We know how important it is to be inspired by both big businesses and individuals, which is why we are excited to present Talking Leaders, a monthly initiative from the AHDB which will see a series of inspirational speakers share their life experiences and deliver impactful stories to the AgriLeader community.

In the May episode of Talking Leaders we were joined by Ben Hirst – founder of Horizon Platforms and a leader who has built his success on lifting others up, quite literally. From starting a national equipment rental business in 2008, Ben scaled Horizon into a respected industry player, before pioneering an employee ownership model that puts people at the heart of performance and long-term value.

Ben’s leadership has been instrumental in achieving record revenues and operational excellence while maintaining a people-first culture. His ethos of building the business for his grandchildren resonates deeply with many family-owned, farming businesses.

Now with a portfolio of Chair and Non-Exec roles, Ben shares what it takes to transition from founder-led to employee-led – covering everything from governance and culture to legacy and motivation.

Open, thoughtful, and values-driven, Ben’s story is full of insight for anyone thinking about succession, scale, or how to keep people at the centre of a growing enterprise.