FastForward: Recent Episodes
FastForward
FastForward answers the questions that keep entrepreneurs awake at night. Hosted by Patricia Keating, programme director at Tech Manchester, this podcast features interviews with experts covering everything you need to know about starting a business including; branding, marketing, mentoring, funding and investment, recruitment and everything in between. Founders also share their experiences of startup life. Packed with tips and advice FastForward gives you all you need turn your business ideas into reality.
Crisis spawns Necessity. Necessity fuels Innovation. McKinsey & Co have reported that the pandemic response is that Companies are deprioritizing innovation to concentrate on four things: shoring up their core business, pursuing known opportunity spaces, conserving cash and minimizing risk, However in past crises, companies that invested in innovation delivered superior growth and performance postcrisis.
JFK once observed that the word “crisis” in Chinese is made up of two characters—danger, and opportunity. He may not have been entirely correct on the linguistics, but the sentiment is true enough. How do companies find creative ways to continue fund their innovative projects?
Dr Vivien Badout, CEO of DRIAD innovation consultancy for deep-tech start-ups and SMEs. and expert in innovation grant funding joins us to help answer that question
Website https://www.driad.co/ Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCceXHh0iIjRgPWkZ_Clschg
Ian Livingstone CBE is calling for schools to embrace games-based learning and digital creativity to help address the question of the growing skills gap facing employers.
Ian has had a hugely successful career built on his passion for games and gamebooks. He has partnered with the Aspirations Academies Trust. They have teamed up to launch The Livingstone Academy Bournemouth which will be rooted in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) Ian share's with us what happens when a game-obsessed entrepreneur meets education thought leaders and how they are preparing to up-skill the next generation. https://www.livingstone-aspirations.org/
2020 was one of the most challenging many of us will face in our lifetime. Whilst a little different, Christmas typically allows time to reflect and restore our energy levels with family . Batteries re-charged, how do we look forward to 2021 with positivity? New Lockdown measures announced last night (5th Jan 2020) means we need to dig deep. Even as lockdown eases, work patterns are set to remain blended with home and socially distanced office working. What tools and self-care can we deploy to maintain those energy levels for both ourselves and our employees? Emma-Louise Fusari founder of In-House Health provides employers with anonymised health data of their workforce to design targeted health initiatives and employee wellbeing. She’s taken her wealth of experience in chronic disease management and delivering public health programmes, to get on the front foot of mental and physical wellbeing She joins us today to share insights today on how to face the challenge of lockdown and eventually a healthier happier 2021 Show Notes : BusinessCloud Well-Being Story https://www.businesscloud.co.uk/opinion/five-gadgets-to-improve-your-wellbeing-in-2021/ Check out In-House Health and Digital Nurse In-House Health
Is burn out the real virus blog : https://inhousehealth.co.uk/is-burnout-the-real-virus-impacting-tech/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedigitalnurse/
Check out the radio show Check Up Tuesday
https://www.fabradiointernational.com/fab-radio-schedule/tuesday/inhouse-health-radio-show
Modern digital marketing is truly a maze. How do we navigate this?
There are cutting edge changes in algorithms and fast paced roll out tactics which will make your head spin. Then the strategic copycat nature of the wider social media industry where TikTok style features pop up as Reels in Instagram and so forth.
Tim Hyde, founder of Social Media Marketing agency, TWH Media to joins us today to help navigate the minefield and shares simple ideas on how to capture your audience attention
A recent survey by Engine has found that people are spending on average 10-30% more online as a result of the pandemic.
There is growth across all ecommerce categories in particular subscription and convenience services, which has seen growth in revenue 200% and conversion 140%
Tim is one of Manchester’s home grown success stories, He started his journey at LADbible at just 18 years old as the 11th staff member. ‘Employee of the Year’ at 19, before joining Social Chain and then launching his own consultancy. He help us get to grips with the rapidly growing focus on online retail and ecommerce
TWH Media - https://www.timwillhyde.com/
Brands Journal https://brandsjournal.com/the-valuable-role-ecommerce-social-media-marketing-will-play-in-keeping-businesses-afloat-during-lockdown/ Small Business.co.uk
https://smallbusiness.co.uk/5-tips-to-maximise-black-friday-sales-during-lockdown-2551604/
If there’s one positive to come of this year it’s that there’s been an eCommerce explosion with 61% of Brits admitting to shopping more online during lockdown. (*Retail Times)
But currently up to 40 per cent of clothing bought online is returned, compared with 5 to 10 per cent of in-store purchases.
Fashion prediction platform Dressipi is working to change that. It’s working with retailers like John Lewis, River Island and Topshop to help them predict what customers will buy and not return.
Co-founders Donna North and Sarah McVittie join me on this episode to talk about how technology is shaping the future of fashion.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Donna North and Sarah McVittie co-founders Dressippi https://dressipi.com/
For more information on personalisation and data in fashion:
https://dressipi.com/how-river-island-used-personalisation-to-deliver-revenue-increase/
https://dressipi.com/closer-look-at-our-data-insight-hub/
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ABOUT FAST FORWARD:
Hosted by Tech Manchester’s director Patricia Keating, FastForward shares the stories and expertise of business experts and founders at all stages of their business journey. It’s crammed full of practical advice on how to take your startup to the next level.
In 2012 Jolyon Bennett risked his home to launch his vision: a sustainable mobile phone accessories business. Some nail-biting moments followed but Jolyon's was handed a big break by John Lewis, just weeks before his money ran out.
John Lewis sold 2,000 units in the first week and Juice became the fastest selling brand they had ever launched.
Juice is now on a mission to not only ensure his company is manufacturing in a more sustainable way, but he is also rolling out an incentive to help others to do the same - including supermarket giant Tesco.
This year Juice became the first mobile phone accessories manufacturer to completely remove single-use plastic from its packaging. The company also launched completely compostable phone cases and is now working towards bringing their plant-based plugs to market.
Jolyon has been on an incredible journey from leaving school with a backlog of three months detention to leading the call for more sustainable business models. In this episode he shares what he's learned along the way and explains why more CEOs need to make the change to build a better world for all of us.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Joylon Bennett founder Juice https://www.juice.co.uk/
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Sixteen years ago Gayle Carpenter took a risk. She left the security and support of full-time employment as a design director to start her own creative and brand agency.
Just two weeks after launching Sparkloop Gayle found herself pitching to Red Bull UK. She won the contract and still counts Red Bull among her clients today along with some other household names including The Prince’s Trust, Prudential, Checkatrade, Homeserve and Asics.
Gayle has kept her vision, kept her team small and focussed, and has offices in London and Bath to maximise business opportunities.
In this episode she shares her personal business journey and the principles of how to create an authentic brand as well as giving her advice for women in leadership roles. Hint: It really is time to ditch the power suits!
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Gayle Carpenter, founder Sparkloop www.sparkloop.com
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Have you ever been hit with expensive transaction fees while using your card abroad? Having been burned on holiday by expensive card transaction charges the founders of Currensea decided there had to be a more convenient product.
The former investment bankers launched their new venture in January 2020, a perfect time, when many of us are planning annual holidays, to launch a product to cut the cost of transactions abroad.
However, just a few months later the world as we know it stopped and the travel industry was grounded.
The founders of Currensea had no choice but to adapt to the shifting landscape. And despite the obvious challenges the fledgling company onboarded 5,000 customers in quarter one alone and has achieved quarter-on-quarter cardholder growth of over 230%.
How have they done it?
Currensea’s founders James Lynn and Craig Goulding talk to Trish about their journey so far and discuss why there is never a good time to start a business!
Britain in Business report How COVID-19 and Brexit are affecting SMEs and advice on how they can power through this challenging time. Includes insight from Mastercard, Visa’s former CEO and the founders of Currensea.
https://www.currensea.com/britain-back-in-business/
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: James Lynn and Craig Goulding www.currensea.com
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Most founders have experienced failure, or will do so at some point in their journey. As Samuel Beckett wrote in Westward Ho: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
Currently around 60% of new businesses fail within their first few years and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to send business failure rates sky rocketing.
Jan Cavelle built a multimillion pound business from absolutely nothing. She also lost it all when her furniture went into administration in 2017 after 20 years of trading. But she has rebuilt her portfolio and now back on the road to success.
Jan talks to Trish about her journey, the advice she now shares with fellow entrepreneurs and why we must all stop viewing failure as a problem.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Jan Cavelle https://jancavelle.co.uk/
Scale For Success by Jan Cavelle, released in April 2021 by Bloomsbury. Pre order your copy below:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scale-Success-Insights-Growing-Business/dp/1472985559/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1605550492&refinements=p_27%3AJan+Cavelle&s=books&sr=1-1
Listening Time: 43 mins
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If you want someone at the helm to help navigate your SME through an economic storm, then Catherine Birkett CFO of Go Cardless is certainly someone you would want on board your ship.
She's helped businesses though two recessions, guided a telecoms company though the dot-com crash in 2000 and steered the disruptive technology fintech GoCardless through the highly competitive payments industry.
In this episode Catherine shares her approach to navigating the Covid-19 pandemic. Whilst an unfamiliar challenge, she believes the approach of scenario planning, keeping a level head, accepting mistakes, engaging stakeholders and keeping an eye on the bottom line is the key to survival.
Listen now to hear some valuable insight on how to guide your scaleup though this economic shock.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Catherine Birkett, CFO GoCardless https://gocardless.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-birkett-b897b812/?originalSubdomain=uk
Listening Time: 43 mins
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Running a business during a global health crisis is presenting business leaders with huge continuity challenges; making sure staff are safe, securing financial sustainability, assessing the resilience of supply chains and reinforcing crucial systems to support unprecedented levels of remote working. Restrictions are loosened and then tightened again, making it increasingly difficult to plan for the future. But business can’t stand still. So, as we head into a second national lockdown, what lessons can we take from this pandemic to prepare for the new normal? And how can organisations thrive in a post-crisis world? John Courtney is a strategy consultant and serial entrepreneur. He’s currently the CEO of boardroomadvisors.co.uk and is a non-exec director for five early stage businesses.
He measures his mistakes by his hairline and in this episode he shares what he's learned over his career journey and explains how to create an actionable plan to get out of the Covid-19 crisis by analysing strategy, tactics and actions.
Useful links:
Scale-Up Growth Diagnostic - https://boardroomadvisors.co/scale-up-growth-diagnostic/
Essential Guide to Scale-Up Challenges [E-Book] - https://boardroomadvisors.co/the-essential-guide-to-scale-up-challenges/
Business Strategy Toolkit [Free Download] - https://boardroomadvisors.co/business-strategy-toolkit/
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: John Courtney, founder Boardroom Advisors https://boardroomadvisors.co/
Listening Time: 40 mins
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Whether you are looking to expand your team or applying for a new job, there is an expectation that the recruitment process is fair.
But what happens when the final hiring decision is distorted by unconscious bias? Could you be biased without even realising it?
Dr Elsa Zegeng is a scientist and entrepreneur who is currently part of the executive team at recruitment startup Jobseekrs. Its primary purpose is to mitigate unconscious bias in the recruitment process and give everyone a chance at all job opportunities; regardless of race, name, ethnicity, gender or other factors.
With more organisations actively looking and taking steps to create a more inclusive workforce, Elsa shares her thoughts on what is already being done and what actions can be taken to make a long-lasting and meaningful change.
Listen now to discover how you can uncover your own unconscious bias.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Dr Elsa Zegeng, Jobseekrs https://jobseekrs.co.uk/
Additional links:
https://solidarityintech.co.uk/
https://burncic.org/
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html
Listening Time: 50 mins
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In 2012, Mark Wright landed in UK from his native Australia with a passion for business and just £172. Fast forward to today and Mark is now an award-winning, influential entrepreneur and self-taught digital marketing specialist.
Viewers of the BBC TV show The Apprentice will remember him as the 2014 winner. He secured the £250,000 investment and Lord Sugar as a business partner to found the hugely successful digital marketing agency, Climb Online. The company now boasts a multi million pound turnover.
But the road to success hasn't all been smooth. In the early days long hours and consistent pressure lead to Mark suffering from serious health problems. In this episode he share his tips to handle startup stress and why alongside hard graft and laser focus it’s so important to schedule time out from work.
This was scheduled to be our 105th episode but we liked it so much we decided to bump it up to number 104!
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Mark Wright, founder Climb Online https://climb-online.co.uk/
Listening Time: 50 mins
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According to a recent report by O2, the Covid-19 lockdown gave rise to around 200,000 new businesses. We know that crises give rise to unique conditions that fuel innovators to create rapid, impactful solutions.
That is certainly true of Valerie and Noel Moran. The couple founded Prepaid Financial Services in 2008, during the height of the last recession. At the time no one believed it would work. But with bootstrapping, hard graft and a ton of belief they proved the naysayers wrong. In 2019, PFS was sold for 327 million euros. Following the deal Valerie became the first black woman to be listed in the Sunday Times rich list.
In this episode Valerie and Noel talk to Trish about how they built the company from nothing, the importance of promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace and how they are now giving back by supporting youth charities in their local community and in Valerie's native Zimbabwe.
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Noel and Valerie Moran founders https://prepaidfinancialservices.com/en/
Listening Time: 45 mins
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When looking for furniture for her first apartment Deirdre McGettrick found it hard to look for specific items. Like so many founders she thought there had to be a better way.
So, in Deirdre left the corporate world behind to enter the highly competitive £25 billion furniture and homewares market and Ufurnish.com was born.
The business is now a team of 13, is partnered with more than 100 retailers including John Lewis and Dunhelm and has just raised £1.8 million in investment.
Covid-19 has also had a positive effect on furniture sales with more people spending time in their homes. In this podcast Deirdre shares her startup journey; from launching the business and having to rebrand to making key hires and why she is passionate about helping people to make their house into a sanctuary.
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Deirdre McGettrick, founder www.ufurnish.com
Listening Time: 45 mins
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SMEs are the engine of the economy. They account for the majority of businesses worldwide and are important contributors to job creation. In a post-Covid world SMEs are fundamental to getting the economy back on track.
OakNorthis a multi-billion dollar global fintech focused on unlocking the potential in SME lending. It understands the importance of supporting small and medium businesses through the pandemic. The bank itself has seen stratospheric growth from its inception in 2013.
In this episode OakNorth's Chief Information Officerexplains how the fintech are leading the way by approving more than £60 million in new loans since lockdown began in March and how Covid-19 will shake up the financial sector.
Sean also takes us on his own personal journey from jazz student to developer to the Vice President of Goldman Sachs - all within five years!
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Sean Hunter, CIO OakNorth https://www.oaknorth.co.uk/
Listening Time: 30 mins
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Update Description
For this special 100th episode of FastForward we speak to Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council.
We have heard stories from many visionary entrepreneurs and leaders on this podcast, but what does it take to lead an entire city? And just how do you take a city that's in economic collapse and transform it into the most livable city in the UK? (Economist Global Livability Index 2019)
Sir Richard was elected to leader of Manchester City Council in 1996, a date now etched in the city's history following the IRA bombing. Over the last 24 years he's overseen rebuilding and regeneration projects and helped to cement the city's reputation as a global economic player.
In this episode Sir Richard takes us on a journey though the past two decades, looking over some of his highlights and the many challenges he's faced and is continuing to encounter, particularly the impact of Covid-19. And with the transformation of Manchester still a work in progress Sir Richard explains why he wants future generations to say that the city is still not good enough.
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council
https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/who-we-are/leaders/sir-richard-leese/
Listening Time: 60 mins
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Business opportunities can appear anywhere at any time. But it’s one thing to spot an opportunity and another to take advantage of it and work to turn it into a success.
When the government announced the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme in August 2020, Michael Lawes and Jordan Ryan Madeley, founders of Sancus Group, saw an opportunity to use their already-developed platform to make a positive difference.
Seizing an opportunity got this small startup noticed by none other than the Chancellor of the Exchequer, within days they had built the Eat Out to Help Out app that was topping the app store, above Twitter and Uber, and was being used by hundreds of thousands of people across the UK.
But, after the national press ran the story, the app was overwhelmed with the number of users. Undeterred, Sancus Group worked around the clock and pulled in a few favours to get the app back up and running.
In this episode, Michael and Jordan share what the experience has taught them and how seizing one opportunity can pave the way for many more.
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Michael Lawes and Jordan Ryan Madeley, Sancus Group https://sancusinsights.com/
Listening Time: 35 mins
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If there was ever proof of the power of a positive mindset, Susan Morrice is it. She’s been on an incredible journey that’s taken her from Belfast to Belize, where she became the first person to discover oil, proving all the major oil industries wrong. They’d even spent $400 million in the process.
How did she do it? With the power of mindset. The belief that there was oil to be discovered and all that was needed to hit the jackpot was a different approach.
Susan used the ‘whole mind’ way of thinking to build her businesses Belize Natural Energy and created the private aviation company in XJet. A visionary and pioneer in the field of natural and sustainable energy she now travels the world sharing her experience and championing the Educo Holistic Model.
She shares her journey with Trish and explains why it’s important for entrepreneurs to be cheerleaders for each other.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Susan Morrice, geologist, explorer, entrepreneur
http://www.susanmorrice.com
http://www.belizenaturalenergy.bz
Listening Time: 45 mins
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Rachel Morgan Trimmer is an incredibly successful entrepreneur. She’s been in business for more than 15 years, built a global travel company and is a specialist career coach. Yet sometimes just getting though each day can be tough.
Rachel is a high functioning autistic and has ADHD. For years she went through life believing she was not normal and suffered severe and complex mental health issues as a result.
Now, Rachel views her neurodiversity as her superpower – because seeing the world in a different way to others is a help rather than a hindrance. Stats show that workplaces that employ neurodiverse people are 50% more productive than those that don’t. Through her coaching business Sparkle Class Rachel is using her experiences to help her clients – whether neurodiverse or neurotypical.
In this candid interview Rachel shares her experiences and struggles with Trish as well as the tools and techniques she's learned to deal with her differences.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Rachel Morgan Trimmer, founder Sparkle Class www.sparkleclass.com
Listening Time: 45 mins
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The failure rate of new businesses is perhaps an odd topic to be talking about on a podcast dedicated to supporting startup businesses, but it’s a figure that needs to be highlighted and the reasons for it understood.
Currently 80 percent of SMEs fail. If you’re in the top 20 per cent and survive your first year the chances of your business celebrating its 5th birthday are around 50-50.
Australian entrepreneur and business coach Tristan Wright has grown a kitchen-table startup to a seven-figure turnover, but it wasn't plain sailing. After he left his job in engineering to concentrate fully on his small business the Australian dollar plummeted leaving him $200,000 in debt. His marriage also broke down at the same time. He admits he dropped the ball.
Tristan joins Trish from Australia to share how he picked himself up and rebuilt both his business and his life and the valuable lessons he learned along the way.
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Tristan Wright, founder Evolve to Grow https://www.evolvetogrow.com.au/
Listening Time: 45 mins
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Accessing funding for your startup business isn’t easy. If you’re a white, university-educated male, your path to entrepreneurship is significantly less bumpy than if you’re a woman.
Currently, female-led businesses receive one per cent of all investment. Just one penny in every pound is invested in new businesses run by women - and there are even greater roadblocks to overcome if you’re a woman of black or ethnic origin.
A 2013 report by Warwick Business school found that black-owned businesses were more likely to be rejected for an overdraft and charged higher interest rates than white-owned counterparts. BuildHer is trying to change that. The crowdfunding platform was set up for women of black origin to be able to access the funds they need to start a business, project or innovation.
CEO DamiLola Soyoye chats to Trish about why she's passionate about building a platform to help women of ethnic or black origin shine and see their ideas flourish into successful businesses.
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: DamiLola Soyoye , founder BuildHer www.buildher.co.uk
YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCMObStR_owIg6FWlYxPGo9w
Listening Time: 50 mins
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If you’ve ever organised a group event, whether a family or corporate event you will understand how frustrating it can be to chase people for payments and you may even be left out of pocket. When Amy Whitell lost £80 after organising a baby shower, she decided there had to be a better way.
In May 2019 Amy quit her executive role at education publisher Twinkl to launch group payment app Collctiv, along with her co-founder Pete Casson.
As we move into an increasingly cashless society the app aims to take the hassle out of collecting money and can even collect payments in advance.
The business has recently closed a £140,000 funding round.
Amy chats to Trish about the journey to date, understanding the world of fintech, the art of pitching and how the business had an upsurge during the Covid lockdown even though group get togethers were illegal.
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Amy Whitell, co founder Collctiv https://collctiv.com/
Listening Time: 50 mins
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Is your child or children getting the education they need to survive in the 21st century? The world is changing fast, at this rate the jobs required in just five years don’t even exist yet in today's job market .
How do we equip the next generation with the right skills to be able to adapt and thrive?
Elizabeth Tweedale is passionate about challenging stereotypes. At school she captained the cheerleading squad and lead the computer science club.
Today, Elizabeth is CEO and founder of Cypher, a coding company for kids. Its mission is to empower children to confidently navigate the changing world around us by understanding the language of code.
Cypher has recently closed a funding round of £225k in investment following a period of growth in which it has pivoted to online classes.
In this episode Elizabeth shares her predictions for how future generations will create their own jobs, learnings from her own entrepreneurial journey, and tips for budding entrepreneurs.
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Elizabeth Tweedale, founder Cypher Coders www.cyphercoders.com
Listening Time: 50 mins
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After launching her travel business, Tripptee in January 2020, Tanya Nichol jetted of on the holiday of a lifetime. But Covid-19 struck and five days in Cameroon turned into five months and counting.
But the experience has been life changing for Tanya, both personally and professionally. She's learned to adapt to a new culture and focused on how her business can adapt to best meet the needs of travellers now.
In this podcast she shares her experiences and the lessons it's taught her; from running an online platform with limited electricity and internet connection to finding love when it was least expected.
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Tanya Nichol, founder TrippTee https://tripptee.com/
Listening Time: 30 mins
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
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'Always take your opportunities because you never know where they might lead.' - Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia.
Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia is the former CEO of Virgin Money. She started her career as an accountant, but her life took a different path after being introduced to Sir Richard Branson.
After 11 years at Virgin Money everything changed. The company was acquired by Clydesdale Bank and Dame Jayne-Anne found herself unemployed for the first time in her life. But it presented Dame Jayne-Anne with an opportunity to start her own business and she got to work building a digital bank.
Snoop launched in April of this year, in the middle of a global pandemic, and closed a £3.2 million funding round within its first week.
In this podcast Dame Jayne-Anne shares her career journey and the lessons she's learned along the way. She also chats to Patricia about how banking is evolving and explains the key to securing investment - and it involves kissing a lot of frogs!
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia, founder Snoop https://snoop.app/
Listening Time: 45 mins
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
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Is your business really harnessing the power of LinkedIn? With 25% increase in user activity on LinkedIn in the first quarter of 2020, there is no doubt that there is more interest in Linkedin as a platform for business than ever, not just for recruiting top talent, but to network, connect and sell.
Louise Brogan has been teaching entrepreneurs how to use LinkedIn to get leads and win business for more than seven years through her consultancy Social Bee to help others with their social media.
In this podcast Louise reveals the magic behind creating a stand-out LinkedIn profile that will have customers and clients reaching out to work with you.
Download Louise's FREE guide to using LinkedIn: www.socialbeeni.com/download
If you enjoyed this podcast feel free to leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/fastforward
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Louise Brogan, founder Social Bee Links www.socialbeeni.com, www.linkedin.com/in/louisebrogan
Listening Time: 45 mins
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Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Founders put a great deal of hard work and effort into pitching to potential angel investors. But once a deal is secured the work doesn't stop. Many angels are involved in the functioning of the startup in some capacity, therefore a strong relationship can help the business grow and thrive.
Angel investor Richard Law and Ben Davies, founder of data validation platform Vypr both understand the importance of a productive working relationship.
In this podcast, recorded prior to the Covid-19 lockdown, they share their insights into what makes a winning investment partnership for both angel and entrepreneur.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Richard Law, angel investor and chairman of Vypr and Ben Davies, founder of Vypr https://vyprclients.com/
Listening Time: 50 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
What will the car of the future look like? The automotive industry is currently experiencing a technological revolution. Vehicle manufacturers are focused on delivering electric, autonomous, connected cars and all with a completely new architecture.
Tamanna Haque, a senior data scientist at Jaguar Land Rover is at the cutting edge of the changes taking place within the automotive industry. But as a woman in the industry she is in the minority. Just 12 percent of the current engineering workforce in the UK are female, something Tamanna is passionate about changing.
Tamanna joins Trish on the podcast to mark this year's International Women in Engineering Day (June 23rd). She shares her career journey and discusses why more women need to consider a career in engineering to help shape and change the world we live in.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Tamanna Haque, Senior Data Scientist at Jaguar Land Rover
Listening Time: 30 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
What if socks could change the world?
In 2015 Josh Turner posed that question to his friends in a pub. Proving the answer has changed the course of his life. Stand4Socks was formed to be a force for good.
For every pair of socks sold online the company donates a specially engineered antibacterial pair to someone in need. Stand4Socks has now donated more than 50,000 pairs of socks to homeless shelters across the UK.
Recently Josh appeared on Dragons Den in the hope of securing some funding for Stand4Socks and his athleisure socks STRIDIES. He didn’t receive any funding but did get some really positive feedback from the Dragons.
Josh joins Trish to talk about that experience and his entrepreneurial journey to date - he's been forming and running businesses since he was 12 years old! He'll share his tips on how to build a sustainable and commercially viable social enterprise and of course to answer the question of whether socks really can change the world!
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Josh Turner, founder Stand4Socks - www.stand4socks.com
Listening Time: 36 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
What makes an angel investor part with their hard-earned cash and take a punt on a new business?
Angel investing in startups is accelerating helped by high-profile success stories like Uber, WhatsApp and Facebook.
Angels enjoy the process of investing in and supporting businesses and they often invest in businesses that will make a social impact. But it is important to remember that an angel is also looking for a return on their investment Elizabeth Gooch MBE founded global tech firm EG Solutions in 1988. The organisation was turning over £11 million when it was bought out in 2017.
She is now using her experience at the Tech Growth Factory to help turn young companies into thriving businesses and help founders to achieve their dreams. In this episode Elizabeth shares her insight on what it means to become an angel investor and what she looks for when considering investing in an early stage business. A must listen for investors and founders alike!
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Elizabeth Gooch MBE, https://www.linkedin.com/in/techinvestor/?originalSubdomain=uk
Listening Time: 60 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
If a business is to thrive and grow it must adapt. That is even more important in the current Covid-19 climate.
Most working parents understand the difficulty of juggling the demands of the office alongside the needs of your children. Even more so now with families trying to manage and adapt to working from home while homeschooling children.
Student Nannies solves the gaps in childcare that are difficult to fill. It was started by journalist Tracey Blake in 2017 after a chance meeting with two students while waiting for a train.
Tracey joins Trish to share her startup journey; how she turned an idea into a reality, developed a platform, raised funding and how Student Nannies has now pivoted to adapt to suit the COVID-19 way of working.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Tracey Blake founder and CEO Student Nannies https://studentnannies.com/
Listening Time: 30 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
We all understand the power of a good night's sleep and conversely the detrimental effect that a lack of sleep can have on our everyday lives.
When you’re in the early stages of growing a business it’s natural to want to put in all the hours - to pull an all nighter to finish that big pitch or get a website up and running - but if you don’t schedule time to rest and sleep it could ultimately lead to long-lasting damage to your health.
Aidan Kearney began his career in the police force in the Republic of Ireland. His passion for helping people, along with his background in psychology, led him to work with world renowned Professor Steve Peters, creator of the groundbreaking Chimp Paradox before he launched his own performance psychology consultancy, Malleable Mind.
In this podcast, recorded before the coronavirus lockdown, Aidan shares his top tips and habits to help unlock the power of your mind to ultimately reach your full potential.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Aidan Kearney, founder Malleable Mind https://malleablemind.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-kearney-a7684aa1/
Listening Time: 50 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
When was the last time you evaluated your sleeping surface? While a good mattress does not guarantee you a perfect night’s sleep it can help. In today's current crisis stress affects us all and no doubt impacts our sleep. We know sleep and rest are vital for maintaining good mental health.
Manchester startup Levitex has invented a completely new type of foam technology for pillows and mattresses, which according to the company offer a ‘gravity defying’ night’s sleep. Levitex has also worked with Olympic and Paralympic athletes to help aid rest and recuperation after a training session.
The business has raised funding on Kickstarter and reached its £10,000 target in just four days.
We needed to find out more! Levitex founder James Leinhardt joins Trish to chat about the business and how he is weathering the current economic uncertainty.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: James Leinhardt, founder Levitex Foams http://www.levitex.co.uk/
Listening Time: 50 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
We are living in interesting and difficult times. Everyone’s personal and business life has been turned upside down by COVID-19 pandemic to varying degrees.
We don’t yet know the full impact of this crisis. But its already been devastating to large numbers of people around the world and has had a significant impact on many businesses and supply chains. All of us are learning to adapt to a new way of living and working.
On the other side of the coin, studies have shown that more innovation happens during economically challenging periods. We’ve already seen alcohol manufacturers making hand sanitizer and Mercedes & McLaren Formula One teams using its engineering expertise to make ventilators.
Tony Banta is a systems engineer, innovation consultant, and host of the Client Whisperer Show. Beginning his career as a self-taught software developer, Tony quickly realized that the best code could never solve broader leadership issues within organisations. Today Tony works with other client-businesses to maximise client results, increase client retention, and streamline the client fulfillment experience. Tony’s writing has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, and Recruiter Magazine to name a few.
He shares his advice for how businesses can navigate through these turbulent times and emerge stronger than ever.
For more details on some of the topics discussed:
https://getclientprofit.com/efficiency-summit
https://legendaryclientleaders.com
For more information on Tony and his work, visit clientwhisperer.show
Covid-19 is throwing up an array of problems for all of us. The way in which we live and work has changed beyond recognition and the lockdown and isolation policies mean that many businesses have been forced to shut or downsize.
In Greater Manchester, 87% of companies say they have been negatively effected by Covid-19. Retail, hospitality and leisure has been hit especially hard.
But some sectors are experiencing huge growth. However, social distancing is making recruitment difficult with much of it being managed online.
In Greater Manchester, Employ GM are connecting employers who have urgent temporary vacancies with residents across Greater Manchester, who are available to start working straight away. The programme is supported by GC Business Growth Hub.
Trish is joined by Business Growth Hub director Richard Jeffery and Naomi Ilagoswa head of Employ GM to discuss how they are supporting businesses that are facing cash flow problems, staffing issues, interruptions with supply chains and the uncertainty over the future. They also discuss whether Covid-19 is an opportunity to change the way we work forever.
The government has introduced measures to help SMEs through the lock down measures in place due to Covid-19, but is it enough and where else can early stage founders turn for support in this extremely uncertain time?
The UK Business Angels Association is backing a campaign for action to save startups so that we don’t lose a generation of fledging businesses to Covid-19.
Trish co-hosts this episode with UKBAA CEO Jenny Tooth OBE to explore what more can be done to help the next generation of businesses to survive. They're joined by angel investor Nick Bate to find out how he is helping startups, what other angels are doing to save small businesses and how other potential investors can get involved.
Hosts: Patricia Keating and Jenny Tooth OBE
Guests: Nick Bate https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-bate-5626b1/
Listening Time: 35 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Business resilience is currently being tested to its limit. Covod-19 is taking a heavy toll on thousands of businesses, especially in the hospitality sector. Many have closed their doors indefinitely and furloughed their staff. But a few companies are pivoting to provide essential supplies to the frontline.
Responding to calls from police officers on the ground Didsbury Gin made the switch from spirits to hand sanitizer. It has now made more than one million bottles to help keep key workers safe.
Liam Manton co-founded Didsbury Gin in 2017 and the company experienced meteoric growth. Like many other businesses Didsbury Gin is now carving a path through these exceptionally chopping waters.
Liam speaks to Trish about how the company have pivoted, their plans for global expansion and the support available for businesses during Covid-19. Just ignore the fact he's recording the podcast covered in crisps.
Are you worried about the future of your business?
These are difficult and challenging times for every business owner and business leader.
The lockdown, the fear, and the uncertainty means your well laid out plans for the year have just gone out the window.
On top of that, you're having to manage everyone else's fears and expectations whilst putting on a brave face about your own. And what can you tell them when you're not certain yourself?
These are the words of Richard McMullan, founder of Entrepriseur. He’s currently helping companies to strategise to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on their businesses and re-position it to thrive, not just survive.
With our lives totally out of whack you may be finding it hard to switch off. Did you know that having four hours sleep compared to eight hours reduces your ability to make memories by up to 40%.
Richard also shares his tips on how to look after yourself, balance work and family life, reduce stress and improve your quality of sleep.
Start here to improve your cashflow:
http://entrepriseur.com/free-guide-to-improving-your-cashflow
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Richard McMullan, founder Entrepriseur https://entrepriseur.com/
Listening Time: 30 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Small businesses are the life blood of the UK's economy, but how do you sustain SMEs in a crisis? Covid-19 has dramatically changed the global landscape and there is a huge amount of uncertainty for business large and small.
For founders, the biggest challenge is keeping their teams safe while somehow trying to continue building momentum against this market adversity while ensuring there is enough cash in the bank to sustain their company for growth.
Throughout April we are dedicating the podcast to angel investment and this first episode answers some of the concerns that founders have in the current climate.
Trish is joined by Jenny Tooth OBE, CEO of the UK Business Angels Association, the trade body for angel and early stage investing, representing over 15,000 investors around the UK.
Jenny answers many of your questions around raising finance, the loan schemes available to businesses and how angels can help startups. She also provides a wealth of advice for entrepreneurs and investors at this extremely challenging time.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Jenny Tooth OBE, CEO of the UK Business Angels Association https://www.ukbaa.org.uk/
Listening Time: 60 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Have you ever lived with the weight of a secret? Amy Stanning did just that. She spent 50 years of her life pretending to be something she wasn't.
At just 12 years old Amy knew she was different. But, she suppressed that feeling for decades. Finally in 2009, she took the brave step to become her authentic self.
In this final episode of our Amazing Women series, Amy shares her journey, how it affected her personally and professionally and how she is now helping other businesses to become fully inclusive.
Key topics:
-
What is colleague inclusion?
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How organisations can be positive agents for change.
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The policies organisations can adopt to make truly inclusive spaces.
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Why your organisation should look at next practise rather than best practise.
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How colleague inclusion improves business performance.
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Advice for businesses wanting to improve their inclusion policies.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Amy Stanning, Consultant AS Associates
Listening Time: 60 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
When we recorded this podcast in February graphs documenting toilet roll usage was something we found amusing. Now we may all need Marion's formula!
In 2012 Marion Gamel left her high-flying corporate job at Google to press the reset button. In the previous seven years she had been one of the founding members of the firm's European marketing team and headed up Google's marketing operations in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Middle East & Africa.
But years of prioritising work had taken their toll, Marion experienced burn out and the time had come to step off the corporate ladder.
Rather than hamper her career the pause allowed Marion to reflect and rejoin the corporate world with a renewed sense of purpose.
Now a certified Executive Coach (WABC), mentor, digital advisor and non-executive director, Marion shares her impressive career journey and explains why taking time out is overlooked. However, when you find yourself making graphs about toilet roll you know that perhaps the time has come to go back to work!
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Marion Gamel, executive coach, www.mariongamel.com
Listening Time: 35 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Have you ever doubted your ability to have a seat at the table? Why do so many of us question why we deserve to be in the room while others take a seat regardless?
In her early twenties Dawn Embry was Director of Business Development, working with a number of large clients, including Selfridges. She questioned her seat, not because of her gender, but her age. To overcome her doubts she was forced to find her inner strength.
Now Director of Strategy and Performance at the global software services company Mobica, Dawn is passionate about helping other women to find their inner strength.
She shares her career journey, her passion for encouraging more women into tech and why now is an exciting time to work in the industry.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Dawn Embry, Head of strategy and planning, Mobica
Listening Time: 35 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
All of this month we’re talking to inspirational women, and Fey Ijaware is just that. She's built and empowered a community of community of coders and her story is all the more remarkable after she only discovered coding by accident while at the Coop Group.
Code and Stuff is working towards correcting the diversity imbalance within tech. The organisation creates an empowering space for women and non-binary people and make a career in tech more accessible.
In 2019, Fey was names as one of the 50 most influential, prominent and inspiring black voices in Tech.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Fey Ijaware, Code and Stuff https://codeandstuff-manchester.github.io/index.htmlv
Host: Patricia Keating
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
This month the FastForward podcast is dedicated to amazing women. In February we lost a phenomenal mathematical mind at the age of 101. Katherine Johnson’s precise calculations made space travel possible. With little more than a pencil and a slide rule she plotted the exact trajectories that would let Apollo 11 land on the moon in 1969. Yet, for decades afterwards almost no one knew her name.
We know that there is a gender imbalance in STEM fields and that one way to address this problem is to have visible and positive role models. It’s one of the areas the British Science Week, which runs from the 6th - 15th March, is focusing on. The ‘Smashing Stereotypes' campaign encourages STEM employees to share their stories about what they do in their day-to-day work.
Zara Hodgson joins Trish to do just that. She's the universities lead at the National Nuclear Laboratory and shares her career pathway which has allowed her to work on projects which involve exploring the depths of the ocean to outer space.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Zara Hodgson, National Nuclear Laboratory https://www.nnl.co.uk/
Listening Time: 42 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
The tech industry in the North West is growing at a stratospheric pace. The region is the largest tech cluster outside of London but its talent pipeline is struggling to keep up with demand. To help keep up with demand Greater Manchester’s Combined Authority have joined up with the Department of Culture Media and Sport to launch an innovative £3 million Fast Track Digital Fund. Its purpose is to accelerate technical learning for Manchester residents to allow them to enter the digital workforce for the first time. They seek out non-traditional organisations and business partnerships to deliver employer-led training to fill some of those gaps. Out of this the Tech Equity Consortium was born. Zainab Yazdani, Natalie Bird and Raji Kolluru are benefactors of the fund on the Tech Equity course being delivered by TAP Project, Heroworx, UKFast and Tech Manchester. On this podcast they share their stories and what motivates them to pursue a career in tech.
For more information about Tech Equity: https://techmanchester.co.uk/techequity
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Zainab Yazdani, Natalie Bird and Raji Kolluru
Listening Time: 35 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
'It's literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.' Napoleon Hill.
It's no secret that having a mentor can make a huge difference to entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders. The most successful people surround themselves with those they learn from. At Tech Manchester we’ve seen many a mentoring relationship flourish and witnessed the magic that can happen from a fantastic partnership.
So, if you’ve never had a mentor or are wondering how having one could benefit your business, this is the episode for you.
Trish is joined by Andy Hall and Jeff Bowcock from the GC Business Growth Hub. Andy is a mentoring relationship specialist, he's brokered 600 mentoring relationships and won several awards including Mentor of the Year Award.
Jeff is a business development manager and works in partnership with Be the Business to deliver a mentoring programme to SME businesses nationwide.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Andy Hall and Jeff Bowcock, GC Business Growth Hub https://www.businessgrowthhub.com/
Listening Time: 40 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Find out more about the programmes discussed in this podcast and to start your mentoring journey:
Be the Business – Mentoring for Growth (MfG) programme:
(Please note that the social media sites are owned & manged by Be the Business – The enquiry line & email are managed by The Growth Company) Website - https://www.bethebusiness.com/mentoring-for-growth/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/bethebusiness/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/bethebusiness - @bethebusiness
Enquiries via: btbmentoring@growthco.uk Telephone enquiries: 0161 359 3050 The Growth Company: Business Growth Hub – Mentoring programme Website - https://www.businessgrowthhub.com/services/leadership-mentoring
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/gcbusinessgrowthhub/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/gcbusinessgrowthhub/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/BizGrowthHub - @BizGrowthHub
Enquiries via: bgh@growthco.uk
Telephone enquiries: 0161 359 3050
Profit is the lifeline of small businesses. As your profits increase and become more predictable, your small business has a greater chance of surviving. Every day really does count when it comes to turning and increasing your profit margin and the quicker you can do it the better.
Alex T. Onalaja is co-founder of digital marketing agency TAD360. He's also a mentor, author and has been named in the top 50 inspiring, prominent and influential voices in UK black tech.
Alex found his calling after being turned down for 1000 jobs. Unsurprisingly his mental health suffered but he turned his disappointment into productivity by writing a book focusing on helping people to find their purpose.
He’s now an expert at coaching SME’s to grow business awareness and maximise profitability. Alex shares his journey with Trish and gives his tips for how to maximise profit in your business. Key takeaways:
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Marketing trends to leverage in 2020: https://thinkadesign.co.uk/top-digital-marketing-trends-to-leverage-in-2020/
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GDPR: https://thinkadesign.co.uk/what-is-gdpr/
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Content is king. Video content especially is important when engaging with your customers.
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Make your content voice-search friendly.
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Don't overlook mobile speed. People won't hang around waiting for your website to load. Start preparing for 5G now!
To order Alex's book: https://alextaiwo.com/product/lost-now-found/
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Alex T Onalaja co-founder TAD360 https://thinkadesign.co.uk/
Listening Time: 45 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
February is LGBT+ history month and to celebrate this episode features two people who are helping to give the LGBTQ+ community a voice within their organisation.
We know diversity and inclusion is one of the biggest challenges facing the tech industry, from the talent pipeline to products and services.
It’s no secret that when business consist of people from the same backgrounds, they often overlook diverse ideas, perspectives and considerations.
Rob Rawcliffe and Ebony Quow share their experiences of being gay, what impact it has had on their lives and careers and why they feel it's important to talk about their stories.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Rob Rawcliffe and Ebony Quow
Listening Time: 36 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
More Info:
LGBT+ History Month: https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/
How employers can support LGBT+ employees:
https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/employers/blog/10-ways-support-lgbt-employees/
Are you promoting you brand on social media but not seeing the results you like? Maybe it’s time to look at some selling strategies to reach your customers more effectively.
Social is, of course, a critical part of any business strategy. 45 million people in the UK are now active on users, that’s 67% of the population. It’s one of the best ways to connect with people who already love your brand and is also a vital way of reaching those who haven’t heard of your business yet.
But how do you use social to effectively generate leads and boost sales?
Alex Brown and Joe Gradwell are co-founders of social media marketing agency Campfire. They’ve grown audiences from just a handful to millions of users and share their tips on how to get started with social selling.
Key takeaways:
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Be clear about what you are trying to achieve.
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Keep it short and snappy. Content needs to be shareable and engaging
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Understand organic vs paid reach
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Keep up with the pace of change on social
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Alex Brown & Joe Gradwell co-founders Campfire
https://campfire.co.uk
Listening Time: 36 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
When you’re building your company it can be difficult to decide whether to build your personal brand alongside that of your business. In fact, often the profile of a founder gets overlooked. But your personal brand is one of the most valuable assets you can control. It can help you to establish credibility, increase your influence, generate sales, attract partnership conversations and expand your professional network. In short, a personal brand can help you to find focus and achieve your goals.
Nikki Scrivener has more than 20 years experience in PR, communications and crisis management spanning several sectors including technology, retail, not for profit and professional services. Nikki co-founded Fourth Day PR in 2011, which is now based in six countries around the world.
Nikki shares her advice on where to start with creating your personal brand, how to build credibility, and how much you should reveal about yourself!
Top takeaways:
- What is your outward persona? Say true to yourself.
- Make sure content aligns to your brand values.
- Pick a couple of topics you can become an expert on.
- Set a few goals to work towards.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Nikki Scrivener, co-founder Fourth Day PR https://www.fourthday.co.uk
Listening Time: 30 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
One of the most common questions we get asked at Tech Manchester is about raising business finance and getting investor ready. Raising capital isn't easy, it’s a competitive marketplace for startups – so how do you stand out in a sea of many?
Abigail Britnell is a recruitment industry influencer, published author and advocate for women in business. With more than15 years in the recruitment industry, she now follows her passion for investing in and facilitating recruiters who have the desire to start their own independent recruitment business as a part of We are SSG.
Fortune favours the prepared founder and Abigail shares her advice on how to get your startup investor ready, whatever the sector.
Key takeaways:
- Writing your Business Plan: do your research, understand your numbers, demonstrate who you are and your vision, make it clear and concise. Don’t waffle
- Understand your Pitch deck and use one theme
- Include endorsements and testimonials
- Let your personality shine through
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Abigail Britnell, recruitment industry influencer https://wearessg.com/portfolio/abigail-britnell/
Listening Time: 26 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Nate Bailey is on a mission to inspire others to be better, do more and produce results that really matter.
Nate is a best-selling author and entrepreneur, having built multiple successful businesses in both insurance and real estate. He recently fulfilled his long-time dream of selling his insurance agency to follow his dream of being a full-time coach.
Prior to becoming an entrepreneur Nate was a Lieutenant, serving in the United States Army. As a Platoon Leader during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Nate was charged with the safety and leadership of 42 soldiers as they served in Kuwait.
In this podcast Nate explains his simple philosophy on life - "live you what you teach." He shares how its possible to push beyond your comfort zone to create a winning mindset and put yourself on the path to success in all areas of your life.
Key takeaways
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Look back and celebrate how far you've come. Appreciate the wins, however small.
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Look to the future and decide what it is you really want. Write down your goals and start taking steps towards them.
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Acknowledge your vulnerabilities and face them.
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We all have the power within us to create the person that we want to be. Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Nate Bailey - author, entrepreneur, coach http://www.natebaileyspeaks.com/
Listening Time: 35 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
'Entrepreneurship is not an elite sport, it's a sport for everybody.'
Manchester has been a hub of innovation since the industrial revolution. With its thriving business landscape, collaborative approach to getting things done and and low operating costs it's a competitive location for business expansion and creation.
Tony Walker is deputy director of the Masood Enterprise Centre at the University of Manchester which helps to develop entrepreneurial startups and unlock talent. In this episode, recorded at Huckletree in Manchester, Tony speaks to Trish about the startup scene in the city, why work spaces are vital to successful incubation of new businesses and why the private sector needs to support a startup environment.
Top takeaways for entrepreneurs:
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Remember you're on a journey. You may take a few wrong turns and hit some dead ends but its important to keep going.
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Get people on board. Often a shared journey is more rewarding.
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Get yourself out there.
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Validate everything.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Tony Walker, deputy director of the Masood Enterprise Centre https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/study/masood-enterprise-centre/
Listening Time: 30 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Hiring and developing great people is one of the toughest challenges you face when building and running a company. At the same time we all know that having the best people on the bus can sometimes decide between the life and death of your company.
HR consultant Olga Crosse has more than 20 years' experience in the industry. One of the most common problems she comes across is well meaning founders who think they are different, they trust their employees and truly believe that staff problems won’t affect them. A belief that is all well and good until someone throws a spanner in the works.
Problems range from serious allegations of discrimination to issues with someone coming in late, hungover or not at all because the dog chewed their phone, or their fish is sick, or their gran has died for the third time. The list of potential issues is endless and many are almost inevitable.
In this episode Olga shares some of the most common mistakes she sees founders make and discusses how they can be avoided or solved.
Top takeaways:
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Anything can happen when you're dealing with people
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Make sure you have written contracts
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Don't overlook references
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Tackle any issues immediately, ignoring them will only make the problem worse
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HR help doesn't need to be expensive. Find someone who can roll their sleeves up and get stuck in on the ground.
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Every problem can be solved!
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Olga Crosse, founder Crosse HR http://www.crossehr.co.uk/
Listening Time: 35 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
If you’re running a business chances are you’re selling something, whether that is a product or a service, or both. But, have you stopped to think about if you are maximising your potential profit by selling effectively?
Carole Gillespie is founder and CEO of People buy from People (PbfP) and the author of Flying Start: How to Make your Own Luck at Work.
During her career Carole has helped to grow a specialist change and programme management business from a turnover of £2 million to £15 million with virtually no competitive tendering and limited sales resource. She claims she’s never sold anything to anyone. In fact, she says throughout her career people have bought from her!
She is passionate about helping businesses 'punch well above their weight' through developing fair, lasting and productive relationships, ultimately making businesses more valuable and attracting investment for growth. In this episode she shares her tips to become an exert that people want to buy from.
Top takeaways:
-
Try not to concentrate on helping people to understand what you do, instead help them to understand how what you do is relevant to them. To do that you must ask the right questions.
-
Learn to think like a duck! (QCRSSS) Questions, Conversations, Relationships, Support, Sponsorship, Sales.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Carole Gillespie, founder People buy from People https://peoplebuyfrompeople.co.uk
Listening Time: 28 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Chi-chi Ekweozor is a social media marketer turned front end developer and software engineer. She started Assenty in January 2016 after witnessing firsthand the difficulty in prioritising questions submitted when the audience was invited to send in questions for conference speakers via SMS.
Assenty was designed to solve the problem of answering questions from an audience and a lot of thought, painstaking care and attention to detail to what event organisers want from a Q&A platform has been poured in to it. The platform has been used by a range of companies including PwC and BusinessCloud Magazine.
Chi-Chi talks with Trish about her startup journey so far, the challenge of raising funding and shares the advice she has learned along the way.
Key takeaways:
-
Really think about whether you need a co-founder. Do as much as you can manage on your own before making that step.
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Don't forget how far you've come. Take time to reflect on your business journey.
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Be careful about setting artificial deadlines and putting yourself under undue pressure.
-
Be open minded to change.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Chi-Chi Ekweozor, founder Assenty www.assenty.com
Listening Time: 48 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Growing up in Zimbabwe Codilia Gapare dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but the odds were stacked against her. As the country descended into political turmoil Cody's ambition to go to university became even more remote.
Following the breakdown of her relationship she made the difficult decision to move to the UK, leaving her young son behind.
After working hard to carve out a better life for herself and her family Cody was in touching distance of realising her dream of becoming a lawyer at the age of 36.
But just hours before her interview for Manchester Metropolitan University Cody was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although she was offered a place her illness forced her to drop out.
The experience of chemotherapy sparked a business idea and C-Lash was created.
In this podcast Cody shares she journey from refugee to cancer survivor to entrepreneur and motivational speaker.
Key quotes:
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On the decision to leave Zimbabwe: 'I either stayed with [my son] and starved with him, or I went to find a better life for the both of us.'
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Following her cancer diagnosis: 'I can't let a chapter of my life rewrite the whole book of my life.'
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Through chemotherapy 'I found out what I was capable of.'
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'My best advise to anyone thinking of starting a business is to just start.'
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'Reach out to others and value the community around you.'
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'Be authentic and remember it's okay to be vulnerable.'
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Cody Gapare, founder C-Lash
Listening Time: 40 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
When it comes to business financing there are several options available to founders. One trend which is gathering momentum is platform cooperatives. But, what are they and what types of businesses are suited to this type of model?
A platform co-op is a digital platform designed to provide a service or sell a product - that is collectively owned and governed by the people who depend on and participate in it.
To explain more about how the model works, what types of businesses can explore this type of funding and the benefits of a cooperative model Trish is joined by James de le Vingne, senior projects manager at Co-operatives UK and Emma Back, co-founder of Equal Care co-op, which to date has raised £410,000.
Key Questions:
-
What are platform co-ops?
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What types of businesses are suited to a platform co-op model?
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What does shared ownership mean? How does it work?
-
The advice for founders looking to invest in the co-op model
-
What are the fundamentals for a co-founding team?
If you'd like more information visit:
www.uk.coop
www.unfound.coop
www.equalcare.coop
www.uk.coop/resources/platform-…g-capital-conundrum
platform.coop/
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: James de le Vingne, senior projects manager Co-operatives UK and Emma Back founder Equal Care Co-op
Listening Time: 40 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Becoming a professional footballer is a dream for hundreds of thousands of children in the UK. But the sobering reality is that less than half of 1% of children that enter an academy at nine years old make it to the big time.
To put it another way of the 1.5 million players taking part in organised youth football in England, only 180 of them will make it as a Premier League professional.
To reach the big time you need talent and drive but also access to information about training and other elite-level resources, which aren’t readily available.
Following a career which took him to Manchester City and Wigan, Julian Dowe is changing that. Football4football is a comprehensive professional information resource centre which footballers can access online for free. It also has the backing of former Manchester United footballer, Ryan Giggs.
Julian's recently secured £150,000 investment to help drive the platform forward, In this podcast he shares the journey of his career and what inspired him to create something to boost the experience of everyone involved in the game of football, from grassroots to top flight.
Key takeaways:
-
Don't be put off by the lows, persevere and things will happen.
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Stay true to your brand values
-
Understand your business
-
Don't be afraid to get stuck in and wear several hats at once.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Julian Dowe, founder Football4football
Listening Time: 31 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Right now there are around two million women waiting to start a business. Forecasts show that if all these would-be entrepreneurs were given the same access to support and funding as their male counterparts, the UK economy would see a £100 billion boost over the next 10 years.
Yet their path from idea stage to startup to scaleup is often filled with barriers.
So, why is it so difficult for women to get started and secure investment?
To help answer that Trish is joined by Jenny Tooth, CEO of the UK Business Angels Association, the trade body for angel and early stage investing, representing over 15,000 investors around the UK.
Jenny has over 20 years’ experience of facilitating SMEs access to investment, both in the UK and internationally. She is also a passionate campaigner for better access to investment for female founders.
Jenny speaks to Trish about why it's vital to create more opportunities for women to start investing.
Key takeaways:
-
The changing investment landscape
-
Busting the myths about investing - you don't need to be rich
-
Helping build opportunities to encourage more female investors
-
Why more women need to talk about investing and their own portfolio
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Jenny Tooth, CEO UK Business Angels Association
Listening Time: 24 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Mental Health is something we all have. When we enjoy good mental health we are able to make the most of our potential, cope with what life throws at us and be fully present in relationships, at work and in the community.
Alarmingly mental ill health can begin to manifest at a young age – it affects one in eight children and young people and half of all mental health problems are established by the age of 14.
Team Mental Health was founded by two doctors who realised that the way we perceive and manage mental health can impact on the ability of a person to achieve their potential.
Dr Libby Artingstall and Dr Sile McDaid realised that for real differences to me made, it is vital that the front lines in our communities feel empowered and supported.
Five Ways to Well Being:
-
Be Active
-
Stay Connected
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Be Present and in the Moment
-
Be Curious and Keep Learning
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Kindness and Gratitude
If you need to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this podcast there are are number of free resources. Don't suffer in silence.
-
Mental Health tools for Employers wakelet.com/wake/83f5bcaa-fd73-…0-92e0-241170e54fcf
-
Mental Health Resources wakelet.com/wake/7300eaa4-45a3-…9-83c1-c529faa2cb89
-
Samaritans www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help…eing-workplace/
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NHS Mental Health Helplines www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-a…l-health-helplines/
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Dr Libby Artingstall and Dr Sile McDaid founders of Team Mental Health www.teammentalhealth.co.uk
Listening Time: 30 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Technology allows us to work from anywhere at any time, but the ability to work flexibly and always be connected can make it harder to have a mental and physical switch off from work.
This always-on culture can also have a detrimental effect on our well being. A recent study found almost a third of workers find it difficult to “switch off” from work in their personal time, putting them more at risk of becoming stressed or burnt out.
So, how do we maintain a healthy work-life balance in the digital age?
After seeing the effects of burnout first hand, Maria Mander left the corporate world behind to focus on helping people to make positive changes in their lives.
She trained as a wellbeing coach and now gives workplaces and individuals the guidance they need to create sustainable and healthier habits.
Key questions:
What are the signs of burnout?
Why is our mental health suffering so much now?
How do we create sustainable habits for a healthy work/life balance?
What can individuals and workplaces do to increase wellbeing?
If you need to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this podcast there are are number of free resources. Don't suffer in silence.
-
Mental Health tools for Employers wakelet.com/wake/83f5bcaa-fd73-…0-92e0-241170e54fcf
-
Mental Health Resources wakelet.com/wake/7300eaa4-45a3-…9-83c1-c529faa2cb89
-
Samaritans www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help…eing-workplace/
-
NHS Mental Health Helplines www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-a…l-health-helplines/
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Maria Mander, Mander Wellbeing www.manderwellbeing.com/
Listening Time: 34 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
WARNING: This podcast contains discussion of suicidal thoughts that some listeners may find distressing.
Alice Lyons has battled with depression since she was a teenager. She experienced thoughts of suicide but the feelings of guilt and shame surrounding this prevented her from seeking help. At the age of 25, Alice suffered a mental breakdown as a result of burnout and depression. Following this traumatic event Alice found her voice.
Dark Coffee was launched in 2018 to start unfiltered conversations around mental health. It began as a podcast to help people gain a deeper understanding about mental health and to offer practical advice on recognising and managing feelings.
In this episode, Alice shares her personal journey and offers advice on how business leaders and communities can develop a more positive mental health culture.
Key takeaways:
-
Think about yourself first. To be the best leader you can be, it’s important to have clarity.
-
Reach out to others. Value the community around you.
-
Be authentic. It’s okay to be vulnerable.
If you need to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this podcast there are are number of free resources. Don't suffer in silence.
-
Mental Health tools for Employers wakelet.com/wake/83f5bcaa-fd73-…0-92e0-241170e54fcf
-
Mental Health Resources wakelet.com/wake/7300eaa4-45a3-…9-83c1-c529faa2cb89
-
Samaritans www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help…eing-workplace/
-
NHS Mental Health Helplines www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-a…l-health-helplines/
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Alice Lyons, Dark Coffee
Listening Time: 40 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
All of us have times of stress, loss, failure or trauma in our lives. But how we respond to these has a big impact on our wellbeing. We often cannot choose what happens to us, but in principle we can choose our own attitude to what happens.
Christoph Spiessens was just 10 years old when he was sexually abused. The trauma he suffered, at the hands of someone in a position of trust, put Christoph on a path of spiritual inquiry.
He discovered that traditional tools for resilience, motivation and happiness are failing. People still feel lost, confused and anxious. Teams are still working in silos. What they want to understand better is who they are, why they are here, and how they can use that understanding to turn ordinary lives into extraordinary experiences.
In this episode the published author and mindfulness coach shares his practical advice to reset your mind and the best ways to use coping strategies: ‘Without you there is no business so keep yourself in the best shape you can.’
Key Questions:
-
What is mindfulness?
-
How can we apply mindfulness in our own lives?
-
Why are people not opening up about their mental health?
-
What is ichi-go itchi- e and how does that help us engage with co-workers differently?
-
How is wellbeing linked to collaboration and productivity?
WARNING: This podcast contains sensitive themes around abuse which some may find distressing.
If you need to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this podcast there are are number of free resources. Don't suffer in silence.
-
Mental Health tools for Employers wakelet.com/wake/83f5bcaa-fd73-…0-92e0-241170e54fcf
-
Mental Health Resources wakelet.com/wake/7300eaa4-45a3-…9-83c1-c529faa2cb89
-
Samaritans www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help…eing-workplace/
-
NHS Mental Health Helplines www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-a…l-health-helplines/
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Christoph Spiessens www.christophspiessens.com/
Listening Time: 45 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Starting a business is never easy. The long hours, sleepless nights, constant bootstrapping and the never-ending worry. The stress is immense. The pressure breaks people, but it doesn’t have to.
Mental health is something we all need to be mindful of. Unfortunately, with so much stigma still surrounding ‘mental illness’ it becomes too easy to ignore. But that doesn’t need to be the case. By talking and sharing our stories we can break down those barriers.
During October we are focusing on mental health in the workplace. We’re talking with founders who have experienced mental health issues and the so called burnout and experts who give tips on how to maintain good mental health and look after yourself during times of intense pressure.
In the first of the series, Jordan Appleson, the founder of Hark shares his story with Trish. The business, a cloud-based platform which allows businesses to monitor, store and analyse sensor data in real-time, has just signed up its third Fortune 500 client. But the journey hasn’t been an easy one for Jordan, who was sometimes scared to wake up in the morning for fear of what the day may bring.
If you need to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this podcast there are are number of free resources. Don't suffer in silence.
-
Mental Health tools for Employers wakelet.com/wake/83f5bcaa-fd73-…0-92e0-241170e54fcf
-
Mental Health Resources wakelet.com/wake/7300eaa4-45a3-…9-83c1-c529faa2cb89
-
Samaritans www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help…eing-workplace/
-
NHS Mental Health Helplines www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-a…l-health-helplines/
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Jordan Appleson, Hark harksys.com/
Listening Time: 45 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Imagine your perfect world in video. The stuff you love all in one place. Wattl is doing just that. The tech startup is changing the way that users interact with video content.
Fed up with the linear and restrictive content feeds used by YouTube and Facebook, Wattl providers users with an interactive grid to create video worlds.
The platform uses artificial intelligence and cloud-based technology to help users create communities.
Husband and wife co-founders Emma and Matthew Ryan, who have previously developed apps and platforms for the BBC and Universal Pictures, have been building the app for two years.
In this episode Emma shares her vision for the video discovery platform, the challenge of building a building a business while raising a family and her plans to raise angel investment.
Key takeaways:
-
Believe in your idea and keep going
-
Be resilient, don't let the pressures get you down
-
It is possible to mange building a startup alongside family commitments
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Emma Ryan, co-founder Wattl
Listening Time: 26 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Building a business to help others is far from easy. It's one thing to help solve a problem with a product; it's another to solve a problem and make a social impact or even a dramatic social change.
Every business journey has its challenges and in the case of Freshrb the biggest challenges have shaped the business for good. This is a startup story of two founders who’ve used their experiences of suffering serious health challenges to help others.
Freshrb is a social enterprise which raises awareness of marginalised health conditions through video production and the Silent Elephant Project.
In this podcast the founders, Mr Babz and Kondwani share their stories and vision for creating a more aware and understanding society through the power of film. They'll also explain how they've received funding, so far the business has been supported by a startup loan, a grant and has launched a crowdfunding campaign.
Top takeaways:
-
How a major life experience can shift perspective and even lead to an idea for a business
-
Securing funding for a social enterprise
-
Find out more about The Silent Elephant Project www.crowdfunder.co.uk/silent-elephant-project
-
Funding Central: www.fundingcentral.org.uk/default.aspx
ATTEND THE NEXT SILENT ELEPHANT PROJECT SCREENING:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dementia-awa…ts-73099826549
Short Films
Taylor's Shadow - www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0787RKR6Y/re…dp_mnMuAbV9SE8DC
Why ME? - www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRrmeuTQbLI&t=
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Oladamola Babalola (Mr. Babz) and Kondwani Chirwa, founders Freshrb www.freshrb.com/
Listening Time: 43 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Once upon a time, there were two single women, in their thirties, living in a flat and consuming far too much cheese and red wine on a Friday night in Manchester.
After experiencing many insensitive comments from people about their ticking biological clocks and needing to find a man, they thought ‘Actually, where do you go to find out more about fertility?’ and the seed for Dr Fertility was planted.
After founding the business in 2018 co founders Kobi McCardle and Dr Lucy Buckley raised £1 million seed investment.
In this podcast they share their journey of founding a business, the experience of pitching to investors and the need to inspire more female founders.
Key takeaways:
-
The process of raising investment
-
The benefit of having a business mentor
-
Why more women need to be inspired and supported to start businesses
-
Making a first hire
-
Leaving enough time to understand and complete the legal side of an investment deal
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Kobi McCardle and Dr Lucy Buckley founders, Dr Fertility www.drfertility.co.uk/
Listening Time: 54 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Have you ever left a meeting, call or client visit and wondered what on earth that person was even talking about? I’m sure you can think of at least one occasion!
Clear and effective communication is one of the easiest ways to reduce workplace stress, boost productivity and build better relationships with co-workers and customers.
Whilst we all benefit from working with diverse people, to work in harmony we need to speak the same language.
In this episode Ashley Boroda, a qualified iMA coach and specialist communication trainer, decodes communication styles and shares the secrets of effective communication to help you employ the right people for the right jobs and skyrocket your business.
Key takeaways:
-
Why it's important to understand different communication styles - in life and business
-
What iMA is
-
How to understand your colour, categorise those around you and tailor your communication style accordingly
-
How iMA and colours relate to job roles
-
How to colour code your board
-
3 important rules for presentations
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Ashley Boroda, founder Ashley Boroda Training and Development www.ashleyboroda.com/
Listening Time: 40 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Lydia Jones started her first business at just 15 years old. Her experience of school was lonely and isolating. So, she made the decision to leave and follow her passion. After launching and growing one business she then encountered a problem which she knew she had to solve.
The teenager from Liverpool saw international students being exploited by greedy agents and unscrupulous landlords and decided to do something about it.
Housemates was founded in 2018 to make the lives of landlords and students easier, providing an end-to-end accommodation solution.
Lydia shares her entrepreneurial journey; her inspiration and motivation, the lessons she’s learned along the way, the challenges she’s overcome and her vision for the future.
Key takeaways:
-
The importance of iteration
-
Age is just a number
-
Why mentors matter
-
Why resilience in business is key
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Lydia Jones, founder Housemates
Listening Time: 60 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Starting a business is tough. But starting a business on the brink of a recession can bring a whole new set of challenges.
Recruitment firm Adam had been trading just four years when it was hit hard by the recession in 2009. The company went through a rocky time and weathering the storm also had a deep personal impact on its founder, Leon Milns. His mental health suffered and the stress led to the breakdown of his marriage.
Adam not only survived but grew stronger. Today, the firm has offices in Manchester and London and has grown to team of 20 recruitment specialists.
In this episode Leon talks openly about both the business and personal challenges he faced during the economic downturn and the lessons he’s learned from that period.
He also shares his thoughts on workplace culture, how its evolving and how the best companies are attracting and retaining top talent.
Key takeaways:
-
The impact of a recession on a startup and founder
-
Overcoming challenges and learning from them
-
Expanding a business into difference cities
-
How workplace culture is evolving
-
How the best companies attract and retain top talent
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Leon Milns, founder Adam www.weareadam.com/
Listening Time: 35 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Exhibitions can be a great way of generating new leads and gaining exposure for your business. After you have spent time, effort and money into planning your exhibition – you want to make sure that you get people to your stand to engage with your brand or product.
It’s a fantastic way to increase your sales pipeline, bring in new and repeat customers, and generate sales revenue. But are you maximising every opportunity before, during and after the event?
Lee Ali is the founder of Expo Stars, a company that helps businesses generate more quality leads by taking a different approach to exhibiting. His team have now managed over 3000 projects in 53 countries worldwide.
He shares his knowledge of how to best approach trade shows and how to persuade those potential customers to sign on the dotted line.
Key takeaways:
-
Planning a strategy for getting the most out of exhibitions
-
Why your sales team may not be the best people to work the floor
-
The 5 motivators that encourage people to buy your product or service
-
The common mistakes that companies make at exhibitions and how to avoid making them
-
Learn how to politely end a conversation and move on!
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Lee Ali, founder Expo Stars www.expostars.com/
Listening Time: 72 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Do you need a killer marketing strategy? If you're struggling to create an effective strategy from scratch, this episode is for you.
To skyrocket your business to the next level, you'll need a solid marketing plan. In this episode we share the steps you need to get your business noticed and take it to the next level. Learn why marketing plans fail and how to ensure yours doesn't.
Mike Pye is founder of Mike Pye + Co that, according to the website, helps to make marketing brilliantly accessible.
Top Takeaways:
-
Where to start with your marketing plan
-
Where businesses fail when it comes to marketing
-
The three pillars for effective marketing: Plan, Produce, Polish
-
Why you should think about incorporating recruitment into your marketing plan
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Mike Pye, founder Mike Pye + Co www.mikepyemarketing.com/
Listening Time: 34 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
entrepreneur
Renée Watson is a founder with a purpose, she’s on a mission to give one million children a wonder-filled experience of science. Her passion for science began when she was just 6 years old in rural Australia. Following a career in scientific research she launched The Curiosity Box in 2015 – the UK’s first STEM subscription box aimed at making science more accessible for children.
What a journey it’s been for Renée. After coming to the UK with just £16 in her pocket, last year she was named one of Melinda Gates’ six women in STEM to watch in 2018 and she also managed to close a £250,000 funding deal – in a day!
In this podcast she shares her journey of how she turned her passion into purpose.
Key takeaways:
-
If you have a passion, don’t give up on it, no matter how difficult the circumstances
-
The difficulties of running a business and juggling family life
-
How belief can make it happen
-
Approaching funding rounds with creativity
-
Why founders need to be more honest about the challenges as well as their successes
Watch Renee's TEDx Talk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzdPqC3YQB8
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Renée Watson www.curiosity-box.com/
Listening Time: 51 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Behind every successful businesses are good relationships. To grow a business its vital to build relationships with a wide range of people including investors, peers, employees and of course, customers.
Building long-lasting relationships takes time, effort and focus but the key skills for developing and maintaining relationships can be learned.
Kirsty James is a business consultant who works one-to-one with small businesses on networking strategy and skills training. She also run Colony Networking events in Warrington, Liverpool and Chester.
Kirsty James shares her top tips for building key relationships which center around the 'C' word...
Top Takeaways:
-
Why good business networks are vital for startups and small businesses
-
Knowing your 'why' to start networking
-
How to maintain relationships after that first meetup
-
The 'C' words you need to remember
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Kirsty James
Listening Time: 42 mins
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Twitter: @tecmcr
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Research has shown that companies which recognise the importance of profit, planet and people can maintain a profitable, growing business while also making a social impact.
In June, representatives from Greater Manchester’s business community took a very Mancunian message to London as part of the Geatahead festival. Hosted at the Omeara live music venue near London Bridge, Getahead is a fast-growing not-for-profit mental health event with a 25-year plan to positively impact a billion people.
Getahead 2019 featured a wide range of expert speakers, practical productivity workshops and interactive activities which linked together mindfulness, workplace wellbeing and better financial health.
A special discussion panel, entitled Profit, Planet, People – how Greater Manchester is embracing inclusive growth to transform its communities and empower its people, was also part of this year’s programme.
Patricia Keating joined Richard Jeffrey, Director of Business Growth at the Growth Company, Elizabeth Vega, Group CEO of Altrincham-based Informed Solutions, and Neil Robinson, Group CSR & Future Airspace Director for Manchester Airport Group (MAG).
The aim of the session was to showcase the rapid progress Greater Manchester is making on the adoption of inclusive growth as a guiding, strategic principle.
Key Takeaways
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Greater Manchester’s commitment to inclusive growth
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Projects designed to encourage positive employees and productive citizens
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Why it matters to a national audience
Host: Patricia Keating
Listening Time: 36 mins
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Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Mindset is vital to achieve success, whether you're a CEO, founder or you're just thinking about launching your own business. Deciding how your day will unfold before you even leave for the office has a powerful impact on the type of day you will experience. After all, if your mind isn't right your decisions won't be right.
Kathryn Eade is the founder of Up+thrive. An expert in mindset and resilience she empowers entrepreneurs to develop the right mindset to embrace change and thrive.
Kathryn shares her experience of building a business and why she's passionate about helping others to get comfortable with being outside of their comfort zone.
Key takeaways:
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How to manage change
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Understanding you why; your reason for being in business
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Why you need to determine your personal definition of success
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Invest your time positively but quit managing time - manage energy instead
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Begin to understand what you're afraid of and unlock the secret of what is holding you back from achieving your dreams.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Kathryn Eade Founder Up+thrive www.upandthrive.com/
Listening Time: 44 mins
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Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Consumers are spending more money online than ever before but the online world could be about to go through an evolution, just like we’ve seen on the high street.
Manchester-based eCommerce platform Mercarto is shaking up how we buy and sell products on the internet. Founded by Sean Brown the public platform is designed to allow budding entrepreneurs to set up an end-to-end eCommerce store in minutes for free.
Sean shares his entrepreneurial journey from working as a diving instructor on super yachts to building Mercarto, which has turned over seven figures in its first year of trading.
Key Takeaways:
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The importance of support and collaboration
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Have an business idea? Just start.
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The problem with retail
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How the online marketplace is disrupting eCommerce
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How you can start selling online
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Sean Brown, Mercarto
Listening Time: 52 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Unless you’ve been living on Mars, you will undoubtedly know about the importance of SEO or Search Engine Optimisation to help propel your website up the ranks in Google. Of course, the higher you rank the greater your chances of bringing more qualified potential customers to your site which in turn increases conversion rates.
But are you maximising SEO and is there anything you can do better to improve your web presence?
Nigel Carr is partner at Carosel projects, which specialises in SEO. He shares his top tips and tricks to improve your SEO ranking. This is an hour you cannot afford to miss!
Key takeaways:
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What are Google's ranking factors in 2019?
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The importance of keywords and how use them
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SEO for voice search
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How to optimise your site architecture for big SEO wins
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Resources to improve your SEO including Moz.com, Answer The Public and Keywords Everywhere
For more information watch Nigel's SEO workshop:
PART 1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJXqpqG9e1o&t=29s
PART 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RCv6iT8d1M
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Nigel Carr, Carousel Projects carouselprojects.co.uk/
Listening Time: 60 mins
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Cybersecurity is just a reality of running a business, yet despite several high profile attacks, it is still being overlooked. In 2017 the cost of cyber attacks to small and medium size businesses amounted to more than £2 million pounds on average per organisation. A pretty sobering thought!
Holly Grace Williams is technical director at Manchester-based cybersecurity firm, Secarma. She talks to Trish about the steps businesses can take now to help prevent an attack. There’s also the serious chat about Amy, Holly Grace’s pet hedgehog!
Top takeaways:
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The types of phishing attacks
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Protecting your business on a budget
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Keeping your supply chain secure
-
Why you need an incident response plan
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Holly Grace Williams, technical director at Secarma www.secarma.com/
Listening Time: 33 mins
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Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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If you have a business, no matter the size, it’s vital to have a social media presence. Social platforms allow your company to connect with customers to brand awareness which can ultimately boost your leads and sales. But, as we all know, social media is a lot of work.
You have to create content, post it, monitor it and optimise it. Then you need to post regularly if you’re going to: drive traffic, engage your followers, build your follower base and so forth, But, let's not forget you have a business to run; emails to respond to, problems to solve and a live to live!
Fear not, in this episode we discuss social media automation and how technology can take care of some of the work.
John Preston, director of Superstar Bots chats with Trish about:
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The social media landscape and how it's changing
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The benefits of social media automation
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How to get started with social media automation
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How to ensure automation doesn't come at the expense of personalisation
USEFUL LINKS:
Full automation walk through video:
youtu.be/wNWwt3wMmvw
Calendly
calendly.com
Manychat Link
manychat.pxf.io/DMvad
Tech Manchester Template
manychat.com/template/2cd606ffe…1e26c6393952af3cf0
Snip. ly
snip.ly
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: John Preston, director Superstar Bots superstarbots.com/
Listening Time: 38 mins
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Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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The majority of interactions we make in our day-to-day lives are now online, from business to shopping and everything in between. As such, it’s never been more critical for a company to offer a seamless, frictionless digital experience for its users. In fact, most people now expect it.
UX design is also good for business, there’s no doubt that it can positively impact your bottom line. A recent study found a well-designed interface can increase a website’s conversion rates by up to 200%. As Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs once said: “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”
In this episode Trish is joined by Melanie Denyer, a freelance UX Analyst currently working at La Redoute.
They discuss:
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What UX is
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What makes a great user experience and why it matters
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Some examples of good UX and some of the common friction points
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How web developers can start to think about UX in the design process
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Melanie Denyer
Listening Time: 58 mins
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Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Navigating the startup investment landscape can be complicated but with preparation and (a lot of) research it is possible to find the right financial backing. This episode looks at how you can put all the pieces in place to make sure that your business is investor ready before you begin to look for funding.
Jessica Jackson, investment director at GC Angels and James Merryweather from KM Capital give their top tips for seeking investment and talk through some of the pitfalls that some founders make, so you don't!
Some of the key takeaways:
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When you should start looking for funding for your business, or even if it's the right path for you.
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Investment is about 'milestones and not survival'. An investor isn't there to bankroll you, they want to see growth.
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Why you need to see fundraising like a sales funnel.
-
How over-inflating your valuation and could trip you up further down the line
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Jessica Jackson and James Merryweather
Listening Time: 54 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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One of the most frequently asked questions we receive at Tech Manchester is about how to raise investments. You have your big idea and you’re convinced it’s going to bring in big bucks, but how do you persuade other people to give you the money you need?
TickX, dubbed the ‘Uber of events’, is one of the fastest growing and exciting new brands coming out of Manchester. Founded by Sam Coley and Steve Pearce in 2015, they have successfully raised £4 million in funding, but they have chosen their investors wisely, even turning down offers from three entrepreneurs on Dragon’s Den.
They speak to Patricia Keating about how they secured their initial investment following a cold call to the Ministry of Sound.
They discuss how they’ve adapted and grown the business and share some top tips for other entrepreneurs starting on their funding journey.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Sam Coley and Steve Pearce, TickX www.tickx.co.uk/
Listening Time: 40 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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You may have created a business and product that you love, but if it's not selling you don't necessarily have to give up on your dreams. You may just need to move in a new direction.
Many successful businesses started off as something different. Facebook was intended to be a dating site, but changed course when it discovered how crowded the marketplace was. Slack began was a tool for game developers to talk to each other and has developed into a real-time messaging and sharing platform for teams from any industry.
Julie Anne Parker founder of Million Stars pivoted her business after recognising a real issue with waste in the camping and leisure industry.
She shares her story of how she embraced change to use her business as a force for social good which led to her being named Entrepreneur for Good at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2019.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Julie Anne Parker, founder Million Stars www.millionstarsuk.com/
Listening Time: 41 mins
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Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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How do angel investors and angel groups work? Where do you find them as an entrepreneur?
Angel investing has not only become trendy and highly profitable, it is now a powerful source of fuel for the economy, jobs, and innovation. For entrepreneurs, angels have become a primary source of funding, and for many startups, a vital part of their existence. But, how is this type of fundraising different and how can founders connect with this money?
Martin Avison is founder at Angel Groups, a funding platform that introduce businesses looking for investment to a range of high net-worth individuals. He has a wealth of experience in facilitating investments and shares his knowledge on angel funding to help you decide if it’s the right path for you and your business.
Some of the key points discussed in this podcast:
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What is angel investment and how does it work?
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What angels bring to the table?
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How much money do angels invest, on average?
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The key messages angels want to hear from entrepreneurs.
-
When is the right time to pitch for funding?
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Martin Avison, founder of Angel Groups - www.angelgroups.co.uk
Listening Time: 45 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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You can have the greatest business idea in the world but without the right people around you, that idea is almost guaranteed to fail. A huge part of getting those people on board and retaining their talent is culture; what you stand for, your purpose and your vision.
Michal Wisniewski, founder of Flock, advises organisations on how to find people who identify with what their company stands for, to companies and employees to grow together.
Here are some of the key takeaways:
-
Recognising the effects of a cultural mismatch
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How to define your company's culture
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The importance of retaining culture as you scale up
-
How to recruit people who fit your company's culture and values
-
Top tips for creating a positive company culture
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Michal Wisniewski, founder of Flock - www.yourflock.co.uk
Listening Time: 30 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Your brand is your most valuable asset whether that’s a personal brand, a company brand, or both. It’s how your customers, employees and the wider world perceive your organisation, and when done well your brand can create an emotional connection that lasts a lifetime. However, is it possible to create a brand that makes an impact on a startup budget?
Nick Entwistle is the founder of creative advertising agency, Bank of Creativity and One Minute Briefs, a user-generated social content community. In 2015, he created the #LoveYourNHS campaign and music video that beat Justin Bieber to Christmas number one, just a few months after he suffered a heart attack at just 26 years old.
In this podcast, Nick explains how the campaign snowballed beyond all expectations after starting with a One Minute Brief. He also gives lots of advice for getting creative to help make your brand stand out in a growing, noisy space.
Some of the key takeaways from this podcast:
-
How branding can impact peoples’ perceptions of you and your company
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The importance of creating emotion in creative content
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Why you shouldn’t be afraid to do something different to engage your audience
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How you can challenge yourself to get creative
-
The importance of brand consistency
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Nick Entwistle, founder Bank of Creativity www.bankofcreativity.co.uk/
Listening Time: 57 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Do you want to reach more people online? The answer is yes, of course! So, have you ensured that your website is usable by the widest range of people possible? One in five people consider themselves disabled and thousands of other people live with ‘hidden disabilities’.
Inclusive design maximises your audience by limiting the potential barriers to people accessing information about your company. It just makes business sense, because the more people you reach, the higher the potential profit.
Sarah Brown-Fraser is marketing manager at Activity Alliance, a charity that helps more organisations to support more disabled people to be active. Here are some of the key points she discusses with Trish:
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Knowing your audience and understanding the barriers to communication.
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Some of the common problems with websites which limit accessibility
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How to ensure inclusivity when designing a website
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The importance of testing your website with a diverse audience
-
How improving inclusion and accessibility can benefit your business and your brand
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Sarah Brown-Fraser Marketing Manger, Activity Alliance: www.activityalliance.org.uk/
Listening Time: 28 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Are you maximising your network on LinkedIn? It's no secret that relationships are vital in business and enable you to grow. But, are you making the most of the opportunities available to you?
Charlie Whyman is a Business Development Strategist and LinkedIn Trainer and has built a business helping people master the platform to deliver results.
She shares her top LinkedIn tips to help businesses find and attract customers, and communicate with them in the right way.
Some of the key takeaways:
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Where do you start in developing a good network?
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Why content is king
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How does LinkedIn differ from other social networks?
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Why you should avoid outsourcing your LinkedIn profile
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Edit your network - why it's not all about collecting followers
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The importance of being helpful and engaging with others
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Charlie Whyman charliewhyman.com/
Listening Time: 64 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Ideas for a new business can spring from anywhere at any time. But when Kate Greenhalgh received a handmade Christmas gift from her husband, John, little did she know that it would change the course of her life.
The jar with 72 date ideas morphed into a business and ‘A Year of Dates’ was launched in 2016. Two and a half years later, John has also quit his job to join the business full time.
In this episode Kate and John share their startup journey with Trish.
Key highlights include:
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Turning an idea into a business
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Seizing opportunity when it strikes
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Growing a business while balancing day jobs and family life
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Funding the venture
-
Working as a husband-and-wife team
-
The challenges and what the journey has taught Kate and John about themselves
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Kate and John Greenhalgh, founders, A Year of Dates www.ayearofdates.co.uk
Listening Time: 33 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Studies show that 75% of C-suite executives credit their success to being mentored. And 70% of mentored companies survive beyond five years, compared with only 50% of those who aren’t mentored. Other studies show that employees who receive mentoring are promoted five times more often than those who do not - five times! So what are you waiting for?
Tanya Nichol, founder of Tripptee met her mentor Gareth Healey, director of Beyond Noise, at a Tech Manchester mentor match up event. Over the course of twelve months they formed a strong mentoring partnership, which gave Tanya the confidence to pivot her business idea and led to Gareth being named a finalist for ‘Mentor of the Year 2019’ at the National Mentoring Awards.
In this episode they discuss:
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Why they entered into a mentor programme
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The first meeting and how they established a working relationship
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How the process enabled Tanya to pivot her business
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Being open to learning – what both the mentee and mentor can gain
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How the relationship has evolved over twelve months
For more information on Tripptee visit: www.tripptee.com
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Tanya Nichol, founder Tripptee, Gareth Healey, director Beyond Noise
Listening Time: 36 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Ideas are the foundation of so many things, whether that’s for a new business or to find ways to solve problems in all areas of our lives. In fact, Google allows its employees to spend as much as 20% of their working week coming up with new ideas that excite them while also solving a very real problem.
But thinking creatively does not always come easily. So, where do you start and what’s the best way to hit on the next big thing?
Kiran Arokiasamy is Business Development manager at tech startup, Shout and Programme Manager at Accelerate Me, the University of Manchester’s student-run accelerator. He offers some top tips to get you started on the ideation journey.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Kiran Arokiasamy
Listening Time: 31 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Most businesses understand how vital digital channels are for acquiring and retaining customers, yet many don’t have a plan to grow and engage their audiences effectively.
Zoe Wallace is director of Agent Academy, a digital training programme to help engage young people in tech. Last year Agent Academy, along with The Extraordinary Club became the first UK-based provider of Facebook’s Digital Skills Training Programme.
Zoe shares her advice on starting a digital marketing strategy, how to make the most of your content, the importance of creating engaging ads and why listening is key to online success.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Zoe Wallace, Director Agent Academy
Listening Time: 36 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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To grow and maintain a successful business it’s vital that you understand and manage your cash flow.
Knowing your figures is also key if you’re considering approaching investors and lenders, as it’s one of the first pieces of information they’ll need to know. But, if you’re perplexed by profit and loss or baffled by balance sheets, help is here.
Graham Niven is a business-finding specialist and founder of Tandem Financial Solutions. In this episode he talks through the key financial terms that startups need to have a grip of, including:
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Profit & loss
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Sales v turnover
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VAT
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Gross margin
-
Balancing the books
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How to avoid common financial mistakes
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Graham Niven, founder Tandem Financial Solutions
Listening Time: 52 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Inspiration for a new business can come from anywhere, even the most unusual places. Ironically, it was El-Salvidor’s notorious M-13 gang that gave rise to an idea to create soothing music for pets to help drown out the sound of gunshots and ease anxiety.
Manchester entrepreneur Amman Ahmed invested his last £1000 into the business. Relax My Cat & Dog, affectionately nicknamed ‘Petflix’, is now worth seven figures and hasn't taken on any additional investment.
Amman shares his story of learning from failure, seizing opportunity and taking a pivot that put him on the path to finding his passion.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Amman Ahmed
Listening Time: 50 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Do you want to get people talking about you, your company, or your products? You need a good public relations (PR) strategy. Learn how to avoid the trap too many entrepreneurs fall into by thinking, 'if I build it, they will come.'
Kimberley Waldron is Managing Director and Co Founder of SkyParlour, a strategic PR and content agency dedicated to serving the international payments and online commerce industries.
She shares her advice on where to start with developing a PR campaign, including how to deal with the media and tips to make your press release stand out.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Kimberley Waldron
Listening Time: 55 mins
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Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Have you ever felt as though you’re not qualified to run your own business or do your job? Do you feel as though you are about to be ‘found out’?
If so, you are not alone. Most entrepreneurs at one stage or another experience feelings of being out of their depth, as though they haven’t got a clue what they are doing but when it takes on a new level, you may be battling with the concept of Imposter Syndrome.
Although it may feel terrifying, embracing Imposer Syndrome can actually benefit both you and your business.
To discuss this in more detail, Patricia is joined by entrepreneur and business commentator Vikas Shah MBE. Vikas is CEO of Swiscot Group, an international trading business, co-founder of feature film studio 53 Degrees North and a venture investor in numerous businesses.
At just 16 years old he was running a multi-national web development agency until it all came crashing down when the dot com bubble burst. Vikas openly shares his experiences Imposter Syndrome as an entrepreneur and what needs to change in the entrepreneurial space as a whole.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Vikas Shah
Listening Time: 45 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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What does data mean to you? If your understanding of data is limited to surveys and reams of numbers on a spreadsheet, think again. Data is all around us and having the capacity to digest and analyse it is powerful. But, when it comes to big data, where do you start?
To help make sense of how data can be gathered and used to drive smart business decisions, Patricia is joined by Henri Egle Sorotos, Data, Insights and Partnership Lead for CognitionX.
Over the course of 34 minutes they discuss:
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The importance of data for startups and how to harness it
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How to tell the difference between good and bad data
-
Data for sales
-
Key tips for making the most out of data
Watch Henri's workshop here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdLU27cYN90
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Henri Egle Sorotos
Listening Time: 34 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Let us know what you'd like to hear to take your business forward. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Every entrepreneur needs to deliver presentations to promote and sell their business successfully. But, if the very thought of it makes your knees knock and your voice quiver, this episode is designed to help you.
It’s packed full of tips to help you walk into your next presentation with confidence and leave the audience with a positive lasting impression, of both you and your business.
Patricia is joined by communication experts, Sarah Perris and Merryn Myatt from Perris-Myatt. Sarah is a former Worldwide Communications Director for Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars, and Merryn is a former journalist broadcaster who has worked with the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV.
Throughout the next 50 minutes learn the strategies for successful communication that will give you a powerful competitive advantage.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Sarah Perris and Merryn Myatt, Perris-Myatt www.perris-myatt.co.uk
Listening Time: 48 mins
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Are you fulfilling your potential? If not, what’s getting in the way of you and the life that you want to live?
So many women overachieve academically but this isn’t always matched by their career and salary potential. Why? Motherhood, discrimination and lack of confidence may play a part, but how can you take control of your career and uncover your purpose?
Natalie Jameson and Annie Mbako, the founders of The Heroworx, are on a mission to elevate and support women in the workplace by equipping entrepreneurs and execs with the digital innovation leadership skills, methods and mindset to make an impact.
In this conversation with Patricia Keating, they share their tips and advice on how you can harness your power and purpose.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Natalie Jameson and Annie Mbako, The Heroworx
Listening Time:
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
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Building a business is stressful, but have you stopped to think about protecting your intellectual property? Every business has a name, a logo, a website and a database of contacts that are important to its success. However, without the right IP protection in place your company could come crashing down around you.
Ian Sterritt is a policy officer at the Intellectual Property Office and was the person responsible for launching Satellite Navigation in the UK during his time with Philips Electronics. Ian has more than 20 years of experience in founding new businesses, working with emerging technology and consulting on intellectual property and innovation strategy.
In this episode Ian outlines the benefits of protecting your IP, some of the common mistakes that businesses make and how to protect your IP. Here are some of the key points he discussed with Patricia:
3’00 - What is IP?
7’05 – Why does IP matter?
13’12 – How can you protect IP?
31’24 – IP and social media
35’50 – Trade secrets
36’50 – The cost of not protecting IP
44’15 – IP and new technology
51’13 – Will Brexit affect IP?
54’48 – Where can you find out more about protecting IP?
59’40 – Where can you get IP advice for free?
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Ian Sterritt
Listening Time: 63 minutes
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If you’re new to the world of digital marketing, it can be daunting to know how to get your brand noticed. But how do you create a buzz on social media and use content to increase your rankings? In this episode we’ll explore why a good digital marketing strategy has both SEO and social media working together to bring more visitors to your site.
Amy-Jay (AJ) Handley-Rowe is a freelance digital marketing specialist, who has previously worked within agencies and headed up a digital marketing team at a university. To help you understand how to perform better in search engine rankings AJ and Patricia discuss the following:
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Who should use SEO? 8’39
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What is a security certificate and how quickly can you get one? 12’35
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The common mistakes businesses commonly make with their SEO strategy. 13’54
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Why are backlinks valuable? 17’51
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How to measure data to improve performance. 20’22
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Which social media platform is best for your business? 26’05
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Why content is king on social media 34’07
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5 top tips for creating an SEO and social media strategy. 46'10
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Amy-Jay Handley-Rowe
Listening Time: 50 minutes
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Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Standing at the edge of a room full of strangers can be intimidating, especially when there is already a hubbub of conversation. We all know that networking and making good connections is vital for success, but for most of us walking up and introducing ourselves to people we don’t know is a real challenge. So, how do you overcome that fear?
Naomi Timplerley FRSA, is co-founder of Tech North Advocates, which champions tech in the north of England, and chair of investment platform Capital Pilot. An experienced partnerships and engagement consultant with established relationships across the UK, Naomi shares her top tips to become a confident and comfortable networker.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Naomi Timperley FRSA
Listening Time: 35 minutes
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Transitioning back into the workplace following a career break can be both daunting and difficult.
Following the birth of her son and subsequent maternity leave, Beckie Taylor felt disconnected on her return to work and discovered there was not adequate support in place to ease the transition.
Beckie resolved to address the problem, co-founding Tech Returners to help people jump back into technology following a career break and to stop the industry from missing out on amazing talent.
Here, Beckie shares her Tech Returners journey and how it has empowered more women to return to work with confidence.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Beckie Taylor co-founder Tech Returners
Listening Time: 38 minutes
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Alena Golden co-founded BattleMe, an app allowing users to choose a beat, record tracks and compete with other users. She started the business with her brother and a third co-founder in 2016 with a marketing budget of £5,000. To date, the BattleMe app has been downloaded more than a million times. One user even landed a recording contract with Universal Music, USA.
Alena shares her story of turning a passion into a business and gives her insight into:
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Making marketing work on a limited budget
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The importance of influencers
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How to get an app featured on Apple
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The important lessons she’s learned on her entrepreneurial journey so far.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Alena Golden, Co-founder BattleMe
Listening Time: 28 minutes
Follow Tech Manchester: Twitter: @tecmcr LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/ Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Finding the funds to set up a new business, or to take your startup to the next level, can be a minefield. Money may seem hard to come by, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any available.
Guy Weaver is Director at Praetura Capital, which delivers tailored business funding options to support sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. To date, the group has invested £100 million in more than 20 businesses.
The former KPMG accountant is also a tech entrepreneur – he founded Introstream in 2017, a platform that helps new businesses find new technology ideas by pitching ideas to tech startups.
In this episode, Guy discusses the current funding landscape and gives some tips on raising finance for your business.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Guy Weaver, Director Praetura Capital
Listening Time: 40 minutes
Follow Tech Manchester: Twitter: @tecmcr LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/ Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Jamaal Brathwaite left behind a career as a pilot to begin his entrepreneurial journey, but it hasn't been a smooth ride.
Jamaal's story is one of resilience and determination to succeed. He pitched to 54 investors before receiving any backing, saw his first company fail leaving him penniless and launched his new business shortly after the death of his mother.
In this compelling interview Jamaal shares his learning and discusses how important it is to surround yourself with the right resources to give your business every chance of success.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Jamaal Brathwaite, founder and CEO Jobseekrs®
Listening Time: 45 minutes
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Last year, Amanda Newman founded The Career Mum, a support group on Facebook for working parents. The idea for the group was born after Amanda took redundancy from Shell where she had enjoyed a successful IT career spanning more than 20 years. During that time she had four children, including twin boys.
The Career Mum has just celebrated its first birthday and over the past 12 months the group has grown to more than 3,000 members across 60 countries.
In this episode, Amanda, who’s recently re-entered the corporate world at Microsoft, talks with Patricia about her career journey. She discusses the many challenges and decisions she’s had to face and why she’s so passionate about building a support network to empower working parents to reach their full potential.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Amanda Newman, founder The Career Mum www.facebook.com/groups/TheCareerMum/
Listening Time: 24 minutes
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Growing up, Caroline Stevenson always had a million ideas whizzing around her head. Her enterprising activities began in the playground; at 12 years old she co-founded a Fairtrade initiative and by the time she was 18, Caroline was running an import/export business on eBay.
However, she was so moved by the plight of homeless people that she decided she had to build a business for a good cause.
In 2015, at the age of 23, Caroline founded Foodinate, a sustainable meal-for-meal programme. Today Foodinate is partnered with restaurants throughout the UK and has served more than 50,000 meals to the homeless.
In this open and honest conversation, Caroline speaks with Patricia about how she built an impactful business – from receiving investment to getting to grips with technology and battling burnout to hitting momentous milestones. She shares her story and offers plenty of advice to others looking to make a difference.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Caroline Stevenson, founder of Foodinate - foodinate.co.uk/
Listening Time: 44 minutes
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
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Branding is an essential part of your business. It’s much more than a logo or how your business is perceived externally. Successful companies have branding at the heart of their business, but how do you begin to create a brand that connects with people?
To answer that, Patricia is joined by Kristina McGuirk, marketing director at leading hosting and cloud firm UKFast.
They discuss:
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What a brand is and how to start building one
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How to find the personality of your brand
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What to think about when designing a logo
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The things to avoid when building your brand
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Why personal branding is important
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Kristina McGuirk
Listening Time: 26 minutes
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Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
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Marketing your business is a key ingredient for its success. You may have a fantastic product or service but without marketing, nobody will know about your business or what you are offering. However, if the idea of creating videos or writing blogs is bringing you out in a cold sweat there is help.
Karyn Bright is a marketing and communications consultant specialising in brand building and creating a digital identity.
During this discussion she debunks some of the common myths and misconceptions around marketing and shares her knowledge of how you can start getting your business noticed.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Karyn Bright
Listening Time: 22 minutes
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
Richard Gregory is an influential figure on the UK Tech scene. He founded Latitude Digital Marketing and spent 12 years on the rollercoaster, building the business to a £59 million turnover; just twelve months later the business was in a tail spin.
Richard went on to become the director of Tech North, drawing on many of the lessons he learned at Latitude to drive the organisation forward and through its transformation to Tech Nation. He is also the driving force behind SASCon (Search, Analytics and Social Conference) and now divides his time between three exciting tech startups as a non-executive director.
In this honest interview, Richard shares his journey and the five key strategies he uses to drive a business forward. As Richard says, ‘any turkey can fly into a tornado, but what matters is what you learn when you dig deep’.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guest: Richard Gregory
Listening Time: 35 minutes
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk
This is the brand new podcast from Tech Manchester, focusing on the challenges that keep you awake at night, whether you are a startup or looking to scale your business.
In this first episode BizzleIt, led by young entrepreneurs Jordan Ryan Madeley and Michael Lawes, share their journey from running their business from a pub to being gifted space in Tech Manchester's new accelerator space, FastForward.
Discover how collaborating with like-minded entrepreneurs is helping them to grow.
Host: Patricia Keating
Guests: Jordan Ryan Madeley and Michael Lawes, BizzleIt
Follow Tech Manchester:
Twitter: @tecmcr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/techmanchester/
Or visit us at www.techmanchester.co.uk