JobsWorth

My guest on JobsWorth this week is James (Jimbo) Wall, owner of Leigh-on-Sea-based coffee shop/wine shop/deli… shop (that doesn’t sound quite right, but I’m rolling with it)- North.

Jimbo has been working in hospitality for over 24 years. It’s an industry that was once viewed by many as a stopgap- somewhere to bring in a bit of money while you figured out what you really wanted to do with your life. I ask Jimbo how he thinks that perception has evolved over the years, and why, in his case, it meant so much more.

From waiting tables at Pizza Hut to managing bars in some of the best spots in Leeds and London, Jimbo’s story is one of hard graft, grit, and determination.

We find out what brought him south in the first place, the events that led him to call Leigh-on-Sea home, and how an idea that took root early in his career became an old watch shop in need of a whole lot of TLC.

‘Not another f**king coffee shop’ It’s a phrase Jimbo heard often from passersby as he was getting ready to open. How did he deal with it? Well, the answer might surprise you.

Like so many independent shops in this little corner of Essex, North has its own character- an identity that, in no small part, has been created, curated, and breathed into life by Jimbo and, by extension, the community he’s built around the brand.

North will soon be celebrating its second birthday and with Jimbo at the helm, I’ve no doubt it’ll have many more.

Please enjoy… Jimbo Wall.

#jobsworth #podcast #career #worklife #storiesthatinspirechange

Recorded at Jabber Studio; https://jabberstudio.co.uk/

Watch the show on YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@jobsworthpodcast

Follow the show on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/jobsworthpodcast/?hl=en

Subscribe to the JobsWorth newsletter; https://jobsworth-newsletter.subscribepage.io/

Follow me on LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhawker/

Follow me on TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@globaltechcollective

Contact the show on [email protected]

This week on JobsWorth I’m sitting down with Richard Cooper, Founder and Managing Director of Essex based marketing agency, The OnCrowd. 

When Rich landed his first job in the early noughties, marketing looked very different to what it is today. He’s seen a whole heap of changes over the last two decades and as his own business celebrates its thirteenth anniversary the pace of change is only getting faster. 

In this episode I ask Rich what it was about marketing that lured him in in the first place, why after seven years of working in industry he decided to jump over the other side of the fence and work for a creative agency and we discuss the events that led him to starting The OnCrowd in the first place.

Just five years into running his business Rich became a Dad. We talk about the transition to fatherhood and the impact it had on worklife balance, boundaries and his definition of success. 

Rich’s wanderlust has taken him all over the world but we explore why he chose to set up shop in Leigh on Sea and what it is that makes the local community so special. 

It’s this sense of community that has become the catalyst for a very special project Rich and his team have been working on and fortunately for us he was very happy to tell all. 

Please enjoy... Richard Cooper.

#jobsworth #podcast #career #worklife #storiesthatinspirechange

Recorded at Jabber Studio; https://jabberstudio.co.uk/

Watch the show on YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@jobsworthpodcast

Follow the show on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/jobsworthpodcast/?hl=en

Subscribe to the JobsWorth newsletter; https://jobsworth-newsletter.subscribepage.io/

Follow me on LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhawker/

Follow me on TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@globaltechcollective

Contact the show on [email protected]

This week on JobsWorth I’m joined by Roll Boys founder George Artemi, our first ever returning guest.

In a little under 12 months since our first conversation aired, George has gone on to put his sensational cinnamon roll brand on the map.

We pick up his story where we left off last time and learn how he finally secured a spot in the city to realise his dream of taking Roll Boys to London before what can only be described as the brands meteoric rise during his ten-month residency at Saint Espresso in Hackney Wick.

George’s is a story of determination, overcoming self-doubt and an unwavering commitment to achieving his goal, yet he doesn’t shy away from showcasing some of the mistakes he makes along the way and it’s this that makes him, and the journey he’s on, even more endearing.

October marks a new chapter for George and the growing Roll Boys team and as this episode drops he’ll be days from a very exciting launch-but I’ll let him tell you about that.

Pleas enjoy…George Artemi…again.

#jobsworth #podcast #career #worklife #storiesthatinspirechange

Recorded at Jabber Studio; https://jabberstudio.co.uk/

Watch the show on YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@jobsworthpodcast

Follow the show on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/jobsworthpodcast/?hl=en

Subscribe to the JobsWorth newsletter; https://jobsworth-newsletter.subscribepage.io/

Follow me on LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhawker/

Follow me on TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@globaltechcollective

Contact the show on [email protected]

JobsWorth is back and on this week’s episode I’m joined by Andy Gooch and Kirsty Williamson of Essex based creative agency, Ultra Studio.

Like so many businesses, Ultra was born out of necessity. A way for Andy to work on one of his first major projects out of university. Little did he know that thirteen years down the line it would have grown into what it is today.

Andy, by his own admission, benefited from having a clear idea of what he wanted to be when he grew up from a relatively young age. Kirsty’s ‘journey’ (a word neither are comfortable with by the way) was a little more…squiggly. And it’s one that a lot of you will be able to relate to.

We talk about university, and whether it’s an essential step to kick start a career in a creative field. We explore how Kirsty and Andy define success and how that’s evolved over the years. We also discuss the impact of becoming parents on their never ending battle for work life balance.

The pair have now worked together for over seven years and in 2024 they decided to add another string to the Ultra Studio bow in the form of their skate inspired clothing brand, Super Ultra Cool.

I ask them what it is about certain types of people that forces them to find more work for themselves and whether they’ve worked out what ‘enough’ looks like for them.

Please enjoy... Andy and Kirsty.

#jobsworth #podcast #career #worklife #storiesthatinspirechange

Recorded at Jabber Studio; https://jabberstudio.co.uk/

Watch the show on YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@jobsworthpodcast

Follow the show on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/jobsworthpodcast/?hl=en

Subscribe to the JobsWorth newsletter; https://jobsworth-newsletter.subscribepage.io/

Follow me on LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhawker/

Follow me on TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@globaltechcollective

Contact the show on [email protected]

JobsWorth has just turned 2. 

And to celebrate, Producer Tom and I thought it was about time we had a catch up. 

Join us for a walk down memory lane as we look back at what inspired the podcast in the first place, how it all started, what it takes to record almost 70 episodes and our plans for the future. 

A HUGE thank you to everyone that’s listened or watched JobsWorth so far 

#jobsworth #podcast #podcastersofinstagram #career #worklife #happybirthday

Recorded at Jabber Studio; https://jabberstudio.co.uk/

Watch the show on YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@jobsworthpodcast

Follow the show on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/jobsworthpodcast/?hl=en

Subscribe to the JobsWorth newsletter; https://jobsworth-newsletter.subscribepage.io/

Follow me on LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhawker/

Follow me on TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@globaltechcollective

Contact the show on [email protected]

JobsWorth is back with another special edition episode this week as we choose a few of our favourite responses to our opening question on the podcast.

'When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?'

Let me know what your answer to this question would be in the comments 

#jobsworth #podcast #career #worklife #storiesthatinspirechange

Recorded at Jabber Studio; https://jabberstudio.co.uk/

Watch the show on YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@jobsworthpodcast

Follow the show on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/jobsworthpodcast/?hl=en

Subscribe to the JobsWorth newsletter; https://jobsworth-newsletter.subscribepage.io/

Follow me on LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhawker/

Follow me on TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@globaltechcollective

Contact the show on [email protected]

While me and the team are taking a break, Producer Tom and I have handpicked a few of our favourite JobsWorth games and jammed them into a very special episode. 

Let the games begin 

#jobsworth #podcast #career #worklife #storiesthatinspirechange

Recorded at Jabber Studio; https://jabberstudio.co.uk/

Watch the show on YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@jobsworthpodcast

Follow the show on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/jobsworthpodcast/?hl=en

Subscribe to the JobsWorth newsletter; https://jobsworth-newsletter.subscribepage.io/

Follow me on LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhawker/

Follow me on TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@globaltechcollective

Contact the show on [email protected]

My guest on JobsWorth this week is Lucy O’Brien, Director of Essex based creative agency, Social It. 

At just twenty three years old, Lucy has already built a reputation for helping brands and businesses of all shapes and sizes share their story and in turn, raise their profile. 

We learn about Lucy’s time in private education and how her experiences helped to shape the woman she is today. We talk about the universal struggle most people feel navigating college when they really have no idea what they want to do with their lives and we also find out how Lucy landed an opportunity that would change everything. 

Lucy is reluctant to label herself as a social media specialist despite Instagram playing a big role in her day to day work with clients. After having this conversation I can understand why. 

She is, first and foremost, a storyteller. It’s her ability to connect with people, not to understand an algorithm, that sets her apart...and she's just getting started. 

Please enjoy...Lucy O’Brien. 

#jobsworth #podcast #career #worklife #storiesthatinspirechange

Recorded at Jabber Studio; https://jabberstudio.co.uk/

Watch the show on YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@jobsworthpodcast

Follow the show on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/jobsworthpodcast/?hl=en

Subscribe to the JobsWorth newsletter; https://jobsworth-newsletter.subscribepage.io/

Follow me on LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhawker/

Follow me on TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@globaltechcollective

Contact the show on [email protected]

This week’s guest is Essex based tattooist and Director of Silver Needles tattoo studio, Sam Ford.

As a second generation tattooist it’s safe to say that the art form is quite literally in her blood and she’s seen a whole host of changes over the course of her twenty year career. 

We talk about some of them as well as finding out what led Sam to start an apprenticeship in the first place, how she found working with her Dad, her thoughts on some of the stereotypes surrounding the industry and why the past couple of years have been particularly tough for tattooists in general. 

I ask Sam what it’s been like running her own studio for the past seventeen years, get some insight on how she strikes the right balance between work and life and find out about how she expresses herself creatively outside of the studio (the answer might surprise you). 

Stick around for our game at the end and apologies in advance if one of your tattoos are featured (ffs don’t sue me). 

Please enjoy...Samantha Ford.

#jobsworth #podcast #career #worklife #storiesthatinspirechange

Recorded at Jabber Studio; https://jabberstudio.co.uk/

Watch the show on YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@jobsworthpodcast

Follow the show on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/jobsworthpodcast/?hl=en

Subscribe to the JobsWorth newsletter; https://jobsworth-newsletter.subscribepage.io/

Follow me on LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhawker/

Follow me on TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@globaltechcollective

Contact the show on [email protected]

On this week’s episode of JobsWorth, I’m joined by Hair and Makeup artist, Bee O’Dame.

Bee certainly knows how to make an impression. From the moment she walked in to record the podcast, she quite literally lit up the room. She’s someone who exudes confidence, isn’t afraid to be herself, and will quite happily show someone the door if they’re not willing to accept who she is. And in a world where so many of us pander to other people’s perceptions of how to act, what to wear, or who to be… it’s really bloody refreshing.

But building the confidence to be yourself takes hard work, and in Bee’s own words, she’s made a lot of mistakes. Fortunately, she’s also learned from them.

Bee is a doer. She makes sht happen. She, in all the best possible ways, is a force of nature, and over the years (two careers, four kids, and a twenty-year relationship with her husband Vic), she’s worked a lot of sht out.

We explore her early passion for fashion, how she built a successful career for herself in the city, and why she stepped away from it to raise her family and begin again in a space where she could let her creativity flourish.

We talk about red carpet events, zombie movies, the impact of YouTube, the power of saying yes to opportunities, learning as you go, and Bee’s view that confidence comes from capability.

Please enjoy... Bee O’Dame.

#jobsworth #podcast #career #worklife #storiesthatinspirechange

Recorded at Jabber Studio; https://jabberstudio.co.uk/

Watch the show on YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@jobsworthpodcast

Follow the show on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/jobsworthpodcast/?hl=en

Subscribe to the JobsWorth newsletter; https://jobsworth-newsletter.subscribepage.io/

Follow me on LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhawker/

Follow me on TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@globaltechcollective

Contact the show on [email protected]