Welcome back to Screw It Just DO It, the show where you meet the entrepreneurs who’ve taken risks, built from scratch, and kept going when others stopped.

This week I’m joined by Richard Harpin, founder of HomeServe, who scaled a plumbing insurance business into a global £4 billion empire. In this episode, Richard breaks down his 9-step blueprint for building a billion-pound business, covering everything from why copying and pivoting works, to how to find the right investor early, and why evolution always beats revolution.

He also dives deep into international expansion, how he backed himself when funds ran low, and why he believes mentorship is one of the greatest competitive advantages in business. Richard’s now backing the next wave of founders through Growth Partner and Business Leader, aiming to support 10% of the UK’s mid-sized companies on their scale-up journey.

There’s a lifetime of lessons in this conversation: all hard-earned, none sugar-coated.

Key Takeaways:

• Follow the 9 steps – including copying, pivoting, getting investment early, hiring a replacement, and prioritising persistence.
• You need a mentor – Richard’s own journey proves that finding the right mentor can change the course of your business.
• Evolution wins – Businesses that constantly evolve avoid becoming the next Blockbuster or Yellow Pages.
• Go global, but do it right – Be present locally. Hire serious talent where it matters.
• Don’t overcomplicate it – Strip your business back to its core value and double down.

🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday - so makes sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.

🔥 Want to take things further? Join me in person this October at the Festival of Entrepreneurs on the 8–9th October at the NEC in Birmingham. The Festival of Entrepreneurs is where 5-10,000 ambitious founders come together to learn from the people who've actually done it. I'm giving my listeners free 2-day passes.

Real entrepreneurs, real stories, real strategies – exactly like what you're hearing right now, but live and in person. Go to www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and grab your free pass before they're gone. Register here for FREE: https://eventdata.uk/Visitor/FestivalOfEntrepreneurs2025.aspx?TrackingCode=ACHISNALL

👉 Follow the show. Turn up in October. Screw It Just DO It!

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