Business Live: for curious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs

An apprentice who at 19 years old has already saved Rolls-Royce £10m; the author of a new report describing Sheffield as the beer capital of the world and a member of the team behind a rocket-powered car all feature in this week's Business Live radio show.

The Bloodhound Supersonic car was the headline attraction at this year’s Get up to Speed with Engineering and Manufacturing (GUTS) event, held at MAGNA Science Adventure Centre on Wednesday this week.

Bloodhound SSC is a jet and rocket powered car which will challenge for the world land speed record and is set to ultimately break the 1000mph barrier. Many of the parts for the car are designed and manufactured in the Sheffield City Region.

I went along to the GUTS event where I interviewed Nick Naylor of the Bloodhound education and outreach team, and Jess Herbert, an apprentice at Rolls-Royce (supplier of jet engines for Bloodhound) who gave a superb presentation. Organisers Jackie Freeborn and John Barber of the Work-wise Foundation also spoke with me, as did attendees and exhibitors including Anne Wilson MBE of Numill engineering, and John Silker, CEO of MAGNA which hosted GUTS.

Sheffield could justifiably be described as the beer capital of the world, according to a new report launched this week. The Sheffield Beer report examines the thriving brewing industry in the city: there are 57 breweries in the Sheffield City Region. But the report (available here) says the city is missing an opportunity to capitalise on this excellence, and through collaboration, promotion and education could achieve the worldwide recognition it deserves. I caught up with report author Pete Brown for an interview in the Sheffield Tap.

Timings:

• 0 - 7:51 introductions and updates, including details of a new Women in Enterprise report from the Federation of Small Businesses; a new initiative, the Buy Social Corporate Challenge, which launched this week to encourage corporates to buy from social enterprises; Responsible Business Week; some forthcoming events
• 7:51 - 16:29 Pete Brown, author of the Sheffield Beer Report
• 16:29 interviews from Get Up to Speed, including:
• 17:28 Jackie Freeborn, Work-wise
• 27:14 John Silker, MAGNA
• 32:55 Chris Harrop, Pryor
• 34:24 Nick Naylor, Bloodhound's education team
• 39:07 Jess Herbert, apprentice at Rolls-Royce
• 42:31 James Allen, Rolls-Royce
• 44:04 Anne Wilson MBE, Numill Engineering
• 47:06 Jim Lawson, the Wosskow Brown Foundation
• 49:47 Lucy Machin and Lauren Browning, The University of Sheffield
• 53:38 John Barber, Work-wise

Louise Page is the acclaimed playwright known for Salonika, Another Nine Months, The Statue of Liberty, Love From a Stranger and many other works.

Louise has also written extensively for TV and radio, including for ten years on BBC Radio 4's radio serial The Archers.

She is a specialist in clear and effective business writing too. She has clear tips for better writing and storytelling you can use in business communications.

And Louise flagged a Royal Literary Fund scheme through which businesses can access – free of charge – writing support from authors, playwrights and poets.

Sajad Mahmood was my second studio guest. Sajad is chief executive of Yorkshire based Charity Right, an international food programme providing regular meals to impoverished children.

Sajad recently visited Somaliland with a delegation of leading international aid charities to see the devastating effects of four seasons of poor rainfall.

And Damien Bates is the co-owner of Sheffield Speedway - an institution in the city running for around 70 years. Damien and partners bought the business in 2014, and I visited the track last week to learn more about why he did so, and how the Speedway works with local businesses.

Timings:

• 0 - 8:35 introductions and updates, including new research into workplace stress and its impact on productivity; results from the 2016 Sheffield City Region Quarterly Economic Survey (QES); some forthcoming events
• 8:35 - 22:55 Louise Page
• 22:55 - 42:10 Sajad Mahmood
• 42:10 - 51:32 Damien Bates

Author Joanne Harris, poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan, writer and League of Gentlemen member Jeremy Dyson and social entrepreneur Ben Payne – plus Grimm and Co founder Deborah Bullivant.

It was a pleasure and privilege to attend Monday’s opening of Grimm & Co, the “apothecary supplying sorcery services and unnatural products to magical beings,” which is also a Yorkshire charity, a writing and mentoring centre for children and young people.

With a prime corner position on Rotherham High Street, Grimm and Co is a treat and an imaginative triumph. I interviewed:

•  founder Deborah Bullivant, whose determination to make Grimm and Co a reality is  an inspiration for social entrepreneurs and anyone launching a creative or community project
• Joanne Harris,Ian McMillan, Jeremy Dyson and Ben Payne, all of whom attended the Grimm & Co launch event and participated in storytelling workshops with Rotherham schoolchildren.

Timings (music played on air removed from podcast):

• 0 – 8:47 introduction; business and social enterprise updates.
• 8:47 – 15:49 Deborah Bullivant of Grimm and Co and Joanne Harris, author.
• 15:49 – 19:55 Ian McMillan, poet, broadcaster and author.
• 19:55 – 23:51 Ben Payne of the Ministry of Stories in Hoxton, London.
• 23:51 – 29:55 writer Jeremy Dyson of The League of Gentlemen and a Grimm and Co trustee.
• 29:55 – 31:18 more details about Grimm and Co.
• 31:18 – 52.18 revisiting what it takes to make an independent business successful – a recent interview with Laura Bullock of Seven Hills Bakery.
• 52:18 – end wrapping up.

This is episode #103 of Business Live.

t was a pleasure and privilege to attend Monday’s opening of Grimm & Co, the “apothecary supplying sorcery services and unnatural products to magical beings,” which is also a Yorkshire charity, a writing and mentoring centre for children and young people. Rotherham's Grimm and Co is a treat and an imaginative triumph.

Whilst there I interviewed founder Deborah Bullivant, whose determination to make Grimm and Co a reality will be an inspiration – not only for social entrepreneurs but for anyone launching a creative or community project.

Alongside Deborah’s interview this episode includes interviews with author Joanne Harris, poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan, writer and League of Gentlemen member Jeremy Dyson and social entrepreneur Ben Payne; all of whom attended the Grimm & Co launch event and participated in storytelling workshops with Rotherham schoolchildren.

Timings:

• 0 – 8:47 introduction to today’s programme; business and social enterprise updates.
• 8:47 – 15:49 Deborah Bullivant of Grimm and Co and Joanne Harris, author.
• 15:49 – 19:55 Ian McMillan, poet, broadcaster and author.
• 19:55 – 23:51 Ben Payne of the Ministry of Stories in Hoxton, London.
• 23:51 – 29:55 writer Jeremy Dyson of The League of Gentlemen and a Grimm and Co trustee.
• 29:55 – 31:18 more details about Grimm and Co.
• 31:18 – 52.18 revisiting what it takes to make an independent business successful – a recent interview with Laura Bullock of Seven Hills Bakery.
• 52:18 – end wrapping up.

It’s a challenge to run or to be a co-director of one business or social enterprise. Running four, and multiple projects too, involves a commitment and ability to organise and plan that would be well beyond many of us.

After today’s radio show featuring guest Sara Hill, one listener tweeted “You’re an inspiration – can’t get over how much you do Sara.”

Sara joined me in the studio to talk about what’s on at the forthcoming Festival of Debate; publishing Now Then magazine which has been running since 2008; the Peace in the Park free festival; and Mesters Events and their recent trip to the refugee camps in Calais and Dunkirk.

A fascinating insight  – do listen to the podcast.

Timings:

• 0 – 10:48 introductions and announcements including news about the results of a snap poll from over 4,000 small business owners conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses; new research from the London School of Economics about sources of entrepreneurial finance; The 2016 European Social Innovation Competition – with €150,000 available for projects to source and nurture initiatives that enable refugees and migrants to contribute to the social, economic, cultural and political life of their host countries; this week’s UK Northern Powerhouse International Conference & Exhibition in Manchester; the Sheffield Starflyer, coming to Sheffield next month; a report from CIPD into the introduction of the mandatory national living wage (NLW) in April; the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme; and some forthcoming business and social enterprise events
• 10:48 – 26:38 Sara Hill part one – The Festival of Debate
• 26:38 – 39:30 Sara Hill part two – more on The Festival of Debate; Now Then Magazine; Peace in the Park
• 39:30 – end (50:24) Sara Hill part three – Mesters Events; humanitarian work; a new charity and a recent trip to Calais and Dunkirk to help in the refugee camps.

Toy Like Me is an initiative seeking better representation of disability in children’s toys. It works both with independent makers and with global giant Playmobil and hit a fundraising target in a crowdfunding campaign.

Sheffield Antiques Quarter supports a growing number of independent retailers in Sheffield and is a community and retailer-led initiative. 

Timings (music played on air removed from podcast):

• 0 – 5:26 introductions ,announcements
• 5:26 – 16:38 Hendrika Stephens part 1 – what’s the Sheffield Antiques Quarter – a community and independent business led initiative
• 16:38 – 27:20 Hendrika Stephens part 2 – fundraising, social media and marketing; support for small businesses; business collaboration
• 27:20 – 40:13 Karen Newell, Toy Like Me
• 40:13 – end: wrapping up

This was episode #101 of Business Live, broadcast on 19 February 2016.

Three guests today. Sam Chapman is chief innovation officer at growing Sheffield tech firm The Floow, part of a three year pilot project to test driverless cars on UK roads.

Next Angga Kara and Zak Ahmed of Learn Create Sell, a creative social enterprise supporting people to learn new skills. Students on the 10-week Learn Create Sell programme learn how to design and create products on a laser cutter and get the opportunity to sell them via a shop in Sheffield’s Winter Gardens.

Angga has also developed the ethical fashion label Hantu, formed hip-hop theatre group Rationale Productions and helped set up Yorkshire Tee; Zak runs AALFY, a company devoted to developing human potential.

And finally an interview with Laura Bullock of Seven Hills Bakery, a thriving independent business which is going from strength to strength; Laura talked through how the business was launched and has developed; the challenges it has overcome; and the importance of collaboration with other local independents.

Timings:

• 0 – 3:21 introductions and some forthcoming events
• 3:21 – 13:38 Sam Chapman of The Floow
• 13:38 – 28:41 Angga Kara and Zak Ahmed of Learn Create Sell
• 28:41 – 49:36 Laura Bullock of Seven Hills Bakery
• 49:36 – 50:10 wrapping up

Kate is senior recruiter at specialist tech recruitment consultancy, Affecto.

Kate discussed why recruiter Affecto are sponsoring Django Girls' volunteer-led workshop in Sheffield this February. Django Girls is a non-profit organisation that empowers and helps women through free, one-day programming workshops providing the opportunity to gain the skills in creating an application and understanding tech. Kate also told me what skills are particularly in demand in the tech industry in 2016.

David is the Business Editor of the Sheffield Star newspaper; his responsibilities also include The Business monthly magazine; Star Business Monthly; and he's involved in the Sheffield Business Awards.

I asked David about the biggest issues affecting Sheffield business, the campaign to locate Sheffield's HS2 station in the city, business confidence in 2016 and how businesses and social enterprises seeking media coverage should catch his attention.

He gave some great insights into the operation of a multimedia (print, digital, video, audio) news operation and some useful tips for listeners, and advice too for people considering a career in journalism.

Timings:

• 0 - 24:05 David Walsh, our studio guest, on Sheffield business, the business of journalism and advice for listeners.
• 24:05 - 34:19 Kate Loach of recruiter Affecto: women in tech and trends for 2016.
• 34:19 - 36:14 a repeat of a short interview with award-winning tech entrepreneur Anthony Odogwu, founder of Future Space Technologies.
• 36:19 - end a repeat of my interview with popstar turned farmer and entrepreneur, JB Gill, and wrapping up.

If you're running a business or a social enterprise, you probably have a number of goals and objectives you want to achieve in the year ahead.

And just like with New Year resolutions - which only 8% of people manage to keep - business goals can be vague and hopeful, or concrete with a carefully planned strategy to help to achieve them.

On today's Business Live radio show I was joined in the studio by coach and management consultant Peter Loadman to talk about the process of setting and achieving objectives - in your life and your business.

Peter covered defining (and re-defining) your values and vision, assembling the tools to achieve your objectives, focus and implementation.

My other guest today was Germaine Smith, owner of Sheffield based Juice to U, now riding a wave of celebrity endorsements and selling healthy juices in their thousands after founding her business with a £20 domestic juicer in her kitchen.

Germaine's overcome dyslexia, a previous business collapse leaving her £80,000 in debt (all of which she's now paid off) and the challenges of being a single parent - and she's now running a business valued at several million pounds by a want-to-be investor (whom she turned down).

Mairi leads the British Council’s Global Social Enterprise programme, which promotes the development of social enterprise and investment to help address entrenched social and environmental problems, build trust between the UK and other countries, and support more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous societies.

Tim’s a former journalist who created a marketing agency in San Francisco and has recently launched The Gra Group. He’s also a musician and plays traditional music on the Irish Whistle.

Listeners will find Tim’s and Mairi’s interviews fascinating. Tim talks about how small businesses and social enterprises can create customer personae to enable them to really focus on who they are marketing to; the interview includes plenty of advice and refers to template marketing plans and customer personae that you can download. And we go into detail about Tim’s business and career highs and lows.

Mairi explains more about how the British Council’s global social enterprise programme works. It operates in 25 countries and provides aspiring and existing social entrepreneurs with skills training, consultancy, and access to funding and investment opportunities.

The programme also forges international networks, disseminates bests practice and supports policy leaders to create ecosystems in which social enterprise and social investment can thrive.

I interviewed Mairi at the recent Critical Mass conference, focusing on social investment and impact measurement, and we discuss the development of impact investing and measurement in the interview too.

Timings:

• 0 – 6:42 introductions and updates, including new figures about the contribution that the music industry makes to the UK economy; several forthcoming workshops and events; and the Tech for Good initiative.
• 6:42 – 37:46 Tim Hart of the Grå Group. Check out the resources he mentions, available from his website here
• 37:46 – 42:02 a track of Irish traditional music, Sheila Coyles, performed by Tim Hart from his album Five after Four
• 42:02 – 43:34 Tim discussing the social purpose of his agency
• 43:34 – 52:19 Dr. Mairi Mackay, the global head of social enterprise at The British Council
• 52:19 – end wrapping up

This is episode #90 of Business Live, first broadcast on 6 November 2015.