Ever wondered what happens when an acquisition doesn’t go to plan? In this episode, I speak with Gavin Page, a serial entrepreneur with 28 years in business and a decade of buy-and-build experience. Gavin grew a group of nine companies turning over more than £8 million, but one failed acquisition changed everything. We dive into the reality of scaling through acquisition, from structuring deals and navigating distressed purchases to the unexpected fallout from Royal Mail strikes and rising energy costs. Gavin shares how overleveraging, weak management teams, and unforeseen market changes can bring down even the most carefully structured groups. But this isn’t just a cautionary tale. Gavin reveals how he rebuilt after collapse, why he now mentors buyers and sellers to avoid the same pitfalls, and what he’s learned about resilience, due diligence, and leadership in high-stakes M&A. If you’re considering buying a business or preparing your own exit you’ll want to hear this one to the end.   “Trust your gut — my biggest mistake was letting my ego say yes when my instinct said no.” – Gavin Page   You’ll hear about: Gavin’s first acquisition and how it all began Lessons from buying a £1 distressed company The Royal Mail strikes and Amazon refunds crisis How overleveraging can destroy a profitable group Energy price shocks and their impact on M&A The importance of strong financial due diligence Avoiding personal risk through smart deal structure Leadership, management teams, and accountability Rebuilding purpose after business failure Coaching others to buy and sell wisely   Connect With Gavin Page   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/expertdealmaker/   Transition 360 Partners - https://www.transition360partners.co.uk/   Connect With Julie Wilkinson   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/ Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/   Find out more about our brilliant sponsor Acquisition Masters here - https://www.acquisitionmasters.co.uk/   Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!