FastForward

Becoming a professional footballer is a dream for hundreds of thousands of children in the UK. But the sobering reality is that less than half of 1% of children that enter an academy at nine years old make it to the big time.

To put it another way of the 1.5 million players taking part in organised youth football in England, only 180 of them will make it as a Premier League professional.

To reach the big time you need talent and drive but also access to information about training and other elite-level resources, which aren’t readily available.

Following a career which took him to Manchester City and Wigan, Julian Dowe is changing that. Football4football is a comprehensive professional information resource centre which footballers can access online for free. It also has the backing of former Manchester United footballer, Ryan Giggs.

Julian's recently secured £150,000 investment to help drive the platform forward, In this podcast he shares the journey of his career and what inspired him to create something to boost the experience of everyone involved in the game of football, from grassroots to top flight.

Key takeaways:
- Don't be put off by the lows, persevere and things will happen.
- Stay true to your brand values
- Understand your business
- Don't be afraid to get stuck in and wear several hats at once.

Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Julian Dowe, founder Football4football
 Listening Time: 31 mins
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Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/

Right now there are around two million women waiting to start a business. Forecasts show that if all these would-be entrepreneurs were given the same access to support and funding as their male counterparts, the UK economy would see a £100 billion boost over the next 10 years. 

Yet their path from idea stage to startup to scaleup is often filled with barriers. 

So, why is it so difficult for women to get started and secure investment?

To help answer that Trish is joined by Jenny Tooth, CEO of the UK Business Angels Association, the trade body for angel and early stage investing, representing over 15,000 investors around the UK. 

Jenny has over 20 years’ experience of facilitating SMEs access to investment, both in the UK and internationally. She is also a passionate campaigner for better access to investment for female founders.

Jenny speaks to Trish about why it's vital to create more opportunities for women to start investing. 

Key takeaways: 
- The changing investment landscape
- Busting the myths about investing - you don't need to be rich 
- Helping build opportunities to encourage more female investors
- Why more women need to talk about investing and their own portfolio

Host: Patricia Keating

Guest: Jenny Tooth, CEO UK Business Angels Association 

Listening Time: 24 mins
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Twitter: @tecmcr

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/

Mental Health is something we all have. When we enjoy good mental health we are able to make the most of our potential, cope with what life throws at us and be fully present in relationships, at work and in the community.

Alarmingly mental ill health can begin to manifest at a young age – it affects one in eight children and young people and half of all mental health problems are established by the age of 14.

Team Mental Health was founded by two doctors who realised that the way we perceive and manage mental health can impact on the ability of a person to achieve their potential.

Dr Libby Artingstall and Dr Sile McDaid realised that for real differences to me made, it is vital that the front lines in our communities feel empowered and supported.

Five Ways to Well Being:
1. Be Active
2. Stay Connected
3. Be Present and in the Moment
4. Be Curious and Keep Learning
5. Kindness and Gratitude

If you need to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this podcast there are are number of free resources. Don't suffer in silence.

- Mental Health tools for Employers wakelet.com/wake/83f5bcaa-fd73-…0-92e0-241170e54fcf

- Mental Health Resources wakelet.com/wake/7300eaa4-45a3-…9-83c1-c529faa2cb89

- Samaritans www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help…eing-workplace/

- NHS Mental Health Helplines www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-a…l-health-helplines/

Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Dr Libby Artingstall and Dr Sile McDaid founders of Team Mental Health www.teammentalhealth.co.uk
Listening Time: 30 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/

Technology allows us to work from anywhere at any time, but the ability to work flexibly and always be connected can make it harder to have a mental and physical switch off from work.

This always-on culture can also have a detrimental effect on our well being. A recent study found almost a third of workers find it difficult to “switch off” from work in their personal time, putting them more at risk of becoming stressed or burnt out.

So, how do we maintain a healthy work-life balance in the digital age?
After seeing the effects of burnout first hand, Maria Mander left the corporate world behind to focus on helping people to make positive changes in their lives.

She trained as a wellbeing coach and now gives workplaces and individuals the guidance they need to create sustainable and healthier habits.

Key questions:
What are the signs of burnout?
Why is our mental health suffering so much now?
How do we create sustainable habits for a healthy work/life balance?
What can individuals and workplaces do to increase wellbeing?

If you need to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this podcast there are are number of free resources. Don't suffer in silence.

- Mental Health tools for Employers wakelet.com/wake/83f5bcaa-fd73-…0-92e0-241170e54fcf

- Mental Health Resources wakelet.com/wake/7300eaa4-45a3-…9-83c1-c529faa2cb89

- Samaritans www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help…eing-workplace/

- NHS Mental Health Helplines www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-a…l-health-helplines/

Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Maria Mander, Mander Wellbeing www.manderwellbeing.com/
Listening Time: 34 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/

WARNING: This podcast contains discussion of suicidal thoughts that some listeners may find distressing.

Alice Lyons has battled with depression since she was a teenager. She experienced thoughts of suicide but the feelings of guilt and shame surrounding this prevented her from seeking help. At the age of 25, Alice suffered a mental breakdown as a result of burnout and depression. Following this traumatic event Alice found her voice.

Dark Coffee was launched in 2018 to start unfiltered conversations around mental health. It began as a podcast to help people gain a deeper understanding about mental health and to offer practical advice on recognising and managing feelings.

In this episode, Alice shares her personal journey and offers advice on how business leaders and communities can develop a more positive mental health culture.

Key takeaways:
- Think about yourself first. To be the best leader you can be, it’s important to have clarity.
- Reach out to others. Value the community around you.
- Be authentic. It’s okay to be vulnerable.

If you need to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this podcast there are are number of free resources. Don't suffer in silence.

- Mental Health tools for Employers wakelet.com/wake/83f5bcaa-fd73-…0-92e0-241170e54fcf

- Mental Health Resources wakelet.com/wake/7300eaa4-45a3-…9-83c1-c529faa2cb89

- Samaritans www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help…eing-workplace/

- NHS Mental Health Helplines www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-a…l-health-helplines/

Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Alice Lyons, Dark Coffee
 Listening Time: 40 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk

Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.

All of us have times of stress, loss, failure or trauma in our lives. But how we respond to these has a big impact on our wellbeing. We often cannot choose what happens to us, but in principle we can choose our own attitude to what happens.

Christoph Spiessens was just 10 years old when he was sexually abused. The trauma he suffered, at the hands of someone in a position of trust, put Christoph on a path of spiritual inquiry.

He discovered that traditional tools for resilience, motivation and happiness are failing. People still feel lost, confused and anxious. Teams are still working in silos. What they want to understand better is who they are, why they are here, and how they can use that understanding to turn ordinary lives into extraordinary experiences.

In this episode the published author and mindfulness coach shares his practical advice to reset your mind and the best ways to use coping strategies: ‘Without you there is no business so keep yourself in the best shape you can.’

Key Questions:
- What is mindfulness?
- How can we apply mindfulness in our own lives?
- Why are people not opening up about their mental health?
- What is ichi-go itchi- e and how does that help us engage with co-workers differently?
- How is wellbeing linked to collaboration and productivity?

WARNING: This podcast contains sensitive themes around abuse which some may find distressing.

If you need to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this podcast there are are number of free resources. Don't suffer in silence.

- Mental Health tools for Employers wakelet.com/wake/83f5bcaa-fd73-…0-92e0-241170e54fcf

- Mental Health Resources wakelet.com/wake/7300eaa4-45a3-…9-83c1-c529faa2cb89

- Samaritans www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help…eing-workplace/

- NHS Mental Health Helplines www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-a…l-health-helplines/

Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Christoph Spiessens www.christophspiessens.com/
Listening Time: 45 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk

Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.

Starting a business is never easy. The long hours, sleepless nights, constant bootstrapping and the never-ending worry. The stress is immense. The pressure breaks people, but it doesn’t have to.

Mental health is something we all need to be mindful of. Unfortunately, with so much stigma still surrounding ‘mental illness’ it becomes too easy to ignore. But that doesn’t need to be the case. By talking and sharing our stories we can break down those barriers.

During October we are focusing on mental health in the workplace. We’re talking with founders who have experienced mental health issues and the so called burnout and experts who give tips on how to maintain good mental health and look after yourself during times of intense pressure.

In the first of the series, Jordan Appleson, the founder of Hark shares his story with Trish. The business, a cloud-based platform which allows businesses to monitor, store and analyse sensor data in real-time, has just signed up its third Fortune 500 client. But the journey hasn’t been an easy one for Jordan, who was sometimes scared to wake up in the morning for fear of what the day may bring.

If you need to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this podcast there are are number of free resources. Don't suffer in silence.

- Mental Health tools for Employers wakelet.com/wake/83f5bcaa-fd73-…0-92e0-241170e54fcf

- Mental Health Resources wakelet.com/wake/7300eaa4-45a3-…9-83c1-c529faa2cb89

- Samaritans www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help…eing-workplace/

- NHS Mental Health Helplines www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-a…l-health-helplines/

Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Jordan Appleson, Hark harksys.com/
Listening Time: 45 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk

Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.

Imagine your perfect world in video. The stuff you love all in one place. Wattl is doing just that. The tech startup is changing the way that users interact with video content.

Fed up with the linear and restrictive content feeds used by YouTube and Facebook, Wattl providers users with an interactive grid to create video worlds.

The platform uses artificial intelligence and cloud-based technology to help users create communities.

Husband and wife co-founders Emma and Matthew Ryan, who have previously developed apps and platforms for the BBC and Universal Pictures, have been building the app for two years.

In this episode Emma shares her vision for the video discovery platform, the challenge of building a building a business while raising a family and her plans to raise angel investment.

Key takeaways:
- Believe in your idea and keep going
- Be resilient, don't let the pressures get you down
- It is possible to mange building a startup alongside family commitments

Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Emma Ryan, co-founder Wattl
 Listening Time: 26 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk

Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.

Building a business to help others is far from easy. It's one thing to help solve a problem with a product; it's another to solve a problem and make a social impact or even a dramatic social change.

Every business journey has its challenges and in the case of Freshrb the biggest challenges have shaped the business for good. This is a startup story of two founders who’ve used their experiences of suffering serious health challenges to help others.

Freshrb is a social enterprise which raises awareness of marginalised health conditions through video production and the Silent Elephant Project.

In this podcast the founders, Mr Babz and Kondwani share their stories and vision for creating a more aware and understanding society through the power of film. They'll also explain how they've received funding, so far the business has been supported by a startup loan, a grant and has launched a crowdfunding campaign.

Top takeaways:

- How a major life experience can shift perspective and even lead to an idea for a business
- Securing funding for a social enterprise

- Find out more about The Silent Elephant Project www.crowdfunder.co.uk/silent-elephant-project
- Funding Central: www.fundingcentral.org.uk/default.aspx

ATTEND THE NEXT SILENT ELEPHANT PROJECT SCREENING:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dementia-awa…ts-73099826549

Short Films
Taylor's Shadow - www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0787RKR6Y/re…dp_mnMuAbV9SE8DC
Why ME? - www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRrmeuTQbLI&t=

Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Oladamola Babalola (Mr. Babz) and Kondwani Chirwa, founders Freshrb www.freshrb.com/
Listening Time: 43 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk

Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.

Once upon a time, there were two single women, in their thirties, living in a flat and consuming far too much cheese and red wine on a Friday night in Manchester.

After experiencing many insensitive comments from people about their ticking biological clocks and needing to find a man, they thought ‘Actually, where do you go to find out more about fertility?’ and the seed for Dr Fertility was planted.

After founding the business in 2018 co founders Kobi McCardle and Dr Lucy Buckley raised £1 million seed investment.

In this podcast they share their journey of founding a business, the experience of pitching to investors and the need to inspire more female founders.

Key takeaways:
- The process of raising investment
- The benefit of having a business mentor
- Why more women need to be inspired and supported to start businesses
- Making a first hire
- Leaving enough time to understand and complete the legal side of an investment deal

Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Kobi McCardle and Dr Lucy Buckley founders, Dr Fertility www.drfertility.co.uk/
Listening Time: 54 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk

Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.