Leeds Business Podcast

As a precursor to Series Two, I’ve selected what I think are 8 must-listen business learnings chosen from the 38 brilliant guests we’ve had so far. I could have picked way more as every guest that we’ve had on has been fascinating to listen to and learn from.Before we start, I have one simple request; Please hit the follow or subscribe button on the app that you're listening on. That’s it…. Thank you.8 MUST-HEAR BUSINESS LESSONS1) Daniel Priestley, explaining what you need in YOUR product eco-system.2) Nigel Botterill, from Entrepreneurs Circle, explaining a killer tip for effective use of your time.3) Jamie Bentley of Stephenson Personal Care with a painful but important business lesson.4) Carrie Rose, of Rise at 7, giving us a great 'how to' on personal brand.5) Zandra Moore, of Pan Intelligence, and a fantastic, cheap and effective sales lesson that you can use in your business6) Jon Graves of Northern Telecom, explaining to us a couple of key terms when it comes to buying loss-making businesses as part of a business growth strategy 7) Martin Wolstencroft, owner of Box, Banyan and Manahatta, giving us a great, conceptual way to evaluate our business ideas.8) Back to Daniel Priestley and a pitch structure that we can all use.I hope that you found my 8 picks interesting, inspiring and of use. Links to each episode are below if you want to hear more from any of these guests.To make sure you don’t miss any future episodes please subscribe to at Leeds Business Podcast.FULL EPISODEShttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/daniel-priestley/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/nigel-botterill/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jon-graves-pt1/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jamie-bentley/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/carrie-rose-pt1/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/zandra-moore/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/martin-wolstencroft/ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them to be better at what they do. Phil’s mantra is It doesn’t need to be ‘lonely at the top’. He helps Business Owners to be better business owners, by helping with their clarity and focus.As a Business Sounding Board, he gives SME Owners the time & space to regularly discuss their challenges and opportunities, with no sense of judgement or bias, and in complete confidence. This allows them to explore their options in full, culminating with a list of issues to address/clarify,...

This week we speak to Simon Brown, founder of fashion and lifestyle brand, Joe Browns.Simons tells us where the inspiration for the brand came from, shares with us the business ups and the personal downs of Covid, being told that he was unemployable, the three ‘i’s the brand lives by and a great checklist for starting your own business. Rasputin and Ivan the Terrible get name checks too.INTRODUCING SIMON BROWNBorn in Leeds and raised in Bramhope. Simon Brown founded Joe Browns in 1998, inspired by a group of friends enjoying a beer in a beach bar called The Ty Coch Inn in Morfa Nefyn, North Wales25+years later, he’s the proud founder of Joe Browns, the Leeds based fashion and homeware brand centred around creating remarkable product. The brand is on a mission to make people feel great while injecting as much individuality and colour into as many wardrobes and homes as possible. Simon lives by the motto ‘Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride’ words you’ll see in lights in our White Rose Shopping Centre store, which opened on 2nd December 2023.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] Introducing Simon Brown and the route to Joe Browns[00:08:00] The source and essence of Joe Browns[00:11:20] The early days of the Joe Browns business[00:16:00] Raising investment and a change in strategy[00:20:00] Getting into third party catalogues and working with third parties[00:27:00] Why expand into ‘bricks &amp; mortar’ stores[00:31:30] A trip to Russia…[00:34:00] How was Covid for Joe Browns and Simon Brown[00:39:00] Forward plan for Joe Browns[00:42:00] How does it feel bringing in staff ‘above’ the founder?[00:45:00] How to set up a business and what to consider[00:50:00] The importance of being remarkableKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• The power of silence; first one to speak loses the deal• Why borrow if you don’t have to borrow?• The easy solution isn’t always the right solution• Curiosity and creativity go hand-in-hand• Never ever give up• You have to understand the numbersBEST MOMENTS“When you stop enjoying something you have to move on“We’re not putting you on the books, you’re unemployable”“If we’d gone with that deal, we’d have been bankrupted“I want my stores to be interesting, intriguing, inspiring”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/ Shout out: https://www.theheroesjourney.com/ Negotiate to Close - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Negotiate-Close-Make-Successful-Deals/dp/0002176289Success is a choice - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Success-Choice-Make-Choices-Successful/dp/078523859X/DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEAs mentioned by Simon;<a...

On April 23rd 2024 I wrote a post on Linked in, titled ‘I hate Daniel Priestley’. See https://www.linkedin.com/posts/philfraser_i-hate-daniel-priestley-im-sueing-activity-7185564354442854400-nVXA/.The post went viral! Off the back of it Daniel agreed to be a guest on the podcast.Before you start listening to this week’s episode make sure you have a pen and paper ready. Daniel Priestly delivers a masterclass in Entrepreneurship and business ownership, with tons and tons of brilliant ideas and advice.Note you can get Get 14 days for free and 20% off your first 3 months at ScoreApp via https://share.scoreapp.com/9aa33263.INTRODUCING DANIEL PRIESTLEYDaniel Priestley is the Founder of Dent Global and ScoreApp. he has founded multiple 7 &amp; 8 figure ventures, been awarded Entrepreneur of the Year and is the author of six entrepreneurship books, including Key Person of Influence, Oversubscribed and Entrepreneur Revolution. He regularly speaks at conferences and have been a business coach to several fast growth (Inc5000) entrepreneurs and celebrities.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:03:30] Introducing Daniel Priestley[00:05:30] The number one thing all business owners need to decide[00:08:00] Introducing the CAOS Theory[00:11:00] How to build an audience[00:15:30] How to create, and the benefits of, a Wait List[00:21:30] The CAPSTONE Pitch structure[00:27:30] Can anyone be an entrepreneur?[00:32:00] What is a Key Person of Influence?[00:37:00] How to be a Key Person of Influence; using the 5 Ps[00:41:30] Your book should be a sales person or why you should your book away as a gift[00:45:00] What is a product eco-system? And why you should have one. Listen to live example.[00:53:30] How to create a scorecard campaign[00:59:30] Lifestyle businesses v performance businessesKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Develop an audience then a product/offer• Entrepreneurship is sexy from a distance but up close its rough going• The door to success doesn’t have a handle; you have to kick the door down• The only way to get cut-through is the founder talking about the business• Use the 5Ps to raise your position as a Key Person of Influence• Assessment-based selling can be used in any businessTHE BEST MOMENTS“If you gave me millions of dollars to launch a business I’d leave it on the shelf”“People don’t want to do the stuff that’s not sexy”“I only build stuff if thousands of people want it”“People like people more than brands”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https://danielpriestley.com/ https://share.scoreapp.com/9aa33263https://www.dent.global/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpriestley/DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/rachel-woolford/ <a...

This week we speak to Dean Hartley and hear all about some of the darker sides of business; the threat of VCs kicking you out of your own business, being caught in the 2008 RBS GRG scandal and what happens when you’re at strategic loggerheads with your fellow board members, and the personal low point of exiting a business.INTRODUCING DEAN HARTLEYDean Hartley is the former CTO and owner of Monitor Audio, a business he helped purchase in 1998 and exited in October 2018 with a 50x ROI. He was instrumental in growing the business from £1.5M to £25M. He now works as a Consultant, EIR advisor and fractional CCO (Chief Commercial Officer). He's also an Angel Investor in start-up/scale-ups.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] Starting the business and then buying another one[00:08:45] A new role in a bigger business[00:10:30] Raising external funding and buying founders out[00:21:00] 2008 financial crash, GRG and the RBS scandal[00:32:00] Where to look for growth finance in your business[00:36:00] Exiting the business and the emotional difficulties it causes afterwards[00:46:00] How to develop yourself and your role in a business3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• You learn a huge amount of skills as a start up founder• There are risks that you sometimes have to take in business if you want to progress• If you really want to scale a business you do need to raise finance3 BEST MOMENTS“they told us if we didn’t deliver, they’d replace us”“it was very similar to the current Royal Mail scandal”“we need to move on….. without you”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https:// www.chevettechnology.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanhartley01 Shout out tags: https://www.luma3.uk/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/michael-michaelson/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/david-richmond/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/chris-black/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/colin-glass/ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them to be better at what they do. Phil’s mantra is It doesn’t need to be ‘lonely at the top’. He helps Business Owners to be better business owners, by helping with their clarity and focus.As a Business Sounding Board, he gives SME Owners the time &amp; space to regularly discuss their challenges and opportunities, with no sense of judgement or bias, and in complete confidence. This allows them to explore their options in full,...

This week's guest is Jonathan Straight, founder and former-CEO of recycling solutions company Straight plc.Jonathan tells us how the business came about, the journey to becoming a plc, the crisis caused by over-trading and then the eventual sale of the company. And he discuss the important question, 'what do you wear after selling your business?'INTRODUCING JONATHAN STRAIGHTJonathan is an award-winning purposeful entrepreneur and creative best known for founding the AIM-listed Straight plc (STT), the UK’s leading supplier of waste and recycling containers. He headed the business for 21 years before exiting in 2014. He is currently a board advisor to Surplus Group Limited, tackling the problem of surplus and waste food, and is founder of The Lupin Company, marketing a vegan and gluten-free superfood.Passionate about entrepreneurship, he is an enterprise ambassador at the Leeds University Business School, an entrepreneur in residence for Connect Yorkshire, and an associate director at Leeds Beckett University.Jonathan chairs the international waste management charity, WasteAid, and is a director of the literary festival, Milim. He previously chaired food recyclers The Real Junk Food Project and was a main board trustee and chair of the commercial board at The Tetley contemporary art gallery. Jonathan is a mentor to - and investor in - various tech-for-good start-ups, where he holds non-executive posts.Since 2022, Jonathan has been a member of the British Library Advisory Council and is helping to realise the ambition of a British Library of the North in Leeds.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] Where the idea for the business came about[00:12:30] The need for, and the start of, what became Straight plc[00:17:30] The expansion of the business[00:22:00] Raising capital for the business[00:31:00] Life as a plc[00:35:30] On the acquisition trail [00:41:00] What could possibly go wrong…[00:46:00] How to register a trademark (protect your IP)[00:50:00] Selling the business3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• You can’t tell people anything that might move the share price• Being a plc gives you clout and ammunition• Stay close to your competitors; you may pick up useful information• Make sure you protect your IP• Look for NED roles while you are working, not after sale3 BEST MOMENTS“Can I sell these for you? And they said ‘no’ which seemed ludicrous to me”“My image was very different to everyone else in the recycling bins industry”“Suddenly a business I considered infinite had boundaries”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https://www.jonathanstraight.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/straight Shout out tags: https://www.streetlanebakery.co.uk/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/adam-smith/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/pop-up-shop/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/colin-glass https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/david-richmond/ ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up,...

This week I’m delighted to have Apprentice winner and North Studio owner, Rachel Woolford as my guest.Rachel explains all about launching her boutique gym just weeks before lockdown and the stress it caused her, reveals the secrets from behind the scenes of The Apprentice, tells us all about her time on the show and shares what it's been like since she was announced as the winner.INTRODUCING RACHEL WOOLFORDRachel Woolford is the owner and founder of boutique gym North Studio which has locations in North Leeds and Harrogate. She was the winner of the BBC's The Apprentice in 2024.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] How did North Studio start[00:05:00] How the studio dealt with the stop start of Covid [00:10:30] Marketing North Studio post-Covid[00:12:20] Expanding the business to Harrogate[00:14:00] The impact on the business of leaving for The Apprentice[00:17:00] I’m away but I don’t know when I’ll be back….[00:20:30] Why apply to go on The Apprentice?[00:23:30] Day One on The Apprentice, the house and the tasks[00:30:00] Favourite tasks and being Project Manager[00:36:00] The interviews[00:42:00] The winner, and what happens next?[00:45:00] The media frenzy[00:50:00] Listeners questions[00:54:00] How to avoid complacency in business3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Remain calm &amp; confident is much better than responding chaotically• Always be open and listen to suggestions from the team• The Apprentice was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Its way harder than it looks on tele3 BEST MOMENTS“The thing people took away from Covid was supporting small businesses, which helped us”“I finished recording on Sunday night in London and was working in Roundhay at 07.00am the next day”“They sent a mystery visitor to the studio”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Website: https://northstudioleeds.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-woolford-948528216/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/northstudioleeds/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelwoolford/ Shout out tags: https://www.stoneacreproperties.co.uk/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/linda-planthttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/pop-up-shop/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/david-richmond/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/christine-yorath/ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a

This week’s guests are Marshall Frieze and Simon Williams who, for only three weeks a year, run a speciality pop-up shop.Hear why they do it, the unique challenges they face, how Covid turned EVERYTHING on it’s head and what the key is to the shop’s continued year-on-year improvement.INTRODUCING SIMON WILLIAMS &amp; MARSHALL FRIEZESimon Williams is the owner of SW Retail Consultancy Ltd. Having been in retail for nearly 30 years in various roles, he using his retail knowledge &amp; experience to help grow and develop SMEs and start-ups.As a consultant his aim is to miniaturise everything he has learned in large corporations and provide the SMEs with a template for success in retailing and business. Marshall Frieze is the founder and MD of The One Solution, an award-winning Leeds based supplier of cloud and mobile telecoms, connectivity &amp; IoT to businesses throughout the UK and farther afield. Marshall has been working in telecommunications since the mid-1990s, when he was appointed Store Manager of Phones 4u at their flagship Leeds store. In 2003 he launched Pioneer Communication Solutions, becoming Vodafone Gold Partner of the Year in 2011 and then selling in 2012.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:10] What is the Passover Pop-up shop[00:03:00] Where the idea came from and how it all started[00:08:40] The challenges faced in year one[00:10:30] Analysing the first year’s performance and then into year two[00:18:30] The problems (and solutions) to Covid[00:25:40] the key learnings and the importance of data[00:31:30] Advice to someone looking to set up a pop up show[00:35:00] How to retain customers[00:39:00] Lessons for the futureKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• You need to ensure that you have no, or little, stock left at the end• Data is key to making better decisions, and the key to success• Open with the offers, rather than the offers at the end• If you get 80% of it right, you should just about be ok• It’s really beneficial to work with a business partner• Be clear on your objectivesBEST MOMENTS“We needed a product, somewhere to sell it from and we needed finance”“When Covid happened we had to change the whole business model overnight”“I did around 90,000 steps in 4 or 5 days”“The lockout period is your retention strategy”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshallfrieze http://linkedin.com/in/simon-williams-616b876 DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them to be better at what they do. Phil’s...

Starts at 00.45 This week’s guest is Fiona Conor, Managing Director of Trust Electrical Heating.Fiona tells us all about her amazing &amp; varied route to becoming a business owner, the ups and downs of registering a patent, the huge importance of brand, the need for a business coach to vomit on…. and how to stop your ‘leaky bucket’ and increase your lead conversion.INTRODUCING FIONA CONORFiona Conor, is Managing Director at Trust Electric Heating and boasts three decades of experience in sales and marketing. Her mission is to lead Trust Electric Heating to the forefront of the UK's electric heating industry.Driven by her passion for product development and sustainable technology, Fiona spearheads Trust Electric Heating's rapid growth, catering to the rising demand for sustainable heating solutions.Beyond her professional achievements, Fiona brings a personal touch to the electric heating world, shaped by her extensive background in charity work and counselling. With an unwavering commitment to a 'people first' ethos, she guides Trust Electric Heating not merely as a company, but as a trusted partner dedicated to crafting heating solutions designed for humans.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] Fiona’s (very varied) early career[00:07:00] The launch of the business[00:10:00] Pitching for investment[00:12:00] The importance of branding[00:16:30] The problems….[00:21:45] Selling radiators online[00:23:00] Stepping up the operation[00:32:00] How to stop your leaky bucket[00:35:00] Working with Entrepreneurs Circle and the benefits of having a coach[00:40:00] Why bring a NED into the business?3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Things come in your path to take you to where you need to be in the future• You’ve got to get your brand right• Everything has to be about analytics4 BEST MOMENTS“Scott launched the business on the Dining Room table”“He grew a beard when he was installing and shaved himself when he was selling”“Covid gave me the space to think about the business”“We needed real strong governance on the board”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://www.trustelectricheating.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionaconor https://www.linkedin.com/company/trustelectricheating/ Mentioned in the show; www.entreprenuerscircle.com https://www.hotjar.com/ https://www.propaganda.co.uk/ https://www.selectuniforms.co.uk/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ SOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/leedspodInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/leedsbusinesspodcast/YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/nigel-botterill/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/michael-michaelson/...

This week we speak to green banking start-up, Tred.Peter &amp; will discuss where the idea of a green bank account came from, the secret tip that worked for improving their network connections, how the first round of testing changed the business strategy, the positives and negatives of a wait list and what it feels like to secure £1m of funding.We also get taught how to reduce the carbon footprint of your business.Win a Tred water bottle. Listen to the episode then answer the question at www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com/tred/INTRODUCING PETER KIRBY &amp; WILL SMITHPeter Kirby keeps Tred running! He ensures customers love their green business current account, develops a happy and high performing team, and owns the compliance function. Before Tred, he worked with the UK's largest companies to improve their operations, like developing the UK’s COVID shielding programme and revolutionising the procurement process in a £5bn clothing brand.Will Smith owns Tred's growth and finances. He makes sure every business wants, and has, a Tred green current account. Selected by Forbes as a ‘30 under 30’, he brings experience from both the start-up and corporate world. He's managed global product launches, negotiated commercial contracts worth over £500m and much more.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] What is Tred?[00:01:00] Introducing Will &amp; Peter[00:05:30] Where did the idea for Tred come from?[00:09:00] The first step on the start-up journey and testing the hypothesis[00:11:00] The funding journey and lessons learnt[00:16:00] Starting the business properly[00:23:00] A banking platform not a bank and let’s talk ‘Bank of Dave’[00:32:00] The current situation for Tred[00:36:45] How do you evaluate a ‘green’ banking card?[00:38:15] How to reduce the carbon footprint of your business[00:41:15] The biggest learning from a mistake3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Find the cheapest and quickest way to test your hypothesis• Ask people for introductions. Almost everyone says yes• Hire the people with skills you are most useless at• Entrepreneurs are not taking enough risks because of a fear of failure3 BEST MOMENTS“Please can someone be the Spotify for home 3D printing” “We spent months building an app. Did we need it? Probably not”“There’ll be bugs a plenty come squash them with us”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://tred.earth/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wrhsmith/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterlkirby/ Shout out tags: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-baker-8700399/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ SOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/leedspodInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/leedsbusinesspodcast/YOU MAY ALSO LIKE<a...

This week’s episode is slightly different as we meet one of the Leeds business community’s most well-known faces, Colin Glass OBE.Colin shares his expertise on a variety of business topics including what makes a great business founder, funding options available for businesses, what is a NED and why you might need one, what sweat investment is and, of course, how to be a great networker.INTRODUCING COLIN GLASSColin is a Chartered Accountant who started his own practice, Winburn Glass Norfolk (WGN) in 1975 and in August 2019 WGN merged with Murray HarcourtColin is, or has been, a Non-Executive Director of several companies, some of which are quoted on AIM and has always been passionately interested in helping small businesses, including start-ups to develop to their full potential. He has invested in many start-up businesses over the years.He was awarded the Star in Practice Award in 2006 from the West Yorkshire Society of Chartered Accountants, Business Adviser of the Year in 2007, Non-Executive Director of the Year in 2008 and 2019 by the Institute of Directors Yorkshire and Humber and, in January 2011, he was awarded Non-Executive Director of the Year in the Quoted Company Awards.Due to his many years of involvement with SMEs, in 2014 Colin was appointed a Non-Executive Director at the British Business Bank and was awarded an OBE in the 2017 Queen’s New Year Honour’s list.He is one of the most well-known, and respected, faces on the Leeds business scene.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:45] What are the common themes in successful businesses[00:03:30] The common mistakes business owners make[00:06:20] The best places to find funding[00:09:00] Should you bootstrap your business?[00:10:45] What makes a good Angel investment pitch?[00:13:00] All about sweat investment[00:19:40] Colin’s successful first sweat investment deal[00:26:00] The investment that didn’t go well[00:31:00] What does a NED do, and do you need one? [00:36:00] How to be a good networker3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• You need to listen to the advice of mentors around you• All companies that are trying to grow should look at some kind of NED• Don’t try to sell at networking eventsBEST MOMENTS“One successful angel investment can pay for all the others that go wrong”“Do me a favour, let them wine &amp; dine us”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinglass1/ Shout out: https://www.luma3.uk/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show on this appSOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and InstagramYOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/nigel-botterill/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/alistair-maiden/ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full

This week we speak to Nigel Botterill, Founder of Entrepreneurs Circle.Nigel tells us why bootstrapping is the WRONG way to run a business, how incompetence launched his most successful business, the day he found £500k missing from his business bank account and the bedroom business that went multi-million pound in months.He also gives a 'how to' that, to quote Nigel, is "the most powerful 'how to' that you have ever had on the podcast." INTRODUCING NIGEL BOTTERILLNigel Botterill - serial entrepreneur, Sunday Time best-selling author &amp; one of the UK’s most sought after business growth experts.He ‘took the leap’, left his corporate career and started his first business in 2003. Since then, he’s built ten separate million-pound-plus businesses from scratch. Now, at the helm of Entrepreneurs Circle, the country's largest organisation dedicated to helping its members businesses grow, Nigel spends his time helping other entrepreneurs to do what he’s done – escape mediocrity, get and keep all the customers their business needs and live the lives they’ve always wantedEPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] The spark to start as an entrepreneur[00:07:00] The plan…. And the smart move[00:10:00] The conference that changed Nigel’s life[00:12:30] The side hustle, MyMag, that became a £6m phenomenon[00:15:00] The ‘Best of’ online business[00:18:00] The genius of incompetence and the start of Entrepreneurs Circle[00:20:00] The effects of the lockdown announcement[00:28:30] What is Entrepreneurs Circle[00:30:30] The importance of the ‘rhythmic acquisition of customers’[00:36:00] The nightmare of missing revenue [00:38:30] Going into a CVA[00:42:30] The key learning from going through a CVA[00:45:45] How to get your business to where you want it to beKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Funding growth through revenue isn’t the best way to grow• All businesses need rhythmic acquisition of customers• When you spend your time in business juggling cashflow it’s like a cancer• As a business owner you need to be all over your numbers• Anyone managing their business by looking at their bank account is bonkers• It’s the day-to-day that kills dreams• Profit and loss accounts are a work of fictionBEST MOMENTS“I had a year to move £100,000 from the business to our personal bank account”“We were one of the first customers of Google ads in the UK”“We set up over 2,500 magazines in three years”“What she did was genius but did it out of incompetence”“We had a massive hole and we just didn’t have the money”“I didn’t want to go to work and I didn’t want to go home”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https://entrepreneurscircle.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurs-circle https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelbotterill/ Shout out tags: https://www.trustelectricheating.co.uk/ https://rushfirthcreative.co.uk/ https://www.tendo-uk.com/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show YOU MAY ALSO...

In this week’s episode we talk to Alistair Maiden, founder of legal tech company, Syke.Hear business tales and learnings from the legendary Ken Morrison, Alistair’s eureka moment for the business, how the business grew to an eventual multi-million pound sale in the US plus the hard changes that needed to take place after sale.Plus, what’s it like buying an abattoir?INTRODUCING ALISTAIR MAIDENAlistair began his career as a lawyer, practising commercial and technology law for several years. Whilst Head of Contracts and the Data Protection Officer for ASDA, Alistair designed and implemented a digital contracting tool which reduced the average contract cycle from 17 days to just 5 days. In 2016, Alistair founded SYKE, with the mission to transform the legal industry by bridging the gap between legal teams and emerging legal tech. Under his leadership, SYKE has become a leading legal tech consultancy.Allistair has spoken at a variety of international events and won the Legal Technologist of the Year award at the 2019 FT Intelligent Business Awards.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] Introducing Syke[00:01:30] Alistair Maiden’s early career[00:04:00] Learning business lessons from Sir Ken Morrison[00:10:00] The lasting influence of ASDA’s culture and being part of Walmart[00:14:00] The birth of the idea of Syke[00:21:00] Taking the idea live[00:24:20] Growing into a ‘proper’ business[00:27:00] A new partnership arrives[00:34:00] The people who got you here won’t be the people to take you there [00:40:00] The sale of the business and culture change issues[00:46:00] Start up entrepreneur or big company executiveKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• You get respect from your team by being in the detail• There’s no reason why you can’t work globally• You have to have the right attitude and make yourself ‘useful’• Most partnerships, whilst looking good, don’t work• You must think of your business as a team not a family• Feathers will be rustled but you should assume good intentionsBEST MOMENTS“Ken Morrison used to walk round the office leaving post-it notes on people’s PC”“Asda has a very unique and distinct culture. Loads of people from there are now running their own businesses”“We reduced the average contract cycle from 70 days to 5 days”“I spoke at the Law Society expecting 10 or 15 people, and there were 100s there”“I gave a 20 minute presentation and there was a hour of questions”“I had the passion but no plan…”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOURelevant links from the show, recommended Leeds businessWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://syke.tech/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-maiden-global-advisory-lead-consilio-syke/ Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show hereSOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on;LinkedIn - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

In this week’s episode we speak to local property developer and interior designer, Christine Yorath. Christine talks us through her property career, plus how she started a skincare business when returning from Vancouver, the almost accidental launch of a successful property letting business and teaches us how to avoid getting stabbed in the back in the office.INTRODUCING CHRISTINE YORATHChristine Yorath is an interior designer, property developer and consultant to property developers. She was married to Leeds United &amp; Wales star Terry Yorath and in a varied career initially qualified as a beauty therapist, launching the first stand-alone beauty salon in Yorkshire. Following a spell in Vancouver she began an importing and distribution business for Metrin Skincare's European operation alongside her daughter, TV presenter, GabbyLogan.Her property experience dates back to the late 1980’s when she began buying, renovating and selling properties, which then led to Flats in Leeds property management business. Her development and interior design flair and experience, and as a consultant for other developers, covers all stages of property development from consulting with developers right up to bespoke furniture for makeovers for residential work and has led her to be involved in some of Leeds' most high profile and expensive developments.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02:00] Where Christine’s business drive came from[00:06:45] The story behind Metrin Skincare[00:10:00] The launch of the property career[00:13:00] The first step up and the learnings[00:18:00] City living developments in Leeds[00:22:30] the move into consultancy work[00:29:00] How to lay out your office correctlyKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSAlways £100 on top of your sealed bids for propertyAlways under-promise and over-deliverTie your pricing into how your audience thinksConverting a property costs the same as a new buildMatch your product build to your customer before they buyThe two things you need in any project are comfort and storageBEST MOMENTS“I was often met by the butler who carried my equipment in”“Your £100 did the trick”“I made my son carry wallpaper so he wouldn’t run away”“the bank leant me the money to pay the deposit to get the mortgage”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://www.christineyorath.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-yorath-86429916/Shout out tags: https://www.monroeestateagents.com/ https://northstudioleeds.co.uk/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/michael-michaelson/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/david-richmond/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/howard-moss/ ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table...

If you’ve ever considered, or want to learn more about, growing your business by acquisition, you’ll want to listen to this week’s guest, Jon Graves, Founder &amp; CEO of Northern Telecom. Jon has grown his business by 7-fold in three years via 13 acquisitions. In part two of our discussion Jon shares with us some of the good, and bad, acquisitions that he’s done, talks us through the need to systemise his pre-pack DD, discusses the difficulties and processes in integrating acquisitions and then shares some expert advice if you want to look at building by acquisition.INTRODUCING JON GRAVESJon Graves is a dynamic and tenacious business owner who has carved a formidable path in the telecommunications industry. A decade ago, driven by his entrepreneurial spirit and a vision for innovation, he founded Northern Telecom.Jon's entrepreneurial journey is characterized by bold moves and calculated risks. With a passion for challenge, he fearlessly spearheaded 15 acquisitions, often rescuing insolvent companies through pre-pack deals. These strategic manoeuvres not only expanded Northern Telecom's reach but also cemented its reputation as a major player in the competitive market.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02:00] Examples of buying via pre-pack (good and bad)[00:12:30] Systemising pre-pack due diligence[00:15:45] The change in the business through acquisition[00:19:30] The difficulties in integrating acquisitions[00:25:30] Final advice for building by acquisitionKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS&nbsp;&nbsp;The next 12 months is going to be a fantastic time if you want to buy by pre-packYou won’t get any time at all to evaluate a pre-pack; you need to be ready to &nbsp;&nbsp;You can’t save every business&nbsp;I would never start a business from scratch nowBEST MOMENTS“We doubled revenue over night and it only cost £100,000”“We haven’t caused the business to become distressed; we’re trying to help save jobs”“Northern Telecom as a brand name doesn’t make much sense in Bournemouth”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://www.northerntelecom.co.ukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathangraves1/ Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tubechannel -&nbsp;https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiringLeeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you thinkwill get value from it2) Post a review of the show at either•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ApplePodcasts App(https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leeds-business-podcast/id1695413291)or •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Podchaser(https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/leeds-business-podcast-5389157) or•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; a 5 starreview at Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/66AeIYry1gWfmBYMDlfmrT)or•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; givethis episode a ’thumbs up’ on YouTube(https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast)SOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on;LinkedIn - <a...

If you’ve ever considered, or want to learn more about, growing your business by acquisition, you’ll want to listen to this week’s guest, Jon Graves, Founder &amp; CEO of Northern Telecom. Jon has grown his business by 7-fold in three years via 13 acquisitions.Jon tells us all about his acquisition strategy, shares the learnings from some of his early mistakes and gives us all a great ‘how to’ when it comes to buying businesses via a pre-pack.He also tells us about his ultimately disastrous purchase of a golf club and a hotel.INTRODUCING JON GRAVESJon Graves is a dynamic and tenacious business owner who has carved a formidable path in the telecommunications industry. A decade ago, driven by his entrepreneurial spirit and a vision for innovation, he founded Northern Telecom in the vibrant city of Leeds.Jon's entrepreneurial journey is characterized by bold moves and calculated risks. With a passion for challenge, he fearlessly spearheaded 15 acquisitions, often rescuing insolvent companies through pre-pack deals. These strategic manoeuvres not only expanded Northern Telecom's reach but also cemented its reputation as a major player in the competitive market.Based in Leeds, Jon is deeply rooted in his local community. Outside of the boardroom, he finds solace and joy in the loving embrace of his wife and three children, who serve as his greatest source of inspiration and motivation.Known for his appetite for risk and his love of challenges, Jon thrives in high-stakes environments where others may falter. His strategic foresight and unwavering determination have propelled Northern Telecom to unprecedented heights, earning him recognition as a maverick in the industry.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] Jon’s business background[00:03:00] The early stages of the business[00:08:00] Powering growth through acquisition[00:13:00] Learning from mistakes[00:05:00] Buying a hotel and golf club…[00:19:00] Explaining the terms ‘distressed business’ and ‘pre-pack’[00:21:00] Expanding the business through acquisition[00:24:30] How to buy a business via a pre-packKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• As you get bigger, you just have to let go• With an acquisition for the cost of a salesperson for a year, we start billing the next day• Stick to what you knowBEST MOMENTS“Our first acquisition then set a lightbulb off”“We had to learn to integrate”“Why wouldn’t you want to buy a hotel and golf club?”“Do you want to buy an IT company? Just bring £10,000 and it’s yours”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://www.northerntelecom.co.ukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathangraves1/ Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show at either• Apple Podcasts App (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leeds-business-podcast/id1695413291)or • Podchaser (<a href="https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/leeds-business-podcast-5389157" rel="noopener...

In this week’s episode we speak to Jamie Bentley, CEO of Stephenson Personal Care.Jamie tells us all about how it feels to take over as fifth generation in a family firm, selling in the states looking like a cross between Tim Nice-but-Dim and Hugh Grant, the feeling when landing your first million dollar deal and how a brilliant ‘train set’ analogy sparked his Eureka moment.Plus he tells us about a great opportunity to get MBA students to work on your new business idea.INTRODUCING JAMIE BENTLEYHaving studied Business and Financial Management at the University of North London, quickly followed by a brief stretch in the hospitality industry as a ski guide and water sports instructor, Jamie joined Univar on their Management Development Programme where he spent 4 years learning about the specialty chemicals and ingredients industries.In 1997, being the fifth generation of the Bentley family, he then joined Stephenson Group. Initially he began as a sales representative developing products for the personal care industry that did not exist at the company, eventually building what has become today’s Stephenson Personal Care business.Slowly divesting the more mature industrial parts of the business over the years to focus completely on the personal care sector, today Stephenson Group exports personal care ingredients to 62 countries. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] Introducing Stephenson Personal Care[00:02:00] Jamie Bentley’s background story[00:04:10] Early learnings[00:06:00] Old school sales and a clever tweak[00:08:00] Joining the family business[00:10:00] How the personal care division started and grew[00:17:20] The first $1m sales order[00:19:30] The eureka moment[00:24:30] The process of divesting non-core business and the learnings from it[00:29:30] Using MBA students to develop a spin-out idea[00:33:00] Managing people smarter than you[00:36:00] The learnings from taking over a family businessKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Watch. Mouth shut, ears open, eyes open. Watch and learn.• You learn most information from the shopfloor of your business and your client’s business (the people who are doing the doing)• Take care of all your clients, but in the early days make sure you take most care of the big clients• Think of your business as a train set. You cant break train set, you just change it• Surround yourself with great people and learn how to manage people better than you• You need proper trusted finance advice and the same with corporate lawyers when selling a business• Strategy is as much about what you don’t do, as you do do• Give staff the room to failBEST MOMENTS“I was described as lazy or stupid at school. I then did an IQ test and they determined I was lazy”“I worked out as a rep I could 8 calls a day. The trucks were doing 30 deliveries a day, so abandoned my Vectra and sat in the passenger seat of one of the wagons”“We had a Drawing Room at home that was only used for Christmas and bollockings… and my dad took me into the Drawing Room…”“If I’d had my eureka moment 10 years earlier, we’d have been 10 years ahead now”“Yours is the most complicated loss-making business I have ever seen”“He said 'come to the meeting to sell the business but don’t bring any lawyers or accountants' ”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://www.stephensonpersonalcare.com/ .LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-bentley-soap/ Instagram (business):...

Chris Bax, co-founder of Bax Botanics, tells us how this ‘professional tree-hugger’ husband &amp; wife team launched an outdoor experiential business, and then their award-winning alcohol-free gin-like drink. You get to meet Ebenezer, Edith and Hefzibah and hear how Chris feels that getting liquid on lips is the toughest part of the business, along with a great piece of advice in the ‘How to’.You’ll have to listen up to find out who the Hollywood A list actor was that Chris failed to recognise when he came along for a visit.INTRODUCING CHRIS BAXChris Bax has spent decades learning about and experimenting with botanical flavours. His interest in and knowledge of wild edibles has seen him appear on TV shows like Countryfile and The Hairy Bikers. He has over 20 years experience of teaching and consulting to the food industry, focussing on delicious and exciting ways to use wild ingredients and culinary herbs. Chris and his wife Rose are now using all their skills and experience to distil a secret recipe of herbs, roots, berries and flowers to create alcohol-free spirits with layers of beautifully complex flavours.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:20] What is Bax Botanics?[00:02:00] Chris Bax’s background[00:06:00] Fate…[00:13:00] What is ‘Taste the Wild’?[00:17:45] A Hollywood actor came to visit[00:21:00] Introducing Bax Botatics[00:26:30] The difficulty in selling the product[00:32:00] How to export your productKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Why should we give alcohol ownership of celebration• The biggest hurdle when selling a drink is route-to-market• Don’t be afraid to exportBEST MOMENTS“I went to do a bit of retail therapy in an outdoor shop…. And met my wife”“As we’re a couple of tree-huggers we bought 18 acres of woodland”“Someone from the Guardian came on our first course and the week after we had two pages in the weekend supplement”“I didn’t recognise the highest paid actor in Hollywood at the time”“We’ve created a drink which gives you the feeling of luxury even though you’re not drinking acohol” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOURelevant links from the show, recommended Leeds businessWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: www.tastethewild.co.uk www.baxbotanics.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bax-6419b255/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/tastethewild https://www.instagram.com/baxbotanics Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show at either• Apple Podcasts App (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leeds-business-podcast/id1695413291)or • Podchaser (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/leeds-business-podcast-5389157) or• a 5 star review at Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/66AeIYry1gWfmBYMDlfmrT)or• give this episode a ’thumbs up’ on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast)SOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/leedspodInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/leedsbusinesspodcast/YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/2023-highlight-part-one/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/2023-highlights-part-2/...

In part two of her interview Carrie Rose of Rise At Seven discusses the exit of her co-founder, re-structuring the business to reflect the aim of generating demand and then capturing demand, bringing a management and support team in, establishing an American office, a basic ‘how to’ to improve your company’s SEO and Carrie’s key learnings from her business journey.INTRODUCING CARRIE ROSECarrie Rose, is founder and CEO of one of the fastest growing agencies in the UK &amp; US - search-first creative agency Rise at Seven. After working at Branded3, one of the leading SEO agencies at the time, Carrie saw a gap in the industry for brand advertising and SEO to collide. She founded Rise at Seven to push the boundaries in both creative and technical SEO because that’s what is needed to own the most competitive search results. Rise At Seven are now across the UK, Europe and US with clients including SIXT, Bumble, Capital One, Bacardi, PrettyLittleThing, Amazon, Revolution Beauty and more. Rise at Seven launched the first reactive marketing service driven by live search trends, and believe in multi-channel search realistic to how consumers behave now. Their content marketing case studies is what they're famous for, with 78 awards in a roll top bath to show for it. Carrie is featured on the 30 under 30 Forbes list because of her success.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] A pivotal moment for the agency and an MBO[00:02:30] The emotion of splitting with a business partner[00:05:00] The MBO process[00:07:00] Building a support network to run the business[00:10:40] The development of the product offering and business structure[00:13:20] What do Rise at Seven actually do[00:15:00] Expansion into America[00:21:00] How to improve your SEO[00:25:00] What does the future look like for Rise At Seven?[00:29:00] The key learnings from the business journeyKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Write down the things you can’t do, and get someone in to do them• Structure your teams to generate demand and capture demand• Use your start up momentum as much as possible• Build authority content and trust in your site to improve your Google rankingsBEST MOMENTS“I needed to ensure there was a strategic plan is place”“By the time we split both myself and Stephen were completely burnt out”“I spent two weeks to get a full management team in place”“I structured the agency around the product”“70% of my followers are in the US”“No-one cares about your product; build stories around your product”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://meetglimpse.com/ Website: https://riseatseven.com/ Carrie’s business journey learnings - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lessons-ive-learnt-our-3rd-year-business-scaling-from-carrie-rose/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrieroseballoch/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/riseatseven/ Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/carrierosepr/ Instagram (business): https://www.instagram.com/riseatseven Twitter (personal): https://twitter.com/CarrieRosePR Twitter (business): https://twitter.com/riseatseven Shout out tags: https://connective3.com/ Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the...

Hear how Carrie Rose went from launch to £7.2m turnover in four years, winning 80 awards in two years on the way, how she turned down Lord Sugar, the importance of brand and company culture, the importance of processes and systems, the issues she encountered managing exponential growth and how she copes with managing staff older than herself.There's also a great 'how to', in building your own personal brand.INTRODUCING CARRIE ROSECarrie Rose, is founder and CEO of one of the fastest growing agencies in the UK &amp; US - search-first creative agency Rise at Seven. After working at Branded3, one of the leading SEO agencies at the time, Carrie saw a gap in the industry for brand advertising and SEO to collide. She founded Rise at Seven to push the boundaries in both creative and technical SEO because that’s what is needed to own the most competitive search results. Rise At Seven are now across the UK, Europe and US with clients including SIXT, Bumble, Capital One, Bacardi, PrettyLittleThing, Amazon, Revolution Beauty and more. Rise at Seven launched the first reactive marketing service driven by live search trends, and believe in multi-channel search realistic to how consumers behave now. Their content marketing case studies is what they're famous for, with 78 awards in a roll top bath to show for it. Carrie is featured on the 30 under 30 Forbes list because of her success.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] Introducing Rise at Seven[00:03:30] The launch of Rise at Seven (and Lord Sugar’s offer)[00:08:00] Why and how Rise at Seven exploded[00:12:30] How to manage exponential growth in the business[00:15:30] The importance of brand in creating employment demand[00:18:00] The problems with culture and people that come with fast growth[00:23:45] Expansion into London and Manchester[00:27:30] The issues with employing staff older, and better, than yourself[00:30:00] The ying to Carrie’s yang; Stephen Kenwright[00:32:00] How to build your personal brandKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Swim in the blue ocean not the red ocean (where everyone is)• Apply yourself to what your customers look like• Figure out how you did things, write it down and then use the processes again later• Education is the best sales strategyBEST MOMENTS“I promised the team we’d take them away if we hit £1m. By the time we did we had 80 staff”“I applied for The Apprentice, got down to the last 30 and Lord Sugar offered me investment then and there”“I took fake members of staff to our first pitch to make us look bigger than we were”“It was crazy, every Monday we won an account…”“I spent days writing down the process of how we did everything. And then told the team to 'follow the script'“I haven’t read a CV in four years; it’s about proving your creativity and thinking”“In a time of fast growth I didn’t protect our culture"VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://meetglimpse.com/ Website: https://riseatseven.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrieroseballoch/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/riseatseven/ Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/carrierosepr/ Instagram (business): https://www.instagram.com/riseatseven Twitter (personal): https://twitter.com/CarrieRosePR Twitter (business): https://twitter.com/riseatseven Shout out tags: https://www.mothernutter.co.uk/ Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every...

What does it feel like when you’re the best in the world at something, and then can’t do that anymore? In this week's episode we speak to Rugby League legend Jamie Peacock MBE, who is now a business coach and motivational speaker.Jamie tells us how the skills and habits that took him to the top of the tree can help you in your business, how captaining a team helps with presentation skills and he shares with us how to build confidence (and dealing with Imposter Syndrome) amongst other great adviceINTRODUCING JAMIE PEACOCK MBEJamie Peacock played over 550 Rugby League games over 19 seasons including 49 caps for his country which he captained for 8 years. At the end of his career in 2015 he had become the most decorated player of the modern Super League era winning a total of 9 Grand Finals, 4 Challenge Cup Finals, 4 World Club Challenges as well as being selected in the Super League Dream Team 11 times, the World 13 twice, World’s Best Forward twice and in 2011 he was recognised for his services to the game and awarded an MBE.As well as working in commercial for the Leeds Rhinos and as a Rugby League analyst for the BBC, Jamie now runs a number of successful different enterprises ranging from the Be A Champion Health &amp; Wellbeing programme that over 100,000 people have completed, motivational talks such as ‘Champion Teams’ in which he covers 12 aspects in 3 areas of Self-Performance, Leadership and Team Collective that enable a team to become champions and finally he runs a Building Champions Leadership Coaching program that drives high-performance and builds strong, lasting personal development improvements and leadership habits, companies to have used this program include HSBC, NHS, McDonalds, O2 and Sky Bet.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] The move from sport to the outside world[00:04:00] The early autobiography[00:06:00] The transferable principles from Rugby to coaching[00:08:30] The move to motivational coaching[00:10:30] Team building[00:13:00] ‘Be a Champion’ book and well-being programme[00:16:00] ‘Building Champions’ book[00:18:30] Replacing the dopamine of playing Rugby League[00:21:00] how captaining a team helps with presentation skills[00:22:00] Why Jamie didn’t want to get into Rugby coaching[00:23:00] How to build confidence (and dealing with Imposter Syndrome)KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Be driven by trying to be excellent in what you do• Common ground, common purpose and honest conversations build teams• Positive mindset, sleep well, eat healthily and being active build your mindset armourBEST MOMENTS“I learnt a lot about myself in the 18 months after my career ended”“Microactions that you can do every day make a difference”“I’ve developed the skill of taking a room with me when I’m speaking”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://www.jamiepeacock.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-peacock-mbe-4b2aa746/ Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/jamiepeacock10 Twitter (personal): https://www.x.com/jamiepeacock10 Shout out tags: https://www.theoaklandgroup.co.uk/ Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE...

What does it feel like when you’re moved out of the family business that you’ve run for 25 years? In this week's episode we speak to Michael Michaelson ex-CEO of CLC finance.Michael, very candidly, talks us through what he calls his ‘rags to riches to rags story, how the banks caused him ‘2 years of hell’ and how difficult it can be to finally let go.He talks to us about the importance of people and communicating in the business world plus there’s a great ‘How to’ when it comes to dealing with a crisis. INTRODUCING MICHAEL MICHAELSONMichael Michaelson was formerly Chief Executive of home credit company, CLC Finance, having started in the family business in 1977. He has spent many years working in the property market connecting investors with developers, and also works with J9 Advisory, a specialist independent business advisory firm.Michael is one of the best-connected people in the region's business scene with an enviable 'black book' of contacts.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] The story of CLC Finance from launch to leaving it[00:11:00] The move from selling door-to-door into money lending[00:12:00] The problems that come with expanding too quickly[00:13:50] How to deal with bad debt and the importance of customer knowledge[00:17:00] The difference between loan sharks and regulated home collecting credit lenders[00:19:00] 2008, the financial crisis and the trauma of ‘special measures’[00:23:00] The sadness of getting moved into a non-executive role[00:28:30] Re-building Michael’s role since the exit from the business[00:32:00] The importance of confidence in business and where do you turn to for support[00:34:00] How to cope with a business crisisKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• The challenge when growing a business geographically is that you had the right management and team on the ground• Confidence is very important in business• Don’t suffer alone. Find yourself a sounding boardBEST MOMENTS“From being a friend of the bank, you are suddenly at war with them”“I felt desperately sad when I was asked to step out of the business”“Being a Non-exec Director in your own business is not easy”“When I left CLC I knew nothing of the world”“I’m good at helping business. I want to help people”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: https://www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://www.j9advisory.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmichaelson https://www.linkedin.com/company/j9-advisory/ Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/michaelson7m Instagram (business): https://www.instagram.com/j9advisory Twitter (business): https://twitter.com/J9advisory Shout outs: https://www.fxprintandstationery.co.uk/ https://www.apollo3d.co.uk/ Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcastDON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show at either• Apple Podcasts App (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leeds-business-podcast/id1695413291)or • Podchaser (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/leeds-business-podcast-5389157) or• a 5 star review at Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/66AeIYry1gWfmBYMDlfmrT)or• give this episode a ’thumbs up’ on YouTube...

In this week's episode we speak to Zandra Moore, CEO of PanIntelligence.Zandra shares with us a super cheap and really effective marketing tactic that she used and that can get your business noticed, the triggers that brought about a successful Series A funding round, why she didn’t change her business card when she was promoted to CEO, the key role an incubator played in her journey and the need for support and structures for female founders.Plus there’s a great ‘How to’ when it comes to taking a business step you’re afraid of. INTRODUCING ZANDRA MOOREZandra Moore is a tech entrepreneur in data and AI, who is passionate about enabling more women in the tech industry.The Co-founder and CEO of PanIntelligence, the No Code Lab, and LeanIn Leeds. Zandra is also involved in a number of other UK organisations focused on increasing female representation in the tech industry. She is also a member of the UK Government’s taskforce for diversity in fast growth companies. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] The journey to PanCredit[00:03:00] The MBO/Spin out of PanIntelligence[00:09:00] The feelings behind the step from employee to start up[00:14:00] How the sales started (via old school marketing!)[00:16:30] The major growth landmark and the importance of the channel model[00:21:00] Raising capital, what triggered it and the process[00:26:50] The scary step from Sales &amp; Marketing Director to CEO[00:29:45] Incubators, peer-groups and workshops, and their importance in the journey[00:33:00] The decision on which investors to go with[00:37:30] Female founders and the need &amp; importance for support and change[00:45:00} How to do something that you’re afraid to doKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Personalisation is the key to getting anyone’s attention• It's super hard to hire when you are a start up• Understand who your ideal customer is, be ruthless speaking to only that profile, research them, write them a letter and then pick up the phone• If you’re looking to raise Series A funds, get on an incubator and meet other Founders who have• Be vulnerable enough to say “I’m struggling with this” and get support• Create competitive tension when looking for investment• Shy Bairns get Nowt• Stage-commensurate support is what’s needed – the right support, for the right people, at the right time• Growth begins at the end of your comfort zone• Solve problems by chunking them downBEST MOMENTS“I emptied my savings to buy the IP”“It was super-hard to do the basics like getting a bank account”“When you send people a hand-written letter with a stamp on it, they remember it”“Joining the PWC incubator was the best thing I ever did”“I didn’t change my job title on my email for three months”“The best thing that I got out of the incubator was meeting the wider investment community”“Even though we pitched to London funds, the final 6 offers came from the North”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/ Website: https://panintelligence.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zandramoore/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/panintelligence/Instagram (business): https://www.instagram.com/panintelligencesoftware/ Twitter (personal): https://twitter.com/zandramooreTwitter (business): https://twitter.com/panintelligenceShout out tags: https://www.thedatarefinery.co.uk/Mentioned; https://www.adaventures.com/, https://www.fintechnorth.uk/, https://www.liftedventures.co.uk/ Want to watch...

For this week's episode, we took the time to look at the highlights from episodes 11 - 20.£20m businesses crashing.... identifying the perfect business.... an amazing new business pitch.... how to be a great boss.... drug-dealing arrests and more....There are some great learnings and fascinating business tales.If you've not yet listened to an episode, or have but missed a few, give this one a listen. Have a watch or listen;If you'd like to listen to, or watch, the whole episode of any of the guests featured, you can find them at;https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/howard-moss/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/david-richmond/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/adam-smith/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/paul-dodd-allgood/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/leej-walker/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jacob-hill/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/martin-wolstencroft/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/russell-bisset/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/alex-craven/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/alex-craven-datacity/To make sure you don't miss out on all new episodes, sign up for our Priority List at www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com. Everyone that signs up gets a FREE gift to help their business.Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show at eitherApple Podcasts App (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leeds-business-podcast/id1695413291)or Podchaser (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/leeds-business-podcast-5389157) ora 5 star review at Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/66AeIYry1gWfmBYMDlfmrT)orgive this episode a ’thumbs up’ on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast)SOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/leedspodInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/leedsbusinesspodcast/ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit. As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them to be better at what they do. Phil’s mantra is It doesn’t need to be ‘lonely at the top’. He helps Business Owners to be better business owners, by helping with their clarity and focus. As a Business Sounding Board, he gives SME Owners the time &amp; space to regularly discuss their challenges and opportunities, with no sense of judgement or bias, and in complete confidence. This allows them to explore their options in full, culminating with a list of issues to address/clarify, a clear target in mind, a roadmap to success, and a renewed enthusiasm and confidence for the challenges ahead.Phil has appeared as a guest on over 60 podcasts, webinars and interviews, from around the whole globe, talking on a variety of business subjects. You can view them all at https://philfraser.co.uk/watch-hear-phil/.LEEDS BUSINESS PODCASTLeeds, Yorkshire, Leeds Business, Business in Leeds, Business Podcast, Nous of...

For this week's episode, we took the time to look at the highlights from episodes 1-10.Perfect business plans.... the Simon Cowell effect.... bootstrapping.... how to run a tech project when you're not a techie.... 'tweaking' pre-launch customer research... not being first to market... the problems of Brexit and more....There are some great learnings and fascinating business tales.If you've not yet listened to an episode, or have but missed a few, give this one a listen. Have a watch or listen;If you'd like to listen to, or watch, the whole episode of any of the guests featured, you can find them at;https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/linda-plant/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/ajaz-ahmed/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/richard-flint/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/james-brown/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-biskery/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jane-slimming/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/simon-gray/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/stuart-clarke/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/chris-black/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/helen-oldham/To make sure you don't miss out on all new episodes, sign up for our Priority List at www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com. Everyone that signs up gets a FREE gift to help their business.Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel -&nbsp; https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show at eitherApple Podcasts App (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leeds-business-podcast/id1695413291)or&nbsp;Podchaser (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/leeds-business-podcast-5389157)&nbsp;ora 5 star review at Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/66AeIYry1gWfmBYMDlfmrT)orgive this episode a ’thumbs up’ on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast)SOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/leedspodInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/leedsbusinesspodcast/ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.&nbsp;As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra...

In this week's episode we speak to Alex Craven, CEO and Co-founder, founder of The Data City.Alex tells us about the sale of Bloom Agency, the harsh lessons learnt when selling a business, how and why the business sale went so badly wrong, half a million pounds worth of contracts without trying with his new business, data City and how ADHD and the risks it encouraged affected Alex’s business journeyINTRODUCING ALEX CRAVENAlex founded a digital agency and MarTech company in 1999 and sold in 2016, Alex has been pioneering applications of new technology throughout his career and is now CEO of The Data City, a tech start-up that uses machine learning to map the global economy for government and the private sector. Alex is active member of the digital / tech community, regularly speaking at events, judging awards, providing Non-exec advisory services and is also the Chair of web 3 start up ‘Pooldata.io’. Alex is a champion of diversity and inclusion and is passionate about raising awareness around neurodiversity and Entrepreneurship.Listen to the first half of this interview at https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/episode/alex-cravenEPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] The sale of Bloom Agency[00:05:15] The key lessons learnt from the sale process and the problems afterwards[00:09:00] Jaywing and the departure from there[00:13:50] The launch of Data City[00:22:00] How to innovate within your business[00:28:00] How ADHD affected Alex’s whole business journeyKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSDue diligence in the sale process is a two-way process - it is as important for you to check them out as they to check youThe sale price is the first payment. If that isn’t enough don’t do the deal. 90% of earnouts don’t happenFounders have two problems; the first is a people problem and the second is the time it takes to identify that they have a people problemBEST MOMENTS“We shouldn’t have to sold to them, and they shouldn’t have bought us”“I was met at the door by one of the directors, escorted to his office, escorted to my office and the escorted out. I couldn’t help but laugh”“I am unemployable”“I don’t see it as risk, I just see it as an opportunity to get through”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://thedatacity.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-craven-17b1441/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-data-city/ Twitter (personal): https://twitter.com/AlexCraven Twitter (business): https://twitter.com/TheDataCity Shout outs: https://wac.rocks/ https://www.roberts-mart.co.uk/ https://claritywealth.co.uk/ Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show at eitherApple Podcasts App (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leeds-business-podcast/id1695413291)or Podchaser (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/leeds-business-podcast-5389157) ora 5 star review at Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/66AeIYry1gWfmBYMDlfmrT)orgive this episode a ’thumbs up’ on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast)SOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/leedspodInstagram -...

In this week's episode we speak to Alex Craven, ex-Founder of Bloom Agency and now CEO and co-founder of The Data City.Alex tells us about the launch of his first business, Bloom Agency, one of the first digital businesses in the UK, ​w​hat Alex describes as a mind-bending receivership meeting​, getting rid of 385/400 clients​ and the huge growth triggered by 2008 financial crash​.INTRODUCING ALEX CRAVENAlex founded a digital agency and MarTech company in 1999 and sold in 2016, Alex has been pioneering applications of new technology throughout his career and is now CEO of The Data City, a tech start-up that uses machine learning to map the global economy for government and the private sector. Alex is active member of the digital / tech community, regularly speaking at events, judging awards, providing Non-exec advisory services and is also the Chair of web 3 start up ‘Pooldata.io’. Alex is a champion of diversity and inclusion and is passionate about raising awareness around neurodiversity and Entrepreneurship.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] Where the idea for a digital agency came from[00:03:00] A mind-bending receivership meeting[00:09:30] The benefits of a Chairperson in your business and the importance of accountability[00:14:00] Getting rid of most of our clients&nbsp;[00:18:00] Scaling the business (through innovation)[00:24:00] The issues related to setting up an office in AustraliaKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSYou need the benefit of grey hair in your businessGoing that extra mile will win you the businessSurround yourself with a strong management teamBEST MOMENTS“I assume you’re not a man of means…”“We were so early in social media that we went to an awards ceremony and were in a category of one.. And won”“We got rid of 385 of 400 of our clients”“The 2008 financial crash was really good for us; it doubled our turnover”“We won the business because we went the extra mile”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;Website: https://thedatacity.com/&nbsp;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-craven-17b1441/&nbsp; https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-data-city/&nbsp;Twitter (personal): https://twitter.com/AlexCraven&nbsp;Twitter (business): https://twitter.com/TheDataCity&nbsp;Shout out tags: https://wac.rocks/&nbsp;Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel -&nbsp; https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show at eitherApple Podcasts App (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leeds-business-podcast/id1695413291" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

In this week's episode we speak to Russell Bisset, founder of Northern Monk brewery.Russell explains to us the key role his Grandmother played in launching the business, the importance of collaboration in business, particularly in the early days and the different challenges that direct to customer, off-trade and on-trade bring. He also shares with us his ‘Apprentice Challenge’ solution to big business problems.And he explains how a focused brand positioning can help your business to thrive.INTRODUCING RUSSELL BISSETRussell Bisset is the Founder and Managing Director of the Northern Monk Brewery in Leeds. After an early career in chemicals, In 2008, he entered a youngentrepreneurs competition with an idea: Northern Monk. But it would still take a few years to really get going. The idea was given life in 2013 when Granny Bisset sold her house and downsized, gifting £5K to all of her grandchildren with the proceeds. After meeting head brewer Brian Dickson at a beer festival they realised they had a shared dream of a proper northern brewery. The pair brewed small amounts of beer in a damp cellar in Bradford, using other breweries’ kits, and sold their beers at local farmers markets. After three months of selling IPAs between gazebos laden with cheese and handmade soaps, they attracted an initial investment. In 2014, Northern Monk was truly born. their own brewery was set up in a Grade II listed abandoned building in Leeds.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:04:00] Where the idea for Northern Monk came from[00:07:30] The initial launch of the idea and cuckoo brewing’[00:10:00] The importance of drinking experience and collaborations in early marketing[00:14:00] Initial funding and subsequent investors[00:17:30] The increase in the brand range and the successes and learnings[00:21:00] The benefits and challenges of expanding into a venue and events[00:24:30] The first steps into retail sales and the issues it brings[00:28:00] Covid and the challenges and opportunities it brought[00:33:30] Post-Covid challenges[00:39:30] How to distill and project your brand essence KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSIt takes a village to raise a child - make sure you networkCollaborations are highly recommended Focus in business is very important - don’t lose itReflect on why you started your business and your valuesBEST MOMENTS“We said we’d pay our graphic design agency when we hit £2m turnover. They were pleasantly surprised when we did. It was a proud moment when we started repaying them.”“The first steps into retail were through Mark’s &amp; Spencer’s (obviously a Leeds company”“I told the team to look at Covid as an Apprentice challenge”“We stayed open as we were viewed as an ‘essential supplier’ during Covid”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://www.northernmonk.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-bisset-2b935419Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/russellbisset Instagram (business): https://www.instagram.com/northernmonk Twitter (personal): https://www.x.com/NMBCoRuss Twitter (business): https://www.x.com/NMBCo Shout out tags: https://www.bundobust.com https://www.hellohouseoffu.com Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel; https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every...

This week we speak to Martin Wolstencroft, Founder &amp; CEO of the company behind Banyan, Manahatta or Box.Amongst other things, Martin discusses the four features you must have to ensure your business is a success. He also tells us how he re-mortgaged his house and put EVERYTHING on the line to launch his first bar in Headingley, why and how he streamlined 10 different bars into three distinct but complimentary brands, his advice, and questions, for anyone wanting to run their own business and more….INTRODUCING MARTIN WOLSTENCROFTMartin started his career with Whitbread in 1990 after graduating from Leeds University, starting out as their youngest manager and being promoted rapidly through key operations and marketing roles.Martin co-founded Arc Inspirations in 2000 and opened the first bar under the brand, the Arc, in Headingley, Leeds.Arc Inspirations now operates around 20 premium bars across the Midlands and the North of England, under the brands of Banyan Bar &amp; Kitchen, BOX and Manahatta. He has a fantastic passion for the industry and his energy is contagious, proving to be an outstanding respected leader over the past 30 years.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] Why and how Martin launched his own business[00:09:00] The expansion plans[00:14:00] How to create a bar brand[00:17:00] The move to three streamlined brands[00:19:00] Dealing with Covid[00:26:00] The upsides from Covid[00:29:00] The issues arising from a growing geographical spread of bars[00:33:00] How to determine whether your business idea is any good[00:40:00] The hardest part of the business journeyKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSWhen you get the door slammed in your face, have the courage to go back and say ‘can we have another chat, please’Business growth is often about confidence and momentumInvestors like simple repeatable modelsCash in a bar business is a real negativeConsistency of delivery of customer experience is key to a chain of barsFind your Ikigai to ensure your business is a successBEST MOMENTS“Don’t launch your own business… stay where you are. Don’t do it !! ““I speak to a lot of people who want to launch their own business and I look them in the eyes and say ‘how much money are you going to put in?”“Designing a bar or restaurant starts with a passion. What’s your passion?”“Covid gave us a chance to step back and think about the business““Start a business with something you really love”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: http://www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;Ikigai - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai&nbsp;Website: https://www.arcinspirations.com/&nbsp;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-wolstencroft-aaa287b/&nbsp;https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-inspirations/&nbsp;Instagram (business): https://www.instagram.com/arc_inspirations/&nbsp;Twitter (personal): https://twitter.com/wullybull&nbsp;Twitter (business): <a...

In this week’s podcast we meet Jacob Hill, MD of Offploy. Jacob tells us all about his start-up at the age of 19 that brought him business awards and £300,000 of angel investment but also talks about the mistakes made that brought it all crashing down.He then shares with us the story of his arrest and subsequent prison sentence that changed his life forever, and the positives that have subsequently come from it.He also explains how you can access a pool of top quality staff with exceptional levels of motivation &amp; loyalty at a fraction of market salaries.This is a true ‘business rollercoaster’ journey.INTRODUCING JACOB HILLAs the son of two police officers, Jacob was brought up ‘on the right side of tracks’. He was forever taught right from wrong, given every opportunity in life and encouraged to pursue his dreams.&nbsp;It wasn’t until his first business, The Lazy Camper, went into financial ruin that he made a choice to sell drugs at a music festival. He was arrested and sentenced to 28 months in prison. He thought he wouldn’t be a ‘typical’ prisoner but when he was in there he met so many individuals from all walks of life who had made poor choices and ended up in the same place. It was the people inside prison who didn’t think any employer would take them seriously despite their eagerness to find work that inspired him to start Offploy.Jacob believes that if an employer met someone and listened to their story they could probably relate to it and would find it easier to look beyond most convictions. Someone gave him a second chance on his release and he hopes to be able to do the same for others coming out of prison too. Jacob formed Offploy after his release from prison. He wrote the plan for the business from his prison cell and has since gone on to employ a team of 30 who have supported over 3,000 socially excluded people throughout the UK. As well as being Managing Director at Offploy, Jacob is also a member of the Board at Social Value UK.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] The start-up idea as a 19 year old&nbsp;[00:03:00] Funding the start-up idea and the execution of it[00:09:00] Why the business failed (and the lessons learnt)[00:13:00] The spiral into getting arrested[00:20:00] A 28 month prison sentence[00:35:00] The launch of Offploy and how it helps people[00:39:00] Hiring people with criminal convictions - advice &amp; a guide - and how it helps youKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSPeople have a thousand ideas a day but the execution and the charisma behind those ideas is worth so much moreAsking for help is so much better than trying to work it out yourselfIf you live a life of service, you’ll be content for the rest of your lifeThink ABCD…..Any job, best job, career, dream jobIn a post-pandemic, post-Brexit world we cannot avoid (or ignore) hiring people with convictions&nbsp;When we hire someone with a conviction, after 6 months society saves almost £24,000Hiring those with criminal convictions is a great business case and a great social caseBEST MOMENTS“Business for me was my passion”“One of my investors eventually said I was all fur coat and no knickers… which was a little unfair”“We expected a million pounds of sales and got around £90,000 of sales”“I felt I was indestructible, I didn’t ask for help, I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong. I had all the arrogance and belief that I can do anything”“I was working my dissertation as much as possible because I could have been locked away at any time”“I was one of only a few people who was in that prison out of choice rather than desperation”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR...

In this week's episode we speak to Lee-J Walker, joint MD at TheBusinessDesk.com.Lee explains to us the essential business skills learnt from being an engineer AND an army reservist, the importance of understanding different cultures when doing business internationally and, from his own experiences, what to look out for when doing an MBO.He also tells us why 3.5million people per year read the BusinessDesk.com, what their business mode is (its ACE by the way), and how The Business Desk was affected by, and then responded to, the COVID pandemic..INTRODUCING LEE-J WALKERLee-J Walker is an experienced senior manager who has worked across the UK and the Middle East within the world of on-line advertising and recruitment. Prior to joining TheBusinessDesk.com, Lee-J was based in Dubai working for the $22bn turnover global recruitment company Manpower Inc as the regional group sales manager for the Gulf, more forward to now, he heads up the commercial and financial operations for TheBusinessDesk.com, the leading regional digital business news media that provides daily, weekly and as it happens business news to senior executives across the North, Midlands and South West.&nbsp;Lee-J is hugely experienced at driving revenues, operations and his Linkedin bio says he ‘makes things happen!’&nbsp;In his personal time, he used to take to the more adventures of life, including travelling, mountaineering, completing Ironman triathlons and cycling but nowadays opts more for fine dining, walking and pub lunches. He also spends a considerable amount of time helping charities raise funds and raises tens of thousands each year across TheBusinesDesk events but also sits as a board member of the Firecracker ball which is responsible for raising hundreds of thousands each year for Barnardos.&nbsp;VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;Website: https://www.thebusinessdesk.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walkerleej/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebusinessdesk.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessdeskuk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessDesk_YKShout out tags: https://curveblock.io/Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel -&nbsp; https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show at eitherApple Podcasts App (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leeds-business-podcast/id1695413291)or&nbsp;Podchaser (<a href="https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/leeds-business-podcast-5389157" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

In this episode we talk to Founder and Owner of AllGood branding agency.Along with his near-fatal brain haemorrhage, Paul talks to us about the power of NLP, why his branding agency only offers clients one design option, how a masterful example of business creativity in a cinema visit won a client pitch, gives us some tips on business networking and explains how DIY on your house can be an inspiration for your business.INTRODUCING PAUL DODDPaul Dodd is the founder of ALLGOOD, a specialist branding agency. With extensive experience in branding, strategy and marketing, Pail ensures all clients’ work actually works. The agency turns 20 years old in November 2023 and Paul has been running the show from day one, bringing his unique design eye and ideas to every branding challenge.Paul is also a professional speaker with bags of ideas and tricks for marketing your business. Through his 20 years running a successful agency, Paul is able to draw on many client stories, marketing expertise and real-life case studies to make you challenge your beliefs around growing your business.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] The start of AllGood[00:05:45] Tips for networking[00:07:00] Learning how to run a business[00:11:15] The benefits of mentors and my mentors[00:14:00] NLP and how it moulds the company’s ‘brandology’ process[00:21:00] Presenting a pitch in a cinema&nbsp;[00:29:00] 27th January 2017; a brain haemorrhage&nbsp;[00:42:00] How to get your business ‘client-presentation ready’KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSNetworking is about starting a relationship, not sellingYour agency is the expert, and they diagnose your best solutionWhat would happen to your business if you were incapacitated tomorrow?Constantly keep your business ‘client-facing’ readyBEST MOMENTS“One of my techniques was [when networking] to where crazy shirts to stand out, and then got known for my mad shirts”“The linguistic side of NLP really helped the business, allowing us to dig into strategy”“We only present one option to the client - you don’t go to the doctor, and he puts 3 pills on table and says ‘choose one’ ““In the cinema the guy just said, here’s the HDMI cable, just plug it into your laptop”“you lie in that bed, you do not move, you’re in danger”“If I’d been employed I would have had a sick note for a year”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;The Biskery episode - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-biskery/Deborah Ogden’s interview with Paul Dodd and his brain hemorrhage - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/10f6018f-4e33-402d-8fc1-17b7a7a2710dBook recommendations: ‘The e-myth’ - Michael Gerber, ‘7 habits of success people’ - Stephen CoveyWebsite: https://allgood.tvLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldoddallgood/Instagram (business): https://www.instagram.com/allgoodagency/Twitter (personal): https://twitter.com/mrpauldoddShout out tags: https://thebiskery.com&nbsp;Debbie Whittaker - https://www.notjustnumbersltd.co.uk/Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel -&nbsp; https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR...

In this week's episode we speak to Adam Smith, CEO of Surplus to Purpose.Hear how an almost successful suicide attempt took Adam to Australia and opened his eyes to the global food waste problem, how he went about solving it, first with the worldwide Real Junk Food Project and now Surplus To Purpose; a pro-planet social enterprise.You'll also hear about the toxicity of the hospitality industry, why waste food is a environmental issue not a poverty issue, and how YOU can support it, and a key lesson on delegation.INTRODUCING ADAM SMITHAdam Smith is a founder and co-director of the multi-award-winning, global initiative: The Real Junk Food Project. Set up in December 2013, to revolutionise the disposal of avoidable food waste into landfill, the pioneering movement’s manifesto is to: feed bellies, not bins.A professional chef for over ten years, Adam has held a wealth of head chef positions, internationally. Whilst in Australia, Adam witnessed the scale of food waste, agriculturally and within the catering industry. Upon his return to the UK, he was inspired to set up TRJFP.In 2014,Adam was voted one of the 40 most influential men in the world by AskMen. The Telegraph voted Adam as one of the 50th most influential people in UK Food &amp; Drink – Food &amp; Drink Power List 2017.&nbsp;In 2022, Adam was appointed as CEO of Surplus To Purpose, SToP, a revolutionary catering enterprise. Surplus to Purpose utilises food destined for waste, by safely redistributing this through cooked meals, products and provisions to families. It focuses on the environmental issues of food waste. His alias is Mr Junk Food Chef and his story is utterly inspiring.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:03:00] Suicide attempt leads to going to Australia[00:06:45] The toxicity of the catering and hospitality industry[00:10:00] The birth and growth of the Real Junk Food Project[00:26:00] The implosion to the The Real Junk Food Project[00:33:00] The launch of Surplus To Purpose[00:46:00] How to delegateKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSYou chose to take opportunities in business, or notWaste food is a environmental issue not a poverty issueWe grow 6000 calories per person per day on the planetDelegation is the key to success‘Aces in places’ - put your strongest people in the most important placesBEST MOMENTS“I made a very serious attempt to take my own life and was pronounced dead at the scene”“I would encourage everybody to learn how to cook, cook at home make mistakes and learn from them”“Food waste is an environmental issue and poverty is a social issue. They are two separate things”“I could write a book on how not to run a social enterprise”“I’m here to stop waste, not to feed people”“We’ve fed 20 million people around the world”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;Adam’s TedX Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcwCt_8pXb4The original Guardian interview - https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/video/2014/mar/27/cafe-food-past-sell-by-date-videoWebsite: http://www.surplus2purpose.com/ https://mrjunkfoodchef.com/LinkedIn:...

In this week’s episode we speak to David Richmond who tells us about growing a one-man sticker company into a 500 person mega-business serving the likes of Argos and the government and how a costly error triggered its sale. He also shares how a drink in a swimming pool sparked the launch of a nationwide taxi firm and how Covid destroyed it all. And he ends with how that actually gave birth to his latest business, Batch'd. He also teaches us how to stay positive as a business owner.INTRODUCING DAVID RICHMONDDavid Richmond founded Scorpio Products in 1986 as a print brokers, specialising in character stickers. This later became Scorpio Print Finishing, which, at the time of its sale in 2003, was producing over a billion magazines a year for clients including Argos and the UK census.He then purchased two Leeds taxi firms in 2004 building Arrow Taxis into the largest airport taxi company, and the UK’s 3rd largest taxi company (excluding Uber). It was decimated by Covid. During the pandemic he used the drivers and cars as a food delivery service which he called ArrowFresh, which in turn, morphed into Batch’d, which today has 25 stores nationwide selling sweet treats. In 2004 he was part of the ‘Krasner Consortium’ that bought Leeds United, following the club’s infamous financial meltdown under Peter Ridsdale.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] Disney, Garfield and The Simpsons and the growth of Scorpio Print[00:03:00] How a visit from the BBC sparked a change in the business[00:08:00] The seven week sale of Scorpio Print&nbsp;[00:10:00] How a holiday in South Africa triggered the entry into the taxi business[00:12:00] Leeds Bradford airport and the growth of Arrow Cars[00:18:00] The destruction of Arrow Cars by Covid[00:26:15] The birth of Batch’d[00.31:00] How to stay positiveKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSIt’s all about selling yourself and selling a visionStay within your own skillset as a business ownerTo have the basis of a good business you have to do business basics properlyYou have to stay positive throughout. You can’t blame others. Don’t look back.Don’t be scared of making a mistakeBEST MOMENTS“We re-branded the next door printers as ours for a visit by the BBC”“We made a £300,000 mistake”“I’m just popping out to look at something….” (returning with two taxi firms)“I banged the door down at Leeds Bradford airport”“The losses were violent and quick”“We were the first industry to close and the last to re-open”“We built a website for Arrow Fresh in 24 hours”“I can’t influence yesterday, but I can influence tomorrow”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.comWebsite: https://www.batchd.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-richmond-a5a5a797, https://www.linkedin.com/company/batchduk/Instagram (business): https://www.instagram.com/batchduk/Shout out tags: https://www.linkedin.com/company/equals-one-ltd/https://www.equalsone.co.uk/Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel -&nbsp;

In this week's episode we speak to Howard Moss, Owner &amp; CEO of Astonish.Howard explains how the company, founded by his passionate and entrepreneurial father, has developed from the ‘panic &amp; chaos of early days’ on Meanwood Road to competing with the likes of P&amp;G and Unilever. He tells us how installing basic processes moved the company forward, introduces us to a legendary sales person, Mike Alan, and explains how you go about expanding a product range.He also teaches us, in 3 simple steps, how to be a great business owner.INTRODUCING HOWARD MOSSHoward Moss is the Chief Executive of The London Oil Refining company, manufacturing household and personal care cleaning products under the brands of Astonish and Moss &amp; Adams. Born and bred in Leeds, Howard has catapulted the company to great success, with 25% growth year-on-year,&nbsp; supplying ethical and eco products to Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Aldi, Home Bargains, Lidl and more.The company is committed to a sustainable manufacturing and production process and was awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise in 2022.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02:00] How the company started[00:07:15] The development of the business[00:13:00] Fulfilling customer demand and expanding distribution channels[00:16:00] The expansion of the product range&nbsp;[00:17:00] How do you expand a product range?[00:20:30] Competing with P&amp;G or Unilever[00:24:00] Manufacturing from brief all the way to shelf[00:30:00] Learnings from mistakes in the business[00:35:00] 3 key tenets in being a great business owner[00:37:00] The benefits of sponsoring Leeds UnitedKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSThe importance of ensuring components being in place before starting production&nbsp;You can’t rely on only having one productSpeed to market can beat the big boysIf business was that simple everyone would be doing it&nbsp;Don't be too proud to admit mistakes and put them right asapRecruit by values not just what’s on the CVYou have to have great self-belief to be a successful entrepreneur&nbsp;BEST MOMENTS“As an interim I started out to temporarily help my Dad and it wasn’t planned to be my career”“When I started there was zero process”“ There always seemed to be an immense amount of panic on”“ We were one of the first companies to use a brand name on separate categories”“We’ve always stayed true to what we believe; best in class product and true value for money”“Evolution doesn’t just mean new products…we have to also underperforming products”“once we transferred a user, we know we have a loyal customer”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOURelevant links from the show, recommended Leeds businessWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;Website: https://astonish.co.uk/&nbsp;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astonish-cleaners-379323125/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astonishcleanersTwitter: https://twitter.com/astonishcleanerWant to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel -&nbsp; https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode...

In this week’s podcast we speak to Helen Oldham, Board Director at the UK Business Angels Association. Helen discusses how she moved the two major Leeds newspapers out of the iconic Yorkshire Post building and the challenges (and learnings) that that brought, shares loads of great information for investors and entrepreneurs in the early stage investment landscape and teaches us what should be in the perfect angel investment pitch deck.And if you’re looking for a Non-Exec Director, she tells us how you identify the perfect one for your business.INTRODUCING HELEN OLDHAMHelen is a Board member for the UK Business Angels Association, the national body for angel investing in the UK, and a Founding Board Director of NorthInvest, a multi award winning Angel network serving the Northern Powerhouse region.In 2020 she founded Fund Her North, a collective of 28 women in VCs and angel groups who support female founders to get equal access to finance.&nbsp;In the third sector Helen is Co Chair of the Trustees for Smart Works Leeds, a charity which provides coaching and clothing to unemployed women with a remarkable success rate of 65%+. She also holds various advisory and NED positions.Prior to this Helen was Chief Publishing Officer and Managing Director of the Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman at JPI Media.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] Helen’s early career[00:04:00] Moving out of the iconic Yorkshire Post building and the cultural and structural changes it brought[00:08:00] The skills a business owner needs to make things happen[00:10:30] How to manage major business change[00:12:00] The importance of mentors and three great tips[00:16:00] How to build an effective angel network[00:19:00] How NorthInvest came about[00:22:00] Smartworks, the national women’s employment charity[00:28:30] Top tips for businesses looking for angel investment[00:33:00] Top tips for potential Angel Investors[00:38:00] How to put an angel investment pitch deck together[00:46:00] What skills should you look for in a Non-Exec DirectorKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSYou can only make major successful changes with a really good team around youYour first job in a (senior) new role is to a lot of active listeningListen to suggested solutions from the team to problemsAt times of change ensure you are communicating regularly&nbsp;Think about your communication style and who you communicate toFemale angel investors are more likely to back female foundersAsk yourself, “is Angel investment right for you at this point in time?”Start looking for angel investment 6 months before you need itYou don’t need huge amounts of money to be an Angel InvestorWhen looking for a NED, start with a skills audit of your boardBEST MOMENTS“We relocated all of the staff out of the Yorkshire Post building in a record four months”“I decided on a major restructure of the YP and YEP and it hit the national news”“explaining how changes will affect individuals is vital to retain trust”“If someone says, “Helen there’s no way you’re going to do this that makes me determined to make sure we actually get there in the end”“If you say something to one person, you have to assume everyone will get a version of that”“50% of the businesses backed by NorthInvest were not revenue-generative”“Typically when the economy tightens up, that’s when the greatest innovation happens”“Don’t forget when looking for investment, people are interested in people”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: <a...

We speak to Chris Black, Managing Director of Sound Leisure, who are the manufacturers of one of the coolest products coming out of Leeds… jukeboxes!Chris explains how a broken piece of electronics inspired the launch of the business over 50 years ago. He also shares with us the ups and downs of running a family business, how Brexit, then Covid, almost destroyed the business, the way the pub smoking ban inspired the creation of a new product division in the company and the fascinating ebb &amp; flow of vinyl, CD and digital music in the business.He also gives us a passionate explanation as to why we should encourage youngsters into a career in manufacturing. Plus you’ll also get an invite to tour the jukebox factory to see these wonderful machines and how they are built.INTRODUCING CHRIS BLACKChris Black joined the family business in June 1986, initially intending this to be for the duration of the 6 weeks summer holidays prior to enrolling for a painting &amp; decorating course. However, 37 years later and having worked his way through most of the divisions within the company he is now Managing Director. Chris works alongside his father, who founded the business in 1978, his wife, brother and eldest son and along with 70 team members manufactures a range of Classic styles&nbsp;Jukeboxes that grace some of the world’s finest locations. In addition to manufacturing Sound Leisure also supplies over 1,300 hospitality venues with jukeboxes and Back ground music systems and has a children’s play division that supplies a wide range of sectors from airports to the NHS.As a family business Chris believes passionately in supporting the local community, apprenticeships and working alongside schools and colleges to promote manufacturing and exporting within the region. Chris is a Northern Powerhouse Export Champion and has recently been voted in as the president of Leeds Chamber of Commerce.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02:30] Why jukeboxes?[00:04:45] The pros and cons of working in a family business[00:09:00] Vinyl, CDs and digital music[00:16:45] How the smoking ban brought around a new division[00:00:00] The effect of Covid on the business[00:24:30] The problems Brexit brought[00:28:00] How to enjoy, and get the most, out of your business[00:35:00] The importance of manufacturing to Leeds and the UK[00:41:00] Book a tour around the jukebox factoryKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSYou got to have a differential between home life and workThink about changes in legislation can bring opportunities, rather than problemsSurround yourself with good people&nbsp;Find something you enjoy to give you downtime from the businessEveryone should have a good non-exec board around themLeeds is the third biggest manufacturing zone in the UKBEST MOMENTS“Eddie put his hands in his pocket for £80k on a handshake with no contract to start the business”“In 1980 we made our first vinyl playing jukebox. It 1982 Phillips and Sony launched the CD”“If someone tells me I can’t do something, I’ll prove them wrong”“With the vinyl revival we had to go into one of our sheds and pull out an old machine”“I don’t care what anybody says Brexit is a pain. It’s cost the business a lot of money“VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;Website: https://soundleisure.com/Book a factory tour: https://soundleisure.com/book-a-tour/LinkedIn: <a...

In this week's episode we speak to Stuart Clarke MBE, Festival Director for the Leeds Digital Festival and Owner of Paceline Strategy &amp; PR.Stuart explains to us what start ups and scale ups most need, how and when to (or not to) source external funding, how the Leeds Tech map came about and all about the amazing annual Leeds Digital Festival. He also talks about how to build a community.INTRODUCING STUART CLARKEStuart Clarke MBE is the founder of Paceline marketing and PR consultancy, working with startup and scaleup firms in the tech sector. He is a non-executive director and adviser to a number of startups, including Jigsaw, Synap and The Grad Soc, and has helped firms to raise funds through crowdfunding, angels and VCs. Stuart also runs the PARSE peer roundtable programme for startup founders and is the creator of the Leeds Tech Map.&nbsp;He is the co-founder and the Festival Director of the Leeds Digital Festival, the largest open tech event in the UK. The 2023 Festival had over 240 events, celebrating all things digital.&nbsp;The annual Tech Nation report saw him named by startups as the most influential person in Leeds; he was also named as one of the top three digital leaders in the UK in the Digital Leaders DL100, as well as the City Region Leader: Leeds in the Northern Leadership Awards, and featured in the 2022 Yorkshire Business Insider Powerlist 100.&nbsp;Stuart was awarded the honour of MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours list for Services to the Technology Sector.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02:00] How Paceline launched and the focus on tech, start ups and scale ups[00:07:30] The hardest part of running your own business[00:09.15] What do start ups and scale ups most need[00:11:45] PARSE peer-to-peer roundtable support[00:16:00] When does a start up or scale up need funding?[00:21:45] The Leeds Digital map[00:27:15] Leeds Digital Festival[00:31:30] How to build a communityKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSIt’s all about culture with recruitment; will the person fit, both with the client and the teamSpeaking opportunities are a great way for scale ups to show how they are differentOne of the main reasons startups fail is that they run out of time, not moneyIf you don’t need to raise money, don’t raise moneyThere is a dynamic, forward thinking tech community in LeedsCommunity is all about rising tides raising all boatsYou don’t want to live in London, you want to come and live in Leeds - it’s the digital capital of the NorthBEST MOMENTS“people always start new businesses with a couple of anchor clients before they jump ship. The first mistake I made I left my job on a Friday, with no clients on the Monday”“We’ve seen so many start ups come through in Leeds and succeed”“Consistency is key to building a company profile”“A founder came in and said, ‘I think I’ve killed my business…”“It’s about making sure people have access to funding when they need it”“People now see Leeds as one of the key tech regions”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;Leeds Digital Tech Map: https://paceline.digital/leeds-tech-map/Leeds Digital Festival: https://leedsdigitalfestival.org/Website: https://paceline.digital/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartclarkedigital/Twitter (personal): https://twitter.com/StuartClarkeUKTwitter (business): https://twitter.com/LeedsDigiFestShout out:

We speak to Simon Gray, Founder &amp; CEO of Boost Drinks.Simon tells us how the company started and grew, the benefits of out-sourcing much of his operation, the ups &amp; downs of sponsoring Leeds United and how a surprise £30million deal to sell the business came about.He also teaches us how to create a virtual business...INTRODUCING SIMON GRAYIn June 2001, as a graduate fresh out of Leeds University, Simon Gray founded the Boost brand at the age of just 28. With a bank loan of £30,000, he hasn’t looked back since and with a team of 35 highly motivated Boosters, and business turnover of £75m, Boost has become an award-winning functional drinks supplier. Boost is a top three brand in each of its categories – Stimulation energy, Sport, and Iced Coffee, and is a market leader in Northern Ireland. Boost was recently awarded a 'Sunday Times Top 100 places to work'.Simon always strives for himself and the business to learn and develop, and prides himself in implementing a compelling culture of 'energising everybody in every way', creating an environment where colleagues can be the best version of themselves, which in turn delivers the best version of the business.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:13] How the business started and where the idea came from[00:07:30] 2006 the first big catalyst for change[00:11:30] The benefits of outsourcing model[00:17:10] The reasons why you wouldn’t outsource[00:24:00] Strategic point of difference of channels to market [00:28:00] How the sale of the business came about[00:33:00] What the future looks like[00:35:15] The ups and downs of sponsorship of Leeds United[00:39:00] How do you set up a virtual business, and the pros and cons of running a virtual businessKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS● The benefits of following a big brand into a market● When is the right time to bring out-sourced services in house● How to create a perception of size with only 35 staff● The importance of company culture● Your route to market can be a USP● For any sale everything has to fit, even if the timing isn’t exactly to planBEST MOMENTS“We started with a litre bottle of four cans of red bull-style product in a bottle for a pound”“We are a fast follower; a challenger brand. Our job is not to be the innovator”“We now produce 200m units of drinks per year”“we’re only a team of 35 we’re almost a virtual business”“we should know a product is not working before a customer tells us it’s not working”“”you take a long hard look at a sale…. and it made a lot of sense for everybody”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: www.boostdrinks.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-gray-9b36802bInstagram: https://instagram.com/boost_drinksTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/simongrayboostShout out tags: https://copycatfragrances.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-white-62b011201/ Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our...

Phil Fraser speaks to Jane Slimming, CEO of Leeds digital agency, Zeal. Jane explains to us the importance of company culture on a business how it saved her business after 70% of revenue disappeared, and how she now helps other businesses to develop their company culture. She also tells us about her near-death experience and how it changed her, and her business, forever. Plus you’ll also learn how to run a tech project when you’re not even a techie.INTRODUCING JANE SLIMMINGJane Slimming is Founder and CEO of Zeal - an agency that helps E-commerce startups and scale ups achieve growth through branding, tech and marketing. Jane founded Zeal in 2010 following a 7 year career working at some of the UK's largest media buying agencies. She has grown Zeal into a £2m+ turnover agency employing 30+ staff and offering clients a range of services in the creative, tech and marketing space. Zeal works solely with start-up and scale-ups helping them achieve ambitious growth plans both with the services Zeal offer and by allowing them access to the Zeal Connect network. Jane is passionate about helping businesses scale quickly into household brands and Zeal has a proven track record of achieving this for clients across numerous industries.Jane is also Founder and Director of Culco - a company that helps SME's develop and imbed values and become culture-led businesses - and holds Directorships at two further ecommerce businesses.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02:40] How Zeal changed post-Covid[00.06:15] Turning away valuable, but incompatible clients[00:12:50] Setting up an agency and the lessons learnt from previous employees[00:16:00] The importance of culture in a company[00:23:15] Zeal Connect and how it helps clients[00:30:16] Jane’s near-death experience and how it changed her and the company[00:37:15] How to run a tech project when you are not a techieKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Turning down troublesome clients because they don’t fit your culture is the strongest message you can send to your staff that you are culture driven• The importance of curiosity and work ethic, and having worked in crap jobs in superstars• Company culture can be measured• Losing 70% of the revenue doesn’t have to be the end of a business• Look at the risk of launching a business, mitigate the downsides, have a plan B, then go for itBEST MOMENTS“You have to want to grow and not be a dickhead – they are the key things for us when looking at clients”“I dressed as a Kangaroo, and it’s the only job I’ve been fired from”“Starting a business isn’t hard. If you want to, anybody can do it with the right support and the right opportunity”“Nearly dying fundamentally changed me and I like the change”“Don’t waste your energy on shit that doesn’t matter”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: www.wehavezeal.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-slimming-698a4a3/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zeal-media-ltd/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/janehelenslimming/Twitter: https://twitter.com/janeslimmingShout outs: https://www.luckynorth.co.uk/ https://hatch.group/Book recommendation: ‘Good to Great’ by Jim CollinsWant to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘GENTLEMENS AGREEMENT’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has three simple steps;1. Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2. Post a...

Phil Fraser speaks to Ajaz Ahmed who built Freeserve, a company that went from a 'eureka moment' to a multi-billion pound valuation in just three years. Ajaz tells us how he did it and the key ingredient that powered its amazing success. He also tells us how you can get amazing FREE marketing advice from supermarkets, why Simon Cowell is the best business advisorand the secret trick to an effective business card.INTRODUCING AJAZ AHMEDAjaz is a well-known Business Advisor, Non-Executive, Chairman, and Business Speaker who has worked with companies of all sizes, including a couple of listed companies.He will always be best known as the founder of Freeserve, the UK's first Billion-Pound internet company. Freeserve was launched in 1998, floated on the stock exchange with a market cap of £1.5bn, entered the FTSE 100, and then sold to France Telecom three years later for £1.65bn in 2001. As you can imagine, I left after the sale.You can read the fantastic Freeserve story "Make Money by Giving it Away" on his website - sosavvy.co.ukHe now helps companies by challenging the rules to get results. If your company wants to improve and grow, please contact him for a chat.He also gives talks to industry and academic audiences. His talk is called "Cut the Cr*p" because he got fed up listening to gurus talking about Cr*p.He has been in the 'Yorkshire Business Power 100', and the Queen awarded him a British Empire Medal 'BEM' in her 2017 Birthday Honours List.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] – the Eureka moment that launched Freeserve[00:07:30] – the difference between an entrepreneur and a business person[00:11:10] – the launch of Freeserve[00:16:20] – the importance of acquiring customers for free[00:18:17] – the floatation of Freeserve[00:25:00] – the huge change - walled gardens and browsers[00:31:00] – the key lessons business owners need to learn and understand[00:36:30] – what should start ups be doing to court Angel Investors and ugly baby syndrome[00:41:00] – losing money on failed investments and lessons learntKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS* Apple stores have the highest sales per square foot compared to any other retail store* Do the obvious before it becomes obvious or you will be too late* Go to a supermarket and not buy anything. Look at how they market their products.* There is no magic formula for business success* Cut the Crap – keep your Powerpoint slides to a minimum* If your business card is portrait they are more likely to turn it overBEST MOMENTS“Most people have a Eureka moment, and then don’t do anything about it”“When Freeserve became the largest ISP in the UK we only had three staff”“If you build it, they will come… no they won’t”“Most of the companies that are looking for investment are pretty crap”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: http://www.sosavvy.co.uk/LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/ajazaTwitter: http://twitter.com/ajaz_ahmedShout out tags: https://www.quba.co.uk/Take a look at https://philfraser.co.uk/business-idea/Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘GENTLEMENS AGREEMENT’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has three simple steps;1. Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2. Post a review of the show at either Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leeds-business-podcast/id1695413291) or...

Phil Fraser speaks to Lisa Shepherd and Saskia Roskam about their north Leeds business, The Biskery; a business built on ‘the power of kindness’. Lisa and Saskia tell us how their hobby turned into a real business following a cold email from Penguin books, how Covid drove, rather than killed, their business and how their ethos and values drive everything. They also teach us how to harness the power of working mums…. Something you might want to do in your business.INTRODUCING THE BISKERYThe Biskery is an online bakery specialising in personalised and branded biscuits. They make gifting impressive, spread kindness, and make the world a bit sweeter, one biscuit at a time. Friends Lisa and Saskia started The Biskery as a little project in 2016, whilst caring for their young children full time. They initially set out to sell treats from their home countries (Germany &amp; The Netherlands) at local farmers markets. Their digital marketing background quickly opened new doors and opportunities for them, and allowed them to grow and shape the business into what it is today: A six figure business creating bespoke biscuits for the likes of Meta, The BBC, and Fendi, as well as consumers of all backgrounds and ages.The Biskery pride themselves in using the best ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. Their personalised jam sandwich biscuits are unique, fun and nostalgic and until this day, every biscuit is made by hand by their in-house team of working mothers.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00.01.00] How The Biskery started[00.06.30] Launching a proper business [00:09:25] Free biscuits[00.12.35] The birth of the company ethos and GratiTuesday[00:17:00] The growth of the business when everything changed[00:24:30] LinkedIn and how it fits with being an introvert[00:28:00] Lessons from boot-strapping[00:33:40] Winning awards and plans for the future[00:38:15] The power behind employing working mums[00.43.30] How to bring more female values into the world of workKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS* When problems arrive, ask what CAN we do, not what can’t we do* When ethos &amp; values come from a place that is real, it means that you can sustain it* Figure out the basics in running a business – it’s not that complicated* Clarity comes from action, not thoughts* There is so much satisfaction and joy from providing employment to other people* Women don’t lose their skills or brains just because they’ve had children* Your business can only grow and develop if you grow and develop as a person* Trust your intuition in businessBEST MOMENTS“We were very risk averse. When we could afford it we took the next step”“We weren’t baking any biscuits for anyone else so we thought why don’t we just give them away free”“We reached out the employer that we used to work for and asked to use their kitchen”“We had three interviewees we liked so instead of giving one of them one full-time role, we gave all three part-time roles”“We baked 27,000 biscuits in six weeks in our new premises”“For the first three years we didn’t pay ourselves anything, apart from a cup of coffee”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://www.thebiskery.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saskia-roskam-cofounder-director/ www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-shepherd-leeds https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebiskery/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebiskery/Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebiskeryShout outs: https://wildcraftbakery.com/Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel -...

Phil Fraser speaks to James Brown, author, journalist, broadcaster and media entrepreneur and most famous for launching the era-defining lads mag Loaded.In a wide ranging discussion we get to dig deep into his brilliant autobiography ‘Animal House’ and his journey from his Headingley-based home-made fanzine to NME, Loaded, GQ and beyond. He tells us where the inspiration for loaded came from, how it very nearly didn’t even get past the research stage and how the magazine went from zero to profit in less than 3 months. And you’ll love hearing his ‘football over business’ business decision.INTRODUCING JAMES BROWNJames Brown started his career producing his own fanzines, joined the NME staff aged 21 and wrote over 50 cover stories, championing Beastie Boys, KLF, Happy Mondays and many others. He created the award-winning and hugely popular loaded magazines, and went on to edit British GQ where he launched the Man of The Year Awards. He floated his own publishing company on AIM and became an in-demand public speaker and creative consultant for leading brands, agencies and publishing houses. He has written the best-selling book Above Head Height: A Five-A-Side Life, and his autobiography ‘Animal House’.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:10] The start of James’ career[00:13:50] Features Editor at NME[00:21:30] Animal House - the autobiography[00:31:10] The creation and launch of loaded magazine[00:50:00] Post-loaded life[00.56:00] Leeds, Leeds Leeds magazine[01:04.00] The launch of IFG Publishing[01:09:00] How to identify staff that stand out in interviewsKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS* Loaded created a genre of mass market men's magazines for the whole world* Loaded was supposed to make its first pound of profit after three years. It made it’s first profit after three issues* Football decisions in business environments aren’t always the best* When running a business write out a list of what you should do differentlyBEST MOMENTS“I wrote 5 or 6 cover stories in 6 or 7 weeks for NME”“I was young kid with an expense account and could go to America, Amsterdam, Paris or wherever with the best bands of the day”“When I read the audiobook, I asked the producer to keep the bits of me giggling as I’m reading it in”“Alan got the Tippex out and changed the likelihood to buy loaded customer research figures from 44% to 88%”“It was a very unique, exciting time and I hope that comes across in the book”“I’ve had five jobs that I think other people would think one of would be my best job ever”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-brown-050a99175Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesjamesbrown/Twitter: http//www.twitter.com/jamesjamesbrownShout out tags: 'Daz' - 07903372212 D Marshall Buildershttps://craigchristonshair.mytreatwell.co.uk/https://dakotahotels.co.uk/leeds/https://www.amber-cars.co.uk/Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘GENTLEMENS AGREEMENT’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has three simple steps;1. Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2. Post a review of the show at either Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leeds-business-podcast/id1695413291) or Podchaser (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/leeds-business-podcast-5389157)3. Give this episode a ‘like’SOCIAL MEDIAFollow...

Phil Fraser speaks to Richard Flint, the man who built SkyBet into one of the biggest tech companies in Leeds.Richard explains how SkyBet’s 'wrong' decision to focus on interactive TV in the early days actually ended up making the move to mobile betting a speedier success as well as the importance of integrating SkyBet products into SkyTV AND the multiple reasons why SKY plc eventually sold 80% of SkyBet.Richard also talks through how you build a company culture as well as the various stages that a business owner goes through and how to manage those changes.He also gives us his secret tip for those looking to source angel investment.INTRODUCING RICHARD FLINTRichard Flint is currently an Investor and Chair of three businesses:* Butternut Box - Europe’s leading online subscription dog food business, specialising in fresh dog food* Seat Unique - the UKs leading premium ticket marketplace offering VIP tickets to hundreds of sporting and music events* Ryde - a high energy indoor cycle and barre studio based in Leeds and soon to launch in Manchester He is also a Non Executive Director of Ladbible Group plc and Flutter Entertainment plc, and an angel investor in a number of other start up and scale ups. Richard was Chief Executive of Leeds based Sky Betting &amp; Gaming from 2006 to 2018, during which time he grew the company from around 100 employees to over 1700. He led the company through its £800m spin out from Sky, and then on to its acquisition by The Stars Group for £3.4bn last year, before The Stars Group was in turn acquired by Flutter Entertainment plc. Richard was Glassdoor’s Chief Executive of the Year for 2018. He holds an Engineering Degree from Oxford and a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02:20] – the importance of coaches and mentors[00:12:00] – the upturn in the performance of SkyBet[00:15:10] – the cultural changes made in SkyBet[00:17:25] – the opportunity that interactive TV gave SkyBet[00:26:15] – the £800m sale of SkyBet[00:31:30] – the learnings from going through the sale process[00:40:00] – what you need to know as a successful business owner[00:43:15] – how to build company culture[00:49:00] – what should companies do who are looking for Angel investmentKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS* Get the right people on the bus for cultural change* The (wrong) decision to go with interactive TV was a key point in Sky’s strategy* Having their own software and platform allowed SkyBet to lead the market* Summer football tournaments affected Sky PLC and their year end reporting* There are lots of different skills needed at different stages of running a business* Reach out informally to Angel Investors if you are looking for investmentBEST MOMENTS“Truth be told, when I took over I didn’t know how to go about it.. and I didn’t do a very good job of it for a couple of years”“We had to move the whole company away from old style telephone betting to new style product marketing”“Sky didn’t want to tell the stock market every few weeks that they’d missed targets by say £20m because SkyBet had lost a few weekends in a row”“We became too big to ignore but too small to well understood”“The sale was emotionally difficult as I felt my baby was going to a home that wasn’t a suitable home”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-flint-803762/Twitter (personal): @YorkshireFlintShout out tags: www.rydestudios.com‘Good to...

Queen of Mean from TV's The Apprentice, Linda Plant, tells Phil Fraser about how she grew, sold and then bought back her business for hardly money 18 months later. She shares her five top tips for running a successful business, explains what makes a good business plan and tell us all the secrets from behind the camera from her nine series (and counting) appearances on The Apprentice.INTRODUCING LINDA PLANTLinda Plant built her career from humble beginnings to become one of Britain’s most recognisable business leaders and am now empowering others to successfully start and run their own companies with her Linda Plant Business Academy.After leaving school at 16, she progressed from selling fashion on a Leeds market stall to launching an international knitwear brand, Honeysuckle, in the process becoming one of the first women to head a fashion company flotation on the London Stock Market. As a pioneering female business leader, Linda worked in a series of challenging executive roles, building and running successful companies. Today, in addition to the Linda Plant Business Academy, she also run property development and interior design businesses.You might also know her as one of the interviewers on BBC 1’s ‘The Apprentice’, providing advice to Lord Sugar on his potential apprentices. Her passion for business and entrepreneurship has also been recognised with several business awards and she is also a panelist and judge, including top female entrepreneurs for HSBC’s Panel of Forward Ladies and The Prince's Trust. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:09:35] – a major turning point in Linda’s career[00:13:50] – the sale and buy back of Honeysuckle[00:17:50] – the key business lesson learnt on the journey[00:20:00] – floating on the stock market[00:29:30] – Getting on The Apprentice and the tales from behind the cameras[00:42:20] – How to run a good interviewKEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS* If you don’t buy a ticket in the lottery, you can’t win the jackpot – have a go in business* You can drown in failure, but you can also drown in success* Two things that are very important in business – relationships and the art of negotiation* When negotiating you‘ve both got to leave the table a little bit unhappy* You’ll never get anything being nasty that you can’t get being nice* Can you adapt, because you have to pivot and adapt in business* Don’t be afraid to have a go. What’s the worst that can happen? Even if you fail on this it might be a lesson to succeed on the next BEST MOMENTS“Through my journey, I’ve never planned what I’m going to do – as I’ve gone along, I’ve fallen into it”“If you give me a business plan that’s wreckable, I’ll wreck it”“I got a phone call one day when they said, would you like to sell your business”“When you’ve taken a business from a market stall to the stock market, that’s quite a good story”“They put me on garden leave….three years later I was still on garden leave with a chauffeur and a big wage”“If you give me a business plan that wreckable, I’ll wreck it”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOULeeds Business Podcast website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://lindaplant.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-plant/Want to watch instead of listen? Subscribe to our You Tube channel - https://youtube.com/@LeedsBusinessPodcast.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘GENTLEMENS AGREEMENT’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has three simple steps;1. Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2. Post a...

If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for youLeeds Business Podcast, on a weekly basis, brings you fascinating, impressive and inspiring Leeds business owners, each with their own unique business journey talking about the ups &amp; downs, lessons &amp; learnings from their business journey, and their ‘secret sauce’, plus their 'how to.....' guidance, so that we light a fire of inspiration and motivation in SME business owners, or wannabe business owners, like YOU, and you learn exclusive business lessons (whilst being entertained) so that you can improve and develop yourself as a Business Owners.Brought to you by Phil Fraser, Business Sounding Board.Mentioned in this episode:Claim your £99 coaching session with PhilI have a LIMITED TIME offer for you. We all know running a business can feel a bit lonely, right? I know.... I’ve been there. I grew my own business from a kitchen table start-up, all the way to a multi-million-pound exit. Nowadays I help other business owners, like you, sort out their business problems; whether it's clarifying your forward planning, helping you sort your biggest problem, helping you prioritise your workload, de-fogging your thinking or just being there to download on. I can help. One client recently said, “You gave me clarity in just one session” — and that shift helped them hit 25% growth in following three months. So here’s the deal: your first session with me for just £99. But only if you contact me by this Friday. No bullshit. No fluff. Just a proper conversation about your business, solving your problems. So, if you’re ready to think more clearly, email me at [email protected] today. Quote 'podcast' in the email title to claim your £99 session. And if you want to find out more about me check me out at www.philfraser.co.uk.