Paul Fox on the Harsh Reality of Becoming CEO at 23 | EP48

In this episode of the Talkin’ Shop Podcast we sit down with Paul Fox of Fox Group— the man who took over his family business at just 23 and turned it into one of the UK’s fastest-growing construction and materials groups. Paul opens up about the pressure of stepping into leadership so young, the grief that shaped him, and the “sink or swim” moments that defined Fox Group’s rise. He talks candidly about the dark days no one saw, what it was really like to run a business while learning on the job, and how self-sufficiency, smart acquisitions, and the right people transformed a small local operation into a 350-truck, 1,000-machine powerhouse. Paul lifts the lid on the acquisitions they got right (and wrong), the culture he’s fought to build, and why numbers and people are the real secret to scaling.We also dive into his no-nonsense leadership style, the loneliness of being a CEO, the lessons from COVID that changed everything, and the legacy of the man who inspired him. If you want laughs, hard truths, real business talk, and the story behind one of the industry’s most resilient leaders — this episode delivers.-Brought to you by Eclipse Diagnostics. If you work on commercial vehicles, vessels or machinery, check out Jaltest – the UK's leading multi-brand diagnostic tool. Quote "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry for a free cable saver with your order; on-site training included:https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/talkin-shop/-Paul Fox:https://www.instagram.com/foxbrothersltd/?hl=enhttps://uk.linkedin.com/company/fox-brothers-grouphttps://www.facebook.com/foxbrothersltd--To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:https://youtu.be/phg86_iQi_Y--*Follow us on social media:*Talkin’ Shop Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcastEclipse Diagnostics:https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnosticshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/-YouTube videos mentioned in this podcast:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGnJG7O70E0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEUYjCvAA88&t=473s