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Imposter Syndrome expert, Clare Josa, is this week's guest. In this episode we discuss how you can beat Imposter Syndrome. You'll learn what are the symptoms of Imposter Syndrome. Plus the five key steps to beating Imposter Syndrome and how to help someone with Imposter Syndrome. Impostor syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or impostorism, is a psychological experience in which a person suffers from feelings of intellectual and/or professional fraudulence. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING CLARE JOSA Clare Josa is considered a global authority on Imposter Syndrome, as well as leading the landmark 2019 Imposter Syndrome Research Study and publishing her book; 'Ditching Imposter Syndrome'. She is the author of eight books and has been interviewed by the likes of The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and Radio 4, amongst others. Clare speaks internationally on how to change the world by changing yourself. An expert in the neuroscience and psychology of performance, her original training as an engineer, specialising in Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing, means her inspirational approach to Imposter Syndrome is grounded in practical common sense, creating breakthroughs not burnout. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] Introducing Clare Josa [00:01:00] What is Imposter Sundrome? [00:04:20] What isn't Imposter Syndrome? [00:08:00] Debunking some of the rubbish out there about Imposter Syndrome [00:12:00] Good & bad stress and self-sabotage as part of Imposter Syndrome [00:16:00] H​ow to identify what is, and what isn’t, a bout of Imposter Syndrome [00:21:00] How to press pause on a bout of Imposter Syndrome in under a minute [00:23:45] The 5 key steps to ditching Imposter Syndrome [00:28:00] The book 'Ditching Imposter Syndrome' [00:30:00] How to start turning your inner critic into a genuine cheerleader VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Have you got Imposter Syndrome? Take Clare's free Imposter Syndrome test at https://impostersyndrome.scoreapp.com/ Buy the book 'Ditching Imposter Syndrome - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1908854960/ref=nosim?tag=lbp08b-21 Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  Website: www.clarejosa.com www.ditchingimpostersyndrome.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarejosa DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with TWO people who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE How to turn a hobby into a ‘proper’ business – Dan & Michael, The Square Ball - a...

Kate Hutchinson’s events company went from potential disaster to huge growth during the pandemic. Listen how chance meetings and recommendations have powered her business growth and how she's now growing her events company in the sustainability sector. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING KATE HUTCHINSON Kate Hutchinson is the Founder of The Sustainability Community - a national network of 20,000+ sustainability leaders spanning CEOs, government strategists, investors, community builders and climate innovators. United by a shared mission to accelerate the green economy and build a fairer, low-carbon future, we bring this vision to life through high-impact conferences, partnerships and programmes that connect ideas with action. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] Introduction to the Sustainability Community [00:03:00] Kate’s personal entrepreneurship journey [00:06:00] Getting started, connections and the importance of being on an accelerator [00:12:00] The important part the pandemic played in the business growth [00:20:00] The pivot to the sustainability industry [00:27:00] How to network effectively [00:30:00] Monetising the Sustainability Community and the expansion plans [00:34:00] My brilliant business idea 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS * When networking your number one priority is how you can help someone * If you make an event free to attend you can have a drop out rate of up to 60% * The biggest benefit of an accelerator is the connections you make with other founders 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “We grew 325% in the first year of the pandemic” “I wrote my first business plan on a canal boat” “I went to see Leeds City Council with no logo, no website, no nothing. Just a spreadsheet” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  Website: https://www.thesustainabilitycommunity.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-hutchinson-9b7757a0/ Shout out: Victoria Garcia https://www.bindethics.com/  Mihaela Gruia https://www.researchretold.com/  DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with TWO people who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE (AS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE) Helen Oldham - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/helen-oldham/ Anna Sutton - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/anna-sutton/ Georgie Fairhall - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/george-fairhall/ Listen to Phil's story - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/ ABOUT YOUR HOST Phil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled

James Ooi, the founder of Little Bao Boy tells us how he transitioned from a career in sales to launching a successful street food business, starting from a side hustle in his flat to expanding into multiple locations. James shares insights on the challenges of building a food business, the importance of building a personal brand, and the strategic moves that helped Little Bao Boy thrive. Tune in for an inspiring journey of passion, perseverance, and innovation in the food industry. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING JAMES OOI Growing up in his parents noodles shop hospitality has always been a part of James' life. Starting in corporate sales he always missed the buzz if hospitality. Almost a decade ago he launched Little Bao Boy, which has grown from a small street food set up to 38 franchises across the UK. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] From sales to street food [00:03:00] The birth of Little Bao Boy [00:06:00] Taking the leap: leaving a steady job [00:09:30] Navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship [00:12:00] The Importance of community when building a brand [00:15:00] Expanding horizons: franchising and growth [00:18:00] Quality control and the evolution of business operations [00:24:00] Building a personal brand in the Digital Age [00:28:00] Advice for aspiring food entrepreneurs [00:30:00] My brilliant business idea 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS • When you start a business you have to become an accountant • It’s not just how good your product is. People invest in you as a person. • Don’t overthink your personal brand. Just go out there and create content 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “no-one gets into business because they want to learn how to read a P&L sheet” “It took a year and a half to sort out the franchising side of things” “One of our videos has 2.6m views on it” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  Website: https://www.littlebaoboy.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-ooi-7b740b86/ Shout out: https://dohhut.com/ https://www.thingsinbread.com/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE What it’s really like running a bar – John Gyngell, North Brew https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/north-bar-john-gyngell From Lockdown to Launchpad – JFDI; The Mexi Bean Express Story with Danielle Best - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/danielle-best-mexibean/ From start up to M&S supplier to insolvency – Greg Fraser, Bottle Baking Co - a...

An argument in the vets was the spark for today’s guest. Listen as Paul Hallett of VET AI discusses what’s important when raising funds, the supportive business eco-system of Leeds, the extra benefits that strategic investors bring and …… bank accounts for pets ! If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING PAUL HALLETT Paul Hallett is the co-founder of Vet-AI, the Leeds-based vet tech company behind the Joii Pet Care app, which uses AI and telemedicine to make veterinary care more affordable and accessible. Paul launched Vet-AI in 2017 with veterinarians Robert Dawson and Sarah Warren, driven by a desire to solve real problems in the veterinary industry, including burnout and rising costs. As a tech expert who isn't afraid to challenge the status quo, Paul is passionate about building relationships and improving the lives of pets, vets and owners. Blending entrepreneurial drive with a meaningful mission, he has guided Vet-AI through its growth, scaling the business into one of the UK’s most innovative vet tech ventures. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] Lessons from liquidation and new beginnings [00:06:00] Insights into fundraising [00:09:00] The birth of Vet-AI: From idea to execution [00:12:00] Building the team, initial steps, early growth and challenges [00:18:00] The Role of AI in veterinary care [00:21:00] Strategic partnerships and a change in the business model [00:24:30] Overcoming obstacles and business learnings [00:27:30] My brilliant business idea 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS • It’s easy to be distracted in business, particularly younger businesses. The businesses that make it are very focused. • People are critical. Who have you got in and around you. • Early traction is key when looking for investment. • Don’t think ‘it will be ok tomorrow’; you have to de-risk by acting now • Strategic investors usually think longer term that VCs 4 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “We were really good at acquiring customers but not very good at keeping them” “It was one of those serendipitous moments. It got my cogs working” “Vets commit suicide four times the UK general population” “Our first employee was a quantum physicist” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk Website: www.vet-ai.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vet-ai/ Shout out: https://livve.uk/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with TWO people who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Turning a hobby into a business - The Square Ball - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/ Building an AI business – a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/neural-voice-jeremy-smith/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Join Claire Daniels, CEO of Trio Media, as she delves into her inspiring journey. Discover how Claire navigated personal tragedy to become a successful business owner, the challenges of taking over an existing company, and the lessons learned from international PR coverage. Claire also shares her unique 'Top 20 Reasons' exercise to help your business refine your marketing messages. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING CLAIRE DANIELS Claire Daniels is the owner and CEO of Trio Media, a web and performance marketing agency based in Leeds. Trio Media is a well-established agency, supporting a number of businesses within Leeds and the wider region in their marketing efforts. They rank #19 on Campaign’s Best Places to Work. Claire’s career in marketing spans over 15 years, and has seen her lead global marketing teams and strategic initiatives. Claire has regularly appeared in the media and is no stranger to being interviewed on live TV and radio. Claire is now focussed on scaling Trio through the integration of AI - with funding secured to build their own AI product, which is currently in production. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] Introduction to Trio Media and the Impact of personal loss on Claire’s career [00:06:00] Navigating family dynamics in the business [00:16:00] The four-day work week experience, and the problems it brought [00:21:00] Working with your husband in the business [00:23:00] Understanding customer needs: The ‘Top 20 Reasons’ exercise [00:31:00] My brilliant business idea 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS • When you buy into a business it’s like being put in charge of a train and working out the controls before the next stop • It’s a misconception that all PR coverage must equal new business. It doesn’t. • There’s a huge difference in what you say and what customers want to hear 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “I didn’t know we pay our tax quarterly” “We were on the BBC, ITV, every newspaper” “Even though my husband thought it was a terrible idea that I work with his sister, he doesn’t think it’s a terrible idea that he works for me” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk Website: www.trio-media.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-daniels-trio-media/ Shout out: https://www.blocstudio.co.uk/ YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Turning a hobby into a business - The Square Ball - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/ Building an AI business – https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/neural-voice-jeremy-smith/ Interior design, Leeds United and aliens - a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/amanda-cook-design-tonic/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Introducing Simon Walton, Managing Director of Berry's Jewellers. We discuss the history of Berry's, the challenges and advantages of running a family business and the expansion of their stores. Simon shares insights into the luxury watch and jewellery industry, including the importance of building relationships with brands and the unique challenges of selling high-value items, including the dangers of robbery. The conversation also touches on the impact of online shopping and the strategies Berry's employs to create an exceptional in-store experience. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING SIMON WALTON Simon Walton is Managing Director of Berrys, a 5th generation family jewellers. Currently with 13 stores, Berrys is one of the largest independent watch and jewelry businesses in the U.K. Berrys recently opened the only Patek Philippe boutique outside of London in Leeds. Simon is married with 3 kids, a fanatical Leeds Rhinos fan and keen road cyclist. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] Introducing Berrys Jewellers [00:03:30] Navigating family dynamics in the business [00:06:00] Expansion through opportunity [00:10:00] the cash-intensive nature of the jewellery industry [00:13:00] The security challenges [00:16:00] Retail expansion when the High Street is dying [00:19:00] Building luxurious shops and selling luxury products [00:30:00] My brilliant business idea [00:32:00] The future of Berrys 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS • people by from people when they have confidence that they know what they're talking about • people want the experience of shopping on the high street • When selling luxury brands, the brand is bigger than your business 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “Over a 10 year period we opened one store a year" “there's always a very good armed police presence in Leeds" “I sold a Patek Phillipe for two and a half million pounds" VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  Website: https://www.berrysjewellers.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/berrys-jewellers/ Shout out: https://www.green-room.com/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just TWO people who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Building an AI business – https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/neural-voice-jeremy-smith/ Interior design, Leeds United and aliens - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/amanda-cook-design-tonic/ Kitchen table to £mm sale to a plc - a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Join us as we dive into the fascinating journey of Hazel Savage, a trailblazer in AI and music tech. Discover her unique insights on entrepreneurship, and her experiences in building and selling a successful AI company. Hazel shares her candid thoughts on the challenges and triumphs of innovation, offering valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you INTRODUCING HAZEL SAVAGE With 18 years experience in the music industry, Hazel is a music-tech lifer, guitarist and currently the CEO at Syntho. Previously, in 2018 Hazel was the CEO and Co-Founder of Musiio, an AI startup which sold to SoundCloud in 2022. She started her music-tech journey as an early employee at Shazam and has also had the privilege and experience to work at Pandora Internet Radio, Universal Music, BandLab and HMV. Hazel travels globally speaking at conferences and talking to catalogue owners about the value of artificial intelligence integration and digital transformation in the music industry. As a female founder in the heavily male-dominated industries of music and tech, Hazel seeks to offer insights with interesting and humorous anecdotes, as well as easy-to-follow explanations and use cases of artificial intelligence technology. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] Introduction to Syntho and Hazel's journey [00:02:30] Retirement and the call to action [00:05:15] The Incubator experience, finding a co-founder [00:10:34] From Idea to Execution; Starting Musio [00:16:15] Navigating the Exit; selling Musio [00:32:30] Back to the grind and embracing the hustle [00:36:00] How to ideate for a start-up idea [00:45:00] Building Leeds Angels 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS Have strong beliefs, but loosely heldGet as many experts as possible to kick the tyres on your business ideaIf you don't have bad days, you can't have good days 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “What is your non-consensus view of the world?" “People are arseholes..." “When I told people what I was doing, lots of them said, "Well that won't work will it" " VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  Website: https://www.leedsangels.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hazelrebeccasavage/ Shout out: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crispin1/ https://auditsu.com/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with TWO people who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Making a hobby a 'proper' business - Leeds United podcast, The Square Ball a...

Join us as we dive into the amazing journey of Danielle Best, founder of Mexi Bean Express. Discover how she navigates the challenges of balancing multiple business ventures, from launching a restaurant during COVID to expanding into yoga and sweets. Danielle shares her insights on resilience, innovation, and the importance of having the right team behind you. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING DANIELLE BEST Danielle Best is the owner and CEO of Mexi Bean Express, Kalm wellness studio and Charlie’s Desserts. Danielle began her entrepreneurial journey in 2020. After travelling to Mexico, she identified a niche for high-quality quick-service Mexican food with authentic flavours. Since then, Mexi Bean Express has expanded to multiple locations and won multiple awards, including the Hospitality Leader of the Year award at the Business Desk Yorkshire Leadership Awards. She has also formed a partnership with the Community Foundation for Calderdale and got involved in initiatives supporting women in business.  As a single mother of three and an independent business owner, Danielle knows how hard it can be to start and develop a business, especially balancing it with the demands of personal life. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] The birth of Mexi Bean Express [00:06:00] Expansion and growth strategies [00:12:00] How to build a franchise [00:18:00] Introducing Kalm, and Charlie's Desserts 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS If it doesn't work, it's not a failure. Just try and try again.Are you strong enough for this? Do you want it enough? How much are you prerpared to put to get itFor a franchise to work, You've got to have one recipe for success and then replicate itGive it a shot. If it doesn't work, at least you triedYou've got to take that risk. No risk, no reward 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “I've got massive dreams. And I think it's contagious" “I knew I wanted to be massive and national and global" “I cant move for business plans (NOT)" VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-best-02297820b/ Websites:  MexiBean Express - https://mexibeanexpress.co.uk/ Kalm - https://kalm.world/ Charlie’s Desserts https://charliesdesserts.com/ Shout out: https://www.eatitdrinkit.co.uk/ Zeta Weber - https://msha.ke/zetawebber DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/kate-ball/  https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/ a...

Join Faresh Maisura as we explore the journey of launching a business post-employer administration, the significance of mentoring and the impact of business courses. Discover insights on lead generation, public sector challenges, and the power of community support in entrepreneurship. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING FARESH MAISURIA Faresh Maisuria is the founder and Managing Director of Blueberry Marketing Solutions - a business development agency founded overnight in 2005 in response to an unexpected opportunity. Originally based in a university incubator at Leeds Beckett, Blueberry benefited from a range of local enterprise initiatives that helped shape its early direction and growth. Now approaching its 20th anniversary, the company has grown into a team of over 50 and continues to champion entrepreneurial thinking, with 24 former employees having gone on to start their own businesses. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] Journey to setting up Blueberry Marketing [00:08:00] Growing the business and the Goldman Sachs small business course [00:11:00] Expanding into, and working within, the Public Sector [00:16:00] Business journey pain points [00:19:00] Lead generation advice and insights [00:24:00] What is an EOT (Employee Ownership Trust) and what are the benefits [00:25:00] How to start a business - some advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS Opportunities sometimes happen in the strangest waysPeople are always willing to helpTo get to that shared goal, an EMI scheme really works 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “Neil ran a £20m business. I asked Neil every question under the sun” “As a lead generation company, if you cant generate your own leads you shouldn’t be in business” “Out of adversity look at how it can work for you” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  Website: https://blueberryms.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faresh-maisuria-8009761/ Shout out: Ryan Evans - https://www.rmesport.com/ YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Sixth form to £mm exited tech founder in 10 years – with Jordan Appleson, Founder, Hark https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jordan-appleson-hark/ Interior design, Leeds United and aliens with Amanda Cook, Design Tonic https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/amanda-cook-design-tonic/ From start up to M&S supplier to insolvency – Greg Fraser, Bottle Baking Co https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/bottled-baking-greg-fraser/ Accidental start up to multi-million pound exit – Phil Fraser’s story a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Listen to one the best connectors in the Leeds business eco-system; Gordon Bateman. Gordon discusses his business background and a series of fortunate accidents that led to one of the biggest events on the Leeds business calendar. He also gives us a great networking tip. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING GORDON BATEMAN Gordon Bateman has over 30 years’ experience supporting ambitious businesses and the investors who back them. He specialises in helping organisations design, build, and retain outstanding executive and non-executive teams that drive sustainable growth. Working closely with some of the UK’s most active investors, Gordon is a trusted advisor on talent strategy, portfolio development, and scaling challenges. Gordon founded Investor Ladder to strengthen connections between investors and regional innovation ecosystems. In 2023, he launched Climb to address three core needs: better support and advice for growing businesses, improved access to finance across the UK regions, and more effective international expansion - both into and out of the UK. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] The Journey to CRSI [00:03:00] The challenges in startup recruitment and navigating people management [00:08:00] The birth of Investor Ladder and connecting Investors with businesses [00:15:00] How Climb came about [00:18:00] The Impact of Climb on the business community [00:21:00] Highlights and Features of Climb 2025 [00:24:00] How to optimise your experience at events 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS What works for an established business, doesn’t necessarily work for a start upBusiness is all about building relationshipsThe whole of the north is an amazing place to do business 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “We spend more time talking about the poor employees rather than those that are doing really well” “We had £16b of active funds in the room” “We all know we need to network, but most of us hate it” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  Websites: Climb - www.Climb-uk.com CRSi - www.crsi.team Investor ladder - www.investorladder.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonbateman1/ Shout out: Net-Zu (they don't have a website yet) DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE (CLIMB SPEAKERS AS MENTIONED) Chris Black - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/chris-black/ Jordan Dargue - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/lifted-ventures/ George Fairhall - a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/george-fairhall/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Amanda Cook launched her business after a failed MBO followed by a discussion over a pint of Guinness. Listen how she tells us about the importance of networking in the building of her business, how much support there is out there for businesses and and why cash is king. We also discuss Leeds United and aliens…. Although not in the same sentence! If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING AMANDA COOK Amanda Cook has worked in commercial interior design and fitout for over 20 years. In 2019, she launched DesignTonic Ltd with Joe Darcy. They create amazing commercial spaces to work, rest and play in. From advice and inspiration through to full design, fit and furnish, their bespoke services give you exactly what you need to fit your timescale and budget. DesignTonic Team’s expert knowledge, precise attention to detail and friendly approach have already seen them complete fantastic projects for clients like Leeds United, Yorkshire County Cricket, Caddick, Vastint and Relentless. The business has now expanding adding their DT sports and DT projects brands. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] Introduction to Design Tonic [00:05:00] Creating a Business Plan and the first clients [00:11:00] Navigating COVID-19 challenges [00:14:00] The current state of the hospitality market [00:17:00] Expanding into sports and concert venues [00:23:00] Overcoming business challenges [00:26:00] How to build brand recognition [00:26:00] Supporting Smart Works 4 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS If you’ve got a business idea talk to as many people as you can. They’ll be willing to help.In the bars and restaurants, they now HAVE TO nail their service offerDo a good job. Do what you say you’ll do, and be nice to people.Don’t leave it as a customer-supplier relationship; you become partners 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “We went to every single event we were invited to” “Covid was a perfect time for bars and restaurants to do a refit” “It’s all through connections. Asking the right people” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  Website: https://designtonic.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atkinsonamanda/ www.linkedin.com/designtonic-ltd Shout out: https://www.littlebaoboy.com/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Tracey Fletcher, Smart Works (as mentioned) https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/tracy-fletcher-smartworks/ LUFC podcast The Square Ball https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/ Yana Smaglo – Dragons...

Running a business can often be compared to riding a rollercoaster.  From small beginnings in his kitchen to £1m orders from M&S and winning awards to cashflow problems and crashing back down, today’s guest, Greg Fraser has ridden that rollercoaster.  Listen to Greg’s amazing  story and you’ll learn so many business lessons. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING GREG FRASER Greg Fraser is a multi-brand founder with a passion for building standout food and gifting businesses that bring joy, spark curiosity and challenge the norm. Greg has launched and grown The Bottled Baking Co and The Doggy Baking Co from scratch while also nurturing Laura’s Confectionery and Mon Dessert following an acquisition. From kitchen experiments to nationwide and worldwide listings, Greg Fraser has learnt what it takes to go from idea to shelf, and how to keep evolving in a fast-paced consumer world. He's also learnt the hard way, how the business world can be brutal and how life may not go the way you were expecting it to. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] The genesis of Bottle Baking Co [00:07:00] From hobby to business: The early days and scaling up [00:17:30] The Impact of COVID-19 on Business Growth [00:19:00] Transitioning to Full-Time Entrepreneurship [00:22:00] Challenges of rapid growth and stock management [00:30:00] Scaling production challenges [00:32:00] The excitement of partnering with Marks and Spencer [00:36:00] Financial struggles, cashflow management and the dangers of over-reliance on a single client [00:51:00] The Journey to Liquidation [00:57:00] Reflections on the Business Journey 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS Stock management is food manufacture is key; getting hold of, and having enough, stockIf you haven’t got a business support network find one, and don’t be afraid to ask questionsSomeone always needs to be looking at the longer term strategy 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “The first Christmas orders came through in July” “I took time off for Christmas orders… and never went back” “It was risky borrowing that amount of money. I could buy a house with that!” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorfraser/ Shout out: https://www.thebiskery.com DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/yana-smaglo/ a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/" rel="noopener...

Today’s guest runs a 1000 staff, 45 location, £300m turnover business. AND he’s a 6th generation family owner. Hear the fascinating story of Howarths Timber, the successes and failures of the business, how you manage such a huge entity and the family-owned aspects that power it. There's also learnings from the failures the company have experienced too. From sawing down trees to AI, this episode is one worth listening to…. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING NICK HOWARTH Nick Howarth joined the company in 1979 after completing a Management degree at Manchester University. He and his brother became joint chair in 1988 after their father died. The Howarth Timber Group is a 185-year-old Leeds based 7th generation family business with a turnover of £300 million, employs over 1,000 colleagues and is listed within the Sunday Times Best Places to Work Award. Howarth Timber Group import timber, value add process it and distribute it along with related building materials nationwide, operating from 45 locations. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] The history of Howarths Timber [00:07:30] Working in the family business [00:10:00] The development of Howarths into new markets [00:14:00] What is ‘value-add’? And helping the competitors… [00:17:00] The challenges to managing a huge operation [00:20:00] Adapting to market change and the businesses core values [00:30:00] The use of AI and technology in the business [00:35:00] The need for family emotional engagement in a family business [00:43:00] The failures and the lessons learnt 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS Employ good people and let them understand what they need to do in terms of outputs and performanceLearn to swim in choppy seas when the market goes into a downturnMissed market opportunities (things you didn’t do) are also business failures 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “My dad would go into the forests, mark up trees and chop them down” “We’ve had a number of people with us over 50 years” “85% of our profits are invested back into the business” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  Website: https://howarth-group.co.uk/ Shout out: https://familybusinessuk.org/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE OTHER FAMILY BUSINESS EPISODES James Kempley - Troy Foods - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/troy-foods/ Jamie Bentley, Stephenson Personal Care - a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jamie-bentley/" rel="noopener...

Jordan Appleson left school to go into employment at 17. He then went on to found, and sell, one of the most successful Leeds tech businesses. Listen as a chance conversation sparks a business idea, how a pivot really changed the business, the reasons for an abandoned PE raise and how a cold email turned into a business sale. Along with the undoubted successes there’s lots of ‘we didn't do this so well’. There is so much in this episode to learn from. Despite being so successful, today's guest Jordan is open enough to include of the things he didn’t get right on his journey so far. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING JORDAN APPLESON Jordan Appleson is the Founder & CEO of Hark, which was acquired by S&P500 tech company SolarEdge Inc. Jordan is an expert on Industrial IoT tech for Energy Transition with a background in software and hardware. He is now leading teams and deployments globally. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] Leaving school at 17 and starting work full time [00:15:30] The effect of the Branded3 sale [00:19:00] The initial idea for Hark [00:23:00] The pivot into energy and the difficulties of revenue v focus [00:35:00] Business growth and lessons learnt [00:42:00] The sale of Hark [00:49:00] The investment round that didn’t happen [00:55:00] How to build culture post-acquisition 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS • If you’re starting up a business it’s not a part-time thing. You’re either in or out • A ‘low price, high volume’ business needs a big sales team around it • 80% of any good business idea is going to be execution • Build the culture early on and recruit to fit that culture • No-one believes in your business as much as you do 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “What on earth do they want with us? Is this a scam? “This guy looked like he could crush me with his thumb” “The deal was done on Christmas Day” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-appleson-3848315b/ Shout out: https://castrooms.com/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it YOU MAY ALSO LIKE https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/anna-sutton/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/ a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/yana-smaglo/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Today’s episode with Tracy Fletcher covers her time in banking and recruitment, with some great advice for YOU when YOU recruit staff, and then we discuss Smart Works Leeds where she is The Chair. Listen not only to what Smart Works Leeds does but, more importantly, how you can support and get involved with this much-needed and highly effective charity. If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you. INTRODUCING TRACY FLETCHER Tracy enjoyed a 20-year career in Financial Services, working in senior leadership roles, before launching her own banking recruitment business in 2008. Throughout her Career Tracy has been a huge advocate for women, being both an active signatory of the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter and mentoring a number of new business owners and finance professionals. She joined Smart Works initially in 2019 as a volunteer coach, and was appointed Chair in 2023, Following the sale of her recruitment business last year she is working on a number of consultancy assignments, giving herself some much-needed work life balance. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] Starting in banking and the skills learnt [00:04:00] Leaving banking and setting up a recruitment business [00:19:00] Getting the best out of your recruitment consultant [00:23:00] Splitting from a business partner [00:27:00] AI in recruitment [00:30:00] Exiting the business [00:33:00] What is Smart Works and what does it offer? [00:36:00] How Tracy got involved with Smart Works [00:38:00] The benefits of Smart Works [00:44:00] How you can help Smart Works [00:56:00] How to chair an all-female board 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS • Your team are people. They are not strategic pawns in your chess game • Being in business with somebody is like a marriage • In (any) meeting make sure all voices, especially female ones, are heard 4 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “I have a heightened moral compass. And a very strong sense of justice” “I needed to spread my wings and listen to my heart” “Being a banker is marginally more respectable than being a recruiter” “Of 1000 women who came into Smart Works, 630 got a job with a month” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk Website: https://leeds.smartworks.org.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyfletchercampbellfletcher/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-works-leeds/ Shout outs: Jo Smedley - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-smedley-371a2335/ Charlotte Hopkinson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-hopkinson-0ba0515/ Amy