Talking Heads

Michael Garvey sits down with Yvette Lamidey, Director of The Business Locksmith, and English Policy Representative for The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), for a wide-ranging discussion about supporting small businesses and helping business communities to thrive. They discuss the relationship between Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire, how to foster business community integration, and the significance of organisations like FSB and Buckinghamshire Business First. Finally, Yvette offers a glimpse into 2024 with various predictions for the business community.

Business leaders Victoria Brocklesby (Origin Global) and Kris Theophanous (Bradbury Tracks) have an insightful conversation about a subject both know well: the benefit of pursuing continuous improvement and innovation in business.

Kris discusses BBF’s MD Ngage programme – an extensive leadership programme that takes business owners, MDs and CEOs out of the day-to-day running of their business to explore fresh ideas, find new solutions to challenges, and grow as a leader.

Origin Global are the Buckinghamshire Company of the Year 2022, as recognised at the Buckinghamshire Business Awards, at which Bradbury Tracks are a former finalist in the Digital Innovation category.

Michael Garvey is joined by Henry Tadros, Chairman of Ercol Furniture, and the fourth generation running the family business founded in 1920 by Henry’s great-grandfather, Lucian R Ercolani.

The pair discuss the rich history of Ercol, the fusion of contemporary manufacturing methods with age-old craftsmanship, obstacles encountered in exporting, and the significance of apprenticeships and active involvement with the youth of the county, as demonstrated by their participation in the Bucks Skills Show.

Michael Garvey is joined by Toddington Harper, CEO of Gridserve, whose mission it is to deliver sustainable energy on the scale needed to move the needle on climate change. The pair have a wide-ranging conversation about the current climate crisis, demystifying electric vehicles and the charging infrastructure, and what Gridserve are doing to mitigate some of these issues and reshape energy and transport in the UK.

Victoria Brocklesby, co-founder and COO of Origin Global, joins Buckinghamshire Business First MD Philippa Batting to discuss the remarkable story of Origin and its involvement with Buckinghamshire Business First.

Origin Global - the UK’s leading specialist manufacturer of bespoke aluminium Bi-folding Doors and Windows - is the reigning Buckinghamshire Company of the Year, triumphing at the 2022 Buckinghamshire Business Awards, where they also won Growth Business of the Year.

Helen Barrett, Head of Marketing & Sustainability at Moogies Limited, joins Buckinghamshire Business First MD Philippa Batting to discuss how Moogies invests in underperforming pubs and restaurants, turning them into thriving, sustainable businesses that are recognised and valued by the communities they serve.

There are currently four venues within the Moogies community of pubs, all within North Buckinghamshire, in beautiful village locations; The Eight Bells (Long Crendon), The Black Boy (Oving), The Russell Arms (Butlers Cross) and The Dinton Hermit (Ford).

Cathryn Barnard, Director & Co-Founder of Working the Future, joins Buckinghamshire Business First MD Philippa Batting to discuss a few of the significant trends transforming the workplace.

Cat has a long background in building and nurturing high-performing teams for success outcomes. Her interest in human dynamics has transferred to her expert analysis of the future of work, and her insights help business leaders futureproof their commercial activities.

Our Climate Change Manager (and all-round low carbon hero) Daniel Cope recently chatted to Jo Fairley, co-founder of Green & Black’s chocolate and one of the UK’s leading eco business pioneers, about the outlook for businesses during the cost of living crisis, how small businesses are best placed to change the world…. and how Blue Peter helped influence her approach to business!

This podcast, which was recorded at our Net Zero MK event in October 2022, was supported by Low Carbon Workspaces, a project funded by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Ngage Solutions, part of the Buckinghamshire Business First Group.

In conversation with Philippa Batting, BBF’s Climate Change Programme Manager Dan Cope explains clearly and concisely how businesses can measure and reduce their carbon emissions – and what support is available to help them do it.

The two have an honest conversation about the reasons why employers may delay tackling their carbon emissions, and why, in the face of climate change and skyrocketing energy prices, there are limitless benefits to facing the challenge head on.

Speaking with Vicky Hope-Walker, CEO of the National Paralympic Heritage Trust, about Buckinghamshire’s place in history as the Birthplace of the Paralympics, how the trust ensures its services are accessible, the value to businesses of being welcoming to all, the places in Bucks that are already getting it right, and some practical ideas for businesses to implement.