Business Live: for curious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs

"The whole point of emotions is to keep us alive" says Andrea Chatten. And if you try to ignore, for example, feeling worried, your brain has ways to escalate how you feel. Emotions you ignore or don't understand can manifest as series problems such as anxiety.

Andrea is the MD and lead children's emotional and behavioural psychologist at Unravel, and the author of "The Blinks" series of novels supporting children's well-being.

A former teacher, Andrea was particularly interested in helping children who were presenting with emotional and behavioural issues.

She launched Unravel to pioneer a new model of psychology, sitting between educational and clinical psychology, and designed to meet children's needs (rather than expecting children to adapt to a how a service is provided).

When Andrea launched Unravel in 2014 she gained immediate validation from schools that there was a need for the services it provides. It now works in over 30 schools and has a team of 15.

Andrea's work has a profound effect and impact, enabling children to learn strategies to help understand their emotions and become happier. 

She has also written The Blinks series of novels for children and young people after realising there is considerably more demand for Unravel's services than Andrea and her team can supply.

Each novel examines an emotion that impacts on wellbeing, for example Worry, which is based around anxiety. Andrea discusses this and other books (addressing, for example, self-esteem, love, and anger) in detail. Many adults find the books enable them to name, claim, understand and address emotions too.

Andrea covers her work and its impact; how the business has developed; her approach to recruitment; time management and more.

Also in the studio: Mark Farnsworth of the Showroom Workstation discusses a forthcoming breakfast networking event for folk in the creative and digital industries.

• 0 - 37:30 Andrea Chatten part 1.
• 37:30 - 43:06 Mark Farnsworth and a forthcoming Sheffield business event.
• 43:06 Andrea Chatten part 2.

James Marriott drinks beer, watches football and discusses both on his popular podcasts.

He loves listening to other people's podcasts too.

And all this is (part of) how he makes a living.

With two decades' experience in media, including 15 in commercial radio and 4 in newspaper journalism, James now specialises in podcasting and mentors new and existing podcasters along their path to success.

In this episode James gives exceptional advice about what you must think about if you want to launch your own podcast, how to do it, and how to avoid some common mistakes and problems.

He also describes a diverse array of podcasts he loves and has tips to follow if you're being interviewed on a podcast or the radio – or if you're interviewing anyone.

Enjoy the episode: James really knows his onions and cares about making great quality content (and helping other folk do it too).

Mazen Musaeed and Fran Ruiz Partida of ReadyMart Ltd joined me in the radio studio to discuss their startup, ReadyMart Ltd.

Their business aims to simplify the lives of independent supermarket owners, helping them bring their products online and provide pickup and delivery services to their customers.

With the big four supermarket chains "dominating" the grocery sector, Mazen and Fran say they want to give power back to independent stores.

Their emotive message is "when people buy from a local business, they are not helping a CEO buy a 3rd holiday home, they are helping a little girl get music or language lessons, a little boy get his team jersey, and mums and dads put food on the table."

The platform is already connecting consumers with independent businesses, and Mazen and Fran have some unusual marketing plans which they reveal in the show.

They also discuss why Sheffield is a great place to launch a business – and have solid and hard-won advice about finding business partners and even co-founders.

The show also includes an excerpt from a fascinating interview with social entrepreneur, Dave Linton, whose business Madlug aims to give dignity back to children in care.

Today's radio show: four art and design students from Sheffield Hallam University realised they would be "stronger together" - and created Studio Rife. a collective which won the 2019 Hallam Enterprise Award.

Plus fascinating and powerful new data from Social Enterprise UK, alongside their Buy Social campaign (you can make the world a better place by drinking beer and eating chocolate).

Andrew Bainbridge and Callum Seymour of Studio Rife joined me in the studio with Rob King, Start-Up Advisor, Sheffield Hallam University.

I was one of the judges in last week's Hallam Enterprise Awards which was a tough job - a credit to all ten of the finalists. Rob described the competition and how SHU supports students' and graduates' businesses from startup to growth. And Callum and Andrew explained their business, the work they've already won and how they secured it - and what they will do with the prize money.

Later in the programme Andrew O'Brien, Social Enterprise UK's Director of External Affairs, joined us for a live phone interview.

This week SEUK published "Capitalism in Crisis?: State of Social Enterprise Survey 2019" which is the largest, most credible, most comprehensive and most representative survey of social enterprises in the UK. It's packed with fascinating data, as Andrew describes.

Timings:

0 - 2:54 introduction - including how to make the world better with beer and chocolate,
2:54 Rob King, Sheffield Hallam University,
9:26 Andrew Bainbridge and Callum Seymour, Studio Rife,
28:10 Rob King on the runners-up and best pitch winners in the Hallam Enterprise Awards,
34:35 Andrew O'Brien, Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) - what is the Buy Social For a Better World campaign?
41:20 Andrew covers some of the new data from SEUK's research, "Capitalism in Crisis?: State of Social Enterprise Survey 2019"
47:15 Forthcoming events including Showcase Sheffield on 23rd October, and wrapping up.

"Write a book" they say. "It'll boost your business!"

You can't move these days for experts promising you of the untold business bounties which may flow your way if you write a business book.

And, sadly, this means some folk are dashing out books without due care and attention. Or which are well-written, but make them look like an amateur thanks to some common mistakes.

Other aspiring authors, who really want to write a book which gives value to their readers, don't know where to start, get stuck with "blank pages of doom" or can't identify the best angle to cover.

But today's radio show and podcast guest, Vicky Fraser, can help.

Vicky's first book genuinely transformed her business. She's gone on to help many other business owners write and publish books they are proud of.

And in this episode she covers the many benefits of writing a book and has brilliant practical advice to help you get your words on the page and your book written.

Some people said it just couldn't be done.

Wentworth Woodhouse, one of the UK's finest Georgian stately homes had fallen into such a state of disrepair many folk thought it would be impossible to restore.

But "nothing's impossible" says Julie Kenny. The house, originally built between 1725 and 1750 and once grander than Chatsworth is undergoing a remarkable restoration set to bring it back to its former glory.

It's going to be a catalyst for change for Rotherham and a cherished asset for everyone. 

Dame Julie Kenny CBE DL, Chair of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, is one of hundreds of unpaid volunteers whose determination to save one of the most impressive historic buildings in England is making the dream of saving Wentworth Woodhouse a reality.

And Julie's personal story is as remarkable as that of Wentworth Woodhouse as you'll hear in this episode.

In this episode, Julie Kenny covers the work done to date to save Wentworth Woodhouse, her own fascinating career history involving business success and public service. It's a treat!

Timings

0 - 1:50 introduction.
3:36 Julie Kenny, the Dame of Wentworth Woodhouse, explains the state the building was in and how the Trust secured funding to buy the asset (which was really more of a liability) and to start the restoration work.
9:30 The house is a beautiful gem and hundreds of volunteers are getting involved to support repairs. A programme of capital works is already underway.
14:00 The Wentworth Woodhouse Wishlist covers all sorts of things needed to support the house's restoration, from tiny to enormous. Individuals, organisations and businesses can help!
16:40 Julie has described rescuing the house as one of the hardest and most inspiring challenges in her life. And what a life. Julie tells us about leaving Sheffield at the age of 18 with £45 in her purse and vowing never to come back.
19:30 Julie qualified as a lawyer, headed up a local authority's civil litigation department - then "love brought her back" to Sheffield.
20:42 When Julie sold her house - aged 28 - to raise capital for a business idea, she never considered the business would fail. "Perhaps I was naive" she says. Why did she succeed?
22:45 Julie sold Pyronix in 2016; it was turning over around £25m and she'd also been working (as a volunteer) on Wentworth Woodhouse for a couple of years. "The stars aligned."
25:00 Public Service has been central to Julie's life for decades. 
26:30 Being a "woman in a man's world" as the first female chair of the British Security Industry Association – and some crucial advice.
30:30 How to secure the support of politicians and get them on your side for community and voluntary projects.
34:00 Julie was one of the commissioners asked by the Government to run Rotherham Council when the Government placed it into intervention. The town had been her home for 30 years, her business was based there, and she never had any doubt about taking up the role.
38:00 "In lots of councils we fail young people...we need to keep our young people safe."
40:30 a recap of some of Julie's other achievements and Julie introduces the track of music she chose for the radio.
44:00 there are numerous exciting events coming up at Wentworth Woodhouse, such as "As the World Tips," a dramatic, environmentally-themed aerial performance spectacular. Julie hopes this will create inspiration and ambition.
47:30 What else is on the Wentworth Woodhouse Wishlist and how can you get involved?

What are shareholders' agreements and why do you need one? If you're setting up a business with people you trust, surely you won't fall out?

Sadly, numerous examples prove the need for, and value of, shareholders' agreements as my guest Jo Dawson of Dawson Radford Solicitors explains. She also discussed equivalents to shareholder agreements for organisations with other legal structures. Brilliant and helpful advice here.

Also in the show, brilliant and helpful advice from Harvey Morton, national "Freelancer of the Year" in the IPSE Awards. Harvey covers social media, working with "influencers," dealing with online abuse and bullying, and how freelancers and small business owners can protect themselves from overwhelm and look after their health.

• 1:54 Jo Dawson set up Dawson Radford Solicitors, providing business law services to sole traders, partners, businesses large and small. She launched the firm three years ago.
• 2:42 Harvey Marton is a freelance social media manager, who also offers website design and works with influences. He started his business while at school – and last year won IPSE's Freelancer of the Year Award.
• 4:51 Jo Dawson's firm has grown to 9 people and an office dog in three years. Jo explains why she setup her own firm.
• 9:20 When you launch a business there are so many different roles you have to play, says Jo - on top of the professional expertise you offer. You need to be good at the work you do – and you need to learn how to run a business.
• 11:30 Jo appreciates her team's loyalty to one another – and it's something you can't take for granted, "there are so many places where that culture doesn't exist."
• 12:25 What is a Shareholders' Agreement? Jo explains.
• 14:20 Potential pitfalls of not having a shareholders' agreement.
• 18:09 Can you create a Shareholders' Agreement a few years into the lifespan of a business? Is that something people do?
• 20:35 Examples of what can happen if people fall out without having a shareholders' agreement.
• 23:01 How much would a simple shareholders' agreement cost?
• 24:23 Why you shouldn't relay on a template you've download.
• 27:06 Harvey Morton: Harvey started his business at school as a result of a competition called The Big Challenge. Some teachers encouraged him - and some told him they didn't think he had the confidence to go for it! Now he goes back to school to give talks for students.
• 30:48 Authenticity on social media: Harvey understands that some people create an illusion they want to present to the world, pretending they are successful when they are not. He encourages young people to be consistent and put the work in.
• 33:15 What's Harvey's take on social media "influencers" – and how have any influencers helped his clients?
• 36:00 Influencers must be transparent if they've been paid to endorse products.
• 37:48 Harvey says influencers and celebrities can be effective at promoting causes and issues such as awareness of mental health.
• 38:30 Online bullying and harassment – how to cope with abuse.
• 41:11 Are the platforms taking this seriously enough? An example of when Harvey had to get malicious content removed.
• 43:22 Which social media platforms are most important for Harvey's clients? And some social media tips and advice from Harvey.
• 46:11 Back to Jo Dawson. If you're setting up something with a different legal structure than a company limited by shares (such as a company limited by guarantee) is there an equivalent to a shareholders' agreement?
• 50:01 Harvey's advice about resilience, preventing overwhelm and looking after yourself as a freelancer or small business owner.

It was a hat-trick for Food Circle Supermarket, with James Barthorpe and Paul Simpson returning to the radio studio for their third interview.

And what incredible progression in the year since Paul and James were last on the show, with turnover increasing by a factor of 10.

If you run an ecommerce business you must listen to this episode, it's crammed with advice you can learn from and use to grow your own revenue.

Food Circle Supermarket sells surplus food and drink online to the public. They buy stock (all within use-buy dates) directly from manufacturers, which customers can buy at up to 50% less than RRP while saving food from being wasted. It specialises in protein bars and cookies, health and sports nutrition snacks – though its product range continues to evolve and develop.

In this new podcast James and Paul describe:

- what the business does and the enormous efforts they've gone to to understand their customers
- as an online ecommerce business, why they choose Shopify rather than an alternative platform for the website
- getting more favourable terms from suppliers
- how they increased revenue - and how, as founders, they've coped with such exponential growth
- what they did with the £5,000 prize they received last year for winning the Hallam Enterprise Award
- making a sustainable business with an average basket spend of £25 - £30.
- launching a business is challenging - were any points when Paul and James considered throwing in the towel?
- the social media platforms which work best for Food Circle Supermarket - and where 95% of their marketing budget goes
- email marketing and what works best for the business
- plugging into the Shopify developer community
- their approach to social media marketing, testing and learning
- the crucial importance of describing your business' unique value proposition concisely and clearly
- getting customers to leave reviews
- numerous other tips and pieces of advice - some hard-won - about growing and running an ecommerce business.

Hope you enjoy this episode (and if you do, please leave a review or rating in Apple Podcasts!)

It's a wonderful story. Malaysian-born Will Chew came to Sheffield to study Music Psychology. He missed his mother's cooking so much he shipped some ingredients to the UK and experimented in his kitchen, creating the tasty chilli paste he grew up with and loved.

Now Will's business, Mak Tok, sells four tasty flavours of delicious pastes to chilli-loving food aficionados directly, online and through supermarkets. And last week Will's unusual musical appearance on BBC's Dragons' Den resulted in a £50,000 investment from newest Dragon Sara Davies.

Will joined me in the radio studio on Friday for the latest Business Live radio show.

He describes the amazing story behind the business and its recipe, the challenges involved in growth and moving to a manufacturer, why working on a market stall proved essential, the lean marketing approaches which worked for Mak Tok, and the opportunities and benefits for the business now he's working with Dragons' Den investor Sara Davies.

Here's the podcast. Timings and shownotes at https://www.jamieveitch.co.uk/2019/09/will-chew-mak-tok

Karim Maoui is a highly-acclaimed chef and founder of Knife Life, a community project formed to address rampant knife crime in England. Knife Life aims to inform young people about the positive uses of a knife as a kitchen tool rather than as a weapon.

In this episode Karim explains the objectives of Knife Life and covers:

● 5:38 From a flash of inspiration while driving home, the concept of Knife Life quickly gained the support of local businesses in Sheffield where, like many UK cities, knife crime has become somewhat of an epidemic.
● 6:16 The long-term vision of Knife Life is to offer alternative choices to young people at risk of being introduced to drug dealing and antisocial behavior, and to give them a set of skills which will enable them to have promising careers. Karim hopes they can discover and understand that, no matter their background, they can choose their own path.
● 8:11 Looking back, Karim said he should have worked harder at school and the idea of working in kitchens was the last thing he wanted to do. But when he started training to be a chef he found his calling. Working with many different kitchen brigades over a 24-year career helped him to learn about the value of consistently turning up, doing a job, and going home. Kitchens build a family, he says, and they care for that family no matter their past and present circumstances. His career and professional relationships helped him form a framework for life.
● 9:57 Being in the hospitality industry, Karim can work anywhere in the world. He is excited to help young people see the possibilities once trained.
● 12:12 Monetary incentives from a young age can rapidly trap young people in the world of drug dealing “until it all comes crashing down”. The key is to let them know there are other ways to make money and live their lives, i.e. “These are what knives can do for you in a good way.”
● 15:20 Karim has designed two different professional chefs' knives, one of which won an award. He segues into the connections and opportunities one can come across in the hospitality industry.
● 20:27 Karim has experienced how people can be judgemental and biased. But in the kitchen, everything runs on merit, which gives anyone a sense of self-worth.
● 23:16 Karim and long-term friend and business partner Adrian are building an engaging online presence for Knife Life. This will be imperative for garnering the support and interest of other chefs, businesses, and young people.
● 25:04 Success for Knife Life’s first year would be to get at least one young person onto a new, brighter path—and for them to become independent from the community project. Anything above that is a plus.
● 27:14 The Government's (notorious) response to knife crime was to spend thousands on advertising on take-away chicken boxes. Karim wasn't impressed. Grassroots projects and community-driven initiatives have the biggest potential to make an impact, he says.
● 29:20 Karim's business runs supper clubs. He gives a taste(!) of what you might expect:  there’s never a set menu.
● 33:39 Learn more about Knife Life through @ProjectKL on Instagram and Twitter. Karim’s personal Twitter handle is @KMaoui - or contact him through me: [email protected] or on Twitter @jamieveitch
● 35:53 Business Live. How to put yourself forward to be on the show.
● 37:43 Local business news: congratulations to Will Chew of Sheffield's Mak Tok, maker of fantastic chilli paste and successful on TV's Dragon's Den. Will is going to be on the show next week.
39:09 The UK Social Enterprise Awards shortlist has been published by Social Enterprise UK. Congratulations to all on the list.
● 41:16 Events: The Future of Artist Development in the region - a free networking event on Thursday 5 September in Sheffield. Sheffield Digital's AGM.
● 43:45 New opportunities for businesses to support local community organisations from Sheffield Business Together - and wrappin