Work This Way

In this episode of Work This Way by FOUNDRY, recorded at FOUNDRY Poole in Dorset, Carly Jermyn shares her journey from growing up in Poole and working in family businesses to studying in Wales and building a career in law. She discusses the unpredictable nature of entrepreneurship, how her family’s business background influenced her, and the challenges she faced as a legal secretary before discovering her passion for litigation. As a mother, Carly sought to balance her career with family life, leading to the creation of Woodstock, a consultancy platform offering a flexible and supportive work environment for lawyers. She reflects on the importance of having the right team, the challenges of rapid business growth, and her future aspirations for Woodstock, while encouraging other lawyers to be brave and consider non-traditional career paths.

In this episode of Work This Way by Foundry, host Adam Walker interviews Hanri Van der Merwe, a South African entrepreneur who operates several F45 fitness studios in London. Hanri shares her journey from accounting to fitness, overcoming challenges in the franchise world, and the growth of F45 in the UK. She highlights the importance of creating a non-intimidating, scalable fitness environment accessible to everyone. Hanri also discusses her new venture, FS8, a low-impact fitness concept focusing on recovery and wellness. The conversation delves into the diverse and evolving fitness market, the benefits of franchising, and the personal drive behind Hanri's entrepreneurial success.

This episode of Work This Way features an insightful conversation with Tom Fielder, co-founder of Switchplane, a tech company based in Eastbourne. Tom shares the history of Switchplane, from its humble beginnings in a bedroom to its growth into a tech powerhouse. He explains the company's focus on integrating disparate systems to help businesses manage data centrally. Tom also discusses how Switchplane pioneered innovative solutions, such as a pre-Uber taxi booking platform and the development of an e-commerce system. The episode delves into challenges like hiring skilled software engineers locally, the impact of COVID-19 on their business, and their values in staying rooted in Eastbourne. Additionally, the discussion covers their involvement in local initiatives like Chalk Eastbourne and Digifest, aimed at revitalising the town's image and tech community. Tom ends by sharing his views on AI, its applications, and his personal approach to balancing work and life.

Yasser, also known as the Jazzman, narrates his transition from an engineering background to a 13-year teaching career and eventually to entrepreneurship. He co-founded Cove17, a unique barbershop in Waltham Forest blending barbering with culture and community activism. The conversation touches on the evolution of local high streets, the intricate systems behind running a business, and Yasser's ambitions to expand Cov17 internationally to cities like Amsterdam and Berlin. Highlights include Yasser's emphasis on the importance of high streets, his diverse professional background, the positive impact of Cove17 on local communities, and his collaborations with his brother, Atiyah. The Episode closes by discussing future plans like barbering academies and more community-centered projects.

In this episode of Work This Way, host Adam Walker interviews Rhys Harris, an entrepreneur who transitioned from working within a large organisation to running his own email marketing agency, Fixate. The discussion covers Rhys' upbringing on a dairy farm, his initial disillusionment with a history degree, a pivotal shift to computer science, and his freelance work in web development. Rhys shares his experience of being offered a life-changing marketing job in London by Charlie Terry, his eventual co-founder of Fixate. They delve into the agency's focus on CRM marketing and its notable work with brands like Deliciously Ella. Rhys also discusses the impact of AI in email marketing, his future plans for Fixate, and his personal journey of overcoming a difficult period in his life. The episode concludes with advice on email marketing strategies and Rhys' interest in connecting with like-minded individuals.

In the first episode of Work This Way, host Adam Walker chats with Alice Coates, founder of the headhunting service Hatched, at Foundry Poole. Alice shares her journey from selling eggs from 400 chickens at 13 to running an international recruitment business. They discuss various topics including recruitment tips, her time on Junior Apprentice in 2012, and insights on thriving in Austin, Texas. Alice elaborates on the cultural differences between the UK and US work environments, emphasizing the entrepreneurial spirit in the US. She also discusses the importance of company culture in recruitment, her passion for sports, and her avid interest in farming and agricultural technology. Alice offers valuable advice on networking and the future of farming as well as insights into her company's work in software, aerospace, and defence sectors.

Welcome to Work This Way by FOUNDRY, a new business podcast having real, authentic conversations about work in the 21st Century. Join us every week for brand new guest and episode.