Stronger Business Together

In this episode, host Granger Forson sits down with Leonard Carey, the founder of Dampsmart , to discuss how sensor technology and data analytics are transforming the housing sector. Leonard shares his professional journey from pioneering Near Field Communications (NFC) in the UK telecoms industry to engineering unobtrusive, self-install hardware that tracks moisture, ventilation, and insulation i...

Episode Summary In this episode, host Granger Forson sits down with Holly Siddall to explore the human side of running a modern accountancy firm. Holly tracks her journey from working as an independent bookkeeper to founding her own practice in 2007 out of a desire to treat clients with deeper respect and transparency. They discuss how her firm has evolved into a comfortable, systemised agency bas...

In this episode, host Granger Forson is joined by David Powell, calling in from Sydney, Australia. David shares an incredible 33-year entrepreneurial journey that began with a first-class degree in chemical engineering, followed by an overland Land Rover expedition from London to Australia . These formative experiences combined to pivot his career from the physical world into general management an...

Episode Summary In this episode, host Granger Forson sits down with Angus Landman, a psychotherapist and former commercial property professional who bridged both worlds to build The Practice Rooms . From a single centre in Bath, the business has organically expanded into a nationwide network of 32 therapy hubs, supporting a community of nearly 2,000 therapists. Angus shares his deeply spiritual, n...

In this episode, Granger Forson sits down with Claire Gilchrist, a certified relationship and divorce coach based in the Cotswolds . Claire shares her powerful personal transition from managing an events venue in her family home to launching her own coaching practice after navigating the trauma of a marriage breakdown . They discuss the growing, globally recognised field of relationship coaching,...

In this episode, Granger Forson is joined by Christopher Charles Wiggin, an experienced leader who built a major legal presence in Birmingham before transitioning into a portfolio of non-executive roles . Chris shares his journey of "knocking on doors" to break into the competitive Birmingham insurance market and his success in building a dominant fraud department . They explore why culture is the...

In this episode, Granger Forson speaks with Matt Spry, co-founder of RODA, a hybrid advisory and technology firm that designs "performance systems" for ambitious leaders. Matt explains the powerful concept of the Flywheel—a series of repeating activities that build momentum and compound over time. They discuss the transition from pure consulting to a software-plus-advisory model, the importance of...

In this episode, host Granger Forson talks with Liam Pearce, founder of Pearce IT , about the evolution of his managed IT and telecoms business. Liam shares how he transitioned from the corporate world to support SMEs with enterprise-level technology at a price that fits their budget. They explore the growing importance of compliance in industries like care and education, the value of fully automa...

In this episode, Granger Forson is joined by Charlie Cadbury, the founder of Say It Now, a pioneering agency that bridges the gap between traditional media (TV and radio) and digital engagement using voice technology. Charlie shares the journey of his 19-year career in the agency space—from his early days running a 50-person web agency in Soho to the challenges of navigating the "voice 2.0" landsc...

In this episode, Granger Forson speaks with Phil Gibbens-Balaquidan about the operational realities of managing short-stay accommodation. After transitioning from a long-term letting agent role, Phil and his husband, Jason, built a business that handles the entire lifecycle of a short-term rental—from marketing and guest liaison to maintenance, cleaning, and financial reporting . They discuss the...

Episode Summary In this episode, host Granger Forson is joined by Natalie Hamblett of Severnview Home Improvements , a family-run business specialising in high-quality windows, doors, and conservatories. Natalie shares the company’s journey from its origins in her husband Dean’s lifelong fitting experience to recovering from the sudden loss of a major contract. They discuss the critical importance...

In this episode, Granger Forson is joined by Helen Tebay, known as The Sales Lady . Helen shares her journey from corporate sales in engineering and pharmaceuticals to building a coaching business that helps service-based founders sell in a way that feels natural and fun. They discuss the "identity level" shifts required to master sales, the power of simple marketing, and how to stop treating sale...

Episode Summary In this episode, host Granger Forson sits down with Alex Wheeler to discuss the realities of building a local wealth management practice. Alex explains how he helps high earners bridge the gap between "earning good money" and achieving genuine financial freedom. They explore the evolution of his business from a national role to a local, client-focused practice, the importance of ma...

Episode Summary   In this episode, Granger Forson is joined by Craig Hellen of Bexmedia , a video production agency currently in its 19th year. From his early days dragging a camera around Southwest skate parks to filming sunrise at Stonehenge for English Heritage, Craig shares a journey of organic growth, technical evolution, and the pursuit of "surprising brilliance". They explore the importance...

In this episode, host Granger Forson speaks with Claire Bennett, founder of Hornbeam Workplace Wellbeing . Claire shares her journey from a high-flying global corporate career to launching a mission-driven training and consultancy firm. They explore the critical difference between "box-ticking" mental health training and building a genuine culture of inclusion and wellbeing. Claire also opens up a...

In this episode, Granger Forson talks with Austin Hilton Ball about his journey building Your Payroll Manager . Austin shares how he moved from a "side hustle" with a single £12.95 client to running a team of six (and growing) that serves large accountancy practices. They explore Austin's "people-first" philosophy in a highly automated industry, the efficiency of his "pod" team structure, and how...

Episode Summary In this episode, Granger Forson talks with Jessica Morgan, founder of Carnsight Communications , a PR and social media agency specialising in founder-led businesses. Jessica shares her decade-long journey from starting as a "kitchen table" business while on maternity leave to building an award-winning team. They discuss the importance of proving ROI in PR, the shift toward sustaina...

Episode Summary In this episode, Granger Forson sits down with Richard Hubble, who has spent nine years building a successful digital marketing franchise in Gloucestershire. Richard shares his transition from an international corporate sales career to supporting startups and small businesses that lack in-house marketing teams. They discuss the benefits of the franchise model, the power of local su...

Episode Summary In this episode, Granger Forson talks with Chris Kopec of Merge IT , a Managed Service Provider (MSP) that helps businesses transform IT from a cost center into a strategic "business enabler". Chris shares his journey from starting a business during a "midlife crisis" just four months before COVID-19 to navigating the highly regulated waters of FCA and ISO compliance. The conversat...

Are you actually productive, or just busy fighting fires? 🧯 It’s the classic agency trap, a calendar full of meetings, a Slack notification every 30 seconds, and a team that’s constantly "firefighting." By 5PM, you’ve done a lot, but you haven't moved the needle. 🎙️ Today I sit down with Andy Bell from Set Studio to hear his founders story and tackle this exact business hurdle. We dive into how t...

In this episode, Granger Forson talks with Stuart Lee about the evolution of his branding and graphic design business. Stuart shares his journey from freelancing in London to building a local agency in Gloucestershire. They dive deep into the importance of "information design" over mere aesthetics, the challenges of scaling through delegation, and a fascinating "hurdle" session on using AI for com...

Welcome to Episode 001 Stronger Business Together Welcome to the very first episode of the Stronger Business Together podcast. I’m Granger Forson, and I started this show because I’ve seen too many entrepreneurs drowning in "information" while their actual business stays stuck. In this inaugural episode, I’m laying out the core philosophy of this show. We aren’t here for theoretical fluff; we’re h...