Lisa Kennery on Growing Pierce: People, Acquisitions, Technology and Advisory

Lisa Kennery, partner at Pierce with offices in Blackburn, Bolton and Tottington (Bury), discusses her career path from payroll and HR into an operational, people and integration role, joining Pierce 13 years ago as payroll manager and becoming a director/partner nearly seven years ago as the firm grew from about 55 to 160 staff. She explains Pierce’s acquisition approach, emphasizing cultural fit and the challenge of aligning technology, supported by a monthly tech steering group and RPA that cut an admin task from 25 minutes to seven. Kennery outlines flexible working with core hours, benefits standardization, and learning and development initiatives including apprenticeships, ILM training, and a new soft-skills platform distinguishing management from leadership. She describes Pierce as forward-thinking, proactive, advisory-focused, locally community-minded, PE-backed for 18 months, and serving SMEs with services from compliance to corporate finance and forensic work, plus advice to clients on frequent touchpoints, real-time reporting, and not choosing accountants solely on price.

00:00 Welcome and agenda

01:39 Lisa’s career path

02:16 Joining Pierce and growth

04:36 Becoming partner and remit

05:56 Delegation and leadership

09:24 Acquisition integration hurdles

10:39 Tech strategy and AI automation

13:25 Culture and flexible working

15:54 Learning and development journey

21:17 Advisory focus and client education

22:54 Community First Firm

23:26 Who Pierce Helps

23:54 Services and Specialist Teams

24:30 Forensic Accounting Explained

25:36 Choosing the Right Accountant

28:08 From Payroll to Partner

29:21 Private Equity Growth Plans

31:15 What Makes Pierce Different

32:54 Career Advice and Self Awareness

36:07 Support Networks for Owners

37:36 Books and Learning Picks

40:36 How to Contact Pierce

41:48 Closing Thanks and Wrap UpLINKS

Website: https://www.pierce.co.uk/

Lisa’s  LinkedInProfile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-kennery-95095450/

Pierce LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pierce-c.-a.-limited/

ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton

ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592

Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/

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Chris Burn on Building CSRB: From Retail and Sales to GDPR, Privacy, and Comedy Writing

Chris Burn discusses his career path from early jobs and retail management at Tesco and WHSmith while studying marketing at UWE Bristol, to a sports marketing research placement, phone sales, and an 18-month market research role for MGM in Las Vegas. He later spent 10–13 years in field sales, worked at Wybone (street and park bins), and then Bristol Storage Equipment, where archiving and retention needs influenced his later work. While caring for his father from 2012, he learned about depression and addiction; his father died by suicide in 2017, prompting Chris to register and later launch CSRB. CSRB began as document shredding/storage reselling before pivoting into GDPR and data privacy consulting, supported by training and certifications. He emphasizes mentoring, outsourcing, and networking, shares involvement in comedy writing/character profiling for shows like “Brassic” and “Derry Girls,” and offers practical GDPR tips on onboarding, privacy notices, ICO registration, contracts, and data mapping.

00:00 Welcome and Setup

01:05 First Jobs in Retail

02:08 WHSmith Management Lessons

04:23 Sports Marketing Sandwich Year

05:40 Call Centre Sales After Uni

06:27 MGM Vegas Market Research

09:09 Back to UK Field Sales

10:54 Storage and Archiving Insights

12:04 Caring for Dad and Turning Point

13:44 Founding CSRB

14:50 Early Struggles and Getting Support

20:10 Pivot to GDPR Expertise

21:22 Building a Support Team

24:32 Time Value and Delegation Mindset

28:42 Comedy Origins and Influences

31:45 Grimy Comedy Clubs

32:36 Variety Show Legends

34:19 First Standup Gig

35:51 Nish Kumar Encounter

36:41 Comedy Fear Factor

38:37 Writing Over Performing

41:53 TV Character Writing

44:37 GDPR Tips For SMEs

54:03 Data Mapping And Rights

57:54 Advice And Resources

01:01:42 Humor In Business

01:04:04 Contact And Wrap Up

EPISODE LINKS

Website: https://www.csrb.co.uk/

Chris ‘s  LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburncsrb

CSRB LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburncsrb

ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton

ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592

Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/

Helen Dimmick on Building Ainsworth Jewellers into a Destination Store Through Expertise, Community and Charity

Helen Dimmick, a jewellery specialist, gemologist, diamond grader and jewellery historian, shares her career path from volunteering and an office junior role at Phillips Auctioneers (now Bonhams) through Bentley & Skinner and Tiffany & Co. to owning four stores via a management buyout, then consulting and becoming interim CEO at the Company of Master Jewellers. During COVID she and her husband Phil Ainsworth partnered to grow Ainsworth Jewellers in Blackburn, a 156-year-old fifth-generation family business, and have more than quadrupled turnover by rebranding around family values, creating a welcoming in-store experience (museum, De Beers education exhibition, champagne bar), investing in staff qualifications, networking, events and outreach. They launched “Wendy’s Legacy” to repurpose jewellery and donate to hospice, plan a first-floor workshop hub with apprenticeships, and aim to reduce reliance on them by building the brand as a trusted legacy.

00:00 Meet Helen Dimick

00:49 Jewellery Career Origins

01:37 Auction House Apprenticeship

02:37 From Bond Street to Tiffany

03:14 Back North and First Business

03:55 What Gemologists Do

05:14 Trust and Expertise in Retail

05:58 Selling Up and Consulting Years

07:16 Covid Pivot and Charity Values

08:27 Ainsworth Jewelers Legacy

09:07 Taking Over the Family Firm

11:11 Quadrupling Turnover Strategy

11:51 Destination Store Experience

14:13 Networking and Community Support

15:47 Becoming a Destination Brand

16:02 Marketing and Events

16:27 Jewellery Stories and Meaning

17:04 Repurposing Old Gold

17:50 Industry Careers and Apprenticeships

19:28 Ten Lessons for Success

22:42 Advice for New Founders

23:40 Growth Plans and Outreach

24:53 Building a Legacy Workshop

26:42 Owner Wellbeing and Balance

28:44 Working with Phil

31:01 Learning and Recommendations

32:26 Where to Find Ainsworth

LINKS

Ainsworths Jewellers Website: https://ainsworthjewellers.com/

Inspired Couture Website: https://inspiredcouture.co.uk/

Helen’s website: https://helendimmick.com/

Helen’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-dimmick-3429b45/

Ainsworths LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ainsworth-jewellers/

ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton

ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592

Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/

Dave Faulkner Cross on Building PW Direct: From Stock Control to Online Signage and Real-World Growth.

Dave Faulkner Cross shares his career journey from struggling with exams but thriving in practical YTS training at Iceland, progressing to management roles at Tesco before redundancy funded nearly a year backpacking in Australia. Back in the UK he worked across supermarkets, then joined his uncle’s packaging business, shifting from sales into office and operations management, improving payment terms, before leaving after a buyout changed the company culture. At 24 (2002) he launched his own packaging business, later rebranding to PW Direct and acquiring a sign business 12 years ago; today signage is ~90% of revenue, driven largely by eBay/Amazon with fast turnaround as a key USP. He discusses risks of platform dependence, moving to a main-road shopfront, winning local awards, using networking and LinkedIn to build “people buy from people” trust, redeveloping the website, and supporting apprenticeships, plus advice on backing yourself, fixing mistakes quickly, and staying calm with customers.

00:00 Welcome and Format

00:32 School Struggles

01:09 YTS at Iceland

03:07 Tesco Management Leap

05:30 Redundancy and Australia

07:07 Back Home Supermarkets

07:40 Uncle Packaging Role

10:12 Buyout and Breaking Away

12:15 Starting PW Direct

13:04 Signs Business Pivot

16:35 COVID Boom and Shift

18:37 Marketplace Dependence

21:07 Awards and Networking

22:37 Networking Nerves

24:14 Simple Networking Tips

24:53 Goals And Follow Ups

27:56 Beyond Marketplaces

29:59 People Buy People

33:35 Apprenticeships Impact

37:33 Future Growth Markets

39:44 Quickfire Advice

41:41 Fixing Mistakes Fast

45:44 Partner And Contact

LINKS

Website: https://pwdirect.co.uk/

Dave’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-faulkner-cross-2199b53a5/

Company LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pwdirect-signs-designs/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pwdirectbacup/

ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton

ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592

Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/

Krishan Mistry on Building AVM Solutions: From Retail AV to Scalable Workspace Tech and Software

Krishan Mistry discusses his entrepreneurial background rooted in his immigrant family’s businesses in Bolton, studying engineering/software at university, DJing and producing 35–40 published tracks for adverts, then returning home to work in the family nightclub/function venue before starting AVM Solutions. He began by hiring DJ/AV equipment and grew through a long relationship with Quiz Clothing, evolving from design consultancy into project management and turnkey delivery. From 2007–2012 he learned by doing, then formalized services, hired apprentices, and built a customer-problem-solving culture. Retail work expanded to Disney UK stores, and a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses accelerator in 2016 drove process documentation and scaling, alongside a major NEC Birmingham LED project and mentoring from David Edwards. AVM now provides workspace AV technology, has ~30 staff across the UK and India, built a software division, a custom ERP (“Hive”), integrates data and AI, and markets an IoT platform (digispace.app) to reduce building energy use. Key advice: avoid distractions, focus on customers, read more, work on the business, and stay purpose-driven; Krish also shares views on values, self-awareness, and spirituality.

00:00 Welcome and Podcast Purpose

00:49 Family Roots and Entrepreneurship

03:25 School Tech and DJ Beginnings

05:27 Music Production vs Coming Home

06:05 Family Club and Selling Up

07:42 Starting AVM Hire Hustle

08:39 Quiz Clothing Breakthrough

10:39 From One Man Band to Team

12:07 Problem Solving Business Mindset

14:37 Hiring People and Leadership Lessons

19:07 Retail Growth Disney and Beyond

21:21 Goldman Sachs Scaling Shift

22:45 Process Documentation and Systems

24:44 Big Projects Mentors and NEC

26:49 Winning the Turning Deal

27:27 Narrowing to Workspace AV

29:10 Tech as the Enabler

30:44 Podcast Purpose and Value

32:27 Vision Partners Over Profit

33:07 Core Values and Culture

36:35 Traction and Operating Systems

37:47 Building a Global Team

39:37 Breaking the Next Ceiling

41:10 Software AI and Data Strategy

45:28 Digispace and Carbon Savings

47:15 Advice Staying Focused

52:06 Purpose Spirituality and Self Awareness

57:16 Where to Find AVM

LINKS

Website: https://www.avmsolutionsuk.com/

Krish’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishanmistry/

Company LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avmsolutions/

ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton

ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592

Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/

Rachel Gill shares her career journey from early part-time work to financial services at Newcastle Building Society, studying marketing, training as a mortgage adviser, and working in estate agents, The Woolwich, and broker firms before launching her own brokerage (Aspect Mortgages) 22 years ago after completing a business plan course.

She describes the challenges of being solo for three years, hiring her first employee without management experience, and later bringing her husband Richard into the business. Gill recounts surviving major disruptions including the 2008 downturn, COVID-19 (using furlough), and the Liz Truss period, noting improved preparedness and planning over time; the firm now has eight staff.

Aspect Mortgages focuses on mortgages and protection with service-led KPIs (callback/response times, CRM tracking) and strong Google reviews, and Gill specializes in equity release/lifetime mortgages, which she aims to grow for an aging client base while beginning to consider long-term exit planning.

LINKS

Website: https://aspectmortgages.co.uk/

Rachel’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-gill-59113315/

Company LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspect-mortgages/

ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton

ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592

Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/

00:00 Welcome and Setup

00:29 Early Jobs and Uni

01:38 Mortgage Broker Path

03:08 Entrepreneur Spark at 16

03:53 Business Plan Breakthrough

06:38 Launching Aspect Mortgages

08:34 Solo Founder Years

09:45 First Hire Lessons

12:07 Leadership Skills Matter

16:23 2008 Crash Survival

19:28 COVID and Market Shifts

23:27 Service First Culture

26:13 Equity Release Explained

30:30 Client Niches and Insurance

33:46 Future Plans and Exit

38:03 Challenges and Resilience

40:59 Quick Fire Advice

44:59 Where to Find Aspect

46:03 Closing Thanks

The Absolute Journey: Business Insights with Chris Hodgen

Chris recounts founding Absolute in Bolton after working in marketing at Reuters in London, launching on 5 October 1999 with interactive CD-ROM “business cards” before the internet and using a European license to win major clients (e.g., Fujifilm, Honda, Mattel, and 2.3 million “PokeRoms”).

He describes early portfolio-driven growth, work in schools and universities, and a partnership ending around 2001.

He explains a later diversion into a publishing/“Entertainment” venture (For Dummies digital license, a failed Nick Faldo golf product that led to losses, and a “pass your driving test” product), then refocusing after the 2008 crash to rebuild the agency and win larger work (e.g., Amir Khan, AA Driving School, Man City campaigns, Redrow rebrand).

He outlines splitting the business into Absolute Agency (brand/campaign) and Absolute Nexer (bespoke web development) under Absolute Group, discusses culture, hybrid working, recruiting/process challenges, AI opportunities (including AI-only ads and Tefal imagery), and advice to pursue passion, get external support and use frameworks like Traction and Radical Candor.

00:00 Podcast Introduction

00:36 Chris Origin Story

01:04 CD-ROM Business Idea

02:41 Launching Absolute 1999

03:52 Motorsport Sponsorship Work

05:39 Naming Absolute

07:51 First Clients Portfolio

10:22 Partner Split Early Years

11:29 Early Growth Numbers

12:48 CD-ROM Boom Clients

14:02 Diversifying Mistake

15:05 Faldo Deal Goes Wrong

19:32 Golf Networking Stories

21:15 Reinventing After 2008

25:52 Splitting Into Two Brands

27:39 Ideal Client Fit

29:06 Redrow Rebrand Case Study

31:06 Premium Brand Breakthrough

31:45 Culture Values And Trust

32:50 No Yes Agency Mindset

34:00 Tendering Versus Creativity

34:47 Hybrid Work And Collaboration

37:20 Community Buzz In Studio

39:59 Five Year Plan Focus

41:06 AI Opportunities And Limits

42:44 Owner In Versus On

44:04 Leadership Role Lessons

45:50 Biggest Challenges Today

47:33 AI And Future Jobs

50:46 AI Creative Work Examples

56:06 Quickfire Business Advice

01:01:23 Books Podcasts And Learning

01:04:41 Closing Thanks And Wrap

LINKS

Absolute Agency Website: https://absolute.agency/

Absolute Nexa Website: https://absolute-nexa.agency/

Chris’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishodgen/

ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton

ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592

Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/

From Bid Writer to Managing Director: Tom Sander-Daniel onGrowing Thornton & Lowe and Winning Public Sector Work

 Tom discusses his career journey from studyinggeography to joining Thornton & Lowe as a bid writer eight years ago and becoming managing director last year, supported by leadership training (including ILM) and experience gained as the company grew from around 10–15people to about 65, including an acquisition. He explains Thornton & Lowe's core focus on helping organizations win public sector work through bid writing, advisory support, training, recruitment, and software: Tender Pipeline (opportunity searching with free and licensed options) and Tender Library (finding and reusing past bid content). The conversation covers bid/no-bid strategy, evidence-led responses, supplier engagement, frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems, challenges for SMEs versus incumbents, and how marketing and relationship-building before tenders drop can improve win chances. Tom shares three SME tips: build a targeted pipeline, plan engagement, and usestrong evidence.

00:00 Welcome and Intro

00:18 From Geography to Bids

02:15 Growing Into Leadership

03:59 Training and Accidental Managers

05:35 Becoming Managing Director

07:42 Team Growth and Remote Work

08:42 What Thornton and Lowe Does

10:03 Bid Support Levels Explained

11:51 Finding Tenders With Software

14:36 Tender Library Content Search

15:49 Training and Recruitment Services

18:24 SME Advice for Public Tenders

20:38 Winning Without ISO

21:41 Procurement Act Flexibility

22:25 Incumbent Myth Busting

23:22 Spotting Unfair Tenders

24:59 Shape Requirements Early

27:58 Framework Strategy Matters

28:17 Tender Types Explained

31:04 Frameworks Need Marketing

34:10 Bid Mentor and Outsourced Marketing

35:56 Three Tips for SMEs

38:01 Career Growth Advice

40:11 Where to Find Them

LINKS

Website: https://thorntonandlowe.com/

Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasdaniel94/

Tender Pipeline: https://bidsoftware.thorntonandlowe.com/tenderpipeline/

ActionCOACH: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton

Paul Limb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/

Lisa Brady on 18 Years of Perfect Recruitment: HospitalityRoots, Diversifying After COVID, and Building Relationships

Lisa Brady discusses her 18-year-old recruitmentconsultancy, Perfect Recruitment, based in Chorley and operating mainly acrossthe Northwest, providing temporary and permanent recruitment. Originallyfocused on hospitality, the business diversified after COVID into constructionand, via a merger with LHR Recruitment, expanded into admin and commercialroles, with most perm work now in renewables, construction, sales/marketing,and accounts, while hospitality is largely temp-led. Brady shares her path fromhotel receptionist to regional manager at a multinational agency, thenlaunching her own firm amid redundancies and just before the 2008 crash,growing through relationships and a major Preston temp contract that solvedcash flow. She critiques “shark” recruiters, emphasizes deep candidateinterviews, skills/attitude checks, honest client communication, and strongonboarding. Future plans include strengthening sectors and adding paid serviceslike training, CVs, job descriptions, and “talent for good” support.

00:00 Welcome and Overview

00:18 What Perfect Recruitment Does

01:08 From Employee to Founder

02:12 Hospitality Roots and Passion

03:53 Recruitment Reputation and Relationships

06:05 Early Growth and Cashflow Lessons

08:24 COVID Pivot and Sector Mix

11:11 Team Leadership and Working Less

12:55 Future Plans and Added Services

15:28 Awards and Business Exposure

16:59 Candidate Screening and Skills Tests

21:06 Chef Culture and Hiring Challenges

22:05 Handling Chef Walkouts

22:31 No Shows and Strike Rules

23:59 Winning Work and Networking

25:11 Candidate Led Marketing

25:53 Job Seeker Interview Prep

27:58 Killer Interview Questions

31:43 Employer Onboarding Essentials

34:54 Leadership and Team Challenges

37:50 Growth Plans and Succession

43:00 Resilience and Policy Changes

45:24 How to Contact Perfect Recruitment

46:36 Closing Thanks

LINKS

Perfect Recruitment Website: https://perfect-recruitment.co.uk/

Lisa’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-brady-perfectrecruitment/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectrecruitment/

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 01257 264264

ActionCOACH: ⁠https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton⁠

Paul Limb: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/⁠

Carolina De Almeida Kennedy discusses her path from working in a students’ union and a mental health charity to business ownership, including an earlier side business selling brownies.

She began volunteering at puppy classes, was mentored into dog training, worked in the field for several years alongside a job, reduced to part-time in 2024, and launched her own full-time business, Chewing with River, in April 2025.

She explains the brand name came from initially selling natural dog treats and her golden retriever, River.

Carolina combines dog training with remote canine nutrition advice, emphasizing tailored guidance, the link between gut and brain, and skepticism about conflicting online advice. She describes ethical brand collaborations without commissions, common client issues (dog/human reactivity and high arousal), and her approach focusing on emotions and stress, not just obedience skills.

She outlines current services, an Amazon training/nutrition journal, plans for downloadable resources and an online membership, more talks/workshops (including with a vet clinic), and the need to build a business beyond trading time for money, highlighting mindset, networking, and openness to feedback.

00:00 Welcome and Setup

00:28 Early Career Background

01:29 First Business Baking

02:14 Volunteering Into Dogs

03:30 Mentorship to Trainer

04:35 Chewing With River Name

05:18 Nutrition and Training Niche

06:54 Nutrition Myths and Diets

09:00 Practical Feeding Choices

10:50 Ethical Brand Partnerships

13:04 Training Humans First

15:03 Common Behavior Challenges

17:21 Skills Versus Emotions

19:37 Services and Offers

20:24 Journal Book Idea

21:47 Scaling Beyond Time

24:25 Mentors and Community

27:45 Business Skills Matter

31:37 Online Membership Plans

33:19 Workshops and Confidence

35:40 Mindset and Self Talk

39:35 Advice for Entrepreneurs

42:57 Where to Find Her

LINKS

Website: https://www.chewingwithriver.com/

Follow Carolina and River on Instagram: @chewingwithriver

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolina-de-almeida-kennedy-19893b9a/

Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: 07400 293288

ActionCOACH: ⁠https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton⁠

Paul Limb: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/⁠