Business Live: for curious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs

Kathryn Danzey has run Rejuvenated Ltd – a business selling shots of Collagen which the firm describes as "clinically formulated functional beauty drinks to naturally support firm, youthful skin," for 15 years.

Rejuvenated has customers all over the world. It makes its products in the UK, has embarked on a journey to ensure all packaging is compostable and plastic-free, and is a family business in which Kathryn's husband, son and one of her daughters works.

In this episode she covers:

- her career in the beauty, nutrition and health industry and the personal motivation which led her to launch Rejuvenated 15 years ago,
- what the core product is, how it is designed to work, and why people buy it,
- the science behind the product? Is it robust?
- what about the industry as a whole, does it encourage unrealistic aspirations?
- Rejuvenated's journey to ensure all packaging is compostable and plastic free (great advice here for any business whatever your market),
- tips for other folks running family businesses,
- Kathryn's book, "The Youth Plan" and what it contains,
- Is Brexit a concern to this business with customers worldwide?
- Selling internationally online,
- And more! Enjoy the episode.

Here's the latest episode of the Business Live radio show featuring  Tej Dhami, Rowan Hall and Carolynn McConnell.

This show features a new project to improve air quality in a Sheffield school AND provide a "proof-of-concept" to other schools (policymakers too).

Rowan and Carolynn cover greening-up the playground at Hunters Bar Infants School, a research partnership with The University of Sheffield – and how businesses are helping to make the project possible.

And Tej, MD of social impact investment consultancy The Change Coefficient, has crucial advice about social investment and what should you think about if you run a mission-driven organisation and are seeking an investor.

Ben Atha founded The Developer Academy after realising other routes to getting a role as a developer exclude some people.

In today's radio show Ben covered:

- What do we mean by "coding" and what work is open to coders who have learned CSS, Python, PHP, C# or other languages?
- Why Ben learned to become a developer himself.
- The crucial importance - and demand from the industry - of soft skills.
- Why you don't have to get a computer science degree - or attend a £6000 bootcamp - to land a developer job.
-  How The Developer Academy's model, fusing flexible online learning with face-to-face meetings, works around people's existing commitments.
- Ben's observations on diversity and equal opportunities in the tech industry.
- The Sheffield tech scene: is there a skills shortages of coders and data scientists? And which languages are most in demand now?
- What about the future? How will AI affect the tech industry?
- Why Ben's business is located in Kollider, which alongside co-working, office and incubation space, has an investment fund - and has invested in The Developer Academy.
- How to choose an investor and why Ben accepted a £5000 investment in return for a 15% stake in his business.
- The value of a great business advisor who ripped Ben's original business plan apart (but is now an investor in the business).
- The free project management and communication apps Ben finds most valuable to run the business, saving huge amounts of time.

The show is crammed with tech and business insights from Ben - enjoy it!

Ruth Willis is the chief executive of charity, South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF) and joined me in the radio studio for the latest episode of Business Live.

SYCF and BBC Radio Sheffield are working together to look for Sheffield' unsung heroes.
Their new Community Champions Awards celebrate the lives of "outstanding people or teams who go above and beyond to care about their community, or who consistently give up their time to help others – and they are now seeking nominations."

In this episode Ruth also talks about SYCF's priorities and work – and gives her thoughts on effective leadership.

28-year-old Lee Harris-Hamer is the MD of White Horse Cleaning Services, a business he launched just 3 years ago. It now has 20 full time and 8 part time employees.

Lee served for 8 years in the British Army before a medical discharge.

A driven and successful entrepreneur, Lee says specific support he received when he launched and grew his business proved crucial.

But the entrepreneurial talent of Britain’s military veterans isn’t being fully realised, according to a report from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

To mark Armed Forces Day Lee joined me in the radio studio and described his business growth journey - and told me how joining the Federation for Small Businesses saved him the staggering sum of £50,000.

Also on today's programme: Phil Walton, Assistant Regional Employer Engagement Director at the RFCA (Reserve Forces' & Cadets' Association) for Yorkshire and The Humber.

Phil describes the significant benefits to businesses and organisations (such as the health service) of working with Veterans, Reservists, Cadets and Spouses.

Timings:

• 0 - 5:44 introduction and updates, including a reminder to enter the UK Social Enterprise Awards, an announcement about the Star Small Business Awards, and the Government won't hit its target of 3 million apprenticeships by 2020, and the forthcoming Cliffhanger festival (and British Bouldering Championships
• 5:44 Saturday 29 June is Armed Forces Day and 26 June was Reserves Day.
• 6:52 Britain's veterans need better backing to become entrepreneurs, according to a new report, A Force For Business, from the Federation for Small Businesses (FSB).
• 7:38 Lee Harris-Hamer. Lee talks about leaving the Armed Forces after a medical discharge and launching the business 3 years ago. It already has 28 staff.
• Lee was in the 4th Regiment, Royal Artillery. He served 8 years, joining at the age of 17. "If I hadn't been discharged I would still be serving because I loved it," he says - and describes what led to his medical discharge.
• 10:50 How did Lee set up the company and what sort of support was available to him? Lee describes how the Army Benevolent Fund and X-Forces Enterprise helped.
• 13:00 The attributes that service leavers have are the attributes of a successful entrepreneur, according to the FSB's Force For Business Report. But self-employment isn't for everyone, says Lee. This is why specific support is so helpful.
• 16:00 More about X-Forces Enterprise and their support for service leavers, spouses and veterans.
• 19:31 Phil Walton: What is the RFCA? It used to run the Territorial Army.
• 20:58 Phil works to establish strong relationships with employers to promote the benefits of employing Reservists, Veterans, Cadets and Spouses.
• 22:00 There are over 36,000 Reservists in the UK.
• 22:45 The business benefits of working with Reservists and Veterans, Cadets and Spouses - including accessing relevant training and professional development.
• 24:30 The Health Service understands employing Reservists brings additional skills into their workplaces and hospitals.
• 25:30 The region's ERS Gold Award Winners are really going the extra mile, says Phil. And how to contact The RFCA.
• 27:30 Back to Lee Harris-Hamer.
• 28:20 Why Lee joined the FSB and how this has benefited his business (including how it saved him £50,000!)
• 31:15 Lee's business growth plans, and intentions to mentor other entrepreneurs.
• 33:00 Is Lee worried about Brexit and uncertainty in the economy? How he's building resilience.
• 34:45 How has Lee's business secured contracts and work? Motivation, discipline, courage and other attributes developed in the Army have proven effective. And the business thing you learn in the Army is problem solving, he says.
• 36:20 The most effective marketing and client attraction strategies for Lee.&l

In today's radio show: Ikigai, culture, ethics and purpose; doing business with Japan and a book recommendation. The programme was broadcast on live radio and the podcast is here.

Johnny Pawlik is global managing director of Mantra Media Ltd, "driven by ethics and guided by knowledge, operating across five continents delivering strategic communications."

He also co-founded Atelier Japan, bringing beautifully crafted and made Japanese products from Kyoto, Japan, to the UK, the rest of Europe and the USA.

• 0 - 2:55 introduction and updates, including reminders about the Social Enterprise UK Awards and the Sheffield Business Awards.
• 2:55 Who is Johnny Pawlik and what are Mantra Media's and Atelier Japan's specialities?
• 6:15 Creating the world's most active and engaged online community on Facebook - in a week - for Invictus Athletes in Australia.
• 7:08 Who are Invictus Athletes?
• 9:00 Post Traumatic Stress: It's PTS, not PTSD, says Johnny.
• 10:15 There are now 40 people in the Mantra team and the business's Sheffield base is Ikigai House, a grade II listed building. Ikigai means "reason for being" and Johnny explains why the philosophy of Ikigai fits with Mantra's values.
• 13:30 Mantra works with businesses large and small – and with Governments. How has Johnny secured contracts with Governments?
• 17:00 if you perceive that you're the cleverest person in the room - you're probably in the wrong room (or you're the wrong person!)
• 18:00 practical advice for anyone who wants to do business with Japan.
• 20:30 how Johnny and his business partner met, became great friends and began working together.
• 22:00 A shared philosophy of a "good life" - and is there ever any tension between business and friendship?
• 24:40 Why Johnny was accused of "communism" and his approach to leadership and  employee empowerment, wellbeing and autonomy, including specific ways in which Mantra puts this into practice. There's a shout out here for Dave Kneeshaw.
• 29:30 if you create an autonomous workplace, what key features does it need?
• 31:50 Did Johnny always want to visit Japan when growing up? What was the spark for his fascination with the country?
• 33:30 Culture, community and food.
• 35:38 music break and how to get in touch.
• 36:45 What is Atelier Japan? It works with craftspeople and some businesses which have been around for 1000 years.
• 38:10 Not everything described as "Matcha" in the UK is the same. Johnny describes where the matcha imported by Atelier comes from – and where you can find it in Sheffield.
• 40:45 Where next for Mantra and Atelier?
• 43:00 Let's talk books. Why and what do we love?
• 44:08 a shout for Chloe Watmore and a recommendation: Marshall Goldsmith's "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" - why does Johnny love this book and what has he specifically implemented as a result of reading it?
• 45:00 "Don't hide from the truth you need to hear" - what was the truth Johnny needed to hear?
• 47:30 Why Johnny doesn't usually read business books
• 48:11 Other key takeaways from "What Got You Here Won't Get You There."
• 50:00 Getting in touch with Johnny.
• 51:30 Wrapping up.

James Carnegie is a highland bagpipe teacher, a business consultant - and a thoughtful and fascinating guest in this latest radio show podcast.

Many people in the corporate world yearn to run their own business or pursue a more stimulating and creative career. But the security of being an employee, fears of "failure" and concerns around status and working identity can be enormous barriers.

James, now 50, made an intentional career shift a year ago. It's gone "far better than he expected."

With the "job for life" a diminishing concept, James says we can test creative and micro-enterprise ideas.  He tells me how and why he became a highland bagpipe teacher.

And he makes thoughtful observations about building a portfolio career which is creatively fulfilling and makes the financial contribution you need; experimenting with new projects; and whether the work you do defines your identify.

It's a fascinating listen for the curious business leader, founder, social entrepreneur - and anyone considering making a career shift. Timings:

• 0 - 4:39 introduction and updates, including £2m new Sheffield factory by employee-owned Gripple; outdoor book publisher Vertebrate secures transformative investment; launch of impact investing institute; getting in touch.
• 4:39 James Carnegie lives in Cambridge with his wife and three young children. How he came to be teaching the bagpipes.
• 8:50 There's increasing global interest in the bagpipes. James describes where and why.
• 11:10 James previously had a corporate career - what was he doing?
• 12:10 Many people are ambivalent about working in large organisations. The security can be good, but it can feel like being on a hamster wheel. James always wanted to fulfill some creative ambitions.
• 13:25 The opportunity to make a partial shift from the corporate world came for James last year. 
• 15:20 James' biggest fears about making the transition.
• 17:10 Seeing this as an experiment was especially useful for James - as were the books Working Identity by Herminia Ibarra and two books by Lynda Gratton.
• 21:02 Taking a step back to look at experiments within the context of your entire life.
• 22:00 What are the most fulfilling parts of James' work?
• 23:10 How students start learning to play the bagpipes (and a live performance).
• 25:45 Encouraging students to practice and what works for James.
• 29:00 Skills DO transfer between diverse and different parts of the working world.
• 30:30 Do bagpipe-learners take exams, play in ensembles, play for fun?
• 32:25 James' bagpipe learning segments, and some frank observations on what's realistic.
• 36:30 The business consultancy and mentoring work James is enjoying most (and his flexible red lines).
• 43:00 James has always liked doing and testing new things and seeing what comes from them (but it's not always as easy as it sounds).
• 45:15 Advice for anyone yearning to move from a corporate role and a lesson learned from a jump James made two decades ago.
• 47:50 Is James optimistic about the future of music education?
• 49:15 Can adults return to playing musical instruments?
• 50:20 Getting in touch with James for bagpipe lessons - or business consultancy, mentoring and career-shifting advice.
• 52:09 Wrapping up this week's programme.

Enjoyed this episode? Please do leave a review in Apple Podcasts and subscribe for new episodes.

What is Open Banking? How could it support your business or social enterprise?

Is your data safe?

And is there a danger that Open Banking might facilitate discrimination against people who are already financially vulnerable?

Faith Reynolds is the Open Banking Consumer Representative. She’s part of a steering group responsible for delivering the technology that underpins the Open Banking initiative.

Faith describes how and why you might choose to share your data through Open Banking; how the technology works; controlling who has access to your data; how Open Banking could address late pay,ent issues, and more.

Chris Whitehead, 60, began his career as a design engineer and has worked on multi-billion pound construction projects all over Europe.

Fascinated by the people dimension of business and how to apply neuroscience and psychology to effective, compassionate leadership, Chris says managers today have more of a healthy curiosity about what makes people tick.

Chris' new book offers tools and techniques to adopt an authentic, enabling and effective leadership style, consistent with your values. He joined me in the radio studio for this latest episode of Business Live.

Timings:

• 0 - introduction and updates: a no-deal warning from the head of the CBI; how to turn £20 into £25 with The Abbeydale Picture House; Changing Faces' event; applications open for the 2019 UK Social Enterprise Awards.
• 4:23 who is Chris Whitehead and how his career in engineering and construction led to a fascination with leadership and neuroscience.
• 12:10 in the new generation of managers there's more of a healthy curiosity about what makes people think. Chris gives an example from Attachment Theory.
• 14:00 "Fit in or F-off" - not any more, says Chris, in a world where capital is cheap and talented people are hard to find, people are the most important factor in a business' success.
• 15:20 how an understanding of Attachment Theory and using behaviours such as "PACE" which Chris describes can benefit managers.
• 16:45 "mindfulness" is a word of the day and by slowing down and asking more questions you can improve your performance as a leader at work.
• 17:40 people are tired of the "Apprentice" mode of management. Successful business is about creating a places where people can thrive.
• 19:00 Chris' book Compassionate Leadership is split into four parts. A foundational section covers neuroscience and psychology, defence mechanisms, systems thinking and more. In parts two and three, the book explores what this means when it comes to working with individuals and with teams. Part four is about self-care because how you work with people is dependent on how well you look after yourself. 
• 22:48 "A saint Chris once knew" - Reg Davey, who taught Chris to play the euphonium - and the life-enhancing impact of music lessons when Chris grew up in Rotherham.
• 27:50 it's crazy for schools to downgrade music and the arts, says Chris.
• 29:05 music break; upcoming events from the Social Enterprise Exchange and Changing Faces.
• 32:30 back to Chris: trusting the top team, to whom "much is given and much is required." Employees should be able to trust boards; boards should work together effectively as a team and can't afford to be self-indulgent. "The board of Carilion were really filling their own boots," says Chris.
• 35:00 pivotal questions for boards to ask of themselves.
• 37:00 why Richer Sounds made the headlines recently.
• 38:22 Chris is a trustee of the City of Sheffield Rowing Club and has long been "addicted" to rowing - a "fascinating sub-culture," he says.
• 43:00 why Chris has launched a podcast, what it covers and some of his guests.
• 46:00 Where to find Chris' book and podcast and how to get in touch.
• 47:27 A final thought of great relevance to modern business.
• 48:50 - 50:37 Wrapping up; how to get in touch; event reminders.

Millions of people in the UK have a visible difference such as a mark, scar or condition that affects their appearance. Sadly many children and young people experience bullying or low confidence, and many adults are discriminated against, as a result of their visible difference.

The Face Equality Day campaign, led by charity Changing Faces, calls for everyone to be treated fairly and equally whatever the appearance of their face or body. Sam Killick and Julie Carr of  Changing Faces joined me in the Sheffield Live radio studio yesterday to discuss the charity's work.

Also on the show: Dan Butlin and Kiran Antcliffe with exciting plans for the Abbeydale Picture House, why and how you can get involved and some rewards for people who do. 

The programe covers:

• Changing Faces has a specialist centre, funded by Children in Need and based in Sheffield, supporting children, young people and their families across the Yorkshire and Humber region.
• The charity's services are free to access.
• A new report, My Visible Difference, was published this week coinciding with Face Equality Day - we hear some shocking statistics.
• Coming soon: a super Changing Faces creative workshop at the wonderful Grimm and Co.
• There are particular "pinch points," where children and young people experience negative impacts as a result of a visible difference. The charity has a schools resources pack on its website.
• Changing Faces is FCS Associates' Charity of the Year.
• How to contact Changing Faces and how you can donate or support their work.
• Dan and Kiran work for CADS, which has been managing the Abbeydale Picture House for two years.
• It's a 100-year-old, grade II listed building which had fallen into disrepair. But over the past couple of years under CADS' stewardship it's hosted a diverse range of events, film screenings, gigs and music, community events and more - all under temporary event licenses. That means there's a limit to the number of events which can take place.
• CADS has levered in grants and other funding to help pay for the building's restoration. Now they are crowdfunding for building work needed get a full premises license.
• This would mean they can host events every day.
• The crowdfunding campaign is off to a fantastic start, backed by lots of folk excited about the plans. There are fantastic rewards for backers too - we hear about some of them.
• Dan and Kiran also cover some of the history of this amazing building.

Timings:

• 0 - 4:00 introduction and updates, including the Sheffield Food Festival, The Grey to Green Project transforming Castlegate, and my recent day volunteering for Bluebell Wood Hospice,
• 4:00 get in touch!
• 4:27 Sam Killick and Julie Carr,
• 18:24 Dan Butlin and Kiran Antcliffe,
• 45:40 wrapping up.