Building a 60-Staff Business from Nothing: Mark Glasgow on Ambition, AI and the Skills Gap | Episode 50

Mark Glasgow didn’t grow up with much, but he always knew he was going to be a business owner. A gas engineer by trade, Mark founded Edinburgh Boiler Company in 2015 with a simple objective: make boilers easy and deliver outstanding customer service. He spotted early opportunity in digital, hiring a web designer as his first employee and investing heavily in SEO, radio, TV and marketing to grow fast in a traditional trade sector. In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Mark Glasgow, founder and managing director of Edinburgh Boiler Company and director of The Energy Training Academy, to explore ambition, resilience and innovation. Mark shares how growing up with very little fuelled his drive to create a better life for his family, how his company has grown to around 60 staff with a managing director in place, and why renewables now make up the majority of the business. Mark speaks openly about launching The Energy Training Academy as a community interest company to help address the skills gap in gas and renewables, alongside Scotland’s 2045 net zero target. He also explains how AI, automation and CRM systems are transforming his operations, from voice bots booking services to route optimisation and lead handling. Together, they discuss family, vision, resilience, uncertainty in UK business, skills shortages and the importance of attaching strong emotion and strategy to long-term goals.   Key moments include: ✔️ Growing up with very little and developing ambition early ✔️ Starting as a gas engineer before launching EBC in 2015 ✔️ Hiring a web designer as the first employee ✔️ Investing every penny back into marketing ✔️ Growing to around 60 staff and appointing an MD ✔️ Moving from boilers into renewables ✔️ Cashflow challenges around heat pump funding ✔️ Launching a community interest training academy ✔️ Addressing the skills gap and net zero targets ✔️ Implementing AI, voice bots and CRM automation ✔️ Leadership, resilience and mindset ✔️ Vision, strategy and building a legacy   Follow James Fleming: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesflemingtpwtd/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/successorexcusespodcast YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessorExcusesPodcast Website→ https://thepowerwithintraining.com/   Follow Mark Glasgow: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-glasgow-89942047/ Website → https://theenergytrainingacademy.com/ Company Website → https://www.instagram.com/theenergytrainingacademy     Timestamps [00:00] James introduces Mark Glasgow [00:00:59] Mark’s background and early ambition [00:02:23] Launching Edinburgh Boiler Company in 2015 [00:03:15] Digital marketing and early growth [00:04:29] Leadership and appointing an MD [00:05:54] Structure, meetings and growth plans [00:06:24] AI, automation and CRM systems [00:06:57] Moving into renewables and funding challenges [00:07:56] Launching the training academy [00:11:14] Leadership and caring for your people [00:16:06] Uncertainty in UK business [00:18:24] Mindset and personal development [00:29:44] Skills shortages and AI disruption [00:37:03] Future plans and acquisitions [00:38:36] Mark’s top three pieces of advice [End] James closes the episode