From a driving school to a high school
Twenty-five years ago, Bernarda, who is Chief Accountant, and Brane, the Director, realized their long-standing desire for independence. Without any real entrepreneurial experience or a business plan, but with a strong belief in their ideas, 4,000 Deutschmarks and two old Zastava 101 cars, they founded the B&B Driving School company. Since then its evolution has been surprising, but based mainly on an expanding range of driving instruction.
They began by bringing about a small revolution, as one of only a handful of private enterprises offering B category licensing in the early 1990s. This was followed by licenses for motorcycles, trucks, buses and tractors. When the State introduced a statutory minimum level of vocational education for truckers, the company seized the opportunity and set up a vocational school to fulfil this requirement. “When the participants completed the vocational school, most of them wanted to continue their education at the level of secondary education and later also college level. The initiatives have always come from the outside, from someone who has the idea but lacks the guts to realise it,” explains Brane. From a driving school that offered all categories of driving license, they expanded their activities in the fields of vocational education, secondary schools, colleges and professional training programs.
Profit is not the main measure of success
The company generates €3 million revenues annually and in 2014 made a profit of €100,000. The owners assert that, “It is not the amount of profit, but customer satisfaction and the satisfaction of colleagues that counts in a family business. Profit is invested back into the company.” They currently employ a successfully gender-balanced workforce of around 45 permanent and 120 occasional staff, and while Bernarda focuses primarily on finances, Brane is responsible for the organization of the business.
Since this is a private school, their greatest competitor is public sector education, which has the advantage of a comparatively unlimited budget. In contrast, the company's advantage is its specific approach, excellent relations with students and establishment of a system of fairness, honesty and quality. “A family business operates on a family budget. When you see a business opportunity, you can take a loan, but you have to know exactly where and when you can expect return on your investment, even if the market situation deteriorates,” says Brane, sharing his thoughts on the need for careful use of finances.
Fifty percent of the company's activities revolve around education, a third involves the driving school and the rest is taken up by various training and other activities. Their educational programs range from safe driving to the safe use of a chainsaw. In addition, they offer post-secondary education programs for business secretaries, economists and logistics engineers and higher education programs in the field of environmental protection. “Education programs are adapted to suit current trends and market demand,” explains Bernarda.
The company is the family’s fifth child
Family members have no special privileges when they want to join the company. “Our aim is to encourage a work ethic and mutual respect, both in employees and family members. Everyone's work counts. If a family member is able to stand in for a cleaner, that's fine; if, on the other hand they think they are superior, then there can be no genuine relationship,” says Bernarda, who ensures that every new family member starts their job at the bottom to become familiar with all the processes involved in the enterprise. The husband and wife call the business “Our fifth child.”
Of their four children, only the eldest, daughter Kaja, a designer by profession, is actively involved as the marketing manager and is responsible for presentation and promotion. Her partner Grega began work in the company in the field of education and finance and today he is Assistant Director. “Family business means security for all the employees,” states Brane confidently. This is reflected in the values that the company follows and it is what makes us stand apart from others. “The company's significant advantage is that our employees listen to, and appreciate each other's ideas. If I need advice, I know that there is a group of people standing behind me, that I can rely on for support and encouragement,” explains Grega.
“When the participants completed the vocational school, most of them wanted to continue their education at the level of secondary education and later also college level. The initiatives have always come from the outside, from someone who has the idea but lacks the guts to realise it,” explains Brane.
In our company, everyone is able to do everything
“It is interesting that we are unable to determine the competencies of individuals, since everyone is willing and able to try their hand at anything. If you know that your colleague is an expert in what you are doing, you automatically involve them. Our working relationships are very relaxed and we are happy to share knowledge. Anyone that can, pitches in and helps,” explains Brane on the cooperation between employees. There is an unprecedented level of trust in our employees, which is reflected in complete freedom in the performance of a variety of projects. “We adapt to each individual, meaning that working days are very flexible,” explains Kaja on working conditions, while Grega highlights another important feature that makes the company so successful. “Development and growth of the entire company are driven by our constant search for innovation and opportunities. Only by striving for perfection we can leave our mark and create a story of success.” Yes, we are talking about mere ideas, “but you have to be first to come up with the idea,” reiterates Brane. They were the first to establish a private driving school and over the years they have expanded their circle of acquaintances, so it is not surprising that in Gorenjska, the company is well-known and renowned, which can sometimes be a burden. “Because everyone knows you, you cannot let your hair down and this requires a degree of self-control,” explains Brane.
The younger generation rules
The company does not make long-term plans as they far too often prove not to work out as planned. Step by step, taking into account the proposals of employees, they follow their vision to become an even more recognizable, ground-breaking and high-quality educational organization. “Expansion can be ostentatious and is not in our interest. The family and the employees agree that if we maintain the status quo, keep our jobs and improve the quality and recognition of the company, we have achieved our goals. We are dependent on the market,” explains Brane on the company's vision for the future. The company will, however, follow the trend of transferring responsibilities to the younger generation and in some areas this has already taken place to a large degree. This year the two company owners began to hand over to colleagues 20 years their junior. “The younger generation rules; they are different and driven by modern approaches,” is the unanimous view of the Lotrič husband and wife team.
Summary
B&B in a nutshell: “The best team with the best offer.”
