Bridging Gaps - The Business Podcast

In tonight's episode, we hear from Tina and Tony about Network of Networks sessions and how the different networks work together, we touch again on #StartUp2019 and then move on to talk about the wide range of people in the Makers, Creators and Manufacturers session.   I speak to Anita Brightley-Hodges about her #IGave11.   Show Links: #MicroBizMatters - microbizmatters.co.uk Anita Brigh...

Among the guests on the day, Paul Uppal - Small Business Commissioner will be there as will Charlie Mullins OBE - long time supporter of #MicroBizMatters Day and CEO & Founder of Pimlico Plumbers. We talk about late payments and viewing the Youtube Channel, StartUp 2019 and Small Business Saturday. Linda Huckle shares what her #IGave11 will be and asks for you to share your LinkedIn Questions...

We talk young entrepreneurs, the definition of success and hear from Jennifer Corcoran, Gemma Storey and Cathy Richardson about their versions. There will be young entrepreneurs in the Guildhall and they'll be interviewed by Tony during the day so we can find out what their businesses are and how they've been supported in their businesses.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

In this episode, Tony and Tina talk about what the day is really like, Jake Liddell shares his plans to support other microbusinesses with an #IGave11, onesies in Hull, the entertainment at the end of the day, friendships made and what it's like running an event that is streamed live! Why not give some thought to how you can support other microbusinesses on the day?  Give 11 - it could be an...

In today's episode, we rejoin the conversation talking to Tony & Tina about #PayIn30, #Indie25ER and #PowerofPlenty. Microbusinesses represent 95% of the businesses in the UK.  Originally falling in the SME category, they have now been recognised as different entities with different needs to SMEs.  A microbusiness has between 0 and 9 employees with a turnover of less than £2m p...

Microbusinesses represent 95% of the businesses in the UK.  Originally falling in the SME category, they have now been recognised as different entities with different needs to SMEs.  A microbusiness has between 0 and 9 employees with a turnover of less than £2m per year.  Co-founders of the MicroBizMatters movement, Tony Robinson OBE and Tina Boden, are passionate about provid...

Arpinder and I had started our conversation only to find that there was interference on the call which made it difficult to hear so we had to reschedule. It turns out that that the noise was a blessing in disguise as, rather than attempt another call we managed to meet at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel. It was great to meet one another and Arpinder fell in love with my beautiful borrowed dog, W...

This week, I'm in conversation with Mindy Gibbins-Klein.  She is the multi-award winning founder of REAL Thought Leaders, The Book Midwife® and Panoma Press. She has presented to and coached over 50,000 leaders and entrepreneurs in 18 countries. Mindy and I talk about her journey to the UK, starting her own business during the recession and failing. She decided to stay in the UK and comme...

This week I'm in conversation with Dayne Shuda. Dayne is the owner and founder of Ghost Blog Writers. Dayne always wanted to be in business for himself and when he left university, started his own business. It wasn't working and he realised he had to let the business go. He took a job in a footwear catalogue company.  His manager liked Dayne's entrepreneurial spirit and his role suited him we...

This week I am in conversation with 9 business owners (plus hearing from 3 speakers)!  As Small Business Saturday is coming up, this seemed the ideal time to share the mini-interviews I did at Richard Woods' Lead Gen Summit in October. Each business owner shares what they have found (or are still finding) challenging about starting up and running a business. We start with Allanna Farquhar who...

This week I am in conversation with Tony Robinson OBE.  Tony is a champion of Micro Businesses and, along with his business partner, co-founded the #MicroBizMatters movement along with Tina Boden. Tony talks about his life generally but also his show The Micro Myths and Magic Show. He is a strong advocate for all micro business owners and feels he is doing exactly what he wants to be doing. H...

This week, I am in conversation with Elaine Gosden of Blue Gnu Consulting. This is a particularly special conversation because, as well as talking about her work - Elaine shares her story of losing her partner when he was involved in a helicopter crash in a war zone 15 years ago. We talk about many things but her honesty about her reactions, the ups and downs, the people who supported her through...

I was really interested in speaking to Moira because, in her role as Director at Kelly's Storage Charity Events, they take a very different approach to supporting charities.  Moira shares how they are able to give 100% of the revenue from an event to the named charity, the unexpected side benefit of increased company morale (it was already high but now is even better!) and some of the challen...

I spoke with Elroy 'Spoonface' Powell over the summer. Spoon has enjoyed international fame with the dance music project, Black Legend. The group’s reworking of the Barry White classic " You See the Trouble with Me " reached the top of the UK charts, selling more than a million copies worldwide.   We spoke about how it felt to go from a chart toppping career to trying to find his own pa...

Is there anything more inspirational than seeing a woman in her element, full of confidence and having the time of her life? I’m in conversation with Jennifer Hamley. She celebrate women with handbags & accessories that are celebrated as totems of fun & confidence. Jen's journey on the surface is one of success but she talks about how, just this past summer, she was ready to shut the...

Richard is known as ‘Mr Productivity’ by many of his clients. He is the owner of Attitude Solutions, a specialist training business focused on enabling people to measurably improve the way they manage their critical results and competing priorities within high volume, high velocity workloads. Richard talks about his journey from Chartered Insurer to Mr. Productivity and how focusing on: Training....

Claire Leigh started her boutique business just over 4 years ago with a small credit card loan holding ‘gift parties’ in people’s houses. She now has an award winning shop in St. John’s Village, Woking turning over in excess of £200,000. Claire shares her story of how she went from gift parties to having the shop in St. Johns Village, Woking.  Claire has a number of events in the lead up to Christ...

This week is a little different as I reflect on the themes that have come out of my conversations so far, a look at some of the conversation around International Podcast Day and key takeaways from the Drive to Digital 2018. For more information on International Podcast Day and to find replays of specials, visit  www.internationalpodcastday.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geraldine spent 20+ years working for a large corporation as an international marketing consulting - travellling all over the world. As a 'side hustle', she also ran her own tour operator specialising in South African diving and safaris. As a mother with a young family, various animals and a husband - she was looking to the next 20 years to see what she wanted to do.  We talk about how that led he...

James set up his first business while he was still in school - he had to hire a driver (his grandfather) to take him to events as he couldn't drive himself!  From his early magic shows, James has built one of the largest entertainment businesses in the UK.  We speak about James' journey, his support for other entrepreneurs and he gives some amazing advice for business owners. Show Notes:...

Divorce is not something that we speak about very often unless it is impacting us or someone close to us.  It made a change to talk about it with Rhiannon and really gain an insight into her business, how it evolves, the challenges she sees people facing as they deal with a relationship that may no longer be working.  We spoke about the importance of support, self-care and also some of the realiti...

I met with James Thompson - Managing Director of the award winning Spokes of Bagshot, IoD (Institute of Directors) Director of the Year 2017 in Spokes on a sweltering July day. I was delighted to discover that James is super easy to speak to, interesting and inspirational plus - a real bonus here - the shop is air conditioned! What more could anyone ask for?! James and I speak about how he has alw...

Daniel Priestley is a key person of influence and also dedicated to making a dent in the world.  Australian but now based in London, Daniel is a best selling author and co-founder of Dent Global. Dent run accelerators to guide entrepreneurs through the pain of the entrepreneurial journey.  We talk about lizard brains, how families and tribes behave within businesses, Daniel’s journey, and how he m...

Alison is one of those people who you just can't help wanting to listen to! Her enthusiasm is infectious   When talking to the Entrepreneur's Godmother, you might expect there to be some talk of wands and tiaras but would you expect Golf and The Godfather to come up as well? I didn't!  Alongside golf and the godfather, we talk about how Alison became the Entrepreneur's Godmother, her knowledge of...

  Speaking to Suzie is pure joy - her enthusiasm and belief about what she does can't be contained. Suzie shares who she helps and why as well as her own story from being a shy quiet child to an adult who was using partying as way to feel bolder. She realised this wasn't what she wanted her life to be and as she made changes discovered how strongly she wants to help people change their lives and t...