Small Business, Big Network

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Having difficult conversations, with Clare Haynes Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

A facilitator, coach and professional speaker for 23 years, Clare Haynes runs award-winning business Wildfire helping people to speak up and have confident conversations. She works with teams and 1:1, building peoples’ communication and business confidence using their greatest asset – themselves.

Clare has a psychology background and her career spans television, sport, charity and the social sectors. Clare was named in the UK’s Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain’s f;Entrepreneur iAlso campaign 2025, celebrating women business leaders, and has won national awards for her coaching and as a service provider.

Clare believes networking is like all business success, not being something you’re not but bringing out your best!

Website: https://www.wildfireatwork.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarehaynes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildfirespark/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clare.haynes.Wildfire/

Net-giving not networking, with James Eder Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

James Eder is Author of The Collision Code, entrepreneur, work–life coach, speaker with over 20 years of leadership experience. He co-founded Student Beans (Part of Pion), a global platform helping brands connect with Gen Z through insights, engagement, and verification empowering businesses to build trust and lasting loyalty.

Passionate about the power of human connection, James has dedicated his career to creating communities and opportunities that bring people together. His recently published book, The Collision Code, explores how genuine relationships can transform both personal fulfilment and professional success. In a world where digital interaction often leaves us more isolated than connected, the book offers a roadmap to spark serendipity, build confidence, and create meaningful collisions that open new doors. You can find out more, see reviews and order the book on Amazon https://amzn.to/4l4XfL5

Through his ventures, talks, and writing, James inspires people to embrace possibility, unlock their potential, and create ripple effects of positive change in the world around them.

James can be reached on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameseder/ - if you request to connect please mention this recording.

Jenny Green: Keep your pitch short and sweet! Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

Jenny Green is the Senior Account Manager at 22:22 Marketing. The company work across all aspects of digital marketing but are particularly well known for helping businesses with online ads for platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Google.

When it comes to networking, Jenny's top tip is to keep your pitch short and sweet!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-green-080121242/

https://www.2222marketing.co.uk/

jenny@2222marketing.co.uk

Networking took Clive to the House of Lords! Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

On the Small Business Big Network podcast this week you can hear me talking to Clive Bonny.

Clive has been in business for over 30 years and operates as a strategic management partner, management mentor and coach, in association with professional bodies, building capacity in private enterprises and public sector for growth and responsible business sustainability.

His work focuses on capacity building, IP protection, risk management, equity funding and supply chain growth via national ESG standards. His scope of work includes designing and delivering programmes for fast growth development, commercialising innovations, HR productivity, quality process improvement, merger and acquisition due diligence, and international business development.

As you can imagine Clive has an extensive network, and his networking efforts have even taken him to the House of Lords!

Building a referral network through networking with Imogen Ley-Clowes Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Imogen Ley-Clowes is the founder of London-based Immo Studio.

Too often, branding looks polished but doesn’t do much. She’s more interested in the stuff that works: sharp strategy, clear structure, and design that grows with the business behind it.

She started Immo Studio to help ambitious teams turn brand confusion into something clear, impactful, and built for what’s next. With over a decade of experience working with startups and global businesses, Imogen likes getting to the heart of what’s not working, untangling the in-between bits, and turning all of it into something strategic, useful, and well-designed.

https://www.immostudio.co.uk/

Kevin Crawford: Designing Success Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

Kevin Crawford is a life and business strategist for owners of Architecture Practices — specifically small to medium-sized practices with 4 to 16 employees.

He qualified with a degree in Architectural Technology but his real education has been managing a multidisciplinary Practice of Architects, Technologists and Technicians for over 25 years. He knows exactly what it’s like — juggling projects, people, and profit while trying to find the time and headspace to think clearly. From starting out in the family practice at 14 years old to being the driving force behind a successful transition to employee ownership at the age of 41. A 27 year learning journey, a rollercoaster but the blood, sweat and tears make a story that can now help others.

Though his new venture, Designing Success, Kevin has created a framework that helps practice owners go from burnout to balance — starting with the person, not just the business.

His experience is that when you’re healthier and happier in all areas of life, you become stronger, more focused, and far more effective in business.

www.designingsuccess.co.uk

www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-crawford-a1516158

The Business Physicist: Networking is an Art not a Science Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Serge Santos began his career in physics, earning a PhD before completing a Master’s in Finance at London Business School. He went on to build a successful career as a strategy consultant, investment banker, and hedge fund professional — managing global investments before turning his analytical mindset toward entrepreneurship in 2013.

Today, Serge leads Bedrock Enterprises — a group of interconnected businesses that include the fintech lender Funding Alternative Group, the industrial distributor Compressed Air Centre, and Calms Solutions UK, a smart-energy venture helping manufacturers reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint.

www.linkedin.com/in/santosserge

https://fundingalternative.co.uk

https://compressedair.co.uk

https://calms.com

A network in the world of elite sports Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

Raj Thiruchelvarajah is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hytro, the leading human health and performance company known for producing the first wearable Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) garment.

After 15 years in global finance and consulting, Raj left the corporate world to build something more purposeful: bringing a proven but complex science out of labs and into everyday sport.

Today, Hytro is trusted by over 300 elite teams across the Premier League, NFL, NBA, Formula 1 and rugby, and is even being tested by NASA and SpaceX. Raj’s leadership is rooted in listening, learning from different cultures, and surrounding himself with experts to drive meaningful, long-term impact.

hytro.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hytro/posts/?feedView=all

https://www.linkedin.com/in/raj-thiruchelvarajah-89a8b522/

https://www.instagram.com/hytro_/

Want to buy a business? Get out networking! Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

David Barnett's specialism is helping people to buy (and sell) businesses, and though he's based in Canada he's able to help people around the world.

He encourages his clients to network in the right places so that they meet the people who might be wanting to sell the kind of business they want to buy.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbarnettmoncton/

www.davidcbarnett.com

HR, L&D and networking with Lydia Charilaou Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

Lydia Charilaou is the Founder and CEO of Labyrinth Consultants, where she helps scaling tech teams embed cultures of belonging that people choose to stay in.

With 15+ years in L&D and People roles across global industries, Lydia brings a human-centred design lens to retention translating behavioural insight into habit-based systems that future-proof growth. Her work equips leaders to spot quiet churn, foster psychological safety, and build learning environments where people thrive.

Lydia’s working style is warm, curious, and grounded in real-world complexity sparking honest conversations and co-creating solutions that stick.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-charilaou/

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