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This episode of ScaleUp Radio is part of our Scale-Up Club spotlight series – a special format where we welcome back a previous guest to go deeper in a live Q&A session with our Scale-Up Club members.
This time, we shine the spotlight on Dr. Serge Santos, also known as The Business Physicist – and for good reason. Serge brings a rare blend of financial acumen, physics-trained problem solving, and a deep passion for business legacy.
From being made redundant in 2013 to raising £700 million and running three growing businesses under his Bedrock Enterprises group, Serge speaks with refreshing honesty about the real challenges of scaling – and the mindset shifts required to succeed.
This engaging Q&A covers wide-ranging questions from the audience, including:
Expect practical advice, candid reflections, and a healthy dose of inspiration.
The standout message? "You can't build legacy if the business is still about you. Step back, empower others, and invest in a culture that can thrive without you."
The one key thing you'll take away? If you want to scale, you have to learn to let go – and build a team and culture that doesn't rely on you.
Quick heads-up, we're looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It's built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It's free while we're in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing: [email protected]
Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts – and why not give us a follow.
For now, continue listening for the full Q&A session with Serge.
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin
You can get in touch with Kevin here:
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
Serge can be found here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/santosserge/
In this punchy episode of ScaleUp Radio Shorts, hosts Kevin Brent and Louise Blunt unpack the sharpest lessons from two remarkably different guests – and the surprising connections between them.
On one side: 🧠 Andrew Bloch; seasoned PR expert, co-founder of Frank PR, and now high-level "fixer" and M&A advisor. On the other: 🚀 Claudiu Cogalniceanu; scrappy startup founder of Sentrya, fighting phishing with tech while driving Uber to fund his dream.
Despite being at opposite ends of the business spectrum, their journeys share deep truths about scaling, resilience, and self-awareness.
🔑 What You'll Learn:
💥 Standout Quote:
"Marketing needs to be 70% of your focus, not 30%. You can build the best product, but if no one knows it exists, it doesn't matter."
🎯 The One Key Thing: No matter where you are on your scaleup journey; early grind or post-exit; understanding your value and protecting your time is everything.
🧠 Want to sharpen your own execution? Quick heads-up; we're looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It's built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals; in just a few minutes a day. It's free while we're in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. 👉 Get access by emailing [email protected]
🎙️ Don't miss the full interviews with Andrew and Claudiu on ScaleUp Radio. Find them wherever you get your podcasts.
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Graeme Tennick, the founder of Tennick Accountants – a firm that's challenging the traditional view of accountants as compliance providers by driving real strategic impact for clients and the wider community.
Graeme shares how his firm has rooted itself in a compelling mission: to make lives better – for their team, their clients, and even the world. And this isn't just a tagline. From the way they set goals with clients to how they measure internal performance and reward behaviour, it's clear that purpose drives everything they do.
We explore how Graeme is tackling one of the biggest scaleup blockers – procrastination – by introducing frameworks for action and accountability, both for himself and his clients. There's plenty to take away from this episode about habit formation, purpose-driven strategy, and creating a values-led team culture.
Quick heads-up, we're looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It's built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It's free while we're in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing [email protected].
Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts – and why not give us a follow.
For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Graeme.
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin
You can get in touch with Kevin here:
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
Graeme can be found here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/graeme-tennick-xero-expert-virtual-finance-director/
Resources:
The Flight Of The Buffalo by James Belasco - https://www.waterstones.com/book/flight-of-the-buffalo/james-belasco/ralph-c-stayer/9780446670081
10 X is easier than 2 X by Dan Sullivan - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/10x-is-easier-than-2x-how-world-class-entrepreneurs-achieve-more-by-doing-less-dan-sullivan/7411822?ean=9781401969950&next=t
In this special ScaleUp Club VIP session, we're joined by Alina Stancu, co-founder of The Orange Notebook, for a focused and interactive discussion on what it really takes to build a high-performing team culture, even with a remote team or contractors.
Through practical frameworks, lived experience, and powerful case studies, Alina guides us through how culture is either fuelling or silently stalling your business, and what you can do about it.
You'll hear:
🔸 Why most cultural breakdowns stem from missing safety and purpose – and why these two ingredients are non-negotiable. 🔸 How to lead by agreement, not expectation – making values real through clear, defined behaviours. 🔸 What "positive ownership" looks like in action – and why it frees leaders from needing to control everything. 🔸 How to build a consistent culture with contractors – through inclusion, security, and care.
Quick heads-up, we're looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It's built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It's free while we're in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing [email protected].
Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts – and why not give us a follow.
For now, continue listening for the full session with Alina.
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin
You can get in touch with Kevin here:
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
Alina can be found here:
https://theorangenotebook.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-stancu/
Resources:
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/extreme-ownership-how-u-s-navy-seals-lead-and-win-jocko-willink/651009?ean=9781250183866&next=t
In this special edition of ScaleUp Radio Shorts, Kevin Brent and Granger Forson dive into two recent interviews that couldn't be more different on the surface; but reveal some remarkably similar lessons underneath.
On one side, we have Aqeel Shamsul, founder of cutting-edge space biotech startup Frontier Space, turning microgravity into a drug development advantage.
On the other, Tom Perry and Ella Chapman from Holloway Bond, redefining the approach to business rates recovery through data-led outreach and customer-first practices.
From rocket science to rateable values, this episode is a compelling breakdown of the shared truths behind successful scaleups.
💡 Key Highlights:
✅ Solve a Real Problem, Build the Right Team Whether in outer space or in high-street offices, the guests focused on one key thing: identifying a genuine pain point and assembling the right people to solve it.
✅ From Hustle to Systems Aqeel bootstrapped his first space mission while washing dishes during his PhD. Tom & Ella took on every business function until they hit bottlenecks—then learned to outsource and scale smart.
✅ Proactive Sales Is King Frontier Space invests heavily in Business Development, even in deep-tech. Holloway Bond flips the model by finding clients through data, rather than waiting for them to call.
✅ Culture and Hiring Matter More Than Ever In both businesses, early hires define the culture. Whether it's recruiting for attitude in a niche field or insisting on in-person interviews to gauge culture fit—getting the right people on board is non-negotiable.
✅ Stay Focused on Your Core Tom & Ella are weighing up diversification. Granger's advice? "Stick to the knitting" until systems and leadership layers are strong enough to expand.
🚀 Standout Message:
"Whether you're dealing with the European Space Agency or your local council's valuation office, business always comes down to: Do you solve a real problem? Do you have a team that can deliver? And can you sell it?"
🔑 The One Key Thing:
Proactive, focused execution; not the industry you're in; is what drives scale.
🎁 Quick heads-up…
We're looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It's built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals; in just a few minutes a day.
It's free while we're in testing, and your feedback will help shape the final version. 📩 Just email [email protected] to get access.
This episode has been created utilising AI technology
Granger Forson here from www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk and on LinkedIn, and in this episode of ScaleUp Radio I'm joined by Tom Perry and Ella Chapman, founders of Holloway Bond.
In just three years, Tom and Ella have quietly built a specialist business that champions companies who are unknowingly overpaying business rates. Rather than chasing every prospect, Holloway Bond flips the model on its head by using data to proactively identify who they can truly help, before ever picking up the phone.
What stands out immediately is their integrity. Operating on a no-win-no-fee basis, they only take on cases where they are confident they can deliver meaningful results. That clarity has shaped not just their business model, but also their culture, their growth decisions, and the deep trust they've built with clients.
We explore their journey from industry insiders to business owners, the lessons learned from early cash flow challenges, and why outsourcing marketing, HR, recruitment and IT helped unlock their next phase of growth. Along the way, Tom and Ella share honest reflections on recruitment mistakes, the importance of face-to-face conversations, and why building a happy, knowledgeable team matters more than chasing size.
This episode is a powerful reminder that you don't need to be the biggest to be brilliant, and that doing things differently, with care and conviction, can create both commercial success and genuine joy in the workplace.
To ensure you don't miss any inspirational future episodes do subscribe to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.
So, let's now dive into the inspiring journey of trust, thoughtful growth and doing business differently with Tom Perry and Ella Chapman.
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin
Book a call with Granger - 30 minutes value add conversation for Business owners with Staff. https://api.goexela.com/widget/bookings/catchupgrangerugx7zl
You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here:
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
Tom & Ella can be found here:
https://www.hollowaybond.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-perry-49149b261/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-chapman-841a31203/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573757277571
https://www.instagram.com/hollowaybondltd/
01285 42100
Resources:
Free Agent app - https://www.freeagent.com/features/mobile/
Time Tree app - https://timetreeapp.com/intl/en
Web X - https://www.webex.com/
Zoho CRM - https://www.zoho.com/crm/
DotSquares - https://www.dotsquares.com/
What if the future of drug discovery isn't on Earth?
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Aqeel Shamsul, the visionary CEO and co-founder of Frontier Space, a UK-based space biotech company developing shoebox-sized biolabs to unlock the power of microgravity for pharmaceutical R&D.
Spun out of Aqeel's PhD at Cranfield University, Frontier Space is on a mission to make in-space research and biomanufacturing accessible, affordable, and impactful, and they've already achieved what few startups can: bootstrapping two space missions and securing over £1.3M in non-dilutive grant funding.
🚀 Key Takeaways:
💡 The One Key Thing:
When you're creating something truly new, educating your market is as critical as building the tech.
Quick heads-up, we're looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It's built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It's free while we're in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing [email protected].
.
Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts, and why not give us a follow.
For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Aqeel.
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin
You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here:
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
Aqeel can be found here:
https://www.frontier-space.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aqeelshamsul/
Resources:
Y Combinator - https://www.ycombinator.com/
ChatGPT - https://chatgpt.com/
Google Gemini - https://gemini.google.com/
In this ScaleUp Radio Shorts episode, Kevin Brent and Granger Forson compare the fascinating journeys of two recent guests: Samantha Mant, founder of Halcyan Water, and Sarah O'Neill, founder of The Cotswold Collective.
While their businesses couldn't be more different, one focused on water sustainability and the other on community-driven rewards, what unites both founders is their deep sense of mission and their ability to scale with authenticity.
The conversation dives into:
Standout Quote:
"If you won't work as a team player, you're not on the team – even if you're a freelancer." – Samantha Mant
The One Key Thing:
Clarity of mission drives everything, marketing, operations, financial choices, and ultimately, sustainable growth.
👀 Quick heads-up…
We're looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It's built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It's free while we're in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. 👉 Get access by emailing [email protected]
Find me, Granger Forson, at www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk or on LinkedIn.
Sarah O'Neill's journey began with a simple, heartfelt need: to feel part of a community again. What started as a personal response to the isolation of lockdowns grew into Cotswold Collective, a thriving rewards-based membership platform dedicated to supporting local businesses and bringing people together. Her background in marketing and events became the spark that helped transform a difficult season of life into something meaningful for thousands of others.
In our conversation, Sarah shares the early days of the Collective, from persuading the first 40–50 local brands to take a chance on an unproven idea, through to today's network of more than 450 businesses and a rapidly growing membership. Her energy is infectious, and her belief in conscious shopping, shared experiences, and celebrating the stories behind local businesses shines through every step of her journey.
We also explore how the Collective has evolved into a sophisticated digital product, recently launching an app that already has hundreds of downloads. Sarah explains how she designed the offers to be completely bespoke, ensuring that brands feel valued while consumers enjoy something genuinely special each time they use their membership.
What really stands out is Sarah's deep commitment to purposeful connection. Whether through events, collaborations, or simply encouraging people to rediscover the high street,
Cotswold Collective is about more than rewards. It's about belonging, supporting independents, and creating those magical moments when people meet, collaborate, and flourish together.
Finally, Sarah opens up about the realities of building the business while raising two young children, the power of saying yes, and what it means to grow something with heart. This episode is packed with inspiration for founders, community-builders, and anyone who believes small actions can create big impact.
To ensure you don't miss any inspirational future episodes do subscribe to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.
So, let's now dive into the inspiring journey of community, connection and conscious shopping with Sarah.
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin
Book a call with Granger - 30 minutes value add conversation for Business owners with Staff. https://api.goexela.com/widget/bookings/catchupgrangerugx7zl
You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here:
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
Sarah can be found here:
https://cotswoldcollective.co/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahjayneoneill/
https://www.instagram.com/cotswold.collective/
Resources:
Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone by J K Rowling - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/harry-potter-and-the-philosopher-s-stane-harry-potter-and-the-philosopher-s-stone-in-scots-j-k-rowling/3277111?ean=9781785301544&next=t
Diary of a CEO podcast - https://stevenbartlett.com/doac/
Cotswold Collective podcast - https://rephonic.com/podcasts/the-cotswold-collective-podcast
Cotswold Collective app - https://cotswoldcollective.co/
Welcome to another inspiring episode with me, Granger Forson find me at www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk or on LinkedIn as I sit down with Samantha Mant, CEO and Founder of Halcyan Water, a business transforming the way homes and companies manage hard water and energy efficiency.
Samantha's journey began in the world of beautiful bathroom design, where she repeatedly saw installations deteriorate in just months. Instead of accepting that frustration, she experimented. She searched globally, discovered a technology that could turn badly behaved hard water into nicely behaved hard water, and tested it for years before she ever went to market. That curiosity launched the business that is now helping homes and industries reduce limescale, protect equipment, and dramatically cut energy use, all without chemicals or salt
In this conversation, she shares openly the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, from learning to trust her instinct when it comes to people decisions, to bootstrapping through recessions, and discovering the power of accountability and Profit First principles. Her values are clear throughout: environmental impact, transparency, education before sales, and building a team culture where collaboration beats hierarchy.
Today Halcyan is celebrating 10 years, backed by a global growth vision, expanding into commercial and international markets, and building a freelance powerhouse of specialist marketers working seamlessly as one team. It's a story full of experimentation, ownership, resilience and deep belief in making a real difference.
If you care about scaling a purpose-driven business, reducing carbon footprint, or simply want your shower glass to stay clean and your bills lower, this is one to listen to.
To ensure you don't miss any inspirational future episodes do subscribe to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.
So, let's now dive into the inspiring journey of energy saving, environmental impact and scaling with Samantha Mant.
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin
Book a call with Granger - 30 minutes value add conversation for Business owners with Staff. https://api.goexela.com/widget/bookings/catchupgrangerugx7zl
You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here:
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
Samantha can be found here:
https://halcyanwater.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthamant/
For the FREE resources - [email protected]
Resources:
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/profit-first-mike-michalowicz/400a882cfa85766b?ean=9780735214149&next=t
They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/they-ask-you-answer-a-revolutionary-approach-to-inbound-sales-content-marketing-and-today-s-digital-consumer-revised-upd-m-sheridan/3181632?ean=9781119610144&next=t
The Richest Man In Babylon by George S Clason - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-richest-man-in-babylon-george-s-clason/f1b3d47f69a792be?ean=9780143448037&next=t
Focus On The Fun Stuff podcast - https://mi-pa.co.uk/podcast/welcome-to-focus-on-the-fun-stuff/
Seth Godin podcast - https://www.akimbo.link/
Tony Robbins podcast - https://www.tonyrobbins.com/podcasts?srsltid=AfmBOopKYd3pvIBW6b1UX2LN1k9c8mclRNnoPrs3Sy9odR8_qDFA3v53
Tradeswomen Together podcast - https://www.fixradio.co.uk/shows/tradeswomen-together/
Retrofit podcast - https://nationalretrofithub.org.uk/podcasts/
Brain Toss app - https://braintoss.com/
ChatGPT - https://chatgpt.com/
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