Helen Harding knew how to market other people, but putting herself in the spotlight was a very different experience. We’ve known each other for 20 years, and what I appreciate about Helen is her practical, grounded approach to something that can feel deeply uncomfortable. If you care about helping people but struggle with being visible, her experience will feel reassuringly familiar.

Helen started in marketing services several decades ago, working in graphic design, studio management and print buying before moving into brand management. She then retrained in health and wellbeing and spent 14 years as a practitioner, discovering first-hand that knowing about marketing doesn’t automatically make promoting yourself easy. She continued helping others with their marketing alongside that work and, over the last few years, has made that her focus, helping people find ways to market themselves that suit who they are. We don’t cover the exact calendar years of those career changes, but that combination of marketing experience and running a practice is central to her approach.

Helen shares her experience of marketing and running a practitioner business. This discussion is for general information, not tailored business, clinical or mental health advice, and the approaches discussed do not guarantee clients, income or particular results. Although we refer to health and wellbeing practices, we are discussing their marketing rather than recommending treatments. Any use of AI should remain human-led, with its output checked before publication.

We get into the uncomfortable gap between being good at helping people and being comfortable telling people what you do. Helen explains why copying someone else’s marketing formula can leave you exhausted, and how to build relationships without becoming a louder version of yourself. We also talk honestly about AI, choosing where to spend your time online and setting a weekly marketing commitment you can actually keep.

The first thing I’d take from this conversation is that you need to know what you want your business to become before deciding how to market it. A small local practice and a larger online business will need different choices, and neither is automatically the better ambition. Start by making sure the people you already know understand what you do, then build on the qualities they already trust in you. Helen’s own turning point came when she stopped fighting her sensible, pragmatic nature and recognised that those were precisely the qualities some clients wanted.

The other useful shift is to think of marketing as three relationship jobs: helping new people discover you, nurturing people who already know you and staying connected with those who have worked with you. Helen suggests setting a minimum weekly activity that serves those jobs, with anything extra treated as a bonus rather than another obligation. That gives you a more manageable starting point than trying to be everywhere, and it keeps technology in its proper place: AI can help you organise and draft your ideas, but your judgement, voice and relationships still need to lead.

00:00 Why a marketer found promoting herself so daunting

02:00 The business responsibilities practitioner training can leave you unprepared for

04:00 Finding your voice when everyone says you need more content

05:00 Start with your own definition of a successful business

06:00 Why your existing network deserves your attention first

08:00 The three jobs your marketing actually needs to do

09:00 What Helen’s visibility exercise revealed about perfection

11:00 How accepting her sensible side changed Helen’s marketing

13:00 Sharing your story without giving away your privacy

14:00 Finding your message through your values and motivations

16:00 Making peace with strengths you might have overlooked

17:00 Can AI ease the pressure of creating content?

19:00 Getting AI to draw out your ideas rather than replace them

21:00 Using AI for support without handing over business decisions

23:00 Why clients need a relationship with you, not your AI tool

24:00 Choosing one social platform, or deciding not to use it

26:00 Setting a minimum weekly marketing commitment

28:00 The follow-up that keeps relationships alive

29:00 Where to find Helen and explore her work

Visit Helen’s website at https://www.helenharding.co.uk/ for her latest offers, thoughts and free resources. To connect on LinkedIn, search for Helen Harding UK: [LinkedIn profile URL not confirmed].

The book discussed is *How the World Sees You* by Sally Hogshead: Helen also describes a 10-day experience focused on confidence around visibility: [Direct URL and current availability not confirmed].

Would you like to be featured on UK Business IQ? If you are a business owner, founder, or expert ready to stop being the best-kept secret, this is your platform. Share your story, build your authority and get your expertise in front of an engaged business audience. Apply today at www.ukbusinessiq.co.uk

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about being featured on UK Business IQ, connect with Geoff directly on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/geoffnicholsonuk and send him a DM. He would love to hear from you.

Why Your Business Insurance Is Probably Wrong: Sarah Travers on What Brokers Actually Do

Nobody likes insurance. It's a grudge purchase; it happens once a year, and most business owners renew without really looking at it. In this episode, Sarah Travers, Client Director at Greenwood Moreland Insurance Consultants, brings thirty-four years of commercial insurance broking experience to explain why that's exactly the problem, and what a broker actually does that going direct or renewing on autopilot doesn't.

Why this conversation matters

Every business owner in this audience holds some form of insurance, but very few properly understand what it covers, what it excludes, or whether it still reflects the business as it exists today. Sarah explains why the moment that really matters isn't when you buy the policy, it's when you need to use it, and why inflation has quietly left many properties underinsured for what it would actually cost to rebuild them.

About the guest

Sarah Travers is Client Director at Greenwood Moreland Insurance Consultants, based in Hamilton, with offices in Fraserburgh and Glasgow city centre. She has worked in commercial insurance broking for thirty-four years, moving through several industry acquisitions along the way, and works with business owners, commercial landlords and SMEs to make sure their cover is fit for purpose, not just on paper but at the moment of a claim.

In this episode

• How Sarah got into insurance broking, and what's kept her in the industry for thirty-four years
• What an insurance broker actually does, and why a computer can't give you the advice a broker can
• The cover most businesses don't realise they need, including cyber and professional indemnity
• Why so many properties are underinsured right now, and the desktop valuation process that catches it
• What to ask on your first call with a broker if you've never used one before
• How often you should be reviewing your cover, and why the review matters as much as the original purchase

Key takeaways

• A policy is only as good as the conversation behind it. Reviewing your sums insured every year catches changes that inflation and business growth quietly create
• Going direct or using a comparison site gives you a series of yes-or-no questions. A broker gives you advice based on your actual circumstances
• Cyber and professional indemnity are among the most commonly missed types of cover for growing businesses
• Underinsurance, particularly on property rebuild costs, is one of the biggest risks businesses face right now

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction
• 00:01 How Sarah got into insurance broking
• 00:03 What an insurance broker actually does
• 00:04 Why use a broker instead of going direct
• 00:07 The cover most people don't realise they need
• 00:10 The biggest misconception about insurance
• 00:12 The underinsurance and rebuild cost problem
• 00:16 What to ask on your first call with a broker
• 00:18 How often you should review your cover
• 00:22 What's changed most in 34 years
• 00:25 Where to find Sarah and Greenwood Moreland

Links

Sarah Travers: Website greenwoodmoreland.co.uk,

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/sarah-travers-17987932/,

Email [email protected]

A note on the content

The views and experiences shared by Sarah Travers in this episode reflect her own professional experience in commercial insurance broking, and are shared for general interest and discussion. They do not constitute financial or insurance advice, and listeners should speak to a suitably qualified and regulated insurance broker or adviser about their own specific circumstances before making any changes to their cover.

Final thought

Sarah's story is a reminder that insurance only really proves its worth at the moment of a claim, not the moment of purchase. If today's conversation made you wonder whether your own cover still fits your business, that's probably worth a proper review rather than a guess.

From NHS Radiologist to Rewilding Humans: Dr Jenny Connor on Nutrition, Burnout and Leadership Performance

For forty years, Dr Jenny Connor worked as an NHS radiologist. Today she runs a wild food forest and education centre in County Durham, and coaches business owners and senior leaders through burnout using nutrition, not willpower. In this episode she explains why so many high performing leaders are running on empty, and how food might be the fastest route back to energy, clarity and calm.

Burnout is often treated as a mindset problem to be solved with more discipline or more rest. Jenny's experience, both personal and clinical, points to something more specific: the food we eat has a direct, measurable effect on how our brains and bodies function, and getting that right can resolve symptoms that leaders have quietly lived with for years, including brain fog, poor sleep, short temper and low energy.

Dr Jenny Connor spent around forty years in the NHS, including twenty-seven years as a consultant radiologist in Sunderland. Alongside her medical career she developed a smallholding into a wild food forest and founded the School of Sustainable Living and Wellbeing. After her own health transformed through changing her diet, she trained in plant-based nutrition, quantum neurobiology and hypnotherapy, and now runs Cup of Life, coaching business leaders and organisations on health and performance.

• Jenny's route from NHS consultant to farmer, educator and coach
• The classic burnout profile she sees in business leaders, and why it often shows up first at home rather than at work
• Why chronic stress gets "stuck" in the body, and what that does to focus and decision making
• The link between nutrition and cellular health, and why the body rebuilds itself constantly
• Practical first steps for anyone recognising themselves in this conversation
• How this approach applies to teams and organisations, not just individuals

• Chronic, low-grade stress without resolution keeps the analytical brain switched down, affecting focus and decision making at work
• Correcting nutrition can resolve symptoms of stress and exhaustion without necessarily working on mindset directly
• Change tends to work best through small, manageable steps rather than an abrupt overhaul
• Staff wellbeing can go far beyond occasional initiatives, into structured, whole person support

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:00 From NHS radiologist to rewilded farm
• 05:00 Turning vegan and feeling amazing
• 07:00 Coaching qualifications and quantum neurobiology
• 12:00 What quantum neurobiology actually means
• 19:00 The classic burnout profile in business leaders
• 23:00 Why the stress response gets stuck in a loop
• 25:00 Nutrition, cell replacement and why food matters
• 33:00 The evidence: disease reversal and athletic performance
• 36:00 Where to start if this is you
• 40:00 What changes first: energy and clarity
• 43:00 Bringing this into teams and organisations
• 50:00 Where to find Jenny

Dr Jenny Connor

Website: cupoflife.co.uk

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenny-connor-64b216151

Email: [email protected]

Book: A Success Guide to Plant-Based Eating on Amazon: [Amazon placeholder]

Free consultation booking: [Website placeholder – cupoflife.co.uk/calendar]

UK Business IQ

[Episode link placeholder]

This episode contains Jenny Connor’s personal and professional perspectives on nutrition, lifestyle and wellbeing. The discussion is for general information and education only and should not be treated as individual medical or nutritional advice. Anyone managing a medical condition, taking medication or considering significant dietary changes should seek appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

Jenny's story reminds us that performance at the top of a business isn't purely a mindset issue. Sometimes the most direct route back to clarity, energy and better decisions starts with what is on the plate.

Kalpa Tan did not come to AI through a business strategy or a tech interest. She came to it because she needed it. After a spinal injury in 2020 that left her spending five months in a Glasgow spinal unit during COVID lockdown with no visitors, she returned home to a house full of admin she had no capacity to face. Getting dressed took 20 minutes. A shower took 45. When ChatGPT arrived it did not transform her career. It helped her get through her inbox on the days she simply could not manage it alone. That experience became the foundation of the business she now runs.

In this episode of UK Business IQ, Geoff Nicholson speaks with Kalpa Tan, founder of Kalpa AI, about what AI actually means for small businesses without the noise, without the hype and without the pressure to get it right first time. Kalpa brings a grounded, practical view that comes from lived experience rather than theory, and she is direct about what businesses get wrong, what they need to do first and why the whole thing is less complicated than most people assume.

This episode reflects Kalpa Tan's professional experience and personal perspective on AI adoption in business. The insights shared are intended to help SMEs think more clearly about how they approach AI. Every business is different and the right approach will vary depending on your systems, team, goals and budget.

About Kalpa Tan

Kalpa Tan is the founder of Kalpa AI, a consultancy working with SMEs to help them adopt AI with clarity, confidence and practical direction. Her background spans biotechnology research and a decade in pharmaceutical sales. She brings that combination of analytical thinking and commercial awareness to help business owners understand where AI can genuinely support efficiency and growth without the overwhelm. She is based in Aberdeen and works with businesses across the UK.

In this episode

Kalpa shares the life experience that brought her to AI and why it matters to how she works with clients. She explains why so many AI implementations fail and what businesses get wrong before they even choose a platform. She talks through what a proper business audit looks like before any AI tool is introduced and why you cannot build on systems that are not working. She introduces her RTCC prompting framework — Role, Task, Context, Constraints — and explains why most people are skipping two of those four steps. She shares why letting AI ask you questions is more useful than just asking AI questions. She explains the markdown context file tip that most people have never heard of and why it changes the quality of everything you produce with AI. She reflects on fear as the biggest barrier to adoption and why the businesses that build these skills now will be the ones that benefit most.

Key takeaways

The clearest message from this episode is that AI is not a technical challenge. It is a communication challenge. Getting more from it is not about understanding the software. It is about learning how to work with it, give it context, push back on it and build that relationship over time. Kalpa's RTCC framework is a practical starting point that anyone can use from their first session.

Kalpa is also direct about what businesses need to do before AI enters the picture. If your processes are disconnected, your systems are fragmented and your team has no understanding of what you are trying to achieve, adding AI will not solve that. It will just make the confusion move faster.

The markdown context file tip she shares at around 29 minutes is one of the most practically useful things in this episode. Most people have never heard of it. If you take one thing away from listening, make it that.

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:00 Who Kalpa is and what Kalpa AI does
• 02:00 Background in biotech and pharmaceutical sales
• 03:00 Living abroad in Jakarta and returning to Aberdeen
• 03:30 The spinal injury and five months in a Glasgow hospital during COVID
• 04:30 How ChatGPT gave back time she had completely lost
• 06:00 The decision to launch Kalpa AI
• 07:30 Why AI is about communication, not technology
• 09:00 Why businesses get overwhelmed and what fear costs them
• 11:00 The difference between AI platforms and which suits what
• 13:00 How Claude, agents and automation work together
• 14:00 Why prompting is the most important skill in AI
• 15:00 How Kalpa works with a new client before any AI is discussed
• 17:00 Why you cannot put AI on top of broken processes
• 19:00 AI working 24 hours a day in the background
• 21:00 The agentic era and what is coming next
• 22:30 Connecting personal fear to business fear around AI
• 24:00 Where to start if you have never used AI before
• 25:30 Why you should let AI ask you questions
• 27:00 The RTCC framework — Role, Task, Context, Constraints
• 29:00 Using projects and markdown files to give AI lasting context
• 31:00 What Kalpa wishes more SMEs understood about AI
• 32:00 AI as Einstein in your garage
• 33:00 Closing reflection

Guest links

Website: www.kalpaai.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalpatan

Book a free AI Audit:

https://calendly.com/kalpa-tan/ai-audit

Book an online AI skills workshop

https://calendly.com/kalpa-tan/online-ai-skills-workshop

email me : [email protected] with any questions.

Want to be featured on UK Business IQ?

UK Business IQ is where credible UK business owners, founders and experts share the real conversations behind their work, their thinking and their impact.

If you are doing great work but feel like too many of the right people still do not know who you are, this could be your opportunity to change that.

Find out more or apply to be featured at:

http://www.ukbusinessiq.co.uk

Connect with Geoff on LinkedIn:

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

UK Business IQ

Real Conversations. Real Connections. Real Impact.

In this episode of UK Business IQ, Geoff Nicholson speaks with Linda Barclay, Managing Director of Evolve Training in Aberdeen, about the business of workplace safety, the value of practical training, and how a family-founded company has grown by helping people come home from work safely.

Founded in 1993 by Linda’s parents, Evolve Training began by helping businesses understand risk assessments, COSHH and health and safety requirements. Over the years it has developed into a respected training business delivering forklift, confined space, first aid, working at height and other practical workplace safety training across multiple sectors.

In this conversation, Linda shares how she joined the business, what it means to lead it today, why practical face-to-face training still matters, and what businesses often misunderstand when they treat training as just another compliance task.

This episode explores Linda Barclay’s perspective on workplace training, practical learning and health and safety based on her professional experience. The ideas shared are intended to help businesses think more clearly about training and workforce safety, but specific requirements will vary depending on the sector and role.

Linda Barclay is the Managing Director of Evolve Training in Aberdeen, a family business that has been helping organisations improve safety and practical workplace competence for over 30 years. Her background includes first aid, training delivery and operational leadership across the business.

• Linda shares how Evolve Training began and why her parents started the business.
• She explains how the company grew from a back bedroom into a major training facility.
• She talks about joining the family business and eventually becoming Managing Director.
• She discusses why practical, face-to-face training is still so important.
• She explains the risks businesses face when training is treated as just compliance.
• She highlights the importance of adapting training to individual learners.
• She shares what makes Evolve different in a competitive market.

One of the strongest messages in this episode is that workplace training should not be reduced to paperwork or certification alone. Linda makes the case that good training builds confidence, understanding and safer behaviour, especially when it is practical and tailored to the people doing the work.

The episode also highlights the value of long-term trust in business. Evolve’s reputation has been built not just on compliance knowledge, but on consistency, service and genuine care over more than three decades.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 00:45 How Evolve Training began
• 03:00 How the business grew over time
• 04:00 Linda’s route into the business
• 05:00 Her vision for the future
• 06:00 The biggest mistakes businesses make
• 09:00 Why practical face-to-face training matters
• 13:00 Why training should not just be compliance
• 15:00 What to look for in a training provider
• 18:00 How Evolve stays relevant and adaptable
• 20:00 Cost versus quality in training
• 23:00 The deeper value of workplace training
• 24:00 Where to find Evolve Training

Linda Barclay - Linkedin

Evolve Training

https://www.evolvetraining.com/

This is a practical, thoughtful conversation about safety, service and the kind of business that builds trust over decades. A strong episode for anyone responsible for people, process and standards at work.

Want to be featured on UK Business IQ?

UK Business IQ is where credible UK business owners, founders and experts share the real conversations behind their work, their thinking and their impact.

If you are doing great work but feel like too many of the right people still do not know who you are, this could be your opportunity to change that.

Find out more or apply to be featured at:

http://www.ukbusinessiq.co.uk

Connect with Geoff on LinkedIn:

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

UK Business IQ

Real Conversations. Real Connections. Real Impact.

In this episode of UK Business IQ, Geoff Nicholson speaks with Laura Armstrong, founder of Armstrong Talent Partners, a specialist IT recruitment company based in Glasgow. With around 16 years of experience in tech recruitment, Laura brings a practical and grounded view of what businesses are getting right and wrong when it comes to hiring.

The conversation explores the realities of the Scottish tech market, where strong candidates remain in demand and businesses often face real challenges around speed, flexibility, salary expectations and process. Laura shares why she decided to launch her own company, what drives her work, and why good recruitment is about far more than matching CVs to job descriptions.

This episode explores Laura Armstrong’s perspective on hiring, tech recruitment and candidate experience based on her professional experience. The ideas shared are intended to help businesses think more clearly about hiring decisions, but the right approach will vary depending on the company, role and market conditions.

Laura Armstrong is the founder of Armstrong Talent Partners, a specialist tech recruitment business based in Glasgow. She works with SMEs, startups and larger companies to help them recruit strong technology talent, with a particular focus on the Scottish market.

• Laura shares how she got into tech recruitment and why she stayed in the sector.
• She explains why she decided to launch her own recruitment business.
• She talks about the realities of hiring in a competitive tech market.
• She discusses why low offers and slow processes damage hiring outcomes.
• She explains the impact of hybrid working and flexibility on candidate demand.
• She shares her views on poor recruitment practices and what better process looks like.
• She outlines practical advice for businesses that want to build stronger teams.

One of the strongest messages in this episode is that businesses cannot expect strong people to accept weak offers, poor process or unnecessary delay. Laura’s message is clear: if you want great candidates, you need to move well, communicate clearly and treat recruitment as something strategic.

The episode also makes a strong case for working more proactively. Good recruitment is not simply reacting to a vacancy. It is about understanding the market, building relationships and knowing what strong people actually want.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:00 What Laura does and who she helps
• 03:00 Why she stayed in the tech sector
• 05:00 Why she launched Armstrong Talent Partners
• 08:00 What makes her approach different
• 10:00 The biggest hiring challenges in tech
• 14:00 Skill shortages and market gaps
• 18:00 The cost of poor hiring
• 20:00 What businesses get wrong in hiring
• 22:00 Hybrid work, flexibility and candidate demand
• 25:00 Better interview processes
• 30:00 Lessons from building her business
• 34:00 Where to connect with Laura

• LinkedIn - Profile
• Company Website

Would you like to be featured on UK Business IQ?

If you are an experienced business owner, consultant, coach, speaker or professional with valuable insight to share, we would love to hear from you. UK Business IQ is designed to spotlight credible experts who are doing great work and help them become more visible to the right audience. To apply to be considered as a guest on the show visit: http://www.geoffnicholson.co.uk/getfeatured

This is a practical and timely conversation for any business that needs to hire well, especially in a market where strong people have options. A strong reminder that recruitment is not just about process. It is about people, reputation and decisions that shape the future of the business.

This episode explores Laura Armstrong’s perspective on recruitment, hiring and the Scottish tech talent market based on her professional experience. The ideas shared are intended to help businesses think more clearly about hiring decisions and candidate experience, but the right approach will vary depending on the role, market and business stage.

Want to be featured on UK Business IQ?

UK Business IQ is where credible UK business owners, founders and experts share the real conversations behind their work, their thinking and their impact.

If you are doing great work but feel like too many of the right people still do not know who you are, this could be your opportunity to change that.

Find out more or apply to be featured at:

http://www.ukbusinessiq.co.uk

Connect with Geoff on LinkedIn:

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

UK Business IQ

Real Conversations. Real Connections. Real Impact.

In this episode of UK Business IQ, Geoff Nicholson speaks with Simon Raybould, presentation trainer, researcher and author, about why so many presentations fail and what actually makes them work.

Simon explains that it is not delivery that makes or breaks a presentation. It is structure. Drawing on research into audience learning, retention and communication, he shares a practical and often surprising perspective on what presenters get wrong and how to fix it.

The conversation explores presentation nerves, rehearsal, audience attention, story use and why most experts overload their listeners without even realising they are doing it. This is a valuable episode for anyone who presents, teaches, pitches or shares expertise as part of their work.

This episode explores Simon Raybould’s perspective on presentations, audience learning and communication based on his research and professional experience. The ideas shared are intended to help listeners communicate more clearly and effectively, but the best approach will vary depending on the audience, context and objective.

Simon Raybould is a presentation trainer, researcher and author who helps people improve both their presentations and their ability to communicate ideas clearly. His work focuses on the science behind what makes presentations more understandable, memorable and useful.

• Simon shares how he moved from research science into presentation training.
• He explains why structure matters more than delivery.
• He talks about the curse of the expert and how audiences get overloaded.
• He discusses presentation nerves and how to reduce them.
• He explains the difference between rehearsal and deliberate practice.
• He shares why stories work best when they are tactical and relevant.
• He explores how better communication leads to better impact.

One of the strongest lessons in this episode is that the quality of a presentation depends far more on what happens before the speaker starts than most people realise. Better structure, clearer chapters and more thoughtful design make a huge difference to what audiences actually remember and do.

The episode also reframes presentation confidence in a helpful way. If you stop treating a presentation as performance and start treating it as teaching, the pressure shifts and the communication usually improves.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:00 Simon’s background and how he got into this work
• 03:00 Why structure matters more than delivery
• 05:00 The curse of the expert
• 08:00 Presentation nerves and pressure
• 11:00 What audiences actually remember
• 13:00 Practical ways to rehearse better
• 20:00 Images, abstraction and audience understanding
• 22:00 Tactical storytelling
• 33:00 Simon’s latest book and where to connect

Connect with Simon on LinkedIn

Other Link

https://storymaking.business/

Book

• StoryMaking - How to use Stories and not just tell them
• Presentation Genius

UK Business IQ

Do you feel like you are one of the best-kept secrets in your industry? UK Business IQ exists to help experienced business owners, professionals and experts share the insight, experience and thinking that often goes unseen. If you have a meaningful story, valuable expertise, or a perspective that could help other business leaders think differently, you can apply to be considered as a featured guest on the show. Visit www.geoffnicholson.co.uk/getfeatured to find out more and submit your application.

This is a practical, research-led conversation for anyone who wants their presentations to become clearer, more memorable and more useful. A strong reminder that better communication starts long before you step on stage.

This episode explores Simon Raybould’s perspective on presentations, learning and communication based on his research and professional experience. The ideas shared are intended to help listeners think more clearly about presentation design and audience understanding, but the best approach will vary depending on context, audience and objective.

Want to be featured on UK Business IQ?

UK Business IQ is where credible UK business owners, founders and experts share the real conversations behind their work, their thinking and their impact.

If you are doing great work but feel like too many of the right people still do not know who you are, this could be your opportunity to change that.

Find out more or apply to be featured at:

http://www.ukbusinessiq.co.uk

Connect with Geoff on LinkedIn:

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

UK Business IQ

Real Conversations. Real Connections. Real Impact.

In this archive episode of UK Business IQ, Geoff Nicholson revisits a conversation with Nevil Tynemouth, sales expert, speaker and author of Sales Success on LinkedIn, about why so many business owners still feel uncomfortable with sales and what effective selling actually looks like.

Nevil brings a practical and human approach to sales, focusing not on scripts or pressure tactics, but on trust, behaviour, confidence and meaningful customer conversations. The episode explores professional follow-up, resilience, cashflow, visibility and why the people already in your network may be far more valuable than you realise.

This episode explores Nevil Tynemouth’s perspective on sales, visibility and business growth based on his experience across sales leadership, coaching and entrepreneurship. The ideas shared are intended to help business owners think more clearly about selling and follow-up, but the right approach will vary depending on the business, audience and stage of growth.

Nevil Tynemouth is a sales expert, speaker and author who helps business owners, leaders and sales teams improve confidence, follow-up and customer conversations. His background spans sales, account management, coaching and leadership in both corporate and entrepreneurial settings.

• Nevil shares how he became interested in enterprise and sales.
• He reflects on moving from the corporate world into his own business.
• He explains why so many business owners still feel awkward about selling.
• He talks about trusted-advisor selling and the importance of useful conversations.
• He shares practical advice on professional persistence and follow-up.
• He highlights the value of using your existing network more effectively.
• He reflects on cashflow, resilience and what entrepreneurs need to learn early.

One of the strongest lessons in this episode is that sales often feels harder than it needs to be because people avoid it, overcomplicate it or attach the wrong meaning to it. Nevil’s message is that selling becomes much more effective when it is rooted in trust, persistence and useful conversations.

The episode also makes a strong case for speaking to the people you already know. For many business owners, the next opportunity is closer than they think.

• 00:00 – Archive intro and why this conversation still matters
• 02:00 – Nevil’s background in enterprise and sales
• 05:00 – Leaving corporate life and starting his business
• 09:00 – Why people feel uncomfortable with sales
• 12:00 – Trust, selling and customer conversations
• 14:00 – Rejection, resilience and follow-up
• 16:00 – Asking the customer how to follow up
• 18:00 – Cashflow and business discipline
• 20:00 – Advice for entrepreneurs starting out
• 23:00 – Where to connect with Nevil

Nevil Tynemouth

• Linkedin
• Website

UK Business IQ

Do you feel like you are one of the best-kept secrets in your industry? UK Business IQ exists to help experienced business owners, professionals and experts share the insight, experience and thinking that often goes unseen. If you have a meaningful story, valuable expertise, or a perspective that could help other business leaders think differently, you can apply to be considered as a featured guest on the show. Visit www.geoffnicholson.co.uk/getfeatured to find out more and submit your application.

This is a practical archive conversation for business owners who know they need to become more visible, have better conversations and follow up more confidently. The message is simple: selling works better when it feels more human.

This episode explores Nevil Tynemouth’s perspective on sales, visibility, follow-up and business growth based on his professional experience. The ideas shared are intended to help business owners think more confidently about sales and customer conversations, but the right approach will vary depending on the business model, market and stage of growth.

Want to be featured on UK Business IQ?

UK Business IQ is where credible UK business owners, founders and experts share the real conversations behind their work, their thinking and their impact.

If you are doing great work but feel like too many of the right people still do not know who you are, this could be your opportunity to change that.

Find out more or apply to be featured at:

http://www.ukbusinessiq.co.uk

Connect with Geoff on LinkedIn:

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

UK Business IQ

Real Conversations. Real Connections. Real Impact.

In this episode of UK Business IQ, Geoff Nicholson speaks with David Algeo, a speaker, trainer and coach who helps people and organisations better understand stress and develop healthier ways to cope with it.

Drawing on his background in policing and his now well-known cabbages-and-sprouts metaphor, David shares a practical, memorable and very human approach to stress, wellbeing and performance. The conversation explores coping strategies, leadership, workplace pressure, the hidden strain on HR teams and why success should be built with wellbeing, not at the expense of it.

This episode explores David Algeo’s perspective on stress, coping and wellbeing based on his personal and professional experience. The ideas shared are intended to help listeners and organisations think more clearly about healthier coping and workplace support, but they are not a substitute for professional medical or therapeutic support where that is needed.

David Algeo is a speaker, trainer and coach who helps people and organisations understand stress more clearly and cope with it more positively. With a background in policing, he brings a practical, grounded approach and is known for his memorable cabbages-and-sprouts metaphor.

• David shares how his policing background shaped his understanding of stress and coping.
• He explains the cabbages-and-sprouts metaphor and why it works so well.
• He discusses the tension organisations face between performance and wellbeing.
• He talks about the pressure placed on HR, L&D and wellbeing leaders.
• He outlines how leaders and managers can have better wellbeing conversations.
• He shares practical tactics for noticing stress and responding earlier.
• He explains why success with wellbeing matters more than success at the expense of it.

One of the strongest lessons in this episode is that stress becomes more manageable when it is made visible, named clearly and broken into smaller actions. David’s framework is memorable because it gives people something practical to do rather than just something to agree with.

The episode also makes a strong case for how organisations can think differently about wellbeing, culture and support. Performance and wellbeing do not need to be in conflict.

• 00:00 – Introduction and David’s background
• 01:00 – Policing, coping and where the work began
• 02:00 – The cabbages-and-sprouts metaphor
• 04:00 – Ideal clients and organisational relevance
• 06:00 – Leadership, culture and talking about stress
• 09:00 – Success with wellbeing
• 11:00 – Where organisations start with wellbeing
• 13:00 – HR pressure and the new network idea
• 20:00 – Permission to be human and practical stress tactics
• 26:00 – How to connect with David

David Algeo website - you can contact him and signup to his daily sprout series you can also find him on linkedin

UK Business IQ

Do you feel like you are one of the best-kept secrets in your industry? UK Business IQ exists to help experienced business owners, professionals and experts share the insight, experience and thinking that often goes unseen. If you have a meaningful story, valuable expertise, or a perspective that could help other business leaders think differently, you can apply to be considered as a featured guest on the show. Visit www.geoffnicholson.co.uk/getfeatured to find out more and submit your application.

This is a practical, memorable conversation about stress, support and healthier ways to cope, both as individuals and within organisations. A strong episode for anyone trying to perform well without being crushed by the cabbages.

This episode explores David Algeo’s perspective on stress, coping and workplace wellbeing based on his personal and professional experience. The ideas shared are intended to help listeners and organisations think more clearly about stress and healthier coping strategies, but they are not a substitute for professional medical or therapeutic support where that is needed.

Want to be featured on UK Business IQ?

UK Business IQ is where credible UK business owners, founders and experts share the real conversations behind their work, their thinking and their impact.

If you are doing great work but feel like too many of the right people still do not know who you are, this could be your opportunity to change that.

Find out more or apply to be featured at:

http://www.ukbusinessiq.co.uk

Connect with Geoff on LinkedIn:

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

UK Business IQ

Real Conversations. Real Connections. Real Impact.

In this episode of UK Business IQ, Geoff Nicholson speaks with Steven J Innes, host, MC, connector and business community builder, about the power of real conversations, authentic networking and why visibility still matters in business.

Recorded live on location in Belfast straight after a business show at the Clayton Hotel, this conversation explores Steven’s journey into hosting and MCing, his work in networking and smart groups, the value of consistency and why showing up as yourself is still one of the most effective ways to grow.

This episode explores Steven J Innes’s perspective on networking, connection and business growth based on his own professional and personal experience. The ideas shared are intended to help listeners think more clearly about visibility, relationships and growth, but the right path will vary depending on the person, business and stage they are at.

Steven J Innes is an MC, host, connector and business networker known for bringing energy, authenticity and connection into live business rooms. His work spans events, smart working groups, networking communities and Synergy, with a strong focus on helping people build relationships that lead to real opportunities.

• Steven shares how he got into speechmaking, hosting and MCing.
• He reflects on confidence, bullying and finding his place.
• He explains why networking is really just conversation.
• He talks about building trust, connection and visibility in business.
• He shares his experience of community-led business growth through Hashtag and smart groups.
• He explains why being visible and consistent matters more than trying to be perfect.
• He reflects on failure, resilience and trusting the process.

One of the strongest messages in this episode is that networking becomes far less intimidating when you stop treating it as performance and start treating it as conversation. Steven’s view is that growth often comes through trust, familiarity and consistency rather than forcing outcomes.

The episode also highlights that confidence, visibility and connection can all be built over time. You do not need to become someone else in order to grow a business well.

• 00:00 – Introduction and Belfast event context
• 01:00 – Steven’s background and finding purpose
• 02:00 – Speechmaking, MCing and confidence
• 05:00 – Synergy, setbacks and starting again
• 09:00 – Why conversation matters in business
• 14:00 – Hashtag, smart groups and networking models
• 20:00 – Helping people network naturally
• 24:00 – Purpose, impact and making a difference
• 27:00 – Failure, resilience and learning
• 31:00 – Where to connect with Steven

Steven J Innes - Linkedin

Website

UK Business IQ

Do you feel like you are one of the best-kept secrets in your industry? UK Business IQ exists to help experienced business owners, professionals and experts share the insight, experience and thinking that often goes unseen. If you have a meaningful story, valuable expertise, or a perspective that could help other business leaders think differently, you can apply to be considered as a featured guest on the show. Visit www.geoffnicholson.co.uk/getfeatured to find out more and submit your application.

This is a warm, practical conversation about connection, confidence and building business through consistency and real relationships. A strong episode for anyone who wants to grow without losing who they are.

Note:

This episode explores Steven J Innes’s perspective on networking, visibility, business growth and authentic connection based on his professional and personal experience. The ideas shared are intended to help listeners think more clearly about building relationships and business momentum, but the right approach will vary depending on the person, industry and stage of growth.

Want to be featured on UK Business IQ?

UK Business IQ is where credible UK business owners, founders and experts share the real conversations behind their work, their thinking and their impact.

If you are doing great work but feel like too many of the right people still do not know who you are, this could be your opportunity to change that.

Find out more or apply to be featured at:

http://www.ukbusinessiq.co.uk

Connect with Geoff on LinkedIn:

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

UK Business IQ

Real Conversations. Real Connections. Real Impact.