My guest this month is Clitheroe based serial entrepreneur and savvy private equity specialist Richard Stephenson, CEO and majority shareholder of Yudu Media - the online publishing network accessed in over one hundred and eighty countries worldwide.
To listen to the podcast, click on the grey arrow below.
Nurtured by Richard since 2003, the business that has grown into Yudu comprises two websites:
yudupro.com - a site aimed at professional publishers, key clients include The Financial Times and Metro
yudu.com - a site that allows user generated content such as e-books, e-magazines, music and photos to be published free
In the interview Richard, who can be described as an ambitious and impatient entrepreneur with global experience, talks us through how he is building Yudu into one of the most dynamic businesses at the forefront of media convergence…and he also shares some of his top business tips for good measure!
To play Richard’s quick video ‘message’, click in the middle of screen below.
Subscribe FREE and remember that you don’t need an iPod to listen to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast, you can play the show live here, you can also download the file length 16:27 (MP3 11.3Mb) to your computer’s desktop by right clicking on the ‘Download’ link under the audio player above and selecting ‘Save Target As…’
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If you have any feedback or questions about how to listen or subscribe to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast email jon@businessears.co.uk or leave a comment at the end of the show post.
Now Matthew and his wife Victoria created the business in 2005, when they took a leap of faith and combined his experience as a product designer with hers as a qualified dietitian to create a range of toxin free weaning products.
After two years’ extensive research and development, they officially launched their baby product range in 2007 with the award winning Bisphenol-A free baby bottle - the Silbottle.
In the interview, Matthew talks us through the story of Babisil’s rapid growth to date, he also outlines his ambitious plans for further international expansion and shares some of the business lessons he’s learned along the way.
To play Matthew’s quick video ‘message’, click in the middle of screen below.
Subscribe FREE and remember that you don’t need an iPod to listen to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast, you can play the show live here, you can also download the file length 17:34 (MP3 12.0Mb) to your computer’s desktop by right clicking on the ‘Download’ link under the audio player above and selecting ‘Save Target As…’
You can subscribe FREE to the show in a number of ways either:
Via your RSS aggregator by clicking on the orange button
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Enter you email address and receive a notification straight to your inbox every time a new show is released
If you have any feedback or questions about how to listen or subscribe to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast email jon@businessears.co.uk or leave a comment at the end of the show post.
My guest this month is Marcus Simmons, Founder and MD of iknow UK, the internet marketing hotel websites business HQ’d in Preston - that also happens to be the fastest growing company in its sector in the UK.
To listen to the podcast, click on the grey arrow below.
Now Marcus, who was originally a manufacturing management consultant, started iknow UK in 2003 and funded development of his first website ‘iknow Yorkshire’ by re-mortgaging his and his parents homes. Over the following five years, his courage and vision paid off, so much so, that the business today comprises a portfolio of twelve holiday accommodation websites, that promote over two-thousand customers properties, to more than seven million website visitors per year.
In the interview, Marcus talks us through his story, from what motivated him to start the business in the first place, to his plans for international expansion and a well-earned flotation of the company.
To play Marcus’s quick video ‘message’, click in the middle of screen below.
Subscribe FREE and remember that you don’t need an iPod to listen to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast, you can play the show live here, you can also download the file length 15:12 (MP3 10.4Mb) to your computer’s desktop by right clicking on the ‘Download’ link under the audio player above and selecting ‘Save Target As…’
You can subscribe FREE to the show in a number of ways either:
Via your RSS aggregator by clicking on the orange button
Using iTunes, just click the button which will open iTunes (if you already have it installed) and select ’subscribe’
Enter you email address and receive a notification straight to your inbox every time a new show is released
If you have any feedback or questions about how to listen or subscribe to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast email jon@businessears.co.uk or leave a comment at the end of the show post.
Now Brian’s story is a colourful and inspirational one - having left school without any qualifications and after a national service spell in the RAF, he started his ironsmith’s business by converting a ‘hen hut’ on his sister’s Lancashire farm into a forge.
Over the following 48 years, his vision and persistence have seen the business grow, both in the UK and abroad - it today exports to over 30 countries and has an office in the USA…not bad for a lad from Bacup!
In the interview, Brian talks us through his business journey, from the days where he nearly got fired for working too hard, to how he plans to steer Rourke’s through the current economic turmoil.
Brian also shares a few pearls of advice gleaned over his 48 years in business and they include:
ENJOY WHAT YOU ARE DOING
GIVE VALUE FOR MONEY TO YOUR CUSTOMERS
TAKE VALUE FOR MONEY FOR THE COMPANY
BE PERSISTENT - KEEP GOING
If you want to find out more about Brian and his business visit www.rourkes.co.uk
Subscribe FREE and remember that you don’t need an iPod to listen to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast, you can play the show live here, you can also download the file length 19:15 (MP3 13.2Mb) to your computer’s desktop by right clicking on the ‘Download’ link under the audio player above and selecting ‘Save Target As…’
You can subscribe FREE to the show in a number of ways either:
Via your RSS aggregator by clicking on the orange button
Using iTunes, just click the button which will open iTunes (if you already have it installed) and select ’subscribe’
Enter you email address and receive a notification straight to your inbox every time a new show is released
If you have any feedback or questions about how to listen or subscribe to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast email jon@businessears.co.uk or leave a comment at the end of the show post.
I caught up with Neil at the beginning of December at Holland’s factory HQ in Baxenden - the site where the business has been established for over 150 years and from where they currently manufacture and distribute in excess of 1.5 million pies every week!
With 92% brand recognition in the North West, Holland’s Pies are firm favourites with 80% of the fish and chip shops in the region and are a must have on match days with footy fans of all persuasions including Manchester United, Liverpool FC and of course Burnley FC, who Holland’s currently sponsor.
In the interview, Neil gives us a brief run down on the history of Holland’s Pies and outlines his innovative ideas that are refocusing and reshaping the business.
To play Neil’s quick video ‘message’, click in the middle of screen below.
Subscribe FREE and remember that you don’t need an iPod to listen to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast, you can play the show live here, you can also download the file length 11:38 (MP3 7.99Mb) to your computer’s desktop by right clicking on the ‘Download’ link under the audio player above and selecting ‘Save Target As…’
You can subscribe FREE to the show in a number of ways either:
Via your RSS aggregator by clicking on the orange button
Using iTunes, just click the button which will open iTunes (if you already have it installed) and select ’subscribe’
Enter you email address and receive a notification straight to your inbox every time a new show is released
If you have any feedback or questions about how to listen or subscribe to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast email jon@businessears.co.uk or leave a comment at the end of the show post.
My guests this month are Andrea Winders and Tina Dutton, the dynamic Founders of Warrington based Pink Ladies, the women-only cab service which is being rolled out nationwide and overseas.
To listen to the podcast, click on the grey arrow below.
Now Andrea and Tina, who worked together prior to starting Pink Ladies, planned and launched their business in the summer of 2005 - unleashing the now world famous fleet of pink Renault Kangoos on the unsuspecting folk of Warrington.
In the interview, we find out what sort of challenges these two ‘never say die’ entrepreneurs have faced over the last three and a half years, how they overcame them and their plans for global domination and a flotation in five years!
To play Andrea and Tina’s quick video ‘message’, click in the middle of screen below.
Subscribe FREE and remember that you don’t need an iPod to listen to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast, you can play the show live here, you can also download the file length 20:01 (MP3 13.7Mb) to your computer’s desktop by right clicking on the ‘Download’ link under the audio player above and selecting ‘Save Target As…’
You can subscribe FREE to the show in a number of ways either:
Via your RSS aggregator by clicking on the orange button
Using iTunes, just click the button which will open iTunes (if you already have it installed) and select ’subscribe’
Enter you email address and receive a notification straight to your inbox every time a new show is released
If you have any feedback or questions about how to listen or subscribe to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast email jon@businessears.co.uk or leave a comment at the end of the show post.
Now Paul, who originally hails from Bolton, is one of the North West’s most successful catering entrepreneurs - his business interests include a diverse collection of fourteen restaurants as well as a highly successful outside catering business, that counts Liverpool FC and Chester Racecourse as two of its key clients.
In the interview, Paul gives us an insight into what it takes to become a Michelin-starred chef - he starts by talking about his early career that included stints at The Connaught in Mayfair and Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons under Raymond Blanc.
He then goes on to colourfully describe how he started up his own restaurant and grew that into the successful, multi faceted catering businesses that today employs over 450 people.
To play Paul’s quick video ‘message’, click in the middle of screen below.
Subscribe FREE and remember that you don’t need an iPod to listen to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast, you can play the show live here, you can also download the file length 22:59 (MP3 15.8Mb) to your computer’s desktop by right clicking on the ‘Download’ link under the audio player above and selecting ‘Save Target As…’
You can subscribe FREE to the show in a number of ways either:
Via your RSS aggregator by clicking on the orange button
Using iTunes, just click the button which will open iTunes (if you already have it installed) and select ’subscribe’
Enter you email address and receive a notification straight to your inbox every time a new show is released
If you have any feedback or questions about how to listen or subscribe to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast email jon@businessears.co.uk or leave a comment at the end of the show post.
Simon founded the business, which is based in Ewloe on the outskirts of Chester, in 1999 - and the launch represented another step in a career spent building businesses in the financial sector, that began when he dropped out of Nottingham University in the late 1980’s.
In the interview, Simon talks to us about his business journey so far - from his early entrepreneurial days as a lateral thinking financial consultant and trailblazing mortgage magazine publisher to how he created Moneysupermarket.com and his future plans for the company - which by the way, when it went public in July 2007, became the second largest internet flotation of all time, just behind Google!
To play Simon’s quick video ‘message’, click in the middle of screen below.
Subscribe FREE and remember that you don’t need an iPod to listen to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast, you can play the show live here, you can also download the file length 14:56 (MP3 10.2Mb) to your computer’s desktop by right clicking on the ‘Download’ link under the audio player above and selecting ‘Save Target As…’
You can subscribe FREE to the show in a number of ways either:
Via your RSS aggregator by clicking on the orange button
Using iTunes, just click the button which will open iTunes (if you already have it installed) and select ’subscribe’
Enter you email address and receive a notification straight to your inbox every time a new show is released
If you have any feedback or questions about how to listen or subscribe to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast email jon@businessears.co.uk or leave a comment at the end of the show post.
Professor Cooper is one of the most respected and widely published academics in his field - frequently quoted in the UK national media, his high profile students include Sir Terry Leahy, CEO of Tesco.
To play Professor Cooper’s quick video ‘hello’, click in the middle of screen below.
In the interview, Professor Cooper talks about his views on the fundamentals of successful communication at work - he starts by outlining what it takes to get staff to buy into change programmes, examines the role of storytelling and goes on to explain why it’s so important for managers to communicate face to face with passion and authenticity.
Subscribe FREE and remember that you don’t need an iPod to listen to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast, you can play the show live here, you can also download the file length 21:43 (MP3 14.9Mb) to your computer’s desktop by right clicking on the ‘Download’ link under the audio player above and selecting ‘Save Target As…’
You can subscribe FREE to the show in a number of ways either:
Via your RSS aggregator by clicking on the orange button
Using iTunes, just click the button which will open iTunes (if you already have it installed) and select ’subscribe’
Enter you email address and receive a notification straight to your inbox every time a new show is released
If you have any feedback or questions about how to listen or subscribe to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast email jon@businessears.co.uk or leave a comment at the end of the show post.
Now the book was a big hit on the business charts when it was released in 2006, and the six S.U.M.O. principles outlined in it have drawn praise from the likes of Sir Digby Jones and Sir Clive Woodward.
In the interview, Paul explains how he developed the whole concept of S.U.M.O. and outlines how the six principles can be applied to help you succeed in business.
To play Paul’s quick video ‘hello’, click in the middle of screen below.
To find out more about Paul McGee visit www.thesumoguy.com and to pick up a copy of Paul’s book from Amazon.co.uk click here.
Subscribe FREE and remember that you don’t need an iPod to listen to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast, you can play the show live here, you can also download the file length 13:18 (MP3 9.15Mb) to your computer’s desktop by right clicking on the ‘Download’ link under the audio player above and selecting ‘Save Target As…’
You can subscribe FREE to the show in a number of ways either:
Via your RSS aggregator by clicking on the orange button
Using iTunes, just click the button which will open iTunes (if you already have it installed) and select ’subscribe’
Enter you email address and receive a notification straight to your inbox every time a new show is released
If you have any feedback or questions about how to listen or subscribe to Business Ears, the North West’s Business Podcast email jon@businessears.co.uk or leave a comment at the end of the show post.
Now Marcus, who was originally a manufacturing management consultant, started 
I caught up with Neil at the beginning of December at Holland’s factory HQ in Baxenden - the site where the business has been established for over 150 years and from where they currently manufacture and distribute in excess of 1.5 million pies every week!
Now Andrea and Tina, who worked together prior to starting 
Now Paul, who originally hails from Bolton, is one of the North West’s most successful catering entrepreneurs - his business interests include a diverse collection of 
Simon founded the business, which is based in Ewloe on the outskirts of Chester, in 1999 - and the launch represented another step in a career spent building businesses in the financial sector, that began when he dropped out of Nottingham University in the late 1980’s.
