, on to Henley and an overnight at The Cherry Tree in Stoke Row, which remains a great base for business travel. The time between locations was well used to reflect, review the day, and get reports finished ready for the next shift in focus.
Tuesday — Teamwork in action
Tuesday was another early start, on site for 7:00am. Three reports were completed, RAMS reviews were carried out and further compliance work was progressed with the team. Time was also spent looking at environmental matters, particularly around testing and draining the IBCs and understanding what they contain.
Another really constructive day. The conversations were good, the team worked well together, and it was one of those days where collaboration genuinely moved things forward.
Wednesday — Order and ownership
Wednesday began with an early start at New Forest Fencing. The LCS role there is becoming more strategic — providing support to the top table, listening carefully, and guiding where required. Lee has been putting in the miles this week, completing all-day site inspections and keeping things moving across the board. That kind of commitment keeps the wheels turning and doesn’t go unnoticed. He’s now off on a well-earned break, and quite right too.
Thursday — Conversations that count
Thursday was a mix of administration and a trip to the New Forest Business Show. The morning included progress on SSIP work, along with some frustration around providers and the use of non-proportionate measures that treat every contractor as though they are a tier one business. That approach simply doesn’t fit every organisation, and it remains a challenge across the sector.
The business show itself was worthwhile. Good conversations with the University of Southampton about possible internship opportunities and catching up with familiar faces. One that stood out was with PedALL, who offer off-road guided cycling for people of all abilities — that really struck a chord, and there may be volunteering opportunities worth exploring.
The afternoon ended with Monday.com updates for clients and the development of safe systems of work for a new client project.
Leon caught up with an existing client for a coffee this week. One of those catch-ups that starts as a check-in and turns into something more. The conversation moved into the realities of employing people in 2026 — the challenges, the nuances, the stuff that doesn’t make it into the guidance documents. Leon went in thinking he might be useful. He came away having learned more than he gave. That’s the best kind of meeting.
Friday — Reflection and resilience
The updated LCS website is now live. It’s one of those things that sits on the to-do list for longer than it should, so getting it over the line feels good. It better reflects where the business is now and the work being done.
There has also been some reflection this week on stress — not in the tick-box, wellbeing-poster sense of it, but the real kind. The kind that builds quietly, that shows up in the small decisions, the short answers, the nights where the brain won’t switch off. It affects everyone. Nobody is immune to it, no matter how experienced or capable they are. There’s no neat conclusion on this one. Just a genuine belief that it needs to be talked about honestly, without dressing it up or minimising it.
Closing thought
This week was a reminder that collaboration is not just about working side by side — it is about making steady progress through shared effort, clear communication, and the willingness to improve the small things that matter.
