Thriving Three Counties

In this motivating episode, Jack shares his experiences in business and what drives him to do what he does every day.

Jack Wratten is an entrepreneur and founder of Bloom Space in Malvern, and the Bloom Incubator, helping people plan, start and grow their businesses.

He has a ton of experience starting and scaling multiple businesses and he's passionate about helping other people succeed in their businesses.

He's a connector of people and someone who helped me in the early days of niching down my offering to industrial photography.

https://bloom.space

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackwratten/

https://www.instagram.com/bloomincubator

https://twitter.com/bloommalvern

Picking up the phone and calling people to find new business - it doesn't come naturally to all of us.

But Neil Edwards realised this is what he needed to do as soon as he started his first business.

Now working as a business development consultant, Neil does this for his clients, amongst many other things.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardsneil/

As a result of high-class customer service, John has grown his business by reputation, providing unrivalled service to residents and businesses alike.

John developed an interest in computers at a very young age, and being mostly self-taught, built the skills and knowledge to enable him to manoeuvre his way through the ever-developing world of computers and technology.

This paved the way for the creation of his first company at 19 - John Finch Computers. He worked solo for many years, initially operating out of his parents’ garage.

Now, 17 years on, he has two office locations and 5 staff members, providing IT support in Herefordshire and beyond.

www.JohnFinchComputers.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-finch-a809641b5/

https://laptops2kids.co.uk/

Rich Hurst is a presenter who came to Worcestershire in 2010 to host the Wyvern FM Breakfast Show. The station became Free Radio in 2013, then in 2019 he went on to begin covering shows for the BBC.

In 2014 he set up GiftedGab.co.uk, and has worked as a live presenter on a wide variety of projects, whilst also comparing events for businesses and charities across the year.

He works regularly in sport, including at West Bromwich Albion where he’s the stadium announcer - a job he now talks about with fellow announcers on the ‘We Welcome Your Teams’ podcast.

http://giftedgab.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-hurst-the-host/

https://twitter.com/fmhursty

It all started when Luke was 11, growing and selling marigolds from the boot of his Dad's car. That gave him a taste for working for himself and all the highs and lows, challenges and victories, risks and rewards that it entailed.

With the help of his Mother, Father and sister, Luke opened his first shop in Hereford in 2001.  

Luke told me before the interview: "How I got here involves 3am starts and the 4am finishes, the deals and the high points but also the lows and the sticky situations and how, with the unstinting help of my family, friends and colleagues I got out of them!"

"However, ask anyone who works for themselves and they will tell you that the high points outweigh the low points 100 to 1."

Connect with Luke here:

DenimNation.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-conod-50846a36/

https://www.facebook.com/luke.conod

A classical musician by training, Elizabeth studied flute and piano at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and then Trinity Laban, London, where an inspirational ‘Business For Musicians’ course ultimately proved more interesting than her daily diet of musicology, theory and historical performance practice.

She established Worcester-based Encore Communications in 2009, growing the business into a team of experienced, marketing professionals offering a full range of marketing communications services. 

Today, Elizabeth is responsible for the day-to-day running of the business, overseeing all Encore Communications’ activity and remaining ‘hands-on’ with several accounts, delivering integrated media relations, social media, digital marketing, crisis communications and strategy work for clients.

Nominated for the Chartered Institute of Public Relation’s Outstanding Young Communicator (UK) award in 2006, Elizabeth is a graduate of Common Purpose’s Meridian course for senior leaders, a CIM-qualified marketer, member of the Public Relations Consultancy Association, and holds the CIPR’s Professional PR Diploma.

A passionate advocate of agile working for all, she is Mum to two young children and has more than her fair share of working parent stories - probably best saved for Mummy blogs - having returned to support clients at a key exhibition just six weeks after her eldest was born.

Away from the office, Liz is a keen sports fan, having competed nationally in gymnastics and trampolining in her youth. She holds a season ticket at West Bromwich Albion, and also enjoys following cricket, tennis, athletics, rugby etc. In her spare time, she can usually be found ferrying her kids around to various classes and dreaming of the day she can finally go travelling and see the world.

Connect with Liz here:

https://www.encore-communications.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethlaidlermarketingcommunications/  

https://www.linkedin.com/company/encore-communications-ltd/ 

https://twitter.com/encorecommsuk

Dave’s grandfather was the person who inspired him the most. He instilled a passion in Dave to be curious and have a thirst for learning. His legacy is why Dave focuses on helping people become more self-aware, to overcome obstacles, acquire knowledge and skills, achieve goals and to be happy, confident and fulfilled.

Dave's business, Zentano, was born to serve as many people as they can through coaching, mentoring, consultancy, training and facilitation. Everyday Dave asks himself “What can I do for others to help them be the best they can be?”

http://www.zentanogroup.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davezentano/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richdhorton/

https://bulletjournal.com/

Jeremy left school in 1989 with no idea about what he wanted to do. By following his interests and always trying to do 'the next right thing', he's always loved his work and has some fun and thought-provoking stories to share.

He's now come full circle and is about to embark on an exciting new role with a company he was involved with in the past...

//www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-aston-phillips-a858a35/

Tom owns Herefordshire-based web and marketing company, Essiem.

He's been designing and developing websites for 10 years and has been running his own website company for the last 5 years.

In this episode, we discuss Tom's journey into business and how he's now niching down his offering and creating the lifestyle he wants for him and his family.

https://www.essiem.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomveal

James and Linda own and run Barton Court in Colwall, Worcestershire. Since the pandemic, they've found a new direction for the property, which they had planned to be a wedding venue.

However, they're fully behind the new idea and looking forward to welcoming local business owners to their stunning property.

In this episode, we discuss their interesting and varied careers and how they've used their past experiences to bring them to where they are today.

https://www.bartoncourtonline.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-camp-07b9a317/

https://www.instagram.com/bartoncourt/

https://www.facebook.com/bartoncourtevents

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/bartonevents/barton-court-the-clock-tower/