From One Business to a Group Model: Andrew Gilmour on Scaling Through Acquisitions | Episode 61

Andrew Gilmour didn’t just start a business, he built it through setbacks, lessons and a shift in thinking. After more than 25 years in the security industry, Andrew launched his own business and experienced both strong post-COVID growth and significant financial losses, which forced him to rethink his approach. That shift led him into acquisitions, where he is now building a group of businesses under a single holding company. In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Andrew Gilmour to explore the reality of business ownership, scaling through acquisitions and the mindset required to keep moving forward. Andrew shares how he transitioned from running a single business to acquiring multiple companies, the strategy behind his group structure, and why profitability and scalability are non-negotiables when buying businesses. Andrew also speaks openly about the challenges that come with business, including financial pressure, being unable to switch off and balancing work with family life. He shares what success looks like to him, not money, but building a strong team that believes in the vision. James adds his own experience throughout, reflecting on the early struggles of building a business, the reality behind the highlight reels, and why mindset plays a critical role in long-term success.   Key moments include: ✔️ Starting and growing a security business ✔️ Experiencing financial highs and setbacks ✔️ Moving into acquisitions and building a group ✔️ The strategy behind buying and scaling businesses ✔️ The realities of business ownership ✔️ Defining success through team and culture ✔️ Andrew’s three pieces of advice: don’t make decisions in anger, start before you’re ready, be yourself   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 Andrew Gilmore: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-gilmour-a1b40b61/ Company LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimagroup-ltd/ Company Website → https://dimagroup.co.uk/       Timestamps [00:00] Introduction to Andrew Gilmour [00:01:00] Andrew’s background and 25+ years in security [00:03:30] Starting his own business [00:06:00] Post-COVID growth and financial setbacks [00:10:30] Lessons learned from losses [00:14:00] Moving into acquisitions [00:18:30] Building a group structure [00:22:00] What makes a business worth buying [00:27:30] Profitability and scalability in acquisitions [00:32:00] The realities of business ownership [00:36:30] Switching off and work-life balance [00:40:30] Defining success beyond money [00:44:00] Building a strong team and culture [00:48:00] Mindset, learning and resilience [00:52:00] Andrew’s three pieces of advice [00:55:00] Closing thoughts