Today’s edition of the Businesswise podcast is hosted by Joe Tompkinson who is joined by Danielle Holmes from Black Nova, a professional IT Solutions company, offering website design, hosting and other IT services, and Steve Munson from ASF Creative who offer signs, marketing & design and print. 

After introducing what their individual businesses do, Danielle and Steve talk about how their two businesses, both in the creative sector, support each other rather than being competitive. Each of their businesses offer what the other doesn’t, so if someone is starting out, they can ensure that people are working with two other businesses that can work together and collaborate on their project.

They both share how Businesswise works for them, agreeing that it’s not only about business, but also meeting up with like-minded people who you can collaborate and work with. Steve left the group for a while, having a break from networking, but when he returned, he was pleased to be back, and says it’s all about the people in the room.

Both Danielle and Steve talk about the importance of trust in the room at a Businesswise meeting, and how having that confidence in someone’s ability, knowing they’ll do a job to a good standard means you are happy to recommend them to your friends. Also, when it comes to collaboration with people in the Businesswise group, they’re people they know; they’ve probably used their service, or bought their products, so know who they’re working with.

Being in the creative industries, sometimes misconceptions are around the cost of products or services, and they both talk about this, within their own sectors.

If you’d like to know more about Danielle, Steve and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/ 

Today Hannah Edwards is talking to Sabrina O’Keeffe of Charming Bee Accessories.

Her business came about when Sabrina was out of work. Having always been crafty, she did a jewellery course and some workshops, then started making sterling silver jewellery, and absolutely loved it.

Sabrina has only been an official member of Businesswise for around a month. She came along at the very beginning of her self-employed business journey, which is quite unusual. Having worked in the corporate world for 20 years, she was used to being able to bounce ideas off the people around her. Working on her own, she found it much harder.

She shares how generally she doesn’t like having to talk in front of people, or in fact talk about herself much, but after being welcomed into the room and group on her first visit, she decided to join.

Sabrina talks about loving the fact that because there are so many different personalities and businesses, many of whom have experience of being self-employed, they are happy to help and make suggestions about business-related things.

One of the things that she loves about Businesswise is the way that people ask about what you’re doing; share your posts on social media and genuinely take an interest in what you’re doing in your business.

Businesswise are quite a lively bunch of people, and although Sabrina finds it difficult to talk about herself the group have made it very easy for her, hence her joining!  She’d encourage anyone else who is nervous about networking to just try it!

If you’d like to know more about Sabrina and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/

For our Businesswise collaboration podcast today, Joe Tompkinson is talking to Ali Newnham and Jess Walters.

Ali is the Operations Manager for MoovaHome selling houses, renting and managing HMOs. Jess works for Howden Insurance, local insurance brokers offering commercial and personal insurance. They both talk about the passion they each have for their businesses.

Ali and Jess talk about how collaboration is something that works well for them in both of their businesses, and they feel it helps make business flow better. There is a great synergy between the two businesses. They also both agree that there’s a lot of collaboration with many other members of Businesswise too when it comes to referring people. The more you talk with people the more likely it is that those opportunities appear. The people in the group are the most important part of belonging and the reason to keep coming back.

Joe, Ali and Jess talk about how supportive the group is, and how they even support each other online making recommendations on social media, and it doesn’t feel like a chore because of the genuine connection.

Both Ali and Jess talk about their plans for 2025.

If you’d like to know more about Ali, Jess and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/ 

Today Joe Tompkinson interviews Fi Da Silva Adams of Revolution Performing Arts. 

Fi talks about starting Revolution Performing Arts in 2007, and how it went from her working with her own children because there was nothing available for them, then gradually growing until it has ended up a full-time business providing after school performing arts clubs and other activities. She talks about how the business started off as Drama Babes, where all she had was a piece of rolled up carpet which would become a magic flying carpet for the children in the group to have amazing, imaginary adventures.

Within a year of starting with just one class, they had 13 classes. What is unique about Revolution is that the performing arts provision is led by the young people. Something being completely led by children and which is also completely inclusive is very special.

Fi has been a member of Businesswise since June 2023. Initially she didn’t think it would be something that would work for her, but when she came along she felt very comfortable and happy and loved the support from the group.

She loves the relationships that are formed in the group, and has collaborated with Barbara Leatham, our photographer, who has been teaching photography to some of the young people that Revolution work with.

Fi talks about some of the upcoming projects and performances that Revolution Performing Arts are going to be undertaking in 2025.

If you’d like to know more about Fi and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/ 

In today’s edition of the Businesswise podcast, Hannah Edwards talks to Claire Brewerton from The Virtual Business Centre, a telephone answering and call handling business.

Claire explains why when she has a business that has clients country wide, she decided to join Businesswise. She has only been a member for a few months but is already enjoying it and reaping the benefits.

She has run her business for around 20 years and shares her first experiences of networking. Also, because of family responsibilities, she talks about how over the years she has tried networking at many different times. Now as her children are older she is able to attend the early morning meetings. 

Claire talks about how she loves the atmosphere of Businesswise, in comparison to some of the previous networking groups she’s attended. She’d recommend the group to others because of their friendly manner and the way they welcome you when you first join, even though it’s obvious that everyone knows each other.

Many people don’t understand or even realise that they may need a telephone answering service, so Claire talks about how her business helps businesses. She also talks about the wide range of businesses that her 20 year old business supports, which now includes members of Businesswise too.

Also, during the conversation Hannah and Claire talk about the huge advantages of being a member of Businesswise.

If you’d like to know more about Claire and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/ 

Joe Tompkinson’s guest today on the Businesswise podcast, is Lou Muir Sage of Wellness Wiltshire, who is a relatively new member having only joined in February last year.

Lou talks about her business, how she is a Reiki practitioner and also a meditation facilitator.  She talks about how she has overcome her own struggles and now she wants to help other people to reconnect with themselves.

She explains what Reiki is, and she and Joe talk about people’s perceptions of what it is and Lou spells out exactly what it is and how it works.  She also talks about her love of crystals and her recent venture, Coffee and Crystal where she shares the different properties that they all have. 

Joining Businesswise completely changed Lou’s perception of what networking is. Prior to visiting, she had been told, wrongly, that networking is all about sales, but having visited and now joined the group, she fully understands it is all about making connections. She knows she has a host of people who have her back.

Lou has also introduced her sister, Sabrina to the group, who runs her own silver jewellery business, and as someone who is normally very shy, she has become very comfortable talking in front of a room of strangers – which shows the embracing environment that the group creates.

She also feels that Businesswise has helped her to gain the belief and confidence that she can do what she wants to do.

If you’d like to know more about Lou and Businesswise visit https://businesswise.org.uk/

Joe Tompkinson hosts today’s Businesswise podcast, talking about collaboration with Barbara Leatham of Barbara Leatham Photography and Liza Van Zyl of Priory Heating.

Liza has been a member of Businesswise for longer than Barbara and has in fact had the privilege of working with Barbara before she joined last year. Liza loves the fact that because they both belong to the business group, when Barbara photographs Liza and her team, if she needs to ask any advice, they can chat at a meeting.  

They both talk about how collaboration isn’t always about business to business, but at times, because they get on well as people, they can support each other in other ways – having someone to talk to about problems.

Also, collaboration isn’t always obvious. Barbara wanted to start working on photography training and needed photos of herself working with people to be able to promote this. When she talked about this at a Businesswise meeting, Liza straight away offered her and her team to be in the photographs.

Both agree that one of the best things about being in Businesswise is the fact that although we are an eclectic mix of people, we all have similar issues in business – there’s always going to be someone in the room who has struggled or had problems with the same things you are. And, because of the make-up of the group, it’s a place where you can ask for help.

Another thing the two ladies have in common is, they were both previously in the armed forces and they share their experience of transitioning from military life to lives outside.


If you’d like to know more about Barbara and Liza and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/

Joe Tompkinson hosts today’s Businesswise podcast and is joined by Lis McDermott, author and writing mentor.

Lis talks about how long she’s been in Businesswise; why the group came about and the changes and the opportunities that have opened up during that time. The main reason she has stayed in the group is because of the wonderful ethos of the group, which is down to the individuals in the group. 

Working alone, from home can be solitary, and having the opportunity to meet up with other business people every two weeks is important; they are her business family.

She briefly shares how she embraced being an author after closing her previous business during lockdown. And talks about her process of writing novels; how she comes up with ideas and what she likes writing about in particular and why. 

Lis also shares a little about mentoring other writers and what a privilege it is.

She talks about how she has collaborated with people in the group – some in terms of them helping her with research, and others in terms of using their business for her business – such as having her bookmarks, fliers and business banners done by Steve Munson, who has the design and print chair in the group. 

If you’d like to know more about Lis and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/ 

Today’s presenter, Fiona Da Silva talks to Dawn Prosser, who has the charity seat in Businesswise and now runs the Swindon Night Shelter and Renew Swindon.

Dawn, who has been a member of the group for 10 years, talks about how the networking group has supported her over the years. Initially, her subs were paid for by a previous member, and then she joined.

When she joined the group she had set up Gateway Furniture and ran that between 2009 and 2017, when it was handed over to someone else. She joined the Night Shelter a couple days a week as the food manager, and also started the Renew Swindon project, which is a community centre in Penhill. She is now full-time at the Night Shelter too.

Dawn explains how both Renew and the Night Shelter support people, and how both charities have developed over time. She also explains the difference between a CIC (Community Interest Company) and a charity, and therefore Renew is a CIC.

We also talk about some of the reasons that people end up homeless, and how for both the people in the Night Shelter and those visiting Renew, having the opportunity to mix with other people is vital for their mental well-being.

She also shares how members of Businesswise have supported the charities over the years – from rewiring a whole shop, helping with electrics in the Renew workshop, plumbing, photographs to, as a team transforming a porter cabin into emergency accommodation. Different members often give a day of their time to work as a team to support the charity. They also often donate ticket sales from open networking evenings.

If you’d like to know more about Dawn and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/

Today's host is Hannah Edwards of Scott Media and she's talking to Steve Munson of the newly merged ASF Creative. Steve was one of the founder members when Businesswise started more than 10 years ago and recently came back.

Steve holds the print seat in the group and his company was originally called Studio Creative Services. As Steve shares he has recently merged with another company to create ASF Creative.

Hannah and Steve discuss how he and fellow member Lis McDermott are the only original members of the group which broke away from another networking group and how the group has grown and changed over the course of the years.

They talk about what makes the group unique including the brilliant and vibrant personalities from many of the other members who are finding more and more ways to be different when it comes to their sixty seconds including singing and poetry!

Steve shares why he chose Businesswise to be his networking group to attend and part of that is how supportive everyone in the group is. They may not be in need of his services at the time but members happily refer each other whenever they can including on social media.

To finish Steve shares why he thinks Businesswise is the group that you should go to if you're a nervous networker!

If you’d like to know more about Steve and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/ and if you’d like to visit email [email protected]   – we do have to check first that your seat is vacant. If it’s not you will be put on a waiting list