PR Not BS

In today’s podcast, Lauren talks to Gamal Turawa, who prefers to be known as G.

G has a fascinating background and story; one that resonates with many others.  Born in the early 1960s, his early life was traumatic. He went on to be a policeman, and he was in fact, the first openly gay, black policeman. He had a film made about his life, which won him a BAFTA, and was also a consultant on the drama Mr Loverman, aired on BBC last year, and he has won two more BAFTA’s this year. 

Overall, now G thinks of himself as a storyteller. He runs workshops, does keynote presentations and uses his own story to enable people to unlock their own. He feels that stories connect to us and unlock something deeper within us.

G also talks about coming out as a gay man, and how hard it was to even accept it himself. Then he had to face the reaction of other people around him. But the biggest thing was self-acceptance which gave him the courage to get on stage and talk to the huge audience at the Gay Pride rally in London.

He shares his emotional story of his identity, after being fostered from a young age by a white family. He felt ‘white’ and when he was suddenly moved away from the cocoon of where he’d grown up to a London suburb, and a mainly ‘black’ area, he had to come to terms with what his identity was.

Working as a policeman he faced a lot of bullying due to the colour of his skin, which nearly pushed him over the edge. He eventually found help from a counsellor, who asked him ‘who defines you?’ G had never realised he could define himself until that point.

His story is a rollercoaster of emotions and in the end, wonderful when you hear about all the things he has done and how he now helps others.

To contact G:

Website: https://purplefrog-connections.com/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gamal-turawa/

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

Today’s guest is Emma Jones, the new Small Business Commissioner, so if you are the owner of a small business, this podcast is not to be missed!

Before going into details about her new role, Emma talks about starting her own business in her mid 20s, during the .com boom.  After reading a book by American, Dan Pink, called Free Agent Nation, and at a time when there was a rise in people becoming self-employed, she launched Enterprise Nation. That business was designed to help people starting out in business and their growth. Emma led the business for around 20 years and left earlier this year. Now Enterprise Nation attracts a huge number of small businesses to the platform each year.

When the role of Small Business Commissioner came up, Emma jumped at the chance.

She shares her three pronged approach to how she and her team plan to get money moving more quickly through the economy. And we focus on one of the most serious issues: late payment.

Much of the plan is around digital adoption, and how evidence has shown that small businesses who use cloud accounting software get paid quicker. She also talks about a digital idea called Open Finance, where there is transparency about how a small business is performing. Ultimately her vision is that businesses would have their own personal business agent who would be there to give support to find grants and help with applications.

We talk about the fact that often late payment is between two small businesses, rather than between a small and larger company. However, the remit of the Commissioner role is formed in legislation and it is about small businesses not being paid by larger companies.  

But another initiative is Fair Payment Code which rewards businesses for paying their suppliers on time. They can share this with customers and clients to see how prompt they are making payments. Any sized business can be involved in this.

Emma also answers some questions put forward by my contacts and she shares some very useful tips how to combat the different issues.

It’s obvious hearing Emma talk just how passionate she is about UK small businesses – like me but in a much more high profile role!

To contact Emma:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-jones-8063536/

Website: smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk 

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my site: www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe 

My guest today is someone who I only met a few weeks ago at a networking group.  Harvey Boddy is the founder of HGP Property Deals. Working with his business partner, Jackie Collier, a multi-award winning property investor, they help people to buy and rent properties.

They work with properties in Bradford and Leeds, where they do them up and supply them to the social housing market.

Only 24, he has been interested in property for the last four years, and after talking to many people in the industry, he realised that there is a gap in the market – social housing. After studying for two years, Harvey decided to set up his own business with the aim of helping vulnerable people to get onto the housing ladder.

Harvey shares his own personal story, after his father had a stroke, the family lost their house, and they ended up in a social housing hostel. It meant they had a roof over their head, but it wasn’t necessarily a safe place, due to the environment, which could include people doing drugs. Not surprisingly, he was too embarrassed to take friends home from school. His ideal social housing is somewhere you can call home, which is secure and the right environment where a family can rebuild and grow.

He explains the process of how he finds investors, buys rundown properties, does them up ensuring they are right for the tenant that is going in to them. He has a small team in Bradford; a legal team and people who help with the refurbishment of the properties.

We also discuss the plans of the government to build more social and council housing, and why Harvey thinks it’s totally unrealistic especially when there is currently a waiting list of 1.2 million people!

His thinking is that landlords need to realise that it’s not just about how much money you charge, or the return you get, but that you’re doing good for people and making some money from it. He believes many people in the property industry are just too greedy.

Harvey’s personal aim in the next five years if to help around 250 families get a place to call home.

To contact Harvey:

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/harvey-boddy-b87011343

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my site: www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

In today's episode, Lauren talks to Paula Harsley about being a wordsmith. Paula specialises in helping businesses to bring their internal and external business communications to life.

Paula worked in banking for many years and then for the Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub as one of their business navigators. Following the Covid pandemic and having met many business owners before and then during at online meetings, she decided to set up her business helping new businesses, small and medium enterprises with their marketing.

When working with clients, she enjoys getting to know them, so that she can write from their point of view, putting herself in their shoes. She writes for the customer, translating technical or industry language into something that they will understand. Acronyms have their place, but only when the people you are talking to understand them. She particularly loves doing a website rewrite and longer form writing, but does also help clients with their social media – particularly tone of voice.

Paula also shares how important networking has been to her over the years, not only for making new contacts, but also having the chance to talk to like-minded people. She has tried both formal and informal groups, and thinks they all have their place.

She also talks about the perceptions we have of sales, and how when she worked in a bank it was easy, because they had lots of products that people might want. She prefers sales to be about relationships, not hard selling.

Paula also talks about the common mistakes people make in their writing and how she helps. 

To contact Paula:

Website: www.paulaharsley.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulaharsley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004564489319

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

My guest joining me today is Liz Perkins, a journalist who was involved in my No BS Media Summit at the end of last year.

Liz is the night news editor on the Sunday Telegraph, but also she often appears on Time Radio, talking about Welsh politics. Previously, she was the night news editor at The Daily Express. She has already had an amazing career, having worked across the world, doing many different things; moderating at the UN and in Davos, plus working in Afghanistan and reporting on the frontline troops during the conflict.

She shares how she knew she wanted to be a journalist at the age of 13, being inspired by Wimbledon. Initially she wanted to be a tennis writer and interview all of the famous players. And now, this is part of what she does! She is about to go to Wimbledon, this year writing for The Telegraph. Liz explains some of the differences in the reporting style of Wimbledon between The Telegraph and The Daily Express.

Liz also talks about being a female journalist in what is still seen as predominantly a man’s world, and shares how she took on the Welsh Rugby union, which was a brave thing to do; bringing to account a sporting institution -  as a Welsh woman!

Having recently worked with one of my clients, Louise Muir-Sage to write her story, Liz explains how important it is to her that she gains people’s trust, when they are sharing such terrible times in their lives. She has written many stories about domestic abuse and other harrowing situations and strongly believes it’s important to give everyone a platform.

If you want to hear about the fascinating and hectic life of a working journalist, then you need to listen to this podcast!

To contact Liz:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-perkins-7b667b75/

X: https://www.x.com/LizPerkinsMedia

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

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

Today’s episode of PR not BS with Lauren, she talks to national journalist Matt Barbour. He has been writing for national newspapers and magazines since he was in his early twenties.

He got into journalism on a whim. Whilst at the University of Bristol he set up a magazine, which won The Guardian NUS Magazine of the Year Award. Following the success of the magazine, he was approached by The Times to apply for their graduate training programme. It was an interesting experience, being thrown in at the deep end. For him, more so, as the day he joined, Princess Diana had died the previous day, so no-one had time to talk to him! But it was a useful time for him, understanding how a national newspaper worked.

He then spent a year in Australia working for Men’s Health Magazine – his best job ever! He returned to the UK with a renewed love of journalism, and began working with the UK version of the magazine.

Then he began writing for the health sections of various newspapers and magazines including the Sun, the Mail the Mirror, The Guardian and the Independent, but as the larger newspapers started to lose readership, he found it was easier to write for the tabloids even though he hadn’t aspired to write for them. ‘ A good story is a good story’ – it doesn’t matter where it is.

Matt’s main interest is inspirational human stories. Over the years Matt has built up his reputation as a journalist who will work with people to get their inspirational, personal stories out there, and he’s built up a trust with them; they know he’ll treat their case studies well. He shares some of the amazing stories he’s written about.

He also talks about the huge importance of good photographs to accompany a story – with an emphasis on ‘good’.

To contact Matt:

Email:  [email protected]

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

Lauren’s second podcast guest is Lewis Steeper, who along with his wife is the founder of the Oliver Steeper Foundation, following the tragic death of their son in 2021.

Lewis shares Oliver’s story, and how he went to nursery as a fit, healthy nine month old baby who later choked while eating his dinner. After being told that all was well and it wasn’t an emergency, Lewis and Zoe arrived at the nursery to find paramedics doing CPR while they were running to the ambulance. Other difficulties ensued. They were unable to travel with him in the ambulance due to COVID restrictions; he may not survive the hour journey to London, because they didn’t have the necessary equipment; a helicopter couldn’t be used due to lack of equipment. 

Oliver survived the journey, but the brain damage was already done, so he had zero chance of survival.  Lewis shares the harrowing story of what they went through, including how Oliver’s kidney was donated to help someone else.

During this terrible time, Lewis had a message from Lifevac Europe asking if he’d seen their product. You can imagine his answer! However, due to his curiosity, he eventually looked at the product and then he met the guy who’d messaged him and after that in February 2023, he and Zoe set up their charity, where they provide LifeVacs to nurseries.

LifeVacs are anti-choking devices which are non-invasive, and they clear airways by suction. He explains how and when it should be used. This device has saved over 3,800 lives globally and it’s 98.9% effective.

He also talks about campaigning in parliament about ratios of children to staff and how allowing more children to be in a nursery with less staff members is detrimental to a child’s education, well-being and safety.  Sadly, this is still ongoing.

If you are a parent of a young child in nursery, which is most young working parents these days, then this podcast is a must to listen to.

To contact Lewis:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOSFoundationUK

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

Website: https://www.tosf.org.uk/

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

My guest today is Michael McEwan, a journalist who I’ve recently met on LinkedIn.

Michael, a Scot, is a disability campaigner and freelance journalist.  He has worked for the BBC, STV and written for many different publications about disability and non-disability care issues.

He talks about how as a youngster he wanted to get into media, but didn’t know how and also having cerebral palsy himself it made his journey that much harder. Talking about his school life, time at university and then employment, he explains how his biggest bugbear is that generally people and employers see the disability rather than the person. People regularly underestimate his capabilities.

We have a conversation about whether self-employment is an option that people with disabilities often feel they have to take to be able to follow the career they want in life.  Michael shares some of the many problems that occur when you are out and about and if for example you want to use the disabled toilet, in many places it can either be inaccessible, or if it is, often used as a store room. So working from home can be an easier option.

Michael talks about the work he’s been involved in, in the past some of which was funded by the Scottish Government – when he went around speaking about the challenges facing people with disabilities day to day.

Like me, in his early days of working in the media, Michael worked on a hospital radio, where he volunteered. He now presents a podcast and has also had two documentaries commissioned. When people tell him he can’t do something, his answer is always, I’m going to prove you wrong!

Website: https://www.michaelmcewanmedia.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mcewan-ba4a8784/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RAD1OMAN

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

Today’s episode of PR Not BS is going to be a little bit different because I’ve handed over to Lauren to interview her guest, Richard Tidmarsh!

Richard is based in the Chippenham area and runs two businesses – Casali Recruitment and The Chippenham Dog Walker and Pet Care Services.

Casali is a generalist recruitment business who works with a number of businesses both locally and UK wide helping them to recruit for jobs including forklift drivers, call centre staff, welders, stewards for sporting events and more!

Richard has a sales background of 30 years which he uses to sell jobs to candidates and candidates to jobs and he enjoys it so much that it doesn’t feel like a job to him.

Lauren and Richard talk about what it’s like to work with family as Richard works with his wife in his dog walking business. They set the company up 12 years ago after temporarily fostering a job and missing the interaction on a daily basis.

Networking has been vital for both Lauren and Richard so they talk about the meetings that Richard went to before he joined Business Buzz a year ago where he met Lauren for the first time. One thing that Richard shares is that he’s noticed how many other groups he has been to where he feels like he is constantly being sold to and he likes that you don’t get that at Business Buzz.

If you’d like to know more about Richard you can find him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-tidmarsh-firp-6b305a1 and www.casalirecruitment.co.uk

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

My guest today is a member of one of my networking groups, and I’m pleased to be talking to Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam of The FD Consultant.

The FD Consultant is a collective of part time finance director consultants. After qualifying as an accountant, Romesh spent several years working at FTSE 100 businesses. Since 2008 he has either been full time chief financial officer or finance director of several successful businesses. He is passionate about helping businesses grow, which is why he set up the group five years ago; to be able to share his skills and expertise. 

Romesh shares how many businesses don’t need or don’t have the budget for a full time finance director but do perhaps need  support. This is where The FD Consultant comes in. He talks about how when running a business most of us don’t have the skills to do everything, and instead of worrying about finance and administration, by using part time finance directors, they can focus on their skills and passions.

He also explains how understanding and preparing for what is ahead in your business is so important, and how not managing cash flow is the main reason many businesses fail.

Just having a passion for what you do isn’t enough – the business has to be viable, profitable and have positive cash flows. 

Romesh uses a wonderful bathroom scales analogy – you  keep thinking I’m fine, I’m in good shape, but then when you get on them, the numbers aren’t okay!  And the numbers don’t lie. So it’s all about being prepared, and looking at and learning to understand data, which is what he helps people to do – in a way that works for them, rather than using fancy accounting terms! 

We also talk about PR, and Romesh shares what he has done since starting the business.  Among the things he does, which he refers to as a learning curve – he has a podcast.

To contact Romesh:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romesh-jeyaseelanayagam/
Website: https://www.thefdconsultant.com/
You Tube podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjkFJ4VONDk

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe