Business Live: for curious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs

James Fagan is a multi-instrumentalist, bouzouki, guitar and mandolin player, singer and doctor.

James and partner in music and life Nancy Kerr have toured internationally as Kerr Fagan, have thousands of fans across the world, and twice been named Best Duo in the BBC Folk Awards.

James has performed with other hugely-acclaimed artists including Eliza Carthy, Spiers & Boden, Bellowhead, Cara Dillon and Martin Simpson.

And he has some of the most important business advice I've ever heard for musicians which you can hear – along with fascinating tales – in this latest episode of the Business Live radio show.

The show also features Chris Mason, owner of CMP Gyms. The fitness industry is a cut-throat, dog-eat-dog world, says Chris, who's seen first-hand the difficulties which many personal trainers face in making a living.

But now Chris, who with his 6-strong team trains 200 people at his 2000 sq foot gym, also mentors other fitness professionals and helps them avoid common business pitfalls in their industry. He too has tips you can learn from.

Fascinating insights from both of today's guests, applicable directly to music and fitness, but way beyond these industries too.

Timings:

0 - 3:17 introduction and forthcoming events including Classical Sheffield, The Outdoor City Sheffield, and more
3:17 - 27:20 Chris Mason
27:20 - 52:17 James Fagan

Unless you never engage with the news you'll have heard a lot from The CBI (The Confederation of British Industry) lately. 

The organisation has been outspoken about the impacts on business of "crippling uncertainty, the stark possibility of a no-deal Brexit, and failed politics," to quote from some of its recent tweets.

So I was curious to invite The CBI's new Associate Regional Director for Yorkshire and The Humber, Emily Moncuit, onto my radio show.

Emily discussed The CBI's purpose: "economic prosperity and helping business create a more prosperous society." The organisation has a diverse membership and Emily explained the nature of this and how it provides a voice for firms at a regional, national and international level to policymakers.

She covers her role and key objectives over the coming year, and we had to discuss the B and the D words – Brexit and Devolution. CBI is calling on Government to rule out the possibility of a "no-deal" Brexit, but what can firms actually do, now, in such uncertain times?

Beyond Brexit uncertainty, Emily covered the biggest and most pressing concerns for Yorkshire firms and what The CBI does to support members. And she spilled the beans on her own background in business and regeneration. You can learn more about The CBI here: http://www.cbi.org.uk

Also in this episode: a return visit for Peter Loadman (last on the show a couple of years back).

Peter's been working extensively in Ethiopia for several years now. I found his description of the nature of his work and the challenges he helps young entrepreneurs to address to be fascinating.

The country elected a new Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed in 2018 and implemented a peace treaty with Eritrea, finally bringing the countries' devastating two-decade conflict to a close. Peter described how the changes have affected ordinary people.

Peter also covered his work with The University of Sheffield Management School's SCA-EMP Toolkit (https://sca-emp.com ), and told me about his book, Live Your Future Today. This is a practical guide using a series of exercises to help readers better understand their purpose, establish their goals and develop strategies and plans to succeed.

Mihaela is a data scientist and the founder and MD of Research Retold, an award-winning research communication agency.

Her business helps researchers present their findings to stakeholders and the public in creative ways and make a positive impact in society.

In this episode Mihaela covers:

• Why researchers need to communicate their work - and why should they try to do this more effectively. Several salient points here.
• Specific, clear guidance and advice about how to communicate complicated research findings – or complicated policy or business messages, more effectively.
• Some examples of Universities Research Retold has worked with and the results of these collaborations.
• Avoiding the risks of media misrepresentation of academic research by taking control of the narrative.
• Positive outcomes from policy briefings which Research Retold has helped to create.
• How to plan a great policy brief, including a simple structure to follow.
• The biggest challenges that Universities, researchers (and other organisations) have in communicating, based on Mihaela's experiences – and how her business helps people overcome them.
• Transferable points about effective communication and dissemination, applicable to a wide variety of business and social enterprise leaders.
• Her Guide to Communicating Research Beyond Academia and how to get a copy.
• Mihaela's own background studying Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield, gaining work experience in public affairs in Brussels and immersing herself in the effective communication of complex information.
• How Mihaela founded Research Retold after a pitch at StartUp Weekend in Sheffield; support on the journey from the New Entrepreneurs Foundation and The University of Sheffield Enterprise, and the key critical success factor behind her business.

This episode of the Business Live radio show features Amanda and Simon Cookson of Northern Value Creators and Jay Bhayani of Bhayani HR and Employment Law.

In the podcast you'll learn all about:

• Amanda, Simon and their business Northern Value Creators, "canny folk who develop people and grow relationships" – what they do, why and how.
• Tips and advice for anyone in a business partnership with their partner in life, too.
• What is "mindful selling"?
• Advice to help business leaders to feel happier, find their purpose and to develop flourishing teams.
• Many leaders understand the value of relationship (rather than transactional) approaches to business, of transparency, of clarity in articulating their purpose and mission. But they can struggle to implement this. Why, and what should they do?
• Comments on skills and talent (which are different) in the creative and digital industries.
• Key updates in employment legislation from returning guest Jay Bhayani.
• New requirements for employers around payslips and contracts.
• Developments regarding "worker" status.
• Employment tribunals and a forthcoming four-fold increase in the potential award for aggravated damages (from £5000 to £20,000) in the case of unfair dismissal or discrimination when an employer has behaved "particularly badly."
• Brexit preparedness and contingency planning around the right-to-work in the UK for your migrant workers.
• Two recent whistleblowing cases.

Here's a brand new podcast of the Business Live radio show, first broadcast on Sheffield Live FM radio on Friday 1 February, with guests Lindsay Lonchar and Claire Dove.

This episode covers:

• Mountain cabins, forest retreats and the food that goes with them: Lindsay Lonchar is co-owner of legendary Sheffield brunch spot, The Cabin, and has recently opened The Wildwood cafe and artisan gift shop, just three doors away.
• Lindsay and husband George wanted to re-create the authentic Canadian / North American cabin experience of super hospitality and lakes of maple syrup they had both loved.
• The statistics show many high streets and their independent businesses are struggling. But The Cabin is thriving. What are the secrets of their success?
• Lindsay's strategies to drive footfall to the businesses and boost word of mouth referrals.
• Advice for anyone considering setting up an independent food or retail business.

Claire Dove runs a Liverpool-based social enterprise, Blackburne House. She's also taken on the role as Crown Representative for the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sectors. Claire has been involved with social enterprises for around 40 years and was the chair of Social Enterprise UK for ten years.

• Claire's role as VCSE Crown Representative and what it means in practice. 
• The barriers Claire has identified to voluntary, community and social enterprise participation in public service markets.
• Claire's advice to the VCSE sector when it comes to securing contracts.
• Developments and strengthening the Social Value Act, getting Government to rethink procurement in light of the collapse of Carillion, and giving more power to the Act.

Claire Moore is a former schoolteacher and civil servant who moved from the classroom to the gym. Her business, Believe and Achieve, was named Best Ladies Gym in the UK at the recent National Fitness Awards.

In this latest episode of my Business Live radio show, first broadcast on Sheffield Live FM radio on 25 Jan 2019, Claire describes her journey to fitness, how that led to a part time career in the industry then making the leap to running her thriving business.

Claire also has some brilliant and realistic advice for business leaders who want to look after their health but can’t find the time to do so. If your wellbeing or fitness gets pushed down your priority list because of the demands of your business, you must listen to this – you will be able to implement Claire’s tips.

Lisa Walker runs White Apple Thinking, helping professional people to become more motivated and focused, clarify what they want, and improve results in their working and out-of-work lives.

Lisa's been in business for 6 years after a background in HR. Her first 18 months of self-employment involved "staring at a computer waiting for people to find me."

But then everything changed. Lisa realised her confidence was "at rock bottom," did something about it – and found her true calling to "help people to develop and become the best they can be."

She works with professionals such as finance directors, accountants, and other technically-minded folk. Many are outwardly highly successful but their fears, self-beliefs, inner conflicts, lack of confidence or "imposter syndrome" might be leading to self-sabotaging behaviour.

Foodhall is an award winning community centre, dining room and kitchen in Sheffield city centre with an aim to bring people together.

An accessible public space where people can come along and share, Foodhall, which is open daily, has been running for three years. Anyone who comes along can get involved - everyone interacts with everyone else on an equal basis.

Foodhall is open on Christmas Day for the third year running and Isaac Tendler told me what will be going on.

He also went into detail about Foodhall's community, how and why he became involved, some of the diverse benefits this has given, the variety of activities taking place at Foodhall, how the project secures funding and "doing a lot, with not very much" thanks to donations and a community network.

Also on the show: a return visit from Steve Rimmer, telling us more about developments with Tickets For Good, Ticket Bank and the Gig Buddies Sheffield project.

Tickets For Good now has over 10,000 people on its platform, is growing its team, and pushing forward on its mission to make events more charitable through ticketing. Steve described how this is evolving, its impact, and some significant milestones. 10% of revenues are automatically donated to charities (often more).

In 2018 the team launched a secure-chain-of-custody system for event organisers wanting to donate tickets to people through its Ticket Bank. This free service ensures donated tickets do reach the people they are intended for - rather then being sold off on secondary markets.

Steve also described the Gig Buddies programme, a voluntary network to help people get to gigs. Operational in 10+ locations in the UK it will be coming to Sheffield in 2019 in a partnership.

As a serial social entrepreneur, Steve gets a lot done in a well planned, well considered way – so I had to ask the question of how he finds the energy and gets so much done. He also previewed several exciting plans and partnerships for scaling-up the impact of Tickets for Good in 2019 – you heard it here, first!

0 - 2:38 introduction and updates
2:38 - 22:15 Isaac Tendler
22:15 - 23:50 how to get in touch and be on the show
23:50 - 39:32 Steve Rimmer
39:32 - end wrapping up the show - and the year - and a shout out for some fantastic, impactful organisations to support this festive season

Here's a sustainable, ethical business, thriving and continuing to grow a decade after launching. It has environmental and social responsibility at its core and its leader shows how businesses can be agents for positive change.

Here also is your invitation to an amazing party in a brand new gallery space in Sheffield where you can enjoy exceptional art with "an alternative take on the season of goodwill" – and a free drink.

Yes, it's another double-header radio show for you. I was joined in the studio on Friday 14 December by Al Daw and Rob Cole for my weekly Business Live programme on Sheffield Live. The podcast is here.

Rob runs Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens which he launched nearly 11 years ago.  Now the praise and accolades are unstoppable – two weeks ago SSK was named winner of the Excellence in Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility Award at the Sheffield Business Awards.

The company was founded on the basis of environmental and social responsibility, says Rob. Its beautiful kitchens are built from reclaimed and recycled timber and other woods. They are stunning (check out the gallery on their website).

In the interview Rob talks us through how and why he launched the business, its environmental and social impacts, an initial period of growth up to five employees, the recent spurt of growth to 15 staff and the challenges on the way.

"I'm still learning now," he says, "When I started I knew what I was doing about how to fit and design a kitchen – I've learned a lot since then about how to run and lead a business."

Businesses can and must be agents for change and for mitigating our environmental impact, says Rob. Governments are failing to lead or to really encourage the change. "We need a serious push if we are to avert climatic disasters," Rob adds, and so "the business community needs to drive forward positive changes."

That lead us on to a conversation about corporate social responsibility and greenwash. But Rob explained why he's hopeful for the future.

Finally Rob reveals the decision he made relatively early on (but which he wished he'd made earlier) and how that led to a drastic increase in customers.

Also on the programme: Al Daw who has taken on a new space which he is developing into a gallery, creative project space and arts club.

The space is Sidney And Matilda. What's it all about, and what's the vision for this exciting new gallery and space? Al spills the beans.

We cover collecting art and supporting grass-routes artists; cynicism in the corporate art world; collaboration between artists and more.

Chloe Watmore is managing director of Thermotex Engineering, a business specialising in solving "thermal challenges," things at risk of getting too hot or too cold in industrial settings.

During the show Chloe talked about:

• her journey with the business, having joined after her economics degree initially to help with business development on a temporary basis
• changing systems and processes
• her interest in maths, science, technology and languages
• how she won people over to accept her "YABI"s (Yet Another Bright Idea)
• managing succession in a family business
• tools and technologies for knowledge sharing
• exporting tips, advice on international business and being more culturally aware
• how "breaking bread" with people develops relationships and trust
• the biggest challenges in Chloe's business journey and sources of inspiration, advice and support
• skills development and recruiting for attitude
• embedding a culture of learning (including learning from mistakes) into a business