In this episode we hear from Romanie Thomas who founded Juggle, the digital platform for companies to find, onboard, pay and manage experienced yet flexible professionals.

Romanie kept coming up against the same problem in her industry.  Witnessing the lack of flexible senior roles was preventing talented professionals from reentering the workforce, so she decided to leave her role in executive search to solve this problem and found Juggle.   Four years on, her company makes it possible for companies to hire outstanding professional talent in just a few clicks. 

Romanie shares advice on how important it is for founders to prioritise and own the recruitment process of their teams and continue to keep it really close even when the company scales and how putting self care first ensures that her professional self is in the strongest position to succeed. 

Romanie’s advice:

• When starting out, only take investment money from those you trust and respect; don’t just take it because it’s offered
• Try to build a group of like-minded founders around you for advice
• Always listen to your own instincts
• Hiring people can be tricky; be rigorous in your procedures and don’t assume it’s easy
• Prioritise hiring and fund-raising; a good product will follow on
• Accept you can’t do it all; focus on one thing at a time so you can do it well
• Take care of yourself; food and exercise are vital and your well-being is vital to the company
• When fund-raising, make sure you have good legal advice
• Take care of your team if you have one; you will find this rewarding
• Don’t put awkward things off but tackle them head on; be truthful early
• Aim high in your daily routine; if you can manage ten calls every morning it will soon become a habit

If you’d like to contact Romanie you can reach her via [email protected]

• Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.
• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2021 founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason. Edited by Renale Mathurin. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

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This week we hear from Helena Murphy, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Raising Partners. After receiving poor financial advice and having to wind up her first business, Helena experienced stress which greatly impacted her physical health. 

Helena subsequently established Raising Partners to support other early-stage entrepreneurs in raising investment and avoid the pitfalls she had previously encountered. Working with companies in sectors ranging from technology to healthcare, and consumer retail to renewable energy, Raising Partners seeks investment opportunities with companies positively impacting both people and the planet.

Helena’s advice:

• Begin with the very best financial model possible: numbers are the foundation of your business
• Don’t delegate all the finance - understand it yourself.  
• Be aware of the cash flow, look ahead, so that you operate from a position of strength and knowledge rather than trying to catch up when it’s too late
• Your accountant should be someone who not only deals with book-keeping/accounts/VAT/systems etc, but someone who acts as a finance director and can take a strategic look at your company’s progress, who understands the different stages of a company’s growth and can help you take the long view
• Never underestimate common sense
• Also never underestimate your capabilities
• Be firm with your boundaries
• When pricing, put a value on experience as much as on time
• Spend time judging the cultural fit of a client, as this will reflect on your company

If you’d like to contact Helena you can reach her via [email protected] or Twitter.

• Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.
• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2021 founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason. Edited by Renale Mathurin. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

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In this episode we hear from Laura Tenison MBE, the Founder and CEO of JoJo Maman Bébé . As a Certified B Corporation, the company has committed itself to evaluate a “triple bottom line”, putting people and the planet above profit.

Laura started her company in 1993 from her London flat-share, following on from an almost fatal accident whilst living in France. Having brought Breton-inspired clothing to the maternity market, today, JoJo Maman Bébé is widely considered the foremost maternity wear and baby clothing retailer in the UK, while also setting a great example for new founders to follow. 

Advice:

• Have a sense of responsibility for your team.  
• Be seen to be hard-working.  
• If you can be B Corp certified your customers will trust you and it will challenge you to make your company better and improve your business ethos. 
• Allow your employees some autonomy so that they can make mistakes and learn; delegating is important.  
• Brand consistency through all channels is vital for a successful company.  
• As the CEO, work out how to switch off.

If you’d like to contact Laura you can via Twitter or Instagram. 

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2021 founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason. Edited by Renale Mathurin. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show

In this episode, we hear from Kenyan-born, Bristol-based Audrey Migot-Adholla who founded jewellery brand Yala Jewellery in 2017. Named after the village in Kenya where her grandmother lived, the brand focuses on creating as little impact on the planet as possible. 

I wanted to speak to Audrey about why the mission behind her brand is so important to her plus ask for advice on what new founders should consider when planning to do the right thing by the planet when starting a company with a view to becoming B Corporation Certified in the future.

Audrey's advice:

• Think hard before turning a hobby into a business - it’s a big step
• Don’t underestimate how hard it is; expect to take some time before showing a profit
• Research your industry thoroughly; you will need to find the sweet spot between being true to your vision and producing a product people will want to buy
• When you set up, go to B Corp for guidance on sustainability in every area of your business; you will have to keep records and it will be exacting but they will help you.  Better to start by trying to match their high standards than try to retrofit your company’s systems later.  
• With B Corp, you will have to recertify every three years
• Also helpful with ideas on sustainability are Oxfam, the Ethical Trading Initiative and Progress out of Poverty
• If you are employing artisans to make your product, trust them to quote a fair price and be prepared to pay deposits in advance to help them source materials
• Get to know them as individuals, foster trust
• Invest in an accountant at the start, even if you think you can’t afford one
• Later, when you can afford to, start to delegate because you can’t do everything yourself

You can reach Audrey via [email protected] 

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
For contracts check out Law Depot.

Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2021 founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason. Edited by Renale Mathurin. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

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A lot of people in previous episodes have talked about how bringing talent into their businesses has been a game-changer, not only for revenue but for morale as well. 

In this mini-series I wanted to cover more practical advice, the ‘I don’t know what I don’t know’.  In this episode, we hear from Will Davies, co-founder of HBD Partners as he not only works in recruitment but has also brought people into his business on PAYE.  Will offers practical advice on how to tackle this very important area of starting a company. 

Advice:  

• Before employing anyone make sure you have budgeted for at least six months of their salary 
• The advantage of employing a contractor is more flexibility - but the downside is they may have other jobs at the same time, so will be less focused on your business
• Full-time employees involve more paperwork for the employer however are more cost-efficient 
• Take time to find the right person.  A good first step is to write your company’s handbook, write a contract, identify exactly your company’s ethos and what sort of person will be a good fit.  
• An employee handbook, together with a contract and an offer letter, will help the employee with their expectations so they can start work with confidence and clarity
• When interviewing, do not to be swayed by personality; if you need experience, then that is what to look for
• An employer must be sure the candidate has eligibility to work in the UK; they must either have a British passport, or a working visa, or settled status.  Go to the government website for advice on this
• Check their notice period in their current job and consider whether you can wait
• Check whether or not they currently have a hands-off clause which could hamper them when working for you
• Check their references.  You are entitled to ask the previous employer a few character questions, although they are not obliged to answer them
• You will need to build a HR file, containing their signed contract, GDPR statement and bank details Make sure before the candidate starts that you have the necessary equipment so they can start right away
• You will need to budget for National Insurance and pension contributions (as well as a possible one-off recruitment fee)
• You may want to consider Employment Liability Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance
• If your employee is going to work from home make their targets clear
• Endeavour to have a good relationship with your employees, take time to get to know them

You can reach Will via [email protected] 

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
For contracts check out Law Depot.

Edited by Renale Mathurin. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2021 founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason. MUSIC

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

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When a founder is starting a business, they know that at some point they're going to have to tell other people what they’re doing and why, in order to reach their prospective clients and customers.  Word of mouth is key.  However, to reach further afield, marketing and communications will strengthen the launch, brand building and SEO.  As part of the marketing mix, I find that PR is often considered but rarely embraced to its full potential - and often left to the last minute when it is too late.  

I started Fallow, Field & Mason in order to combat the wariness that founders have of PR, coach them to own the function in-house and help them to understand what value it can bring to their search result rankings.  As this mini-series is a more practical ‘how to’ it felt like the right place to speak about my day job, so I invited a fellow PR professional to discuss the topic. 

In this episode I chat to Katya Zemtsova who runs her own marketing, media relations and project management company, Elephant, who set up and develop businesses in Russia, the CIS and the UK.  She shares insights on why storytelling is so important and how it can support SEO, as well as common mistakes and misunderstandings business owners are guilty of when it comes to PR.

Katya’s advice: 

• PR, or public relations, already exists in all of your communications, it is simply spreading public awareness, so your word of mouth is also considered as PR
• Words matter, they feed search engines (SEO)
• Securing editorial content can not only build brand awareness but feed your search rankings 
• When starting out, use a professional copywriter to deliver high quality text as the written word is key
• Remember to take into account lead times for the press, and think ahead with a three month lead time as a minimum 
• Public Relations is the means to secure editorial (not advertising!) in publications, however it is also speaker opportunities, awards, newsletters etc. too
• Founders are always the best storytellers where their own brand is concerned so it is best to embrace this and conquer your fear of speaking to the press 
• Ensure you know how best to approach the press, when and with the right messaging 
• Be strategic in your approach with the media, make sure the publications are of high quality so when you’re searched, you’re affiliated with the right environment for your business 
• Be patient; it takes time to build relationships plus the press need time to research, write and pitch to their editors too

You can reach Katya via [email protected] 

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
For contracts check out Law Depot.

Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2021 founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show

As this mini-series is a more practical ‘how to’ I wanted to speak to an experienced investor to help understand not only the jargon surrounding this area but key points to consider when seeking investment as a startup. 

In this episode we hear from Costas Kalisperas, founder of In Tune Executive Coaching.  Costas is well placed to talk on this given his extensive and diverse advisory experience across law, investment banking, private equity as well as angel investing.  He now helps executives reach their next set of goals and ambitions through his executive coaching company.  Please don't hesitate to contact Coastas: [email protected]

Costas’ advice: 

• When looking for investors, a starting point can be friends/family or crowdfunding
• There are ‘angel’ lists and associations of individuals with capital too
• A unicorn is a privately-owned startup valued at £1 billion or more
• Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) offers tax incentives to high net worth individuals to invest in smaller businesses
• When looking for investment, if you are a product-based enterprise you need a minimum viable product (MVP) or prototype to show what you can do.  If you are a service-based enterprise, you will need a website and evidence of experience in the field.  Either way, assess the minimum amount you need to be able to show an investor what you can do.
  • Be clear about your proposition and why your experience qualifies you
  • Pre-empt the obvious questions and demonstrate how you are better than your competitors
• The main thing when looking for an investor is finding someone you can trust: focus on the individual, not the company. Look for accreditation in your advisors as much as in your investors
• Try to assess where you’ll rank in their portfolio; better to be part of a smaller portfolio because you will benefit from more attention
• Think hard about what fees you will be charged / how much equity in your company they will want / how much control they will want
• Concentrate on the immediate steps while keeping faith with your long-term vision, prioritise customer acquisition above all
• Always learn from your experience and be humble enough to pivot in order to build
• Bear in mind the reason most startups fail is not because they are a bad idea, but simply because they have run out of capital.  Think ahead about funding
• Start building networks and relationships with people who take an interest in your business long before you may need to raise capital
• Remember accepting investment is a moral responsibility

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.

LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.For contracts check out Law Depot.

Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason
Edited by Emma Dewhurst and recorded, edited

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

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As this mini-series is a more practical ‘how to’, I wanted to speak to someone who has a great deal of experience in creating an ethical and sustainable business.  In this episode, we hear from artist jeweller Ute Decker who simultaneously started her eponymous brand creating unique and limited edition sculptural jewellery, while researching and sharing what she had discovered around creating an ethical company.  This research culminated into a site now run by the Incorporation of Goldsmiths called Ethical Making.

For someone thinking of starting up a company with ethical credentials, Ute makes some very strong points.  She explains that terms like ‘sustainable’ and ‘responsibly sourced’ are overworked terms and are not necessarily truthful.  She emphasises that, to be ethical, we must start by being truthful and accurate in what we claim.

Ute’s advice:

• Set up the company right from the start with a view to sustainability
• Start by looking at the ethical consumer
• Always be specific and precise in what you claim, otherwise it’s meaningless
• Be truthful: avoid “greenwash”, ie. claims that can’t be substantiated
• “Fairtrade” (whatever product it applies to) is a protected term, as is “environmentally friendly” (whereas “sustainable” and “ethical” are often misused)
• Choose a green energy supplier from the start (rather than promising to offset the carbon footprint)
• Choose green banking
• Check out the Social Development Goals of the United Nations, and EthicalMaking.org
• Look at what the big corporations are doing in this area
• Always consider the unintended consequences of your decisions
• Know your sources and check the certifications
• Being “sustainable” can never be perfectly realised; but you can work towards it
• Giving a percentage to charity does not compensate for unsustainable practices
• Remember the consumer is powerful and will ask questions

Ethical Metal Smith 
Chicago Responsible Jewellery Conference.com
Jewellery Industry Summit
Art Initiatives
B Corp

You can contact Ute via Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and [email protected]

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.
Links:

• LastPass the password-keeping site. 
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva for creating all the social media assets

Thank you for listening.  I would be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast as it helps others find it.
Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield,  Fallow, Field & Mason
Edited by Emma Dewhurst. Recorded, edited & published b

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Starting a company can be a daunting challenge and many people have a fear around 'I don't know what I don't know'.  In this episode of the mini-series of HSTU we cover the legalities of starting a company with Helen Gerrard who left her career as a city lawyer for the French Alps where she now continues her legal work as a partner for Ignition, a law firm that specialises in supporting startups and their growth, and also co-founded SnowDrone with her husband. 

Helen shares advice on how and when new founders should approach the legalities of starting a company and that with the right support it isn’t daunting. I was really keen to speak to Helen as she is not only a lawyer supporting startups but an entrepreneur herself.  In addition, she has mastered the work-life balance, a good example of which is using time on ski lifts for her conference calls. 

Helen's advice: 

• Obtain legal advice asap when setting up a company, as it can be expensive & time-consuming to rectify mistakes
• When you are a director of a company, remember you have fiduciary duties towards the company
• Information at Companies House needs to be correct from both the accounting and legal perspectives 
• You may well need help managing legal aspects like the Confirmation Statement 
• Rather than simply use the Model Articles allocated by Companies House, it may be better to have a lawyer create bespoke Articles of Association for your company
• A lawyer can help streamline the complicated preemption process when issuing shares through equity
• Employees can be incentivised with a series of milestones and targets culminating perhaps in share options
• Manage your share capital by starting with a small nominal amount per share
• As soon as you can, put a shareholders’ agreement in place 
• You may need professional help drafting documents, for example board minutes
• Look for a law firm regulated by SRA which has insurance and professional indemnity cover.  Also seek out lawyers who have an understanding of your business
• Your budget will obviously vary according to your needs: you may need a template of a non-disclosure agreement / articles of association / shareholders’ agreement / corporate authorisations / a template of an employment agreement which includes an IP assignment
• Plan to devote some time every month to look ahead at your legal needs

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.
Links:

• LastPass the password-keeping site. 
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva for creating all the social media assets

Thank you for listening.  I would also be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company as it helps other people find it. Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement & reassurance that you’re on the right track. Edited by Emma Dewhurst. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfie

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

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The one piece of advice every How To Start Up guest has shared unanimously is to find a good accountant.  In this episode, we hear from Chartered Accountant Laurie Borlace on what founders should consider when starting a business from an accounting perspective and what to ask accountants when trying to find the right one for their business.

Laurie qualified with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and has over 12 years of experience.  Full disclosure:  Laurie is Fallow, Field & Mason’s accountant and I can highly recommend his firm RedBrick Accounting, as they specialise in startups, SME’s and contractors.  Laurie has built his business through referrals and personal recommendations so has no need for a website however you'll be able to contact him via: [email protected]

Laurie's advice:

• Be sure you can finance yourself when starting out
• If you’re not good on personal finances, then you will definitely need an accountant to support you
• Know your numbers inside out when you are planning
• Remember an accountant will deal with the admin, so you have more time to grow your business and add value
• An accountant will need to know all the details about your revenue, expenses, strategy & vision for the business
• It’s probably wise to choose a Chartered Accountant (who will be properly insured)
• Having an accountant will give you peace of mind as he/she will examine everything in detail and make sure you comply with all HMRC’s requirements
• When you’re budgeting, remember to include your wage, tax and accountant's fee
• Be aware of regulatory dates e.g. when your financial year is, or that tax is due nine months after the end of your accounting year
• Self-assessment means that the first year, you pay tax in arrears, but from then on tax must be paid in advance, which makes the end of the first year expensive
• Finally, believe in yourself

N.B. Since the interview, the higher rate tax threshold has risen to £50,270 for 2021-22.

A brief summary of the different types of legal setup and how it can affect tax/NI
Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.

Links:

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices. 
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• Contracts check out Law Depot.

Thank you for listening.  I would also be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company as it helps other people find it. Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement & reassurance that you’re on the right track.

Edited by Emma Dewhurst. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfi

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show