The Small Business Sessions
Enterprise Nation
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The Small Business Sessions is a weekly podcast from Enterprise Nation and the business.connected training programme that shares top tips and stories from some of Britain’s best entrepreneurs and digital experts.
Enterprise Nation helps people turn their good ideas into great businesses through inspirational events, a supportive community, expert content and a campaigning voice.
Find out more at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast and www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected
Available episodes
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4 days ago
Navjot Sawhney: The entrepreneur transforming lives with washing machines
Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin is social entrepreneur Navjot Sawhney, founder of The Washing Machine Project.
Navjot is a former Dyson engineer, and he was volunteering in India when he noticed the burden placed on women by unpaid domestic work. This inspired him to design the Divya, a crank-handle manual washing machine that is off-grid, fully sustainable and saves both water and time.
Through the Washing Machine Project, tens of thousands of people have been impacted worldwide, women have been empowered and hundreds of washing machines have been distributed to villages, refugee camps, schools and orphanages.
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*The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online. *
To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected
To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Nov 28, 2023
Cat Byrne: How to create a brilliant brand and tips for great design
*It's time for episode eight in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the **business.connected online training programme** and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.
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In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Cat Byrne, founder of Gatto Web.
Cat is a Manchester-based creative designer who set up her business in 2014. She helps small companies to develop a strong brand so they stand out and attract their target customers
In the episode, Cat and Dan delve into what makes a great brand, how to stay consistent with yours and top tips for great design.
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*The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online. *
To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected
To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Nov 21, 2023
Cameron Smith (Cazza Time): TikTok masterclass from a creator with 400,000 followers
*It's time for episode seven in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the **business.connected online training programme** and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.
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In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to a successful online influencer who uses social media to provide short and snappy advice on all things personal finance.
As Cazza Time on Instagram and TikTok, Cameron has built up a following of more than half a million people who enjoy his tips on everything from tax and student loans to money saving ideas and investments.
In the episode, Dan and Cameron discuss the world of online influencing, how to make great video content and the power of TikTok for small businesses.
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*The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online. *
To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected
To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Nov 14, 2023
Daisy Morris: How to build an engaged and meaningful community around your business
*It's time for episode six in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the **business.connected online training programme** and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.
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In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Daisy Morrs, founder of social media consultancy and digital community The Selfhood and author of Community Is Your Currency, a book which teaches business owners the steps to growing a meaningful online community.
Daisy started her journey in entrepreneurship after being frustrated by the lack of down-to-earth and human advice for those trying to find their way in the world of digital marketing and social media.
In the episode, we discuss the power of community and how founders can build a strong and authentic community around their business.
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*The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online. *
To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected
To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Nov 7, 2023
Rachel Waring: How to use Pinterest to boost your business
*It's time for episode five in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the **business.connected online training programme** and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.
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In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Rachel Waring.
Rachel is a wedding stylist turned creative marketing consultant. She supports independent businesses to produce creative content and show off their best work.
Rachel has a particular focus on how founders can make the most of social media platform Pinterest and that's a key subject discussed in the show.
Dan and Rachel also chat about how to stay creative, the secrets to successful content planning and what AI means for content creation.
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*The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online. *
To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected
To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Oct 31, 2023
Kay Suppamas: The entrepreneur embracing the mental health boosting power of plants
*It's time for episode four in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the **business.connected online training programme** and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.
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In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Kay Suppamas, founder of Leafage, the London-based company focused on nature-inspired experiences with terrarium workshops and kits.
In 2016, after the sudden loss of her father, Kay realised the importance of putting your wellbeing first and how plants can support mental health.
She then started a journey to creating a business that revolutionises how city dwellers, with limited access to green space, interact with nature.
In the episode, we hear Kay's inspiring story and her tips for business success.
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*The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online. *
To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected
To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Oct 24, 2023
Alice Benham: Why founders should take messy and uncomfortable actions
*It's time for episode three in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the **business.connected online training programme** and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.
*Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the third episode is business and marketing strategist Alice Benham.
Alice had an early start in the world of work after leaving school aged 16 to run a team of Christmas elves. When she was 17, Alice became a freelance social media manager.
Alice has since gone on to launch a successful podcast, run retreats, work with hundreds of one-to-one clients and be featured in top publications like Forbes and Business Insider.
In the episode, we discuss why young people should consider entrepreneurship as a career, the secrets to business growth, powering your marketing strategy and why taking uncomfortable actions is vitally important.
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*The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online. *
To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected
To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Oct 17, 2023
Sarah de-Vere Drummond: The travel brand that grew during the pandemic
*It's time for episode two in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the **business.connected online training programme** and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.
*Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the second episode is Sarah de-Vere Drummond, co-founder of Kip Hideaways, the membership website for affordable self-catering holiday rentals.
Sarah previously worked in the boutique travel industry and with her co-founder Liz Simpson spotted a gap in the market for an online community that features only self-catering hideaways.
Many of properties featured on the website are under the radar so they are kept exclusive by a membership service.
Despite launching during the coronavirus pandemic when travel wasn't possible, the business saw a growth in memberships as people dreamt of their next holiday once restrictions were removed.
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*The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online. *
To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected
To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Oct 10, 2023
Ailis Topley: From lockdown hobby to £1m business
*The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back!
This sixth season is powered by the **business.connected online training programme** and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.
*Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the first episode is Ailis Topley, founder of sustainable and refillable candles company Pott Candles.
Ailis’ business started as a lockdown hobby in 2020, but it now has sales of over £1m, its products are stocked in Selfridges and John Lewis and Ailis was named by Forbes as one of Europe's top young entrepreneurs.
Tune into the episode to hear the inspiring Pott Candles story and its founder’s tips for business success.
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*The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online. *
To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected
To listen to previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Aug 31, 2021
The serial entrepreneur on a mission to help 10 million new founders
We've reached the end of series five of the Small Business Sessions. Joining us for the final episode is the brilliant serial entrepreneur, Simon Squibb, who has made it his mission to help 10 million people start and grow a business through The Purposeful Project.
Simon's vision for supporting so many new entrepreneurs is driven by his own personal experiences. He left school at 15 and was kicked out of home by his mum but went on to start 19 companies and invest in over 60 start-ups. He also sold his branding and digital agency, Fluid, to PwC.
Simon joins journalist Dan Martin to share insights from his incredible entrepreneurial adventures.
For more information about Enterprise Nation and to listen to more episodes, visit www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
*Big thanks to all our brilliant guests and to everyone who has tuned in to this series of the podcast. *
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Aug 24, 2021
How understanding your business finances will drive your entrepreneurial success
We love accountants at Enterprise Nation and this week we're joined by a great one! Joanna Drinkwater, Enterprise Nation adviser and managing director of Grant McKnight, speaks to journalist Dan Martin about an absolutely essential skill for successful entrepreneurs; understanding your finances.
Tune in for must listen tips on assessing the financial health of your business, creating a cashflow forecast, identifying cashflow gaps, financial mistakes to avoid, choosing an accountant, chasing late payment and lots more!
To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Aug 17, 2021
The best friends who built 'the Airbnb of luggage'
Running a business that’s 100% focused on travel during a pandemic is quite the challenge.
In January 2020, Anthony Collias and Jacob Webberburn-Day, co-founders of Stasher, a platform that connects travellers with places to store their bags, raised $2.5m funding and they moved into their first private office. Then March happened.
In a must-listen episode, the entrepreneurs talk to Dan Martin about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, building a minimum viable product, how a cold email led to a £100,000 investment, tips for working with a co-founder, partnering with major chains and loads more!
To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Aug 10, 2021
How digital technology can transform small businesses on the high street and beyond
This week we're looking at how digital technology can transform small businesses of all types. Whether you're selling products or services online or you're looking to reach customers from a physical store, by embracing the latest technology you can drive the sales and growth of your business.
Joining journalist Dan Martin to discuss how to digitally transform your business are Sajni Shah, co-head of product at Starling Bank and John Hoyle, founder of Sook, a company providing adaptive and fully personalised retail spaces which business owners can rent by the hour.
To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Aug 3, 2021
How great advice can power your business success
Research shows that those business owners who take on advice grow their companies faster than those who don't, but with so much advice out there it can be hard to work out which advice to take on.
As you'll know if you're an entrepreneur, you have a lot of plates to spin, so when should you seek advice and ask for help from others? And how do you go about picking the advisers to use?
Joining journalist Dan Martin to discuss all that are two brilliant Enterprise Nation adviser members:
* Emma Mills-Sheffield from Mindsetup, who advises business owners on how to become more efficient, productive and efficient.
* Toby McCartney, the founder of MacCrebur, a hugely successful brand that turns non-recyclable waste plastics into materials to use as roads and car parks. He is also the author of Business ReLOVEution: A Mindset Paradigm for the Modern Entrepreneur. Throughout his business journey, Toby has taken on lots of advice, including from Sir Richard Branson. Listen to hear what S…
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Jul 27, 2021
How to find the right funding for your business
This week we're talking business funding. In an advice-packed episode, Oliver Krishnan from Starling Bank and Ryan Hyde-Smith from Funding Options join journalist Dan Martin to demystify the world of finance and explain how to decide on the best option for your business, how to manage debt and common mistakes to avoid.
Since this episode was recorded, Starling Bank has been accredited for the Recovery Loan Scheme, a government initiative set up to help small business owners deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Jul 20, 2021
The eco-founder behind a thriving plastic free marketplace and Instagram community of 200,000
The statistics are shocking: One million birds and 100,000 marine animals a year die from plastic pollution, eight million pieces of plastic end up in the oceans every day and for every mile of UK beaches, there are 5,000 pieces of plastic.
It was figures like that which drove Beth Noy to launch Plastic Freedom. What started as a £300 investment to sell some of her favourite plastic free products is now a booming online store with over 3,000 brands. She has also built an Instagram community of 200,000 followers.
Beth joins journalist Dan Martin to share her hugely inspiring story of turning a side hobby into a successful full-time business that tackles one of the great problems of our age.
To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Jul 13, 2021
How Brexit is impacting on small businesses
The transition period for Britain's exit from the European Union ended on 31 December 2020 so how has Brexit affected the UK's small businesses? Freelance journalist Dan Martin is joined by Mike Wilson, founder of Go Exporting, and Philip Salter, founder of The Entrepreneurs Network, to discuss it.
To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Jul 6, 2021
The future of banking for small businesses
This week journalist Dan Martin is joined by Symmie Swil, head of SME Banking at Starling Bank, and David Beardmore, ecosystem development director at Open Banking Implementation Entity to discuss how small businesses can embrace modern banking services.
Symmie shares the vision of Starling Bank's founder Anne Boden for launching the digital bank, her views on the future of physical bank branches and how the company is supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Another exciting development for small businesses is open banking, which helps you move, manage and make more of your money.
David Beardmore joins the podcast to explain how open banking can benefit small businesses and how it has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Jun 29, 2021
Growing the Cambridge Satchel Company from a £600 start-up into a £40m business
Entrepreneurs start businesses for many reasons. For Julie Deane CBE, it was to pay for her children to go to private school because her daughter was being bullied. She invested £600 to get her idea off the ground and just five years later, the Cambridge Satchel Company was valued at £40m. Julie joins journalist Dan Martin to share her super inspiring story. This one is a must listen!
To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Jun 22, 2021
S5 E2: Starting a lockdown business and the power of pivots
The coronavirus pandemic has been tough for many people but for some entrepreneurial individuals, it has been the time to start their own company. One of those new business owners is Katrina Borissova, founder of vegan soap brand Little Danube, who incorporated her new venture on 23 March 2020, the day the prime minister announced Britain was going into lockdown.
In this week's episode, Katrina tells freelance journalist Dan Martin her inspiring story and explains how she launched her business during lockdown.
Also on the show is Jade Evans from Starling Bank. She discusses how entrepreneurs have pivoted their business models to cope with the pandemic, the financial support the bank has provided to small companies and how founders have used the funding.
To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Jun 15, 2021
S5 E1: How to build a rebel business
The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast sponsored by Starling Bank, is back! Every week for 12 weeks, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about their tips, insights and inspiration for how to start and grow a brilliant business. First up is Ben Keene, co-founder of Rebel Book Club.
How many books do you have that you've never read? It's probably loads. The Japanese describe it as 'tsundoku', the constant act of buying books but not reading them. Ben was a big sufferer! With his friend Ben Saul-Garner, he looked for a way to be motivated to read all those untouched ideas. Rebel Book Club was the solution. It's now a successful subscription company that brings people together around a love for non-fiction and a desire to turn book insights into action.
In an advice-packed podcast, Ben discusses how to grow a subscription model, raising £148,000 and the realities of crowdfunding, switching online during the coronavirus pandemic and how t…
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Dec 3, 2019
S4 E11: Marketing a 233-year-old family business
This week’s Small Business Sessions podcast welcomes Henry Deakin, who’s taken the helm of seventh generation family business Deakin & Francis. Gemologist and designer Deakin discusses his gamble to open a flagship store in Piccadilly Arcade, influencer marketing and what it’s like to join the family firm with host Dan Martin. The Small Business Sessions is powered by Xero and we’ve got an exclusive offer of 50% off the cloud accounting software for 12 months! Find out more at https://www.enterprisenation.com/xero-beautiful-accounting-software/
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Nov 26, 2019
S4 E10: How to deal with late payment
The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business.Late payment is a massive issue for small businesses. Recent research showed UK SME late payment debt has risen to £23.4bn, up £10.4bn on the £13bn owed in 2018. It is estimated that the average business is owed £23,360 in late payments and there are an estimated 50,000 insolvencies as a result of the problem every year.In this podcast, we're joined by former Small Business Commissioner Paul Uppal (he left the role after we recorded the podcast) and Rob Drake, co-founder of Brave Spark. They discuss issues including how to chase payments, how the Small Business Commissioner's office can help, examples of large businesses that aren't paying on time, whether big businesses should…
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Nov 19, 2019
S4 E9: Mental health for entrepreneurs
The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business.This week we're joined by Ry Morgan, co-founder of Unmind, a B2B workplace wellness platform that decreases stress, enhances sleep, and improves the business performance of employees. Ry started the business for very personal reasons having suffered clinical depression himself and having to see a crisis team every day for two weeks because he was deemed at high risk of suicide. He had various therapy sessions and was put on medication all whilst building and exiting his first business. In a hugely insightful podcast, the serial entrepreneur explains how he has built the platform, getting businesses on board, why bosses need to support their employees' health and wellbeing, raising…
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Nov 12, 2019
S4 E8: The tea mixologist brewing up success
The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business.This week we welcome an entrepreneur whose business journey we've followed from the start. Krisi Smith is the co-founder of Bird & Blend Tea Co. which she set up with her partner Mike in a back bedroom. Five years on the business operates seven retail stores across the UK selling its loose leaf tea and other products. Along the way Krisi and Mike have achieved many successes including crowdfunding over £364,000 in 24 hours. In an insights packed podcast, Krisi discusses growing from a bedroom start-up, the reasons behind the business' crowdfunding success, why she turned down the big four supermarkets, building a strong community around her brand, why she had to change her busi…
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Nov 5, 2019
S4 E7: All you need to know about alternative finance
The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business.Gone are the days when businesses only had one or two options for funding; there are now lots of choices. One of them is Iwoca, which provides business loans of £1,000 - £200,000 without long waits and endless paperwork. In this week's podcast, Colin Goldstein, Iwoca's commercial growth director, joins Edwards Berks, at Xero, to discuss: finance options open to small businesses, how to manage cashflow, the role of accountants, dealing with late payment and the government's alternative finance referral scheme.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Oct 29, 2019
S4 E6: Behind the scenes at Dragons' Den
The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business. You might recognise this week's guests from TV. In 2017 Ed Hollands won £30,000 investment on Dragons' Den from entrepreneur Jenny Campbell. Ed's business is DrivenMedia which allows brands to advertise on the back of trucks. Before the Den, Jenny Campbell spent 32 years in banking after joining Natwest aged 16. She went on to buy YourCash, an independent cash machine provider, from RBS which she ran for 10 years before selling it in 2016. It's rare to hear an investor and their investee together so this is a fascinating chat. Tune in for to hear issues covered including what it's really like to pitch on Dragons' Den, how Jenny Campbell decides to invest in a business, how to…
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Oct 22, 2019
S4 E5: A tale of two businesses
The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business. This week we're all about business growth with two entrepreneurs telling us how they've scaled their companies and what you can learn. Gary Turner is the co-founder and UK managing director of Xero. He grew the accounting software firm from a three person start-up with £50,000 revenue to a £40m+ business and hundreds of staff. Joining him is Sidonie Warren, the co-founder of independent stationery retail chain Papersmiths. What started as a studio space in Bristol became a small shop with a budget of £500 and a lot of elbow grease. That business now has five stores in Brighton, Bristol and London. While Papersmiths and Xero are very different businesses, Gary and Sidonie have…
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Oct 15, 2019
S4 E4: The no bull business blogger
The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business. This week we're joined by podcaster and influencer, Sarah Akwisombe. Sarah started her interior design blog on the side while working at a tech start-up. The blog grew and she decided to take it full time. She has since become an influencer in the interior design world and worked with major brands including Dulux. Sarah now also runs No Bull Business School which delivers "straight-up courses to help women build a kick-ass business and brand" and the No Bull Business Women podcast. In a podcast packed full of insights, the entrepreneur discusses how to grow a readership for your blog, the importance of video, podcasting and Instagram, why women in business face different chall…
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Oct 8, 2019
S4 E3: The entrepreneur baking up guilt free cakes
The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business.Only two years after launching her healthy healthy bakery company Fit Bakes, Enterprise Nation member Ellen Rauen-Prestes has managed to get her cakes stocked in major retailers including Sainsbury's and Selfridges. The Brazilian-born entrepreneur came up with her business idea when she noticed that Brits have an awkward relationship with cakes. Although we have entire supermarket aisles dedicated to the sweet treat, it was hard to find low sugar, low calorie or high protein varieties. It was a culture shock to Ella as back in Brazil, healthy substitutes are the norm. For example, you'll find stevia in the sugar pot or have a glass of coconut water instead of squash. With that…
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Oct 1, 2019
S4 E2: Making Tax Digital and choosing the perfect accountant
The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business. In episode two, Sylwia Kotarba from Accounts and Legal discusses Making Tax Digital (MTD), the government initiative which aims to see the end of the tax return and transform the tax system. Since April, businesses with turnover above the £85,000 VAT threshold have been required to submit tax information digitally in an effort to make systems and businesses more efficient and deal with the £9.4bn tax revenues lost each year due to errors.In the podcast, Kotarba explains what MTD is, what you need to do to comply and what happens if you don't. She also provides great advice on how to select the perfect accountant for your business. To find out more, go to www.enterprisena…
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Sep 24, 2019
S4 E1: A mindset for growth from day one
The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back! For series four, a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts share insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business. Hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, we'll be covering issues including business growth, retail, late payment, mental health and alternative finance over 12 episodes. For episode one, we're joined by Emma Jones, who launched Enterprise Nation after starting and selling a business from home after just 15 months and Anne Timpany, who built a one man band domestic plumbing business into a multi-million pound building services group. As an introduction to the subjects covered in the series, Emma and Anne discuss having a growth mindset, chasing late payments, female entrepreneurs' attitude to risk and small business owners' mental health and wellbeing. To find out more, go to https://www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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Oct 23, 2018
S3 E12: The entrepreneur who raised £57m to help people have a good kip
The Small Business Sessions podcast from Enterprise Nation and powered by Xero is back for another inspiring episode. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. In the last episode of the current series of the Small Business Sessions podcast with Xero we meet Jas Bagnieowski, co-founder of mattress company Eve. Eve is a company which saw massive growth very quickly. In its first year, the business sold 11,000 mattresses and made a turnover of £3.5m. It also raised £57m, much of which came from the company going public in 2017. But the losses were high too and in July 2018, Bagnieowski quit following a profit warning after a 61% sales growth, short of the 100% growth expected. We recorded this podcast before the entrepreneur stepped down but have chosen to still release it to give insights into the early growth of the business. To find out more about the Small Business Sessions, go to www…
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Oct 16, 2018
S3 E11: The tax revolution you need to know about
The Small Business Sessions podcast from Enterprise Nation and powered by Xero is back for another inspiring episode. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. This week, Damon Anderson from Xero and Jonathan Bareham from accountancy firm Raedan discuss the government initiative which aims to see the end of the tax return and transform the tax system by 2020. Businesses, starting with those above the VAT Threshold, are required to submit tax information digitally in an effort to make systems and businesses more efficient and deal with the £9.4bn tax revenues lost each year due to errors. An estimated 1.2m small businesses will be impacted by the initial rollout of Making Tax Digital changes next April. Around 500,000 of them are currently using spreadsheets, paper or nothing to manage their tax! If you're one of them or even if you're not tune in and start planning early! To find out…
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Oct 9, 2018
S3 E10: The state of Britain's small business economy in real time
The Small Business Sessions podcast from Enterprise Nation and powered by Xero is back for another inspiring episode. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. This week, Xero co-founder Gary Turner discusses the company's groundbreaking new Small Business Insights service which highlights from a sample of 300,000 small businesses issues such as cashflow, late payment and exports. In a fascinating conversation, he discusses issues including the average late payment period suffered by small businesses and how FTSE 350 companies are the worst offenders. The entrepreneur also explains how this valuable and groundbreaking data is being presented to government to better inform ministers on exactly how the UK's smallest businesses are operating. To find out more about the Small Business Sessions, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastThis podcast was recorded and edited by audio and podcast prod…
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Oct 2, 2018
S3 E9: Making sales, battling business rates and why two founders are better than one
The Small Business Sessions podcast from Enterprise Nation and powered by Xero is back for another inspiring episode. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. This week we meet Lacey Hunter Felton and Nico Bonfiglioli, co-founders of The Hunter Collective, a unique co-working salon studio and event space in London for freelance beauty and fashion experts. We're also joined by Helen Prowse from Square, the company set up by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey that takes the drama out of taking payments. Together with Emma Jones they discuss taking payments, making sales and how technology can help you do it. Lacey and Nico also discuss the impact of massive increases in business rates and the benefits of two founders with different skills and personalities. To find out more about the Small Business Sessions, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastThis podcast was recorded and edited by audio an…
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Sep 26, 2018
S3 E8: The man helping your business get paid on time
The Small Business Sessions podcast from Enterprise Nation and powered by Xero is back for another inspiring episode. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. This week we look at the massive issue for small businesses of late payment. We're joined by Paul Uppal, the small business commissioner appointed by the government to help small businesses deal with tardy payers. To find out more about the Small Business Sessions, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastThis podcast was recorded and edited by audio and podcast production service, Podraffi.
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Sep 18, 2018
S3 E7: Data do's and don'ts: GDPR is here so what happens now?
The Small Business Sessions podcast from Enterprise Nation and powered by Xero is back for another inspiring episode. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. It was hard to avoid the term 'GDPR' earlier this year. New European regulations governing the way businesses manage data were headline news and we all got very used to those 'please stay on our mailing list' emails! Four months on, we catch up with Enterprise Nation members Alice Stephenson from Stephenson Law and Gerrard Fisher from Astrid Data Protection for tips on what happens now that GDPR is with us.To find out more about the Small Business Sessions, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastThis podcast was recorded and edited by audio and podcast production service, Podraffi.
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Sep 11, 2018
S3 E6: Can artificial intelligence really transform your small business?
The Small Business Sessions podcast from Enterprise Nation and powered by Xero is back for another inspiring episode. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. This week we look at artificial intelligence. Everyone is talking about AI but what is it, why do you need to know about it and how can it help your small business? Gary Turner, Xero co-founder and UK chief executive, answers those questions and argues why despite concerns over the rise of AI, automation can sit alongside humanisation. To find out more about the Small Business Sessions, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastThis podcast was recorded and edited by audio and podcast production service, Podraffi.
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Sep 4, 2018
S3 E5: Building a £500m workplace giant
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Charlie Green and Olly Olsen worked for serviced office properties but recognised that the industry needed a modern shake-up. That change is now The Office Group, which has over 15,000 members working across 33 buildings, 31 of which are in London, with six more due to open next year. In this podcast, Charlie and Olly discuss how community has always been at the heart of the business, their tips for running a business with a friend and why they decided to sell the company for £500m. To find out more about the Small Business Sessions, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastThis podcast was recorded and edited by audio and podcast production service, Podraffi.
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Aug 29, 2018
S3 E4: How to take your business global with online marketplaces
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. In this episode, Paul Grey, co-founder of A2X, joins us from New Zealand to share very useful insights from his decade of experience doing it himself and helping thousands of other business owners sell products to customers around the world through online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. To find out more about the Small Business Sessions, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastThis podcast was recorded and edited by audio and podcast production service, Podraffi.
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Aug 21, 2018
S3 E3: Forecasting your future and growing a business that lasts
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. In this episode, Hannah Dawson, founder of forecasting and reporting platform Futrli, discusses how having a strong understanding of your numbers gives business owners confidence in where they’ve been, how they are operating today and where they're going. She also discusses how has grown her own business, her plans for going global and where she turns for support. To find out more about the Small Business Sessions, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastThis podcast was recorded and edited by audio and podcast production service, Podraffi.
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Aug 14, 2018
S3 E2: Building the UK's number one health and fitness podcast
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up is Ben Coomber, a man who used to be obese and suffered with IBS, ADHD, Eczema and Asthma. He went on to lose five stone of fat and put on three stone of muscle and created Ben Coomber Radio, which is now the UK’s number one rated health and fitness podcast. He has also worked with major UK companies like Twinning’s Tea, O2 and Sky TV, is a keynote speaker on fitness issues and has coached thousands of people via his Fat Loss for Life programme. To find out more about the Small Business Sessions, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastThis podcast was recorded and edited by audio and podcast production service, Podraffi.
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Aug 7, 2018
S3 E1: Why entrepreneurs should be more pirate
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation and powered by Xero is back for series three! Each week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones MBE speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. To kick off, we have a revealing interview with social entrepreneur Sam Conniff Allende who discusses his entrepreneurial journey from a business during the nightclub boom at the start of the millennium, suffering death threats and massive debt to growing a digital agency with a conscience and writing his book, Be More Pirate, which reveals how the radical strategies of pirates provide solutions for making your mark on the 21st century. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastThis podcast was recorded and edited by audio and podcast production service, Podraffi.
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May 15, 2018
Series two, episode 12: 'The pizza tracker for massage therapists'
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up, Giles Williams, co-founder of Urban Massage, discusses the inspirational story of his on-demand massage booking platform. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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May 8, 2018
Series two, episode 11: Show me the money! How to get an investor
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up, Jenny Tooth, CEO of the UK Business Angels Association, the trade body for angel and early stage investing, discusses the ins and outs of finding and working with an angel investor based on over 20 years' experience of facilitating access to investment for SMEs. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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May 1, 2018
Series two, episode 10: Rebel with a cause
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up, Adam Thompson, commercial director at plant-based organic food and drink brand Rebel Kitchen, discusses running a for profit brand with strong sustainable values. He also talks about supplying products to major retailers including Waitrose and Sainsbury's and advertising the brand on the London Underground. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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Apr 24, 2018
Series two, episode nine: 'We want to build the biggest brand in the world'
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up, James Gold tells the inspiring story of fashion accessory brand Skinnydip London. He discusses its growth from an idea to selling through ASOS, Urban Outfitters, Selfridges and Top Shop and more plus his very ambitious plans to expand across the world. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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Apr 17, 2018
Series two, episode eight: Steal the show with SEO
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up, Enterprise Nation member Jamie Hewitt from Rocketship WP shares tips for getting your website high up the search engine rankings. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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Apr 10, 2018
Series two, episode seven: How to access alternative finance
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up, Anil Stocker, co-founder of MarketInvoice, discusses alternative finance and growing his own business from three co-founders in 2011 to a team of over 100. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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Apr 4, 2018
Series two, episode six: Getting small businesses financially fit
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up, Ed Sanford from accountancy firm Chaddesley Sanford discusses accounting best practices for small businesses. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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Mar 27, 2018
Series two, episode five: What makes great businesses great
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up, Peter Czapp, co-founder of The Wow Company, discusses data, measuring performance and the characteristics of great businesses. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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Mar 20, 2018
Series two, episode four: How a Hackney brand took on the world and is winning
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up, Jacqui Ma, Enterprise Nation member and founder of Goodordering, discusses building a global start-up. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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Mar 13, 2018
Series two, episode three: Building a world class team
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up, Gary Turner, UK managing director at Xero, discusses how to build a world class workforce for your business. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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Mar 6, 2018
Series two, episode two: Changing lives & getting stocked by big businesses
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. Next up, Simon Coley, co-founder of Karma Cola, discusses his Fairtrade drinks brand which gives part of the proceeds to organic cane sugar and real cola nut farmers in Sierra Leone. He also discusses how he got stocked in major retailers and restaurants. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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Feb 27, 2018
Series two, episode one: How to work with a mentor
The Small Business Sessions from Enterprise Nation is back and powered by Xero. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about various stages of starting a growing a successful business. To kick us off, Oliver Bridge, founder of men's shaving supplies and toiletries business Cornerstone and his mentor and growth adviser, Richard Fifield, discuss how surrounding your business with support gives it the best chance to thrive. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastHuge thanks to audio and podcast production service, Podraffi, for recording and editing this podcast.
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Jan 24, 2017
Ceri from Natural Kitchen Adventures
The 35th session is with Enterprise Nation member Ceri Jones. A natural chef wasn't much of a thing five years ago when Ceri left her job in the music industry and went off to San Fransisco to train as one. How things change! With the recent launch of the Natural Kitchen Adventures app which is based around seasonal recipes, plus cooking for clients on yoga retreats and teaching classes of her own, Ceri, a trained chef who cooks with seasonal whole foods that are organic and local whenever possible, certainly has her work cut out!
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Jan 17, 2017
Rachel from Air
The 34th session is with Enterprise Nation member Rachel Maclean. As the co-founder of a HR platform aimed at small businesses, Enterprise Nation member Rachel Maclean's Session should be helpful as well as inspiring! Rachel quit her full time job in HR after 20 years to set up Air because she saw a real gap in the market. The Enterprise Nation member runs her business predominantly out of Birmingham but makes the most of the benefits of remote working with her employees spread all over the globe including five employees based in Russia. The next team meeting is happening in Prague which definitely sounds like an added benefit!
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Jan 10, 2017
Sophie from My Warehouse Home
The 33rd session is with Enterprise Nation member Sophie Bush. Is the New year inspiring a bit of a sort out at home? Well perhaps the first of our 2017 Small Business Sessions might get your idea cogs whirring! Sophie is the founder of My Warehouse Home. After moving in to a new warehouse flat herself, she left her job at Conde Nast to set up her own magazine aimed at people living in or interested in high end warehouse conversions or industrial buildings. The publication is now read in 60 different countries worldwide and Sophie has also developed an e-shop and is looking forward to her first coffee table book which is due to be published this spring. Sophie's global ambitions led her to join our trade mission to Amsterdam last year.
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Dec 20, 2016
Carole from Tuckshop Flowers
The 32nd session is with Enterprise Nation member and founder of Tuckshop Flowers Carole Patilla. Carole chatted to us on a break between dashing from one Christmas wreath making workshop to another which makes a very fitting festive finalee to our 2016 podcasts. After being asked to organise the flowers for her brother in law's funeral and at a point of feeling dissatisfied with her 20 year teaching career, Carole decided it was time to make a living out of doing something that she really loved. Tuckshop Flowers now provides arrangements for weddings, funerals and events, all sourced from Carole's suburban garden, allotment and the brilliant Flowers from the Farm network, which aims to increase the proportion of flowers bought in the UK that are also grown here from the current 10%.
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Dec 13, 2016
Sally from Worktaster
The 31st session is with Enterprise Nation member and Worktaster founder Sally Tomlinson. Lying exhausted after tackling the New York marathon isn't the obvious time to come up with a business idea, but that's what happened to Sally Tomlinson. Sally is one of the brains behind Worktaster, a platform for young people aged 14 to 19 to find the work experience they need to get started on their career journey. It helps schools to monitor what they're up to and report their findings to Ofsted at the same time as giving businesses a hassle free way of engaging their local community.
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Dec 6, 2016
Ada from Trove
The 30th episode is with TROVE co-founder and Enterprise Nation member Ada Okpe. TROVE is a company that sources local items such as luxury toiletries, guidebooks and fresh coffee to be left for guests by Airbnb hosts. With his co-founder Tom, he was inspired to start the business after travelling in the US staying in Airbnb properties and a luxury hotel in Las Vegas. Noticing that the hotel has plenty of in room treats that the Airbnb rooms didn't, the entrepreneurs had their lightbulb moment and TROVE was born.
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Nov 29, 2016
Mary from Memrica
The 29th session is with Enterprise Nation member and Memrica founder Mary Matthews. Mary is inspirational founder of Memrica, an app that is truly life changing. The service creates what the entrepreneur describes as a 'back up memory' and helps people who are anxious about forgetting people and places which impacts on their social confidence and, for many, leads to depression. Mary's story is a very personal one having been encouraged to start the business after her sister died of motor neurone disease and remembering her quickly became vitally important. This session is an absolute must-listen.
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Nov 22, 2016
Krisi from Bluebird Tea Co.
The 28th episode is with Enterprise Nation member and co-founder of Bluebird Tea Co. Krisi Smith. With her partner Mike, tea mixologist and Enterprise Nation member Krisi founded Bluebird Tea Co. The couple are on a mission to do what other people do with cocktails but using tea blends instead. Big and unusual flavours are their thing with combos like rhubarb and custard, cherry bakewell and mulled cider alongside more familiar blends such as Earl Grey and English breakfast. Adamant that it would be a retail business above everything else, the entrepreneurs turned down offers from supermarkets including Waitrose and Tesco and now have three of their own stores in Brighton, Bristol and Tunbridge Wells, a successful e-commerce platform, a team of 30 people and have recently taken on their second warehouse. That all seems a very long way from the oh-so-familiar spare bedroom operation that kicked it all off.
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Nov 15, 2016
Deborah from Henpicked
The 27th episode is with Enterprise Nation member and founder of Henpicked, Deborah Garlick. A very special session this week as it was recorded live on stage at Enterprise Nation's Festival of Female Entrepreneurs last month. After spotting a gap in the market for a website catering for woman over 40, Deborah Garlick co-founded Henpicked with some friends to cater for the things that they wanted to see talked about online. With no formal editorial team involved, the sites features stories written by real woman about happiness, health and wealth.
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Nov 8, 2016
Cat from Piccolo
The 26th episode is with Enterprise Nation member and Piccolo founder Cat Gazzoli. With culinary legend Prue Leith as a mentor and an investor plus a child nutritionist and a creative with a branding background with brands like Itsu as co-founders, Cat Gazzoli has already got a pretty good cheerleading squad for her organic baby food brand Piccolo. The entrepreneur is passionate about ethical sourcing from small independent family farms and gives 10% of profits to the National Childbirth Trust from her products which are already stocked in Waitrose and Asda just six months after launching. We recorded this session at the Festival of Female Entrepreneurs in Bristol on 21 October before Cat took to the stage to pitch for the title of Female Start-up of the Year.
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Nov 1, 2016
Mel from This Mum Runs
The 25th episode is with Enterprise Nation member and This Mum Runs founder Mel Bound. As an exhausted Mum, Mel Bound was desperate to regain a bit of time to herself and put a post on a Facebook group one evening to see if anyone else fancied joining her for a jog in the park after she'd put the kids to bed. 75 women showed up from just that one post and now her community This Mum Runs boasts over 4,000 members. This Mum Runs focuses on creating a space where time strapped mums can regain a bit of headspace by doing exercise together without feeling intimidated or under pressure to loose weight or get fit. Her success was rewarded on 21 October when she was crowned Female Start-up of the Year at our Festival of Female Entrepreneurs on 21 October. We recorded a podcast with Mel before she took to the stage to pitch. This Small Business Session oozes with Mel's infectious enthusiasm about what she's getting up to and why she's doing it. Inspiring and then some.
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Oct 25, 2016
Precious from Etieno Skincare
The 24th session is with Enterprise Nation member and Etieno founder Precious Jason. Diagnosed in 2012 with leukemia. Precious struggled to find natural products that were safe and nourishing enough to the mend the damage that was done to her skin after treatment. That gave her the idea for Etieno, a range of skincare products that make life easier for cancer patients. Setting up a business whilst undergoing cancer treatment unsurprisingly has brought challenges but it has also provided Precious with a great testing ground, canvassing feedback from everyone that crosses her path including medical consultants and those next to her in the waiting room. This is the lady who a year ago came as an audience member to Enterprise Nation's Beauty Exchange with her early stage product, to this year's event where she joined us on stage with a stack of awards under her belt. It's stories like that as well as Precious' own personal journey that make the Small Business Sessions what they are.
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Oct 18, 2016
Simon from Version 22
The 23rd session is with Simon Lyons, Enterprise Nation member and founder of product design studio Version 22. In this session Simon offers up some great advice about the struggles that so many start-ups face over cashflow and knowing what to prioritise when. Both of his products have been launched through crowdfunding and it was his first campaign that got him chatting to our founder Emma Jones on Twitter. That chat led to him featuring on a panel at one of our events and a piece in the Economist. Since then he has visited 10 Downing with us and secured a piece in The Sunday Times after our Meet the Journalist events in Nottingham. If we ever need a testimonial, we know who to call!
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Oct 11, 2016
Grace from StatueFindr
The 22nd session is with Enterprise Nation member and StatueFindr founder Grace Everett. Author Grace Everett had an idea for a book about London's great statues that morphed in to an idea for an app. She has now launched StatueFindr which provides a new way to explore the diverse range of sculptures in the city of Westminster. Spot a statue, check the app and you'll get information about the statue and the artist who created it. Listen to this session for a great discussion on setting goals and Grace's brilliant answer to our regular question asking what superpower entrepreneurs would like to have.
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Oct 4, 2016
Robert from NRG Digital
The 21st session is with Robert Edmonds, Enterprise Nation member and founder of NRG Digital. Robert is a three times BAFTA nominated director, producer and editor and spent 17 years in the TV industry working on some of Britain's most popular primetime shows including Grand Designs and Crimewatch. Rob has now moved into the commercial sector and founded NRG Digital, which creates content driven video and events for some of the biggest brands in the world. Tune into this week's session for discussion around the importance of building trust, dealing with the loneliness of going it alone and what makes great content.
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Sep 27, 2016
David from David Harris Magic
The 20th session is with Enterprise Nation member and founder of David Harris Magic, David Harris. With a father who performed magic to entertain him for hours on end, it's perhaps not surprising that David Harris ended up being a magician for a living. Swapping a career in security services to getting paid to have fun and entertain people has required years of practice and a commitment to spending at least two hours a day on his craft. The one trick he hasn't quite mastered though is how to explain to people that doing magic really is what he actually does as a job!
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Sep 20, 2016
Gabriella from Annellino
The 19th session is with Enteprise Nation Member and Annellino founder Gabriella Turner. Gabriella discovered an Aladdin's Cave when visiting her grandmother in Italy who wanted to buy her a graduation present. She fell in love the 150-year-old workshop operated by a third generation goldsmith which inspired her to set up fine jewellery brand, Annellino. Gabriella's 18 carat gold products are now made in the workshop using a technique followed by Renaissance sculptors. Listen to this session for an inspiring discussion about supporting artisan producers, the importance of outsourcing to experts and how to stay motivated when working on your own.
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Sep 13, 2016
Nazia from Ibraheem Toy House
The 18th session is with Enterprise Nation member and Ibraheem Toy Store founder Nazia Nasreen. Standing terrified in front of journalists doesn't sound like the perfect night out, but the brains behind the UK's first online Islamic toy store summoned the courage and it paid off! That pitch at Enterprise Nation's Meet the Journalists even in Birmingham led to her being featured in the Economist and local publication, Business Quarter Magazine. Nazia then attended one of our digital bootcamps and met a brand strategist and a packaging expert, both of whom she's now working with. If you ever needed a session that encourages you with real life examples of just how many opportunities are out there when you step out of your comfort zone, this is it!
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Sep 6, 2016
Marina from The Perfume Garden
The 17th session is with Enterprise Nation member and The Perfume Garden founder Marina Barcenilla. Marina distinctly remembers sniffing just about everything that passed her by so it's no surprise that she ended up as a perfumer! She founded The Perfume Garden five years ago, which focuses on creating luxurious fragrances inspired by nature for a whole range of different products from perfumes to skin care to candles and home fragrances. Self taught and a big experimenter, The Perfume Garden has really blossomed in the last year with a recent run of awards but Marina is the first to admit that it has taken time and a lot of patience to get to this stage which is probably very reassuring for a lot of us to hear!
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Aug 30, 2016
Neomi from Neo-Slip
The 16th session is with Enterprise Nation member and Neo-Slip founder Neomi Bennett. Neomi left school without any qualifications but once she'd had her family, decided to study nursing as a mature student. It was a study project that led to her launching her own product, Neo-Slip, which now counts the NHS as one of its clients. Neo-Slip is a little bag that goes over a patient's foot to help combat the difficulties with putting on anti-embolism stockings. With 25,000 people in the UK dying each year of deep vein thrombosis after they've had an operation, most of which could have been avoided, the product is much needed. Neomi's intention was never to start her own business though so this session is a great example of how entrepreneurial ideas can come right out of nowhere.
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Aug 23, 2016
Henry and James from Deakin & Francis
The 15th session is with Enterprise Nation members and Deakin & Francis directors, Henry and James Deakin. Most children are used to playgrounds growing up, but not Henry and James. Their fun was centred around learning how to melt and bend metal in the Birmingham jewellery factory that was founded by their family 230 years ago. As the current owners of Deakin & Francis, England's oldest family jewellers, the brothers keep the heritage of a company founded in 1786 whilst simultaneously allowing it to evolve and grow to a business that's now retailing all over the world with a flagship London store in the pipeline. This session is a fascinating insight in to the behind-the-scenes-workings of a family run business and the importance of absorbing the knowledge of those who have gone before you.
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Aug 16, 2016
Esther from Teahuggers
The 14th session is with Enterprise Nation Classic member and Teahuggers founder Esther Thompson. Four bouts of tonsillitis, 10 years mulling over the idea, and a little nudge from Enterprise Nation's StartUp Saturday one day business class gave coffee addict Esther the confidence to launch healthy tea brand, Teahuggers. She is a big advocate of the power of passion for what you're doing as well as the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Now with a range of 10 different teas to her name and stockists including Selfridges and Jamie Oliver, it seems that's rather a winning formula!
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Aug 9, 2016
Steve from Doopoll
The 13th session is with Enterprise Nation Classic member and Doopoll co-founder Steve Dimmick. Cardiff-based Doopoll is an online service that helps employees, students, friends, and club members make more honest decisions together. Head to an anonymous page and give your opinion on something with a swipe or a click. No words to type, super fast and completely un-influenced. Be warned, in this session Steve does get emotional! A real example of how much passion and emotional investment is often tied up in entrepreneurial adventures.
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Aug 1, 2016
Hannah from Good Deed Dating
The 12th session is with Enterprise Nation member and founder of Good Deed Dating, Hannah Whitehead. Hannah came up with the idea for the company, which co-ordinates volunteering opportunities for single people, after spotting a lack of young, single professionals helping out charities. After a year putting the building blocks in place, she gave in her notice to start running Good Deed Dating full time. This session is a great example of what can be created from the power of pulling in a few favours and what can be achieved by surrounding yourself with the right people.
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Jul 26, 2016
Rob from Gruhme
The 11th session is with Enterprise Nation member Rob Hallmark, founder of Gruhme. It was definitely not the usual career progression for Rob who went from being a corporate lawyer on the hunt for a value-for-money but high quality male grooming brand, to being so frustrated he couldn't find one that he set one up himself! In his session Birmingham-based Rob is super honest about how tough it can be to start a brand but he's equally as honest about the immense satisfaction there is around eventually being approached about it once you've managed to build one. A firm believer in taking thing step by step and focusing on making a product that you would actually want to buy rather than being too distracted by what the big guys are up to, this member is a mighty fine example of entrepreneurship.
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Jul 19, 2016
Genevieve from Genevieve Sweeney
The 10th session is with Enterprise Nation member Genevieve Sweeney. She founded her UK manufactured premium knitwear brand when her passion found a new mission. A life long knitter, she started restoring old machinery and was introduced to a network of amazing knitters who were forced out of the industry after factories closed. The young entrepreneur now works with family run mills to create her contemporary designs and is breathing new life in to a traditional practice. This session is an inspiring example of the power and strength of what can be created when people who are really passionate about what they do, work together.
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Jul 12, 2016
Ricky from T-Sticks
The ninth session is with Enterprise Nation member and T-Sticks founder Ricky Kothari. He is on a mission to transform the way we brew a cup of tea, putting an end to scooping out soggy teabags with your fingers once and for all! After being challenged by none other than prime minister David Cameron to develop his business, Ricky quit his management consultant day job to focus on T-Sticks full time. This session has some great, first hand advice around the importance of understanding the customers that you're selling to, how to create an experience round your brand and getting to trips with your USP.
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Jul 5, 2016
Jordan from GripIt Fixings
The eighth session is with Jordan Daykin from GripIt Fixings. Aged just 21, he is already running a £10m business and was the youngest entrepreneur to receive investment on BBC TV's Dragons' Den. His podcast is a must listen!
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Jun 28, 2016
Elizabeth from Digitise This
The seventh session is with Elizabeth Malone-Johnstone, founder of Digitise This. Elizabeth is a lady who's always on the hunt for new experiences and challenges and in this session she recommends running your own business as a way to satisfy that. Listen for tips on building on community around you when going it alone and the importance of continual learning.
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Jun 21, 2016
Theo from Tahouts
The sixth session is with Theo Wasserberg, Enterprise Nation member and founder of female fashion brand Tahouts. He was inspired by a picture of his sister wearing some cool trousers on the steps of a temple. It looked like a ready made brand to him; he just had to start making them! Theo was straight in at the deep end setting up Tahouts as it launched just as he was finishing off his business degree. Obviously handy timing in a lot of ways, but it did mean that he had a bit of a crash course in doing everything all at once which can only be a great thing when it comes to featuring on the Small Business Sessions!
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Jun 14, 2016
Jonathan from Intranet Future
The fifth session is with Jonathan Pollinger, Enterprise Nation Adviser member and founder of Intranet Future. Whilst for some of us the changes in the digital world seem to happen faster than lightening, Jonathan thrives on that and loves being up to date with latest social media developments. Listen for some super helpful practical tips on benefiting from the power of social and how to better manage your time.
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Jun 8, 2016
Mark from MB Languages
The fourth session is with Mark Bailey, founder of MB Languages. The company, which provides specialised language training, wasn't what Mark originally set out to do. With an economics degree and a background in finance, his decision to go travelling found him teaching English by accident and that's where it all began! This session has some great advice about how useful your old contacts can be even when you find yourself wanting to do something a little bit different.
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May 31, 2016
Annabel from Tuck n' Snug
The third session is with Annabel Anderson, founder of Tuck n' Snug. She was at her wits end with two young children who slept terribly. Doesn't sound much fun does it?! It was exactly that though that led her to develop her children's bed linen which prevents little girls and boys from knocking their duvet and pillow onto the floor, waking up cold and crying out for their parents.
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May 24, 2016
Aimee from ACT Coaching
The second session is with Aimee Teesdale, founder of ACT Coaching. Specialising in one-on-one and group sessions on emotional intelligence, Aimee is on a mission to educate small business owners as to why it is so important for their success and leadership. As well as her tips on that the entrepreneur also explains how she's managed the rollercoaster ride comes with an entrepreneurial adventure.
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May 17, 2016
Colin from The Podcast Host
The first session is with The Podcast Host founder Colin Gray. Colin was an early adopter of the podcast medium, back when it was clunky and took up a lot of storage space. Today his whole business is built around offering advice to businesses seeking to build a sleek audio content marketing strategy to push their business into the stratosphere.
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