What was going to be an interview with Chris Knight of software firm, CKX, about high-tech solutions for SMEs, actually turned out to be conversation on how we can all adapt better to the new reality of working remotely by being a bit more like those that have been doing it like that forever.

Really interesting on the mental and physical health aspects of going from a commute and office space to wherever you can fit a laptop and a not-so-comfy chair, and how we can all stay sane in a world that might never be the same again.

Useful links
https://ckx.dev/ 

A global pandemic stalking the Earth and the potential of a no-deal Brexit hanging over the UK like the sword of Damocles upgraded into a bunch of laser-sighted chainsaws – times have never been so uncertain for British business.

Step forward John Stapleton, the man that took soup out of the can, put it into a carton, whacked it in the fridge, and changed the game for that part of the food market with New Covent Garden Soup Co.

John takes us through some of the key things he's learnt in success (and failure) in his 35-year career, honing in on the following, with a smidgen of football chat in there to boot:  

• Turning uncertainty into competitive advantage
• Having the courage of your convictions
• Learning from failure
• Understanding the power of authenticity
• Getting out of the way of your own success

Additional links
https://www.missionventures.co.uk/
https://www.johnstapleton.eu/

In a departure from our usual subject matter, we sit down with Glen Hodgson, head of healthcare at GS1 UK, to talk about one of the things we are most proud of – the Scan4Safety programme.  

Glen takes us on a whistle-stop tour through the report's findings, in which we tangibly prove that point-of-care barcode scanning through the Scan4Safety programme: 

• Provides for traceability in a clinical setting regardless of system architecture or infrastructure, which allows for speedy recall of faulty products
• Improves patient safety by engineering out human error
• Delivers better workforce utilisation by returning clinical time back to patient care
• Improves operational efficiency by reducing inventory and providing recurrent cash savings
• Offers implementation support in the form of "How To…" guides written by the NHS for the NHS

For more information on the above, read the report in full here.  

Turn on the TV, radio or browse the internet at any time in the past six months and you'd be forgiven for thinking that the only thing that's been successfully exported since the end of 2019 is round, pink and red, and about 0.125μm in diameter. Not so. 

We speak once again to friend of the show, Mark Stimpfig, on what companies are still doing to get their goods across borders in these troubled times.

Useful links
GTM Global webinar series
Innovate UK
Department for International Trade

So, here we are, at the beginning of season two of Between The Lines. Stuck at home. Some of us have forgotten what it's like to wear shoes. I never knew just how annoying pigeons sounded until recently.

Very little has changed since we broadcast our first episode at the beginning of March this year. Apart from basically everything. So, our second series of interviews will have the same SME focus as before, but now the added element of how to weather the global coronavirus pandemic.

In our first episode, via the magic of Zoom (other video conferencing sites available), we speak to somebody who specialises in turning physical footfall into digital engagement, something that a lot of business will need to do in the new normal, Brandon Willey of Hownd.   

Useful links:
https://hownd.com/
https://twitter.com/bwilley 

Yes, yes, we know – there is a global pandemic out there that's brought civilisation as we know it to a halt – so the last thing you want to hear about is Brexit.

But sometimes "I want" just doesn't get, and today marks the last day in which the UK can request an extension to the Brexit transition period (Hint: it's not going to).

In light of that, we thought we'd speak again with Sietske de Groot of TradePeers, this time about how to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. 

With no deal now the odds-on favourite with the bookies and the UK Government to begin its "shock and awe" PR campaign imminently, Sietske goes into three fundamental ways that UK businesses of all sizes can weather the storm of a worst-case scenario.    

Useful information and links mentioned in the podcast:

UK Government’s advice for the end of the transition period
https://www.gov.uk/transition 

EU’s advice for the end of the transition period
https://ec.europa.eu/info/european-union-and-united-kingdom-forging-new-partnership/future-partnership/getting-ready-end-transition-period_en 

London Growth Hub’s preparedness factsheets and webinars
https://www.growthhub.london/brexithub/ 

UK Governments new points-based immigration system
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-immigration-system-what-you-need-to-know 

SME-specific advice covering Brexit and the Covid-19 crisis
https://resiliencehelp.com/ 

As co-founder of Go To Market Global, Mark Stimpfig provides advice and guidance for tech and digital scale up brands to expand into the US and internationally. 

In this episode, we look at how you should go about preparing for commerce with the US on the other side of the pandemic, bearing in mind that dealing with the United States is like dealing with 50 separate countries. 


Useful information and links mentioned in the podcast:

Mark Stimpfig LinkedIn profile
Go To Market Global website

Scott manages corporate teams at Seedrs, the leading equity crowdfunding platform and the most active funder of private companies in the UK. He helps all types of investors to invest in businesses they believe in and share their success. Seedrs enable all types of growth-focused businesses to raise capital and a community in the process.

As the founder of ReWorks, Alastair's key goal was to disrupt the flow of products into the environmentally deleterious and resource-intensive fashion industry.

"Recommerce" and upcycling of existing material is his idea for a realistic and progressive apparel industry within a new circular economy. Sounds ambitious? Well, it is. But maybe the fashion industry after the coronavirus pandemic will be a very different place.

In the interview, Alastair talks about how to become more ethical in a business context, and it doesn't necessarily mean being just more environmentally conscious, it also means being a bit more human with other humans.

Later on, we welcome back Barcode Benedict to talk about what standards actually mean, and why they are important in the world, from shoes sizes and voltage, to, yes, you guessed it, barcodes. 

Alastair Harper LinkedIn profile
ReWorks website

If Amazon is an opportunity for you, then Chris MacNeil will make it as easy as possible for you to start generating revenue and profits. He has been helping his SME clients to launch, nurture, automate and troubleshoot on Amazon, often doubling their annual turnover.

This interview was conducted before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and Chris's advice is probably more relevant now than ever before.

Speaking of more relevant than ever before, we welcome back "Barcode" Ben Clarke to explain to us the importance and benefits of barcoding and standards across the healthcare sector, where simple scanning is helping to save thousands of lives and millions of pounds in the UK every year.
 
Useful links:
Chris Macneil LinkedIn profile
ebooster website