The Small Business Sessions

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business.

Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the third episode is Will Pearson, co-founder of Ocean Bottle, the reusable bottle brand that funds the collection of ocean-bound waste amounting to the equivalent of 1,000 plastic bottles for each product sold. 

Topics discussed in the episode include:

• What inspired him to launch the mission-led business
• How he turned the idea into a tangible product
• How Ocean Bottle balances function, sustainability, and style 
• Advice for raising millions pounds in investment for a purpose-driven business
• How businesses can be sustainable  
• Building a team that shares the founder's values and passion for the mission  
• Becoming a B Corp and advice for others wanting to do the same  
• Building strong partnerships to benefit a business

----

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vodafone Business, the Nation’s Network*, as part of the business.connected campaign which helps small businesses embrace digital change and grow online.  

Access free training in a range of digital business areas, from online marketing to AI and smarter working at www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected  

Listen to and watch previous podcast episodes at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

*The Nation's Network: Vodafone - nation's most valuable brand, verified by Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands Report 2024, and supporting the nation since 1984 through to 2025's major summer events. See full verification of the substantiation: www.vodafone.co.uk/TNN 

Welcome to the Small Business Sessions: Founder Fails podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation, in collaboration with Hiscox.

In this series, we're sitting down with bold business voices to talk candidly about their biggest fails, unexpected lessons and the power of getting back up.

Expect honest conversations, tales of resilience and real talk from founders who turned mistakes into movement.

In episode 1, we're joined by Kirsty Hulse, an international speaker, author and award-winning voice on confidence at work.

Kirsty shares how she built a global speaking career. She talks about walking away from a successful business, navigating burnout and what she's learned about confidence, failure and being human.

Topics discussed in the episode:

• How Kirsty built a successful marketing agency working with global brands from a young age
• Why she walked away from a profitable business and why closing a company can be braver than starting one
• The health scare and burnout that forced her to reassess success, ambition and pace
• How she built a second career as an international speaker focused on confidence at work
• Why she doesn't teach confidence, but self-acceptance
• The role of self-talk, self-compassion and accepting your flaws in becoming genuinely confident
• What stand-up comedy taught her about failure, resilience and recovering from mistakes
• Why failure still hurts (and that's OK), and how to keep going without numbing the emotion
• How to recognise your personal signs of burnout and work with your natural energy cycles
• The danger of "self-care as isolation" and why community and connection matter more
• Why work should feel playful, not heavy – and how joy fuels creativity and performance

-----

Whether you're a sole trader, scaling a start-up or running a growing enterprise, Hiscox business insurance could protect you if the worst happens. Their policies are built around your business to protect you from the real risks you face every day.

Head to https://www.hiscox.co.uk/business-insurance to learn more.

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business.

Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the second episode is Joanna Jensen, founder of Childs Farm. 

Joanna came up with the idea for the business when looking for a natural and effective product for her daughters who struggled with sensitive and eczema-prone skin.

The business launched with independent retailers and online in 2012, before expanding to national retailers including Boots and Waitrose in 2014. In 2022, Childs Farm was sold to PZ Cussons for £40 million.

Joanna has recently published a book, Making Business Child's Play: How to Build a Winning Brand

Topics discussed in the episode include:

• Insights into the process of manufacturing a product
• The impact of a viral Facebook post that led to thousands of new sales
• Brilliant advice for getting into retailers like Boots and Waitrose 
• Tips for hiring a good team 
• Why she decided to sell the business and advice for negotiating a good deal
• How she works with businesses as an angel investor
• Her thoughts on female entrepreneurs' access to finance 
• Her new book, Making Business Child's Play: How to Build a Winning Brand

----

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vodafone Business, the Nation’s Network*, as part of the business.connected campaign which helps small businesses embrace digital change and grow online.  

Access free training in a range of digital business areas, from online marketing to AI and smarter working at www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected  

Listen to and watch previous podcast episodes at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

*The Nation's Network: Vodafone - nation's most valuable brand, verified by Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands Report 2024, and supporting the nation since 1984 through to 2025's major summer events. See full verification of the substantiation: www.vodafone.co.uk/TNN 

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business.

Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the first episode in the new series is Louise Hill, founder of GoHenry. 

Louise was inspired to start GoHenry after being frustrated by her own children's understanding of money management and hearing other parents complain about the same thing. She launched the app in 2010 to teach kids "to be smart with their money" and provide parents with a "tool to nurture healthy financial habits". 

Louise has raised tens of millions in investment for the business and acquired Pixpay, a competitor in France. 

In 2024, the business was bought by US company Acorns which means it now has around six million subscribers in the UK, US and Europe. In the UK, one in five children between the ages of 10 and 12 has a GoHenry card.

In an inspiring episode, Louise shares insights on how she has built such an amazing million-led brand, and her tips covering areas including launching an app, raising millions in funding, growing a team and expanding overseas. 

Topics discussed include:

• Coming up with the idea for GoHenry.
• Building the first app and the challenges she had to overcome. 
• Getting big partners, such as Visa, on board.
• Breaking an equity crowdfunding world record in 2016 when she raised £4m. 
• Tips on finding investors, pitching etc from her experience raising over $100m in venture capital funding. 
• Advice for building a team.
• Expanded into other markets and acquiring Pixpay. 
• Why she decided to sell to Acorns. 

----

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vodafone Business, the Nation’s Network*, as part of the business.connected campaign which helps small businesses embrace digital change and grow online.  

Access free training in a range of digital business areas, from online marketing to AI and smarter working at www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected  

Listen to and watch previous podcast episodes at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

*The Nation's Network: Vodafone - nation's most valuable brand, verified by Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands Report 2024, and supporting the nation since 1984 through to 2025's major summer events. See full verification of the substantiation: www.vodafone.co.uk/TNN 

Welcome to the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation's Powering the High Street programme, in collaboration with EDF.

This series explores the major challenges that today's retailers are facing – from declining footfall and vacant shop-fronts to the post-pandemic recovery and increasing demand for sustainability.

In the 10th and final episode of the series, we're joined by Sam Matanle, co-founder of Batch.

Batch is a menswear brand whose mission is to raise the standard of sustainability in fashion by eliminating overproduction and waste.

Founded in 2021, it produces high-quality casual suits made to order – manufacturing only what's needed. With a flagship store in Covent Garden and a growing online presence, Batch is redefining what the modern suit can be: versatile, well-made and built to last.

In this episode, Sam shares the story behind Batch's launch, the challenges of building a slow fashion brand and how transparency, customer experience and relentless focus have driven its growth.

Topics discussed in the episode:

• How Sam and co-founder Julian spotted a gap in the market for casual suits
• Why Batch makes everything to order – and how it drastically reduces waste
• The difference between made-to-order and made-to-measure (and why it matters)
• Lessons from entering the fashion world without a fashion background
• Why off-the-shelf sizing and a single perfected fit works for most customers
• How the in-store experience builds trust, loyalty and higher conversion rates
• Managing customer expectations in a world of next-day delivery
• Why sustainability isn't the lead message – and what actually motivates shoppers
• How Batch has used celebrity and influencer partnerships to build credibility

-----

Through the Powering the High Street programme, we're bringing new energy to retail in the UK. We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably.

Find out more at enterprisenation.com/poweringthehighstreet/

To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to enterprisenation.com/podcast

Welcome to the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation's Powering the High Street programme, in collaboration with EDF.

This series explores the major challenges that today's retailers are facing – from declining footfall and vacant shop-fronts to the post-pandemic recovery and increasing demand for sustainability.

In episode nine of the series, we're joined by Camilla Cole, founder of Hypha Studios.

Hypha Studios is a charity that connects artists with vacant high street spaces in exchange for community-focused events.

Launched during lockdown in 2021, Hypha has since provided over £2.7 million worth of free space to creatives across more than 60 locations. Through temporary galleries, workshops and pop-ups, Camilla’s model brings culture, community and innovation to the high street – while also supporting landlords, councils and the wider local economy.In this episode, Camilla shares how Hypha Studios helps regenerate town centres by putting creative energy at the heart of local places, and why flexibility, collaboration and rethinking retail are key to building high streets that work for everyone.

Topics discussed in the episode:

• The lockdown walks that sparked the idea for Hypha Studios
• How the model works – free space for artists, community benefit for towns
• Why creativity plays a vital role in high street regeneration
• How landlords benefit – from reduced costs to better long-term tenants
• What makes a great space – and why it depends on location and use
• The importance of local context and hyper-specific programming
• How Hypha builds trust with landlords, councils and communities
• Supporting emerging artists with space, skills and visibility
• Turning vacant shops, offices and supermarkets into cultural hubs
• Why collaboration across sectors is key to creating thriving high streets

-----

Through the Powering the High Street programme, we're bringing new energy to retail in the UK. We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably.

Find out more at enterprisenation.com/poweringthehighstreet

To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to enterprisenation.com/podcast

Welcome to the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation's Powering the High Street programme, in collaboration with EDF.

This series explores the major challenges that today's retailers are facing – from declining footfall and vacant shop-fronts to the post-pandemic recovery and increasing demand for sustainability.

In episode eight of the series, we're joined by Dionne Palmer, the co-founder of My Signature Aroma.

My Signature Aroma is a scent bar based in Brixton Village that allows customers to craft their own bespoke fragrance in-store.

Alongside her co-founder Frank, Dionne launched the business in 2020 with a mission to make niche fragrances more accessible and personal. What began as an online-only store during lockdown is now a vibrant bricks-and-mortar destination where scent meets creativity, community and self-expression.

In this episode, Dionne shares the story behind the business, the value of face-to-face connection in retail and how personalisation, fun and empowerment are at the heart of everything My Signature Aroma does.

Topics discussed in the episode:

• How lockdown inspired Dionne and Frank to fill a gap in the fragrance market
• The challenges of selling scent online – and why in-person experiences are so powerful
• How they created a "cocktail-style" scent bar where customers mix their own signature fragrance
• What it means to centre creativity and individuality in product design and customer service
• The role of workshops and education in deepening customer engagement
• The power of community: how Brixton has shaped the business
• Building customer loyalty through personal connection and meaningful interactions
• Marketing lessons learned – from social media to viral moments and local word of mouth
• Plans for growth, including new store locations, international expansion and team building
• Why empowerment and joy are the feelings every customer should leave with

-----

Through the Powering the High Street programme, we're bringing new energy to retail in the UK. We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably.

Find out more at enterprisenation.com/poweringthehighstreet/

To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to enterprisenation.com/podcast

Welcome to the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation's Powering the High Street programme, in collaboration with EDF.

This series explores the major challenges that today's retailers are facing – from declining footfall and vacant shop-fronts to the post-pandemic recovery and increasing demand for sustainability.

In episode seven of the series, we're joined by Rob Ely, co-founder of TOAST.

TOAST is a proudly independent chain of coffee shops launched in Essex in 2020.

Alongside his co-founders Daniel and Louis, Rob has grown TOAST from one quirky, toast-themed café into a people-first coffee brand with six thriving locations – and big ambitions for the future.

In this episode, Rob shares how TOAST has created a loyal customer base by delivering exceptional service, investing in its people and staying true to its values.

From lockdown pivots and brand lessons to the power of community and choosing the right high street locations, Rob talks candidly about the highs and lows of building an independent hospitality business that's genuinely built to last.

Topics discussed in the episode

• How TOAST evolved from a toast-themed concept into a coffee-led brand
• What Rob learned from launching just weeks before the first COVID lockdown
• Why a heartfelt social media post helped turn the tide in TOAST's early days
• The challenges of scaling while staying proudly independent
• Why location is critical – and how being "too far" from footfall can make or break a shop
• How TOAST empowers staff to shape the business and values people over profit
• Lessons from a failed expansion and how it reshaped their growth strategy
• The importance of operational consistency across several sites
• How TOAST supports its communities through its "Coffee for a Coffee" initiative
• What's next: refining the brand, expanding regionally and creating a new kind of coffee culture

-----

Through the Powering the High Street programme, we're bringing new energy to retail in the UK. We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably.

Find out more at enterprisenation.com/poweringthehighstreet/

To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to enterprisenation.com/podcast

Welcome to the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation's Powering the High Street programme, in collaboration with EDF.

This series explores the major challenges that today's retailers are facing – from declining footfall and vacant shop-fronts to the post-pandemic recovery and increasing demand for sustainability.

In episode six of the series, we're joined by Sol Escobar, founder of Give Your Best.

Give Your Best is a "tech for good" social enterprise tackling clothing poverty and fashion waste through an innovative online platform and physical store.

Launched during the 2020 lockdown, Give Your Best allows refugee women and other marginalised people to shop donated clothing for free – restoring not only their wardrobe but their dignity and agency too.

Since then, the enterprise has grown into a thriving community-led organisation, combining digital tools, peer-to-peer giving, and inclusive retail experiences.

In this episode, Sol shares her journey from humanitarian volunteer to award-winning founder, and explains how businesses of all sizes can take small, impactful steps toward more ethical and sustainable practices.

Topics discussed in the episode:

• How Give Your Best was born during lockdown and grew from a bedroom project into a national platform
• Why choice, dignity, and agency are central to ethical clothing donations
• How the platform works – like "Vinted for good" – allowing people to donate and shop for free
• The role of peer-to-peer giving in building empathy and community connection
• How the Islington store operates as a pay-it-forward space, mixing sales with free access for people in need
• Tackling fashion waste through upcycling, repair stations and brand partnerships
• The importance of trialling and testing before launching retail concepts
• What it means to build a social enterprise – and why it’s a different mindset from traditional business
• Advice for retail businesses looking to operate more sustainably or partner with impact-driven organisations
• Why slow growth, long-term thinking and collaboration are key to building a business for good

-----

Through the Powering the High Street programme, we're bringing new energy to retail in the UK. We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably.

Find out more at enterprisenation.com/poweringthehighstreet/

To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to enterprisenation.com/podcast

Welcome to the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation's Powering the High Street programme, in collaboration with EDF.

This series explores the major challenges that today's retailers are facing – from declining footfall and vacant shop-fronts to the post-pandemic recovery and increasing demand for sustainability.

In episode five of the series, we're joined by Jon Perks, small business director at EDF, one of the UK's largest energy suppliers.

With over 25 years in the energy industry, Jon has guided thousands of businesses through energy challenges – from volatile markets to net zero ambitions. At EDF, his mission is simple: help small businesses grow by making smarter, more sustainable energy choices.

In this episode, Jon breaks down the energy landscape for small businesses, sharing clear, practical advice on how to cut costs, improve efficiency and navigate change with confidence.

Topics discussed in the episode:

• Why energy is no longer a "set and forget" cost for small businesses
• The impact of rising energy prices on the retail sector
• Common pitfalls small businesses face with contracts and tariffs
• How smart meters and energy data help business owners take control
• The importance of employee engagement in reducing energy waste
• What drives fluctuations in global and UK energy prices
• How small businesses can future-proof with clean energy tech
• Why timing your energy use is increasingly important
• How EDF and Enterprise Nation are working together to provide free energy advice
• The future of the UK's energy system and what it means for small firms

-----

Through the Powering the High Street programme, we're bringing new energy to retail in the UK. We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably.

Find out more at enterprisenation.com/poweringthehighstreet/

To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to enterprisenation.com/podcast