Change Makers: Leadership, Good Business, Ideas and Innovation

A passion for her product and bringing it to as many women as possible is what drives the latest guest in our Change Makers collaboration with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme, Stories of Generation Growth.

Darcy Laceby is co-founder of Absolute Collagen, the UK’s best-selling collagen drink, and a business with an incredible growth story.

Hear all about it from Darcy, alongside Michael Hayman and Charlotte Keenan, as they explore what gave her the passion to go from university student to startup founder and recognition as one of the UK’s brightest young entrepreneurs.

In this week’s Stories of Generation Growth, Michael Hayman is joined by Goldman Sachs' Charlotte Keenan, alongside Gori Yahaya, founder of UpSkill Universe – a training provider dedicated to helping businesses bring key skills to their workforce. 

In this discussion, Gori shares how he works to support organisations to adapt to the changing nature of skills requirements, connecting businesses with talent who can help to supercharge their growth and maximise their use of emerging technologies like AI. 

For the first episode of Stories of Generation Growth, Michael Hayman is joined by Head of the Office of Corporate Engagement International and 10,000 Small Businesses UK at Goldman Sachs, Charlotte Keenan, alongside Roni Savage, Founder and Managing Director of award-winning engineering and environmental consultancy, Jomas Associates. 

Together, they explore Roni’s business journey over the past 15 years, establishing and growing one of the UK’s leading environmental and engineering consultancies. What has enabled her growth? Where has she faced challenges? What can other business leaders learn from her resilience?

In this episode of Journeys of Discovery, Michael Hayman sits down with Petroc Trelawny, classical music broadcaster, and the voice behind BBC Radio 3’s Breakfast programme. 

Petroc reflects on the influence of music and music performance, classical and otherwise, on identity and emotions, and discusses his new book, Trelawny’s Cornwall, a part history, part memoir, which explores the past, present and future of the region.

“Rather than marching into global warming and unemployment, we can create our world the way we want.” That’s the message of our guest Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, who says: “If we imagine that world, we can create that world. Imagination can make it happen.”

As a pioneer of microfinancing with Grameen Bank, the Nobel Peace Prize winner has alleviated poverty for tens of millions of people and given them an economic lifeline, with small loans that look to bring out the entrepreneur in everyone. His ethos is driven by a view of human nature that is innately good, and a world view that critiques our economic structures as having suppressed people’s natural selflessness and creativity. This interview is a story of how when a big idea takes hold, the impossible really does become possible.

Joining Michael on Change Makers is Shevaun Haviland, Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce, with a clarion call for renewed confidence in ‘Brand Britain’. 

On the roof of the Corinthia hotel in the heart of the capital, Shevaun shares her vision for revitalising the country’s self-image, and the importance of public-private partnerships in driving economic growth. 

Shevaun spoke to Michael about her extensive experience across the public and private sectors, and how she has always maintained the belief that  the UK remains the best place in the world for starting and growing a business.

And in the week of a General Election, Shevaun remains optimistic about Britain's potential, no matter the result. She emphasises the importance of playing as a team, attracting inward investment, and showcasing the best of what Britain has to offer.

Joining Michael on Change Makers is Rick de Blaby, the CEO of Get Living.

Get Living are the build-to-rent pioneers, with a mission to change renting for the better.

With almost 4,000 homes across three neighbourhoods in London and Manchester and four more on the horizon in the next two years, this is a 10-year story about where we belong and community at the heart of happy living.

One of those neighbourhoods is East Village London – the site of the Olympic Village in 2012 – and where Michael joins Rick for this conversation.

Change Makers returns and we're joined by former Deputy Prime Minister and co-founder of Haymarket, Lord Heseltine.

Michael paid a visit to the spectacular Thenford Arboretum and Gardens for this inspiring conversation with a beast of the political jungle. Lord Heseltine remains as sharp today as he was at the dispatch box, even aged 90 and with his famous blonde mane now a snowy white. 

From the lemonade stand that made him to how Liverpool changed him, and the legacy he sees for himself, you'll hear honest insights into the life of one of the UK's most consequential public figures in the 20th century. Did he really try to bring down Thatcher? Why does he think Brexit was a century-defining mistake? And is this political titan in fact a more reserved figure than his public persona emits?

You can listen to this episode through all your usual podcast platforms, or watch it on our website changemakers.works to see the full beauty of Thenford Gardens and the three surprise guests who tried to disrupt the fun!

Michael is joined by George Clarke, the architect, TV presenter, lecturer and writer, best known for his work with Channel 4, including The Restoration Man and George Clarke's Amazing Spaces.

 

Growing up on a Sunderland council estate, George was inspired to become an architect, spending summers on building sites with his grandfather.

 

While studying at Newcastle University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, and London’s Bartlett School of Architecture, George supported himself by renovating people’s homes in his spare time, before turning his attention to TV and programmes that demonstrate the opportunity of space and the vital importance of the home.

We are excited to bring you the second episode of Journeys of Discovery – Change Makers’ collaborative series with the Royal Philharmonic Orchesta. Over the course of these interviews, Michael explores fundamental questions about what it means to be human that accompany nine incredible concerts.

This week, the themes are Freedom and Redemption, and our guest Katy Emck OBE, knows a thing or two about both of those.

As Founding Director of Fine Cell Work, Katy speaks to Michael about how she is helping to transform the lives of prisoners and ex-prisoners through needlework. Prisons can be “places of soul, spirit and connection”, says Katy. Rather than carrying out their sentences “full of rage and self hate”, prisoners should be permitted to embark on a journey of “self understanding and self acceptance”.

Craftwork in prisons is common, but Katy feels there is something about the intense focus of needlework that provides a much needed “release from the here and now”. Whilst momentarily being transported out of their cell’s confinement, prisoners are also developing a skill, creating something they can be proud of, and generating income. This positions them with the self belief to rebuild meaningful, independent, crime free lives once they have finished their sentences.

There is no better depiction of Katy’s belief in the power of freedom and redemption than her favourite song by Nina Simone, ‘I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free’, which she describes as the ultimate song about freedom, release and the longing we all have to break free of inhibition and to be connected.

Through needlework, Fine Cell Work is opening one of the few doors of opportunity available to prisoners – allowing them both a glimpse of freedom, and a chance for redemption.