Chat Ed : From the award-winning makers of Wife Swap comes Boss Swap, a new series in which two managing directors from very different fields are charged with the task of running one another's business for 12 days. Tonight we are chatting to the first two bosses that feature in the series - Leeds-based Isobel Schofield, known as Mrs S, and Birmingham’s Dave O’Grady. Mrs S started her company making custom-made industrial doors 30 years ago, and today employs over 60 people. Dave supplies mass-produced scaffolding parts and heads a company of 20 staff. The two bosses and their companies couldn’t be more different. But Mrs S is quickly unimpressed by Dave’s working practices and Dave’s approach, meanwhile, has alienated certain management staff. In a climate of increasing opposition, both bosses do manage to push through a number of changes. But the tension is building. Will it be tears or triumphs for the rival bosses in the end? Let’s find out…
Dave : Hello everybody, I'm Dave from Boss Swap! I've got to say I swapped with Isobel and it was very enjoyable.
ad087 : hi dave
Jackieboy : hi dave
Isobel : Mrs S here from Union Industries and as I watched it this evening I laughed and laughed and laughed!
Denzil : Hey Mrs S
FireGoddess : Do you feel you were fairly represented?
Isobel : Yes I think I was fairly represented. I came over a shade hard and I don't normally swear.
Isobel laughs
Dave : Yes it depicted me quite well I thought. You can't hide who you are and I hope I didn't.
geraint : how did you each learn how to manage people?
Isobel : Trial and error over thirty years for me.
Dave : It was either learn to manage or be managed.
Isobel squeals!
Isobel : That's a terrible thing to say Dave!
Dave : No it's not, you're either a leader or a follower…
Isobel : Oh for heaven's sake, you have so much to learn Dave! You're a young boy. Dave, you have got masses to learn.
Dave : Yeah well... that's how it is Isobel.
Alex Davies : Stop arguing you two!
Karen : Don't start squabbling you two!!!!!
Isobel laughs
Dave : Hahaha
Anni : Did you both start your companies from scratch?
Mr J : no - keep arguing - its funny!
Dave : Yes we did.
Isobel : I thought your father started it.
Dave : He gave us the ability and the funds to start it.
Isobel : My husband, Paul Schofield started it and I was just the backroom girl for 25 years on the shop floor.
adam r : David, you are very careless with Health and Safety, what about accidents?
Tristan : Dave, what have you done about Health and Safety?
Dave : Isobel was the only one that made the complaint about Health and Safety. We have consistent checks. We haven't got a problem with health and safety, we look after everybody.
Isobel : I don't think Dave has got a health and safety problem but he sets a very bad example to the rest of the workforce.
Dave : We don't have a problem at all.
Isobel : Oh be quiet Dave this is my shot now!
Freya Bletsoe : Mrs S how wello do you think Peter coped in your absence?
Graham : Does Mrs S think Peter came across well from this programme?
Dave : He missed her terribly! …Sorry I jumped in then.
Isobel : He was excellent as a second in command.
Dave : He wasn't your second in command!
Isobel : Dave can I answer the question please?
Dave : No, no no
Isobel : DAVE!
winnie : let her speak
Isobel : We have two directors at our company…
Dave : No you don't!. You have more than that!
Isobel : NO, Dave, we have two directors of equal status - one is sales and one is production. Eammon was chosen as the linkman it could equally have been Peter.
Dave : I'm going to make sure he hears that because he will be disgusted with that.
Isobel : Well I'm sorry Dave but you do not know how to manage. They are absolutely equal in everything. So to round up, Peter coped very well.
Stoat : Isobel, you expected your actions to be carried out, don't you think it is a bit hypocritical to be congratulating your guy for cutting Dave off at the knees?
Isobel : Ah but remember the rules that I brought in were improvements. The ones that Dave brought in were going to be damaging to the company.
Dave : Ohhh they weren't though were they??
Isobel : Yes, they bloody were!
Dave : Oh come on! Know your weaknesses and accept them.
Stevie : Come on guys less squabbling
Niklas : I run my own company and can understand the pride thing? But is it necessary to get angry at each other?
Dave : Isobel has a structure, which is good in some ways, but it can also hold you back - we don't have that and we can react very quickly to any demands that are put upon us.
Isobel : Hahahahahaha!
Dave : You liked that one didn't you?
Isobel : I did. Dave runs mass production, we are bespoke. Every single job we do is different. We are the most expensive door maker in the whole world. We make more doors than anyone else in the whole world. We are top of the pile and that is because we are quality.
Dave : But not on costs though.
Isobel : Quality costs though. I suggest you try it in our business Dave.
Dave : Oh we will you wait.
Isobel : You do that Dave. You have no idea.
Martin : did they swap you both due to the fact that you are so different?
Isobel : Yes!
Dave laughs
Dave : Of course they did. Opposites attract. And they picked the perfect pair.
Bass : who's chalk....and who's cheese?
Dave : We didn't know where we were going at first and I said I'm either going to somewhere that's a slum, or someone is coming to us and we will be their slum. We were Isobel's slum.
Isobel : I like both chalk and cheese. But if I was asked I'd say I was cheese :)
Richard : How did your workers feel when you rescinded the overtime pay?
Dave : They knew it was only for the two weeks. We are not like Isobel's company. They were fine with it, I didn't hear anything about it. We couldn't have afforded to carry on like that.
ROSS : Isobel have you ever thought of expanding your company further?
Tore : Isobel are you considering a possible takeover of Dave's company, seems like a company with potential if it had good management :-)
Isobel grins
Dave : If we had their sales and they had our manufacturing we could go places - I said that from the out-set.
Isobel : I don't agree at all Dave. We expand year on year but only very gradually. We are very specialised. Dave's company is a great company and I do agree that it is not in our line as it's mass production, but it very much easier to run a mass production company well.
Dave : Oh Cruella... sorry I mean Isobel...makes a few customers happy whereas we make many happy.
bradley : what happened to the play room during tea break in mrs s job
Bill : Mrs S: Did you retain any of the changes Dave made?
Isobel : The difficulty was that in there only two people could play. Most of our lads like to relax, play darts or chat. The room remained gathering dust after you went. It stayed there but didn't get used. I gave the stuff to a children's hospital. Yes I did Bill. We are currently struggling by putting the Internet into our systems, but we are going to continue with that even though very few of our customers contact us by email.
PaulD : Did you learn anything positive from each other's management style?
Dave : I didn't learn anything from being at Isobel's company that I didn't know already.
Isobel : Oh beautiful!
Dave : I'm glad you think of me like that.
Isobel : You are a child!
Dean : Now now!
Isobel : I actually did learn quite a bit...
DannyReilly : Dave: You should learn if you didn't
Isobel : I learnt, and this came as a blinding revelation to me, that our management style is very unique. I thought all businesses operated like ours did. I should see how other companies operate and just how badly they do so that I can learn from it.
Chat Ed : Our half hour with Isobel and Dave is almost up, so last questions now...
? : What do you think is the most important skill an MD should have?
Dave : Flexibility, adaptability, responsibility and to be reasonable.
Isobel : Communication skills are the most important thing. They must be evenhanded, fair and fundamental.
lynda : assuming you have both seen the program now - would you recommend 'any' MD to take on this challenge?
welshlad : Would you recommend the experience to other bosses?
Isobel : Yes, if they are good enough.
Dave : What makes them good enough?
Isobel : If they are proud of their company and will not be damaged by outside influences.
Dave : To have a company you have to have an open mind and realise that you are not perfect and realise that somebody else might be able to tell you a better way of doing things. You have to be willing to accept change if needed. So yeah I'd recommend it. It's a learning curve.
laura : Outside influences can be beneficial. Not to consider new ideas is very arrogant.
Dave : If they can do it they should.
Debz : Will you stay in touch?
Dave : I would love to I've said from the beginning it would be a good marry up of companies. We could rock the world between us.
Underboss : Hah!
Isobel : I've already invited Barney over because he is a poppet - he's a dream. As long as he keeps out of production.
angel : You were both highly entertaining, thank you
AC : 'congrats great entertainment' bs man
graham007 : well done guys
Underboss : Wonderful show.
MiniOne : Good Luck Dave, I think you'll need it
Dave : Thank you to everybody, you have to realise there is more than one way to skin a cat..
Isobel : I don't do cat skinning it's not my line.
Dave : You are so inflexible!
Reahs : Hello wizz and well done
Dean : cheers md's!
DannyReilly : Isobel, I'll be applying for a job
Dave : Bye everyone!
Isobel : Goodbye for now!
Isobel leaves the room
Dave leaves the room
