We meet Peter Basford.  Born and bred in Suffolk, Peter is known to many through his time working at Lloyds Bank.

However, in the last few years, Peter has been instrumental in forming a network of Business Growth Coaches, being part of a new business innovation centre in Stowmarket and co-ordinating the FIPS (Finance, Insurance and Professional Services) group in Suffolk.

As well as hearing his story, Peter explains why Suffolk is a great place to do business.

Why take the risk of starting your own business or buying a business off someone else?

What are the challenges of being an entrepreneur or a 'solopreneur'?

In another one of our panel discussions, we speak with both a recent and experienced entrepreneur alongside a respected local business adviser.

There is increasing academic evidence that giving is good for you and it's even better if you know how those gifts are being used.

Suffolk Community Foundation is a jewel in Suffolk's Crown as this is the model that it uses

We spoke to Tim Holder, the Foundation's Head of Public Affairs about what they do.  Suffolk is generally thought of as an affluent county but that does not mean that there are no needs.

Tim explains how needs can be hidden in both towns and rural areas alike and how the Foundation works to address these with the voluntary sector.

We also hear how the people of Suffolk rose to support the cash needs of charities and community groups as an immediate response to the pandemic.

What's your relationship with money?

There is no lack of information 'about' money but not everyone finds it easy to understand, work with or relate to?

What's your earliest experience of money?  What phrases did you hear as you grew up?  Or perhaps money was not spoken about in the household.

How can you address this?

We talk with Dennis Harhalakis about how he works with people from all backgrounds to address their concerns and anxieties.

https://cambridgemoneycoaching.uk/

In our first panel discussion, we look at how our shops and town-centres have responded over the last year.

How have proprietors coped and what changes did they make?

What has ben the immediate impact in our town centres?  Will they ever be the same again?

How has Suffolk compared with the rest of the country?  What can we offer that other areas can not?

What would our guests change if they ran the country?

With thanks to......

We speak with Jenni Bradnam about her career in arranging bespoke holidays for people travelling around the world.

She tells us about dealing with the outbreak of the pandemic and the lengths she went to in order to bring people back from all four corners of the earth.

Jenni talks through her view of vaccine passports and what may happen with foreign travel in the years ahead.

https://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/jennifer.bradnam

Rebecca and Azzouz met over a cup of coffee in 2003.  Within a couple of years they had started Coffeelink which has gone on to become one of Suffolk's most familiar names with Coffee outlets in the County and beyond.

In this episode, you will hear of Azzouz's desire to bring quality hospitality and great coffee to Suffolk and the lengths that he has gone to deliver that.

It is evident that it really matters what conditions the Coffee farmers and their families are in and you will hear how a visit to coffee farmers put Azzouz and his colleague in very grave danger.

"The answer to loneliness lies within each one of us - we are the medicine"

Ann describes the work of the Rural Coffee Caravan and its work across Suffolk.

Hear how a theft caused the campaign to grow and how funds raised in the last year are putting slow-cookers in homes across the county.

https://ruralcoffeecaravan.org.uk/

In this conversation with Oliver Paul, we find out how Suffolk Food Hall went from concept to creation.

How have two cousins, working in the City of London, grown the business into a destination for those that love Suffolk's amazing produce?

Oliver talks us through

A conversation with Jon Neal, CEO of the award winning Suffolk MIND.

We talk to Jon about the Mental Health continuum, what employers can do to help and how we can all look out for others.

To learn more about their work, please go to https://www.suffolkmind.org.uk/