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Are you spending money on problems you haven't properly identified? Or investing in technology without knowing whether it will make a difference? In this episode of What One Thing?, we're joined by Dave Oakes, CEO of PowTechnology, whose One Thing is: "Start with the problem, not the technology." This episode is about understanding what's happening in your business, identifying where you're losing money and finding practical ways to improve performance. From rising energy costs and inefficient processes to stock management and everyday waste, Dave explains why better information can help businesses make better decisions without necessarily investing in expensive technology. In this episode, we discuss: How to identify hidden costs and inefficiencies in your business.Practical ways to reduce energy and operating costs.Why more data isn't always better.How better stock management can improve cash flow and reduce logistics costs.The impact of staff culture and everyday waste.How automation and better processes can prevent unnecessary costs.When the cost of measuring something outweighs the potential savings.Why starting small can deliver significant improvements.The big takeaway? You can't improve what you don't properly understand. Before investing in a solution, make sure you know what problem you're trying to solve and have the right information to make that decision. About Dave Oakes and PowTechnologyDave is CEO of PowTechnology, specialists in intelligent automation for 35 years. PowTechnology connects data from sensors and machines to the cloud, providing insights that help businesses identify opportunities, improve performance and increase resilience. Their solutions help businesses reduce energy and operational costs, prevent breakdowns, maximise resources, meet regulatory requirements, improve services and develop new revenue opportunities. PowTechnology works with businesses from start-ups to global multinationals. They are a Siemens Solution Partner and hold ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications. Connect with Dave and PowTechnology: Website: https://www.PowTechnology.com Email: [email protected] Find Dave Oakes and PowTechnology on LinkedIn. What One Thing is brought to you by Affirm IT and Corbar Accounting. Listen to What One Thing? the business podcast focused on practical ideas growing business owners can actually implement and discover the one lesson that could change the way you run your business. Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/ Affirm IT Services https://affirmit.co.uk/ Corbar Accounting https://corbar.uk/ #WhatOneThing #BusinessPodcast #BusinessGrowth #CostReduction #BusinessEfficiency #DigitalTransformation

You invest in new machinery, better systems and technology to help your business grow. But are you investing enough in the people who actually make it happen? In this episode of What One Thing, Hayley and Phil welcome back Angela Hodgson to explore why investing in your people is just as important as investing in your equipment, particularly in manufacturing and engineering businesses. And we're not just talking about sending people on another training course. Angela challenges the way businesses approach leadership development, staff training and performance improvement, and explains why so much time and money can be spent on training without anything really changing. We talk about: Why technical training alone isn't enough to develop a high-performing team.How to identify the leadership and performance gaps holding your business back.Why training should start with a business problem, not a course.How one business secured £100,000 of new contracts after getting clearer on its goals and aligning its team.How to measure the return on investment from staff development.Three simple questions you can ask your team to understand how your business is really performing.We also explore something many business owners will recognise: knowing you need to spend more time developing your people, but struggling to find that time when customers, deadlines and day-to-day problems keep getting in the way. If you're a manufacturing or engineering business owner, MD or business leader who wants to build a stronger team and a better-performing business, this episode is for you. What One Thing is brought to you by Affirm IT and Corbar Accounting. Listen to What One Thing? the business podcast focused on practical ideas growing business owners can actually implement and discover the one lesson that could change the way you run your business. Connect with Angela Hodgson: In 5 mins, understand why your team isn’t performing and how to fix it. https://ignitediagnostic.scoreapp.com/ Follow Angela for practical hints and tips: Angela Hodgson | LinkedIn Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/ Affirm IT Services https://affirmit.co.uk/ Corbar Accounting https://corbar.uk/

What happens when your manufacturing business grows, your team gets bigger… but somehow everything feels harder to control? In this episode of What One Thing, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by Harvey Leach to talk about a problem many growing manufacturing businesses will recognise: firefighting. Harvey shares his own experience in the automotive industry, where every day became a cycle of chasing parts, answering problems and simply trying to get through the day. The turning point wasn’t working harder or recruiting more people. It was creating visibility, structure and simple daily routines that helped the team regain control. We talk about: Why growing manufacturing businesses can lose control as teams expandThe difference between urgent work and important workHow to create better visibility across production and your wider teamWhy departments need to understand how their work fits togetherHow to move from constant firefighting to continuous improvementDeveloping people as they move from technical roles into managementThe small changes manufacturing leaders can start making tomorrowIf your business is successful but increasingly feels like everyone is incredibly busy without quite knowing whether you're moving forward, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can actually use. Because sometimes the answer isn't more people, more hours or working harder. It's stepping back long enough to understand what's really going on. What One Thing is brought to you by Corbar Accounting Ltd and Affirm IT, sharing practical conversations and ideas to help business owners build stronger, better-run businesses. What One Thing is brought to you by Affirm IT and Corbar Accounting. Listen to What One Thing? and discover the one lesson that could change the way you run your business. What One Thing? is the business podcast focused on practical ideas growing business owners can actually implement — without the fluff. Connect with Harvey Leach: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jharveyleach/ Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/ Affirm IT Services https://affirmit.co.uk/ Corbar Accounting https://corbar.uk/

Do you really know what’s going on in your business financially? In this episode of What One Thing, Hayley and Phil are joined by Marc McCardle, who shares how a post-Covid shock forced him to get much closer to the numbers behind his family business. After years of growth, rising costs and squeezed margins started to have an impact. The problem was, relying on year-end accounts meant Marc didn’t see what was happening quickly enough. That became the start of a journey into management accounts, gross and net profit margins, understanding costs and getting much more granular about where the business was actually making money. Marc shares what he learned, the practical changes the business made and why knowing his numbers now gives him far more confidence when making decisions about pricing, costs, recruitment and future growth. We also talk about: • Why year-end accounts alone might not tell you enough • Gross profit vs net profit and why the gap matters • How rising costs can quietly erode your margins • Using management accounts to spot problems earlier • Understanding profitability by product, service or client • Why business owners can be reluctant to increase prices • How better financial information helps you make decisions • Using AI to analyse and understand business data • The role of accountants, mentors and outside perspectives • Why knowing your numbers becomes even more important as your business grows This isn’t about becoming an accountant or spending your life buried in spreadsheets. It’s about having enough visibility over your business to understand what’s working, what isn’t and what you might need to change. Because better numbers aren’t really about the numbers. They’re about making better business decisions. What One Thing is brought to you by Affirm IT and Corbar Accounting. Listen to What One Thing? and discover the one lesson that could change the way you run your business. What One Thing? is the business podcast focused on practical ideas growing business owners can actually implement — without the fluff. Connect with Marc McArdle: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-mcardle-18a29521/ Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/ Affirm IT Services https://affirmit.co.uk/ Corbar Accounting https://corbar.uk/

What happens when the very thing that makes you good at running a business starts costing you outside of it? In this episode of What One Thing?, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by Ben McManus, founder of BM Civil Engineering, to talk about what Ben calls his “superhero complex” — his drive to solve problems, do things properly and deliver for his clients, whatever it takes. It’s an approach that has helped Ben grow a successful civil engineering consultancy, build a strong team and develop client relationships where he’s prepared to have difficult conversations, stand by his pricing and even walk away from work when it doesn’t feel right. But there’s another side to it. Ben shares candidly how prioritising the business has sometimes come at a cost to himself and his family — and why he’s now learning that not every problem needs Batman. We talk about: having the confidence to say no to the wrong clients and opportunitieschoosing doing the right thing over the immediate financial winadding value without simply adding more workpricing based on the service you want to deliverbuilding genuine, valuable client relationshipsdelegating as your business and team growcreating false urgency as a business ownerwork-life balance and learning to switch offwhy a small number of deep business relationships can beat hundreds of superficial ones If you’re a business owner, founder or entrepreneur who feels responsible for everything, struggles to switch off or finds it difficult to let other people take over, this conversation might feel very familiar. Because sometimes the next stage of growing your business isn’t about doing more. It’s about realising you don’t have to save Gotham every day. Listen to What One Thing? and discover the one lesson that could change the way you run your business. What One Thing? is the business podcast focused on practical ideas growing business owners can actually implement — without the fluff. Connect with Ben McManus: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-mcmanus-ieng-mice-57b48aa2/ Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/ Affirm IT Services https://affirmit.co.uk/ Corbar Accounting https://corbar.uk/

What makes a manufacturing business the one customers trust, recommend and keep coming back to? It isn't a new logo. It isn't posting more on LinkedIn. And it definitely isn't creating content simply because somebody told you that you should. In this episode of What One Thing?, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by Lucy Rennie to unpack what building a genuinely trusted brand looks like for manufacturing and engineering businesses — and why it has to start on the inside. Lucy shares why so many established manufacturers jump straight to marketing without first understanding what they stand for, what they want to be known for and why customers and employees should care. We get into: Why your brand is much more than your logo, website or marketingThe mistake manufacturers make when they jump straight into marketingWhy building a trusted brand starts with the owner and leadership teamThe simple questions you should be asking your employees and customersHow customer retention, referrals and recommendations reveal the strength of your brandWhy your existing customers could be more valuable than constantly chasing new leadsHow to work out what you actually want customers to say about your businessWhy your employees can become some of your strongest brand ambassadorsThe role of authenticity and real people as AI-generated content becomes increasingly commonHow one manufacturing business grew from around £1.6m to £8m while taking a long-term, inside-out approach to its brandAnd crucially, this isn't just a conversation about “branding”. Lucy gives practical exercises you can take back into your business, including a simple employee pulse survey and the “fly on the wall” exercise: if you could overhear your ideal customers talking about your business when you weren't in the room, what would you want them to say? Because people are going to form an opinion of your business anyway. The question is: are you being intentional about what that opinion is? If you run or lead an established manufacturing, engineering or growing SME and want to build a business customers trust, employees are proud to work for and people naturally recommend, this episode is for you. What One Thing? is the business podcast focused on practical ideas growing business owners can actually implement — without the fluff. Connect with Lucy Rennie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyrennie1/ Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/ Affirm IT Services https://affirmit.co.uk/ Corbar Accounting https://corbar.uk/

Most manufacturing businesses spend their time chasing new leads while overlooking one of the biggest opportunities already sitting in front of them. In this episode, we are joined by Rene Power, an industrial marketing specialist with more than 30 years' experience helping manufacturing and professional service businesses attract, convert and retain high value clients. CIM qualified and self employed since 2015, Rene has guided businesses through the challenges of pre Covid, the pandemic itself and the ever changing business landscape that followed. Today, through Rene Power Marketing, he helps businesses build sustainable growth using practical, high impact marketing strategies that actually generate results. Together we discuss the "blindingly obvious" strategy that many manufacturers still aren't using, why businesses are often afraid to simply "make the ask", and how historical sales data could become your most valuable source of new work. In this episode we cover: ●      Why reactivating previous prospects is often faster and more profitable than cold outreach. ●      The real reason business owners avoid direct conversations. ●      How to combine LinkedIn, personal branding and one to one networking effectively. ●      Turning past enquiries into a warm sales pipeline. ●      Managing ghosting, stalled projects and inconsistent sales cycles. ●      Lessons from running businesses through Covid and beyond. ●      Why being brave enough to ask can transform your business. Whether you're a manufacturing business owner, sales director or marketer looking to win more of the right work, this episode is packed with practical advice you can put into action immediately. Connect with Rene Power: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renepower/ Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/

AI is everywhere, but are small businesses actually using it to save time and improve the way they work? In this episode of What One Thing, hosts Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by AI specialist Marie Piercy to explore how business owners can move beyond experimenting with AI and start building practical, repeatable systems that make a real difference. From creating AI-powered ideal client profiles using your existing customers, to building sales and marketing processes without losing the human touch, this conversation is packed with practical ideas that any business can start implementing today. After the interview, Hayley and Phil reflect on the episode, sharing the ideas they'll be taking back into their own businesses, the importance of starting small, and why making time to "play" with AI might be the biggest step of all. In this episode you'll discover:How to use AI to build a better ideal client profileWhy your existing customers are the best place to startHow AI can support your sales and marketing processWhy AI should enhance, not replace, human relationshipsSimple ways to start using AI without feeling overwhelmedThe practical changes Hayley and Phil are making after this conversationWhether you're completely new to AI or looking for practical ways to use it in your business, this episode is full of actionable insights that you can implement straight away. 🎙 About What One Thing Every episode we ask successful business owners one simple question: "What's the one thing that's helped move your business forward?" Hosted by: Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting Phil Davenport – Affirm IT New episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations that give business owners one practical idea they can implement immediately. Every episode asks one successful business owner: What's your one thing? Connect with us Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting Phil Davenport – Affirm IT Connect with Marie Marie Piercy - fusion growth #Sales #Marketing #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #USP #SalesStrategy #BusinessDevelopment #CustomerExperience #BrandStory #BusinessPodcast #WhatOneThing #LeadGeneration #BusinessAdvice #MarketingStrategy

Everyone says you need a USP. But what if that's the wrong place to start? In this episode of What One Thing, hosts Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter are joined by sales consultant Alastair Ruston to explore one of the most powerful concepts in sales and marketing: People don't buy what you do. They buy the result of what you do. From the famous phrase "People buy holes, not drills" to practical ways of uncovering what really makes your business different, this conversation is packed with ideas every business owner can put into practice. Whether you're an accountant, IT company, manufacturer or service business, if you've ever struggled to explain why customers should choose you, this episode is for you. In this episode you'll learn:✅ Why your USP probably isn't your real differentiator ✅ The simple questions every business owner should ask themselves ✅ Why your staff can help uncover what makes your business special ✅ How your customers already know your biggest selling point ✅ Why people buy emotionally before they justify logically ✅ How AI can help turn customer feedback into compelling marketing If you've ever found yourself saying "we're different because we offer great service," this episode will completely change how you think about selling your business. 🎙 About What One Thing Every episode we ask successful business owners one simple question: "What's the one thing that's helped move your business forward?" Hosted by: Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting Phil Davenport – Affirm IT New episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations that give business owners one practical idea they can implement immediately. Every episode asks one successful business owner: What's your one thing? Connect with us Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting Phil Davenport – Affirm IT Connect with Alastair Alastair Ruston - Blitz Sales Solutions #Sales #Marketing #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #USP #SalesStrategy #BusinessDevelopment #CustomerExperience #BrandStory #BusinessPodcast #WhatOneThing #LeadGeneration #BusinessAdvice #MarketingStrategy

Running a business isn't just about writing a business plan... it's about continually evolving it. In this episode of What One Thing?, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by structural engineer and business owner Laura Holland to explore why business planning should be a living document, not something you complete once and forget. Laura shares the honest reality of growing an engineering consultancy from scratch, the confidence challenges that come with leadership, when to hire (and when to say no), and why business coaching transformed the way she runs her company. Whether you're starting your first business or scaling an established one, this episode is packed with practical advice on planning for growth without losing sight of why you started. In this episode we discuss:✔️ Why your business plan should evolve with your business ✔️ The confidence challenges every business owner faces ✔️ Hiring, staffing and growing the right team ✔️ Knowing when to say no to new work ✔️ Vision boards vs business plans ✔️ Business coaching and accountability ✔️ Why success often feels uncomfortable ✔️ Building a business around the life you actually want One of the biggest lessons from this conversation is that nothing in business is fixed. Businesses evolve, people evolve and your plans should evolve too. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by business planning, struggled with confidence or wondered whether you're growing too quickly, this episode is for you. Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations that give business owners one practical idea they can implement immediately. Every episode asks one successful business owner: What's your one thing? Connect with us Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting Phil Davenport – Affirm IT Connect with Laura Laura Holland - Ecotech Engineers #BusinessPlanning #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #Leadership #BusinessCoach #ScalingABusiness #BusinessOwner #SME #Confidence #Hiring #VisionBoard #WorkLifeBalance #WhatOneThing #Engineering #LeadershipDevelopment

The Most Underrated Business Growth Strategy with Daisy FernsIn a world obsessed with algorithms, followers, and going viral, what if the real secret to growing your business was much simpler? In this episode of What One Thing?, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport sit down with lead generation specialist Daisy Ferns, whose one thing is refreshingly straightforward: talk to people. Daisy shares how building genuine relationships has helped her create multiple successful businesses, including a six-figure business, and why so many business owners are overlooking one of the most powerful growth tools available to them – real human conversations. Together, they explore: ✅ Why social media isn't a substitute for relationships ✅ The biggest mistakes business owners make when generating leads ✅ How to start conversations without feeling pushy or salesy ✅ Why follow-up is where most opportunities are won or lost ✅ Daisy's simple five-step process for generating leads through genuine connection ✅ How to identify and engage with your ideal clients on LinkedIn and beyond If you're tired of chasing algorithms and wondering where your next client will come from, this episode is a timely reminder that business is still built on people. About Daisy FernsDaisy helps established business owners generate leads through authentic relationship-building and strategic outreach. Rather than relying solely on inbound marketing, Daisy's approach focuses on creating meaningful conversations that turn into opportunities and long-term clients. Connect with DaisyFind Daisy on LinkedIn and Instagram

What One Thing AI Podcast Everyone is talking about AI. But what if most businesses are approaching it completely the wrong way? In this episode of What One Thing AI, Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter are joined by Richard Geary and Scott Evans from the AI Foundry to discuss one of the biggest mistakes business owners make when implementing AI. Instead of starting with ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini or the latest AI tool, Richard argues that businesses should first identify the problem they are trying to solve. The conversation explores: ✅ Why AI should be the last part of the solution, not the first ✅ The People, Process and Technology framework ✅ How small business owners can identify AI opportunities without spending thousands on consultants ✅ Why AI licences alone don't create productivity gains ✅ The importance of training, experimentation and leadership buy-in ✅ How to use AI to analyse your business and prioritise opportunities ✅ Hallucinations, bias and whether AI can actually be trusted ✅ Practical first steps any business owner can take today If you're wondering how to implement AI in your business without wasting time, money or effort, this episode provides a practical framework to help you start in the right place. About What One Thing AIWhat One Thing AI explores the real-world AI tools, strategies and lessons that business owners can use to improve their businesses. Each episode focuses on one practical idea that can make a meaningful difference. Hosted by Hayley Baxter of Corbar Accounting and Phil Davenport of Affirm IT Services. #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #Copilot #Gemini #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #BusinessOwner #DigitalTransformation #Productivity #WhatOneThingPodcast #AIForBusiness #BusinessSystems #BusinessLeadership #BusinessStrategy

Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter reflect on their attempt to implement a 30-day relationship-building challenge inspired by their own podcast advice. What started with good intentions — outreach messages, networking coffees, introductions, and accountability — slowly became overwhelming as real business life got in the way. In this honest conversation, they unpack: why consistency is harder than motivationthe pressure business owners put on themselvesrelationship-building in growing businessesaccountability vs competitivenessand why slower, more sustainable habits often work better long termA thoughtful episode for business owners trying to balance growth, networking, marketing, and actually running the business at the same time. 🎙️ Brought to you by Corbar Accounting and Affirm IT Services Ltd.

Marc’s What One Thing is: Be real. In this episode, we explore the pressure many business owners feel to look successful, polished, and “together” — even when reality feels very different behind the scenes. Marc shares his experience growing up in a family business, the pressure to prove himself, and how networking changed once he stopped trying to project perfection and started having more honest conversations. We also discuss: vulnerability in leadershipauthentic networkingmanaging teams as humans, not resourcesbalancing professionalism with personalitythe difference between honesty and oversharingwhy real relationships grow better businesses A very human conversation about leadership, business culture, and letting your guard down a little. Brought to you by Corbar Accounting and Affirm IT Services Connect with: Marc Johnson Phil Davenport Hayley Baxter

Why do some deals close instantly… while others drag on forever and go nowhere? In this episode of What One Thing, we sit down with Diyar to break down a different way of thinking about sales, marketing, and lead generation. Instead of focusing on your product or service, this conversation explores how understanding data, timing, and buyer intent can completely change how you win business. We talk about: Why “ideal client” might not mean what you thinkThe difference between a good fit and a deal that actually closesHow to use your existing customers to identify patternsWhy most businesses are unknowingly targeting the wrong peopleThe role of timing, triggers, and personal context in buying decisionsHow to build a simple but powerful data-led approach to growthIf you’ve ever felt like your marketing should be working… but isn’t converting, this episode will help you rethink where to focus. Brought to you by Corbar Accounting and Affirm IT Services Ltd. Connect with: Diyar Abdullah Phil Davenport Hayley Baxter