Small Business, Big Network

Latest Episodes:

Consulting with Business Doctor Michael Hardy May 02, 2022

Show notes

Following 14 years working in senior leadership roles within sales, marketing & finance for Scottish & Newcastle the international Brewer, Michael was part of an MBO of McEwan’s & Youngers beer brands and Scrumpy Jack & Woodpecker cider brands, setting up Jygsaw Brands Ltd, after 4 successful years the business was eventually sold to Heineken UK.

Since 2011 Michael has worked with & held roles at a range of businesses; from being Chairman of Salford Professional Development a subsidiary of University of Salford, an NED of Miricyl a young people’s mental health charity, an advisor to an Irish independent brewery, a start-up wine & spirit business and a national on-line wholesaler.

Michael became a Business Doctor in 2018, bringing his experience to the local business community. Helping small to medium business owners take control of their business, build sustainable growth or to prepare for exit. Providing coaching, mentoring, high quality advice, information, resources, and hands-on support in all areas of the business.

Over the last 4 years Michael has worked with businesses across a range of sectors including construction, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, education, and professional services.

Michael started the Consulting Room in March 2020 as a support network for business owners who were going through the same challenges as the realisation of the pandemic struck home. The weekly on-line meetings shared relevant business updates, gave some business advice and a forum to discuss challenges & opportunities. Whilst the original focus was Notts & Lincs because of the on-line nature we have engaged people from Bristol to London & Manchester to Brighton.

What started out as a support for those difficult times has grown to a community that now has multiple opportunities to engage from weekly zoom meetings to a facebook group of over 200 members.

The importance of being in the right room. Interview with Susan Gold Apr 25, 2022

Show notes

Susan Gold is a marketing coach and consultant who describes herself as a networking maniac!

One of the things she helps her clients with is networking - and in particular, making sure they are in the right room.

How networking helped a lockdown start up business Apr 18, 2022

Show notes

Lucy Edgar graduated in Social Anthropology and set about how to find her happy. After travelling, working in communications, teaching and a decade in HR, she decided to set up Human Everything with her partner in order to help make the working world a better place through supporting people to have productive conversations. Life's too short to be unhappy at work, and change can just be one conversation away.

www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-edgar-builds-better-teams

https://www.linkedin.com/company/human-everything

https://www.instagram.com/human.everything_/

Powerhouse networking with Stewart Leahy Apr 11, 2022

Show notes

Stewart Leahy is the founder of Yorkshire Powerhouse, a company that provides all kinds of support for small businesses in the Yorkshire region.

Twice a month Stewart runs online networking meetings, again for companies based in Yorkshire, or that have a legitimate business interest in Yorkshire.

Saucy! How a networking breakfast led to a new business Apr 04, 2022

Show notes

Michael was born and raised in South Africa and emigrated to the UK on a business startup visa.

Michael has been involved in all types of printing and branding for the last 25 years, having owned his own printing business for the majority of that time.

His branding business in South Africa, Black Peppa, was a member of the local BNI chapter.

It was at a BNI chapter meeting one morning that a lightbulb moment happened during an unexpected random incident. This led to the creation of an industry disrupting innovation that saw him get a spot of the South African version of Dragon’s Den, The Shark Tank.

Following the great exposure of the Shark Tank, Michael was invited to become a member of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship. This was a phenomenal opportunity to be mentored and to have expert assistance in getting the new concept to market.

Michael later on pitched for finance at various pitching platforms and ended up on the pitching stage of the World Cup of start-ups where he came third in the SA finals. The winner went on to pitch in Silicone Valley in the US and win $100 000.

The new concept, The Saucy Printing Co. Which is a service that provides live printing onto plates in chocolate sauce took off in the corporate events industry and provided a niche touch to weddings as well.

Having moved to the UK, Michael is currently getting the business off the ground and gaining traction for this world first, fun and innovative product. The business is set up in Cambridge and making the most of being in a city dwarfed by the many colleges that make up the University of Cambridge.

This ideal location presents many opportunities within the 33 colleges as well the various hotels, conference centers and networking events.

Michael has once again joined BNI and belongs to the Fitzwilliam chapter in Cambridge.

The business is growing from strength to strength and it looks to be able to franchise in late 2023.

For more information, pictures and history, please visit:

www.saucyprint.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-fletcher-191aaa76/ www.instagram.com/saucyprint

Making Memories and Marketing with Emma Bunn Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

Emma is a professional Brand photographer from Natural Aspect.

With over 14 years experience in the photographic industry, shooting a range of genres such as product, portraiture and commercial, her clients receive a really rounded brand photography service.

She loves to work with business owners, to showcase their business, increase visibility, feel confident and proud of their online presence and marketing imagery. Delivering an inspiring and engaging portfolio of bespoke, on brand imagery captivates all of this, as well as elevates their business and brand.

Emma is also a volunteer photographer for two charities 'Bufferfly Wishes' and 'Remember my Baby'.

Collaborating, not competing with Jenii Lowe Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

Jenii Lowe is a content writer, copywriter, and professional explainer who has been working with written digital media for over a decade. Through her copywriting firm, Obsidian Content Creation, she's written for all manner of organisations, from national digital marketing behemoths to scores of small businesses up and down the UK. Jenii really relishes helping IT and tech firms more meaningfully describe what they do to those that matter - their prospects.

Obsidian Content Creation can be found at https://obsidiancontent.co.uk/

We Are In Business - interview with Tracey Earl Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

After running our own businesses for many years, Ian and I realised that being a business owner can be a lonely place at times. People often start a business because they are good at what they do, but running a business requires additional skills that you don't necessarily have. So, we created We Are In Business, a networking and business support community. It was our desire to help business owners build a support network around them and gain some knowledge on the different aspects of running a business.

Insta

http://www.twitter.com/weareinbiz

http://www.facebook.com/InBusiness/

Website

https://weareinbusiness.co.uk

podcast website

In Business Talks2 Podcast (buzzsprout.com)

Meeting booking page

https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BLYY promo code POD2022

Mee-ow - An online network with a difference Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

Chris Rabbitt is one of the founders of the Mee-ow network (meet-now).

Mee-ow is a totally new way of networking online and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Users are put into a room with up to three other people who could be from anywhere in the country (or even the world), and they have an hour to chat and network.

Find out more at www.meeow.com

How the other half network! Interview with Sonny Kurmi Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

Sonny Kurmi runs SK Wealth Solutions based in Cambridge.

He attends multiple networking sessions ever week, but his very first networking event will always stick in his mind!