Welcome to Episode 5 of Business Blethers. This one is with Izzy Cunningham. Izzy runs Scribe and Grow, a craft business in the Isle of Skye, specialising in plantable greetings cards and candles with seeds where the container becomes a plant pot. She’s been stocked in John Lewis, as well as being found businesses throughout Scotland.

I know Izzy very well. I am both her accountant and friend. It makes this blether all the more special, and it means we can talk openly and frankly about motherhood, mental health and fulfilment. I’m very grateful to Izzy for speaking to me, and for telling me about the struggles that led her to seek a change in her life. We also talk about scaling a business, letting go of control, employing staff, finding confidence, and leaving behind the unhealthy work culture of a career in fashion in London.

This is actually the first blether I recorded, way back in November 2023 when I had the idea for the podcast, even though you guys are just hearing it now.

You can find Scribe and Grow at https://scribeandgrow.com/

Or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/scribe_and_grow/?hl=en-gb

The music is Each Uisge by Niteworks. Thanks to Niteworks for permission to use the track.

The artwork for the podcast is by Caitlin at Sona Design

https://www.sona.scot/

The episode was recorded and edited by John at Telt Media

https://telt.media/

 You can find Karen in her day job at Kennedy Accountancy

https://kennedyaccountancy.com/

and here, on Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-kennedy-ca-3b2a1849?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to episode 4 of Business Blethers. This time Inverness based UK Start Up Entrepreneur of the Year, Iain MacPhail, stops by for a blether with Karen.

She chats to him to him about how the necessity to problem solve in the Highlands and Islands makes for adaptable, skilled and pragmatic businesses. She asks him about the many awards they’ve won in their 4 years trading. He talks about his background as an electrician, and his involvement as chair of the HebCelt Festival in his native Isle of Lewis.

https://www.hebceltfest.com/

https://idmsafetysolutions.co.uk/

The music is Each Uisge by Niteworks. Thanks to Niteworks for permission to use the track.

The artwork for the podcast is by Caitlin at Sona Design

https://www.sona.scot/

The episode was recorded and edited by John at Telt Media

https://telt.media/

 You can find Karen in her day job at Kennedy Accountancy

https://kennedyaccountancy.com/

and here, on Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-kennedy-ca-3b2a1849?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Karen chats to elopement and food photographer, Lynne Kennedy. Lynne used to work London and could never imagine returning back home to the west coast of the Highlands. That all changed and she did. Now, several careers later, she is a successful elopement and food photographer.

Elopement photography has really taken off on the Isle of Skye. Lynne talks about changing tack to make that the main focus of her business. Her and Karen also talk about making work suit your life, and about overcoming the voice in your head that holds you back.

You can find more information about Lynne's work at https://lynnekennedy.co.uk/

The music is Each Uisge by Niteworks. Thanks to Niteworks for permission to use the track.

The artwork for the podcast is by Caitlin at Sona Design

https://www.sona.scot/

The episode was recorded and edited by John at Telt Media

https://telt.media/

 You can find Karen in her day job at Kennedy Accountancy

https://kennedyaccountancy.com/

and here, on Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-kennedy-ca-3b2a1849?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeni Iannetta runs Bad Girl Bakery in Inverness and Muir of Ord, as well the Cook School. She also has a very successful cookbook - endorsed by Nigella Lawson, no less, and has started a network for other food businesses in the Highlands.

She wasn't always a baker, though. It's a job and change of career that grew out of a hobby. She’s got loads of great stuff to say about quality, pivoting, valuing staff input, and how other businesses can support each other. Here's her website for more info

https://badgirlbakery.co.uk/

The music is Each Uisge by Niteworks. Thanks to Niteworks for permission to use the track.

The artwork for the podcast is by Caitlin at Sona Design

https://www.sona.scot/

The episode was recorded and edited by John at Telt Media

https://telt.media/

 You can find Karen in her day job at Kennedy Accountancy

https://kennedyaccountancy.com/

and here, on Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-kennedy-ca-3b2a1849?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Karen chats to musician, broadcaster and businessman, Gary Innes. When Gary isn’t playing accordion with traditional music group Mànran, he can be found hosting Take the Floor and Your Requests on BBC Radio Scotland. If that’s not enough, he’s turned his hand to music promotion – putting on Hoolie in the Hydro, a giant traditional music event in Glasgow, in 2022, 2023 and now again in 2024.

Karen finds out what motivates Gary. She hears about his family’s roots in business, his mother’s insistence that playing an accordion wouldn’t be enough to keep a family, and his pride in excelling at event organising, despite not being academic in school.

Tickets for the Hoolie are still available

https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/hoolie-in-the-hydro-glasgow-07-12-2024/event/36005F63D5214DA7

The music is Each Uisge by Niteworks. Thanks to Niteworks for permission to use the track.

The artwork for the podcast is by Caitlin at Sona Design

https://www.sona.scot/

The episode was recorded and edited by John at Telt Media

https://telt.media/

 You can find Karen in her day job at Kennedy Accountancy

https://kennedyaccountancy.com/

and here, on Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-kennedy-ca-3b2a1849?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A wee taste of what's to come on Business Blethers - a new podcast with Karen Kennedy. Every fortnight, Karen chats to a businessperson in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland about them, their life and their business. Insightful, interesting and fun - make sure you subscribe to Business Blethers so you don't miss and episode.

Find out more about Karen at Kennedy Accountancy:

https://kennedyaccountancy.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.