Leadership Under Pressure: How an SAS Challenge Can Teach Me

At Yates Drainage Specialists, we don't avoid challenges; we actively seek them out. It's built into how we work, grow, and lead. Over the years, that mindset has pushed us into some tough environments. White-collar boxing with Steve Egbury, to raise money for local charities, smashing fundraising targets, and three-day off-grid hikes across Northumberland. The kind of things that test your head as much as your body.

But this year, I wanted to push myself even further. So, I signed up for a four-day SAS experience in Cumbria.

A proper test of resilience, discipline, and leadership under pressure. A chance to see how I perform when things get uncomfortable, unpredictable, and downright brutal. (Seemed like a great idea at the time, we'll find out.)

Why put myself through it? Because leadership demands it

Running a business isn't that different from being dropped into the unknown. You're constantly:

• Making decisions with limited information
• Staying calm when things go sideways
• Pushing through when you're tired, stressed, or doubting yourself
• Leading people who rely on you to set the tone

The SAS experience is designed to strip everything back and expose who you are when the pressure hits. And that's exactly what leadership in business does, too.

From one van to a nationwide operation - the same principles apply

Seventeen years ago, it was just me, a van, and a plan. No contacts. No shortcuts. Just graft, consistency, and a refusal to quit.

Those same principles are what have grown Yates Drainage Specialists into a company I'm genuinely proud of, working across the UK, partnering with major contractors, and delivering specialist drainage services with a team that shows up every single day.

Growth comes from discomfort - in business and in life

I'm still learning. Still pushing. Still stepping into things that challenge me because that's where the real development happens.

If I want my team to grow, I have to grow. If I want the business to be resilient, I have to be resilient. If I want us to lead the industry, I have to lead from the front.

That's why I'm doing this SAS challenge. Not for the photos. Not for the story. But leadership starts with the example you set.

The challenges don't stop - and neither do we

Every year brings new obstacles, new opportunities, and new lessons. And with the team I've got around me, I know we'll keep moving forward, stronger, sharper, and more determined than ever.

I'm proud of the journey. Proud of the team. And ready for whatever comes next.