In this episode of Button Banter, we are in conversation with Susan Carol, Independent Social Worker, uncovering:

• The important work that Susan does as an Independent Social Worker
• Her journey and what led her to set up her own business
• Why resilience and confidence are so important in social work and life
• A love of travel

In this episode of Button Banter we chat to Erica Johnson-Trumper, Group Business Development Manager at SRND Group about:

• All things home cinema from audio visual to lighting technology, immersive environments and more!
• A recent trip to Barcelona
• Her journey so far and the collaborative approach she takes to business development,  sales and marketing

In this episode of Button Banter we chat to Paul Lancaster, founder of PLATFORM and UK Startup Week about: 

• His background from a semi-professional DJ travelling the world to becoming a North-East ambassador and “super connector”, spending 25 years giving business startup and growth advice, to leveraging his network to benefit others 
• Parallels between music and marketing 
• What even is marketing? 
• All about UK Startup Week held in Sunderland in June and the monthly networking meeting, Platform. These are great opportunities to build community, to share emotions and experiences.  It’s a way to create a network of positive, enthusiastic, and likeminded entrepreneurs.  

In our final episode of Button Banter for 2024, we chat to Ian Proctor, Director of Business Development at Digital Edge about:

• The early days at Digital Edge, first known as Pixel Media
• How a varied career has brought a great appreciation of many industries to website and software design
•  His love of learning and how being told he can’t do something is a great motivator!
• Ian’s straightforward definition of digital marketing
• A bit of Christmas fun 🎄

In this episode we are delighted to be joined by Paul Shepherd of MFC Foundation about everything from Foundation dinners to working out which football shirts have been worn and which haven’t!  Listen in to discover:

• How the Foundation helps people in the community from the age of two to 104 year’s old!
• The power of connectivity in community partnerships, marketing and more.
• Why shared values and principles are important when it comes to partnerships.
• Paul's views on the future of business development. 

Sailing Into Finance

In this episode, we are so pleased to be chatting with Andrew Wattsford of Wattsford Commercial Finance.  We talk about:

• The importance of values and trust
• What marketing means to Andrew and how the family has got involved over the years with support and creative ideas
• Andrew’s journey into finance and how he loves helping businesses achieve their goals
• His love of sailing and the Bow Tie Challenge!

In this episode of Button Banter, we engage in conversation with Bianca Robinson, the CEO of CEO Sleepout. The dialogue spans personal anecdotes, coastal life reflections, and Bianca's experiences with cold water immersion, delving into mental health and environmental conservation. We discuss:

• CEO Sleepout's effort to tackle homelessness through early trauma intervention, an upcoming UK hackathon, and a supportive interaction with King Charles.
• The importance of empathy, values in business, and the broader social responsibilities of business leaders.
• The resilience and passion fuelling CEO Sleepout, with themes of community involvement and personal fulfilment.

In association with our partnership with MFC Women

In this first episode of a brand-new season of Button Banter, we are delighted to chat to Sarah Burn, captain of MFC Women about:

• Her background and how she got into football
• The importance of good morale and a team ethic
• How effective communication is essential to an effective team and helps empower people to step up – in sport and in business
• Who she would love to stand up and take a penalty against
• Aspirations for this season

In this episode, we have some great banter with the legend that is Maz (Marrie Wieczorek), former Middlesbrough FC Women player and manager and England Lioness:

We talk about MFC Foundation, her current timeline project, a royal encounter and the Boro Women Ultras.  Listen now to hear about:

• The importance of equality for men and women, girls and boys in football
• How football unites families and people of all ages
• How her passion for football and team translates into marketing, where you are also working on a process and performing to win!

In this podcast you can expect some great banter, bold statements (on both sides!) and some great recommendations from Kathryn Rodgers, HR Consultant and franchise owner of face2faceHR in Newcastle.

Kathryn loves effective communication and delivering flexible, people-oriented Human Resources (HR).  In this episode, we discuss:

• How people are your most influential resource in terms of getting you where you want to go, and how you can make that happen
• The benefits of face-to-face communication over the written word
• What marketing means to Kathryn and how an interest in people’s stories motivated her to start a career in HR