In this episode, Adam and Jon sit down with Chris Deverson and Kaz to explore how integrated HR, health and safety, and recruitment support can help businesses grow with stronger structure, better culture and clearer compliance.

Chris and Kaz discuss why many small and medium sized businesses struggle to manage people, safety and recruitment properly when these responsibilities sit alongside the day to day pressures of running the company. Rather than treating HR, health and safety, and recruitment as separate services, their approach brings everything together through one joined up model.

The conversation explores why this matters for growing businesses. Government legislation, employee rights, workplace policies and safety requirements can quickly become difficult to manage, especially when business owners are trying to handle everything themselves. Chris and Kaz explain how their service gives clients a single point of contact, helping them put practical processes in place that are actually used, rather than policies that simply sit in a folder.

A major theme of the episode is proactive support. Instead of stepping in only when something has gone wrong, their model is designed to help businesses identify risks early, improve training, recruit better people, strengthen retention and build internal systems that can eventually be managed by the client themselves.

The discussion also looks at why some business owners see HR, recruitment and health and safety as costs rather than investments. Chris and Kaz explain how the right support can improve productivity, reduce disruption, protect the business and create a healthier working culture over time.

Recruitment is another key part of the conversation. They discuss the importance of asking better interview questions, looking beyond simple skills matching and assessing whether a candidate has researched the company properly. Attitude, cultural fit and willingness to learn can often be more valuable than finding someone who already has every technical skill on paper.

The episode also explores employee development. Some businesses hesitate to invest in training because of cost or fear that staff may leave. Chris and Kaz explain why professional development, mentoring and cross training can actually improve commitment, morale and continuity. When businesses rely too heavily on one person holding all the knowledge, they create risk. Strong systems and shared understanding help protect the business when people are absent or roles change.

Visit Active Internet Marketing:

https://activeinternetmarketing.co.uk/

Jon is from Octopus Computers, an established technology business providing IT support, cybersecurity, cloud services and business technology solutions.

Visit Octopus Computers:

https://octopus-computers.com/

In this episode, Adam and Jon sit down with Amy and James to explore how operational efficiency, better processes and human centred change can help businesses reduce costs, improve productivity and prepare for sustainable growth.

Amy and James are business efficiency specialists who support organisations with process improvement, productivity and operating model design. Their work is focused on helping businesses simplify the way they operate, remove unnecessary complexity and build stronger systems that make growth easier to manage.

A major theme of the episode is change management. Resistance to change often comes from change fatigue, fear of the unknown or a lack of belief that improvement will actually happen. Amy and James explain why quick wins are so important, helping teams see progress early and proving that better ways of working can be introduced without huge disruption.

Their approach is bespoke and flexible. Some clients need short term cost saving support, while others require a complete review of their operating model. In every case, the aim is not to make businesses dependent on outside consultants, but to empower internal teams with the tools, confidence and understanding to sustain improvements long after the project ends.

The episode also looks at why businesses often chase new technology before fixing the basics. AI and automation can be incredibly useful, but only when workflows are clear, consistent and properly understood. Amy and James discuss how companies can waste money by introducing new systems without adapting their operating model, preparing their people or understanding different levels of technological confidence across a multi generational workforce.

Artificial intelligence is explored as a valuable support tool, particularly for repetitive, high volume tasks in areas such as contact centres. However, the real opportunity comes when AI allows people to spend more time solving root problems, improving the customer experience and applying creative thinking where human judgement still matters most.

The conversation also covers communication and professional development. Amy and James explain why complex concepts need to be translated into relatable, practical language. Training that is too theoretical, too fast or too full of jargon often fails because people cannot connect it to the realities of their work. For change to last, it needs context, clarity and a genuine understanding of people.

Amy and James also share the thinking behind their business model. Rather than building a large internal team, they have chosen to grow through a collaborative partnership network. This allows them to take on larger and more varied projects while staying flexible and focused on quality.

Their professional backgrounds in retail, productivity projects, Lean and Six Sigma have shaped the way they work today. With experience across retail management, supply chain, change roles and supplier relationships, they understand how important it is to bridge communication gaps, reduce friction and make processes work better for the people who use them.

About the hosts

Adam is the founder of Active Internet Marketing, a UK digital marketing agency helping businesses improve their online visibility through SEO, paid advertising, content marketing and website development.

Visit Active Internet Marketing:

https://activeinternetmarketing.co.uk/

Jon is from Octopus Computers, an established technology business providing IT support, cybersecurity, cloud services and business technology solutions.

Visit Octopus Computers:

https://octopus-computers.com/

In this episode, Adam and Jon sit down with Sean Connolly, founder of Connolly Financial Planning in Oakham, to explore the story behind a local financial planning firm built around trust, personal service and long term client relationships. Sean shares how his career began in a completely different world.

After spending around 10 years working as an electrician, he moved into financial services and eventually launched his own independent practice in January 2025. Today, Connolly Financial Planning supports clients across Rutland with investment planning, retirement planning, mortgages, wealth management and inheritance tax planning.

The conversation explores why Sean has chosen to build the business around a strong local presence. Rather than focusing on larger markets such as London, the firm is committed to serving the local area through face to face advice, a prominent office location and community led events. From casino nights to seasonal gatherings, Sean explains how informal events can build goodwill and trust in a more natural way than traditional financial seminars.

A key part of the conversation focuses on the structure behind the business. Sean has built a team with defined roles, including business development, administration, mortgage processing and in house paraplanning. This allows him to focus more time on client facing meetings while ensuring clients receive consistent support throughout their financial journey

In this episode of the Business Growth Show, Adam and Jon speak with Oliver Hemsley, founder of Stone Soup Solutions, experienced entrepreneur and Rutland county councillor.

Oliver has lived in Rutland for most of his life and has spent nearly 45 years building businesses, supporting local organisations and developing strong relationships within the community.

His business journey includes landscape gardening, property management, sustainable construction and the development of environmentally conscious homes. Across each venture, Oliver has focused on honesty, trust and delivering genuine value to clients.

The conversation explores Oliver’s decision to become involved in local government. Inspired by his parents and their commitment to the community, he wanted to contribute to the future of Rutland and help protect the character, identity and interests of the county.

Oliver believes founders should build businesses that can operate without their constant involvement. This requires reliable systems, documented knowledge, capable people and a clear understanding of the outcome the owner is ultimately working towards.

Knowledge retention is another important theme.

As businesses grow and staff turnover increases, valuable experience can leave the company when an employee moves on. Oliver discusses why organisations need practical ways to capture knowledge and make it accessible to the wider team.

The conversation also examines misinformation and the increasing difficulty of identifying trustworthy advice.

Oliver believes people often make decisions too quickly without taking the time to verify claims. This can affect purchasing decisions, business relationships and the ability to choose the right advisers.

At the centre of Oliver’s work is a genuine enjoyment of helping people progress.

Whether he is supporting a startup, advising an established business or contributing to the future of Rutland, his motivation comes from seeing individuals and organisations overcome obstacles and achieve sustainable growth.

This episode is ideal for entrepreneurs, startup founders, business owners and community leaders interested in business mentoring, local enterprise, succession planning, knowledge retention and building a company that can thrive beyond its founder.

Hosts

Adam is the founder of Active Internet Marketing, a UK digital marketing agency helping businesses improve their online visibility through SEO, AI search optimisation, paid advertising, content marketing and website development.

https://activeinternetmarketing.co.uk/

Jon is from Octopus Computers, an established technology business providing IT support, cybersecurity, cloud services and business technology solutions.

https://octopus-computers.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:24 Oliver Hemsley’s background and life in Rutland

01:58 Nearly 45 years of running businesses

02:50 Becoming a Rutland county councillor

03:43 Devolution and the future of Rutland

08:13 The experience behind Stone Soup Solutions

08:43 Identifying the missing ingredients in a business

09:44 The story that inspired the Stone Soup name

12:54 Supporting startups and growing businesses

17:20 Questioning certifications and business processes

18:51 The essential qualities of a successful entrepreneur

22:00 Exit strategies and reducing founder dependency

25:40 Misinformation, trust and verifying advice

26:08 Employee turnover and the loss of business knowledge

29:44 Helping people and businesses grow

In this episode of the Business Growth Show, Adam and Jon speak with Thea Brook, founder of Calm, about business scaling, founder capacity and building a company that supports your life rather than consuming it.

Thea brings together nearly two decades of entrepreneurial experience with a background in finance, fintech and strategic leadership. She has worked as a CFO for high growth startups, opened a dance school at the age of 20 and later built several restaurant businesses.

Today, through Calm, Thea supports businesses growing from approximately £200,000 towards £1 million and beyond. Her work gives founders access to strategic expertise across finance, marketing, people, operations and business planning before they are ready to employ a complete senior leadership team.

During the conversation, Thea explains why personal capacity is often one of the biggest barriers to growth. Many founders plan considerably more work than they can realistically complete, creating a cycle of pressure, exhaustion and poor decision making.

Thea shares her own experience of planning around 55 hours of work each week despite having approximately 35 hours of genuine capacity. This imbalance contributed to burnout and eventually forced her to reconsider how she approached business, work and personal wellbeing.

The episode also explores Thea’s experience of suffering a brain haemorrhage and how it led her to develop a life first approach to entrepreneurship. Rather than measuring success solely through growth and turnover, she now builds clear boundaries around her time, health, energy and personal priorities.

Adam, Jon and Thea also examine founder mindset, including why business owners often focus on what remains unfinished rather than appreciating the progress they have already made. The concept of the gap and the gain provides a practical way to recognise achievements while continuing to move forward.

This episode is ideal for founders, entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to scale sustainably, improve their decision making and build a stronger company without sacrificing their health or personal life.

Visit Thea Brook:

https://theabrook.com/

https://activeinternetmarketing.co.uk/

https://octopus-computers.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Founder capacity, burnout and decision making

01:30 Thea’s background in finance and entrepreneurship

03:55 Building Calm and supporting growing businesses

04:49 Why scaling businesses need senior expertise

05:20 Assessing a business and creating a structured growth plan

07:07 Creating a 90 day roadmap and review process

13:40 Lessons from 18 years of building businesses

14:27 Managing multiple products and experiencing burnout

15:17 Planned workload compared with genuine capacity

21:30 Music, dance and pattern recognition

23:03 Finance, systems and business technology

25:03 Using artificial intelligence to improve efficiency

28:17 Why founders struggle to appreciate their progress

28:33 The gap and the gain

30:51 Burnout, a brain haemorrhage and resetting priorities

36:11 Accountability and difficult business decisions

36:45 Re engineering a business for sustainable growth

40:47 Thea’s free business scaling workshop

In this episode, we sit down with Laura Wilson, founder of Connections Legal Management, to explore the story behind a fast growing UK business supporting utility connections, legal agreements and development projects across the country. Laura shares how she entered the industry, learned the trade through hands on experience, and eventually took the leap into building her own business with the support and encouragement of one of her clients. What began as a specialist service has grown quickly through recommendations, strong relationships and word of mouth, with Connections Legal Management now working nationwide with developers and independent connection providers. This conversation gives an honest look at the realities of business growth. Laura talks openly about time management, people management, controlled expansion and the importance of maintaining the same level of client communication as the business gets bigger. Rather than chasing growth for the sake of numbers, Laura explains why the business has a clear three year vision built around quality, sustainability, staff development and organic progress.

In this episode, we sit down with Steven to explore the story behind Boom 7, MK Eats, the Milton Keynes Food Awards and the wider world of local marketing, events and entrepreneurship. Steven shares how his success has been shaped by decades of relationships, reputation and community connection in Milton Keynes. Having lived in the area for 45 years, he has built a powerful local network and uses that understanding to bring energy, attention and strategy to the businesses he works with.

The conversation explores how Boom 7 began after Steven returned from a holiday and made the decision to start a business, even before he knew exactly what that business would become. After settling on marketing, he threw himself into learning, reading more than 100 self development books on networking, influence and business growth. That commitment helped him build the confidence, mindset and practical approach that now sits behind his work.

In this episode, we sit down with Saran from Katana Restaurant in Peterborough to explore the story behind one of the city’s most distinctive dining destinations. With a family history in food spanning more than 50 years, Saran brings together deep hospitality experience, international training and a genuine passion for creating memorable restaurant experiences. From working in restaurants and hotels across France, Italy, the United States, New Delhi, New York and Mayfair, to helping shape Katana’s Indian and Japanese dining concept in Peterborough, this conversation gives a fascinating look into what it really takes to build a restaurant with ambition, standards and soul. Katana is not just another restaurant. It is a 200 cover venue offering Indian cuisine, Japanese teppanyaki, sushi, cocktails, Sunday roasts, private dining, group menus, live music, monthly nightclub events and cultural food festivals. Saran talks openly about the challenge of bringing a higher quality restaurant experience to a city that relies heavily on local support rather than tourism, and why creating something affordable, memorable and consistent matters so much.

In this episode, Adam and Jon sit down with Kate, founder of Chequered Fox, to explore the story behind a specialist fit out business supporting nurseries, schools and offices. Kate shares how her competitive nature has shaped her approach to both personal and professional growth. Rather than surrounding herself with people who think and work in exactly the same way, she has learned to build relationships with people who bring different strengths, perspectives and qualities to the table.

Chequered Fox began with Kate drawing on her experience in childcare and her understanding of the early years curriculum, she recognised an opportunity to provide nurseries with carefully selected furniture, equipment and learning resources that genuinely support children, practitioners and the spaces they use every day.

Kate explains how her childcare background gives Chequered Fox an important advantage. She understands that nursery furniture and educational products must do more than simply look attractive. They need to be practical, safe, durable and suitable for the way early years environments operate. Sustainability and longevity are also central to the business. Chequered Fox focuses on supplying high quality products that are designed to last, helping clients create better environments while reducing the need for constant replacement.

In this episode, we sit down with Lucia to explore the often overlooked gap between career success and genuine happiness. Many people spend years chasing development, promotions, job titles and the next step on the corporate ladder, only to realise that progression does not always equal fulfilment. Lucia specialises in career happiness coaching, helping people understand what they truly want, why they may feel misaligned and how to build a working life that feels more meaningful, balanced and personally rewarding.

Lucia shares her experience working with individuals, universities, entertainment companies and businesses, supporting people who may appear successful on the outside but feel disconnected from what actually makes them happy. She explains how societal pressure, comparison and a lack of self awareness can lead people to pursue goals that are not truly their own. A major theme of the conversation is presence.

Lucia discusses the importance of mindfulness, being in the right moment and using practical tools to support wellbeing. From improving sleep routines and setting realistic personal goals, to sharing goals for accountability, this episode explores how small changes can have a powerful impact on happiness and emotional balance.