Novel: Leaders Lessons

What does it take to go from a 21-year-old apprentice earning £2.97 an hour to building a successful digital agency?   In this episode, Liam Mitchell, founder of Breeze Development, shares the honest story behind his entrepreneurial journey. Starting with little more than ambition and a willingness to learn, Liam took the leap from apprenticeship and door-to-door sales into business ownership, des...

Richard Lydon shares lessons gained from more than 30 years of leading, growing, and transforming technology-driven businesses. Having guided organisations from early-stage start-ups through venture funding, private equity investment, and mergers and acquisitions, Richard brings a wealth of experience in helping businesses scale and succeed. Drawing on his background in innovation, business develo...

Andrew Borland sits down with Paul Blanchard from Harpscreen to discuss the challenges and triumphs of expanding into the European market post-Brexit, maintaining client relationships, navigating political tensions, and the importance of innovation in manufacturing. Paul shares insights on the need for a strong workforce, the role of apprenticeships, and the significance of keeping the supply chai...

In this episode, we speak with Andrew Dwerryhouse, Founder and Managing Director of Wild Thang, a Liverpool success story that has grown from humble beginnings into one of the UK's leading branded merchandise and clothing businesses. Celebrating more than 30 years in business, Andrew shares his journey of innovation, resilience and embracing change, from the days of hand-written ledgers and Ye...

What does it take to turn ideas into action? In this episode, Andrew is joined by Nick Sumpter who explores the mindset of fearless innovators, the attempts to learn from every mistake, and challenging others to do the same. From tackling skills shortages and inspiring the next generation of engineers, to embracing failure as a pathway to progress, and not being able to get comfortable if you want...

This inspiring episode features ‘determined council estate kid’ Nicky Silvano, who, from a young age, was determined to smash through the glass ceiling. At just 22, he took bold steps, moving away from home to pursue opportunities that led him to build factories in the Borneo jungle and help businesses achieve a 25% improvement in six weeks. Discover how he bridged generational gaps by pairing app...

In this episode, Iain Pritchard sits down with Andrew for an insightful conversation about his journey and role at Bachem UK. With his rich scientific background, Iain shares his thoughts on the power of authentic conversations and a grounded approach to leadership. Discover what success truly means to him, and learn about his academic pursuit in a challenging industry. Iain also emphasises the va...

David Millar of Heap & Partners shares personal reflections on his company’s enduring dedication to manufacturing innovation. David has been passionate about pushing the boundaries, from the early days when they were among the first in the UK to get a telephone, to their vital role in the global distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. David takes pride in both the modest and monumental innovatio...

From ‘Skem’ to West Minister - Frank McKenna, founder, Group Chairman and Chief Executive of Downtown in Business, one of the most influential business organisations in the North. Frank candidly discusses his own journey from political leader to business leader and advocate.  We explore his 20 year career as a changemaker and the importance of government supporting business, the entrepreneurial sp...

Having worked for organisations that included Bentley and the Volkswagen Group, Paul supports and promotes the automotive industry, providing strategic insights, and facilitating collaborations to foster growth and innovation within the sector. Paul reflects on his impressive accent to leadership in the automative sector, where taking initiative and preparing future leaders has proven key, whilst...

Nicola Honey reflects on her journey from being a leading games developer, to co-founding one of the UK’s most exciting XR companies. Nicola explores the challenges and opportunities in the gaming industry, which is currently facing greater growth than the movie and music industries, combined.    Nicola shares her journey of following her passion just before the lockdown which would challenge her...

Andrew speaks with the self-proclaimed ‘designosaur’, Jonathan Butters of Butters Innovation who dives into the design industry, discussing the changes he has seen in his lifetime, how technology is impacting creativity in addition to the extracurricular skills needed to blow away the client whilst taking leaps of faith.

Join creative designer and co-founder of DefProc Engineering, Jen Fenner, as she delves into the art of thinking outside the box, sharing unique insights on fostering true innovation, even when faced with challenges, and continuously asking ourselves, “what’s next?” Discover Jen’s journey from nearly opening a sandwich shop to leading dynamic design projects, illustrating the adaptability and resi...

Jake takes us on a remarkable journey, recalling his time at finishing school, unsure of his career direction and what his future would or could look like. Fast forward to today, Jake is a proud family man and the successful owner of a multi-million-pound business, opening a state-of-the-art super facility and leading the industry. With stories of taking daring leaps of faith and navigating financ...

Business owner Chris Berg emphasises the importance of building experience before reaching the top. Reflecting on lessons from his own career, Chris discusses the necessity of diversifying skills, leading to an understanding that having multiple capabilities is essential for career resilience. Chris calls for greater support for entrepreneurs in Britain, suggesting that more resources and encourag...