The Outset Podcast

Overcoming adversity is a difficult thing.Life is full of ups and downs and challenges, but sometimes those challenges and obstacles can seem almost insurmountable without support, positivity, strength, and just sheer determination. Our host Rich Gunton speaks to Outset client Laura Wilton who has all that and more in spades. She shares her inspirational story of how the obstacles and challenges she's faced have not stopped her achieving her goals and ambitions., how making little steps helps you keep moving forward, and her dream of seeing a more accessible Cornwall for both residents and visitors alike.Find out more about Outset Cornwall and TRI-Cycle:www.outset.org/cornwallwww.tri-cyclehandbike.com/We hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

From the highs of personal freedom and the joy of setting your own schedule, to the realities of extremely hard work and discipline, becoming self-employed and starting your business takes a lot. For anybody thinking of starting a small business this year, this is a great insight into what you can expect.We sit down with Hamish Kilpatrick, a successful small business owner who started his business MishMash Tattoos in early 2022, to chat about his experiences of the self-employed life so far. Find out more about Outset Cornwall and MishMash Tattoos:www.outset.org/cornwallwww.mishmashtattoos.comWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

The food industry in Cornwall is booming, and full of amazingly innovative, and delicious, food based small businesses. It's become a very distinctive sector in which to do business, so we discuss some tips for a successful business start-up recipe with Suzy Lowe, founder of the wonderful Rustic Cakes Cornwall. Suzy shares her insights on getting started, shaping and pivoting your business and staying true to your business' core values; a must-listen for anyone just starting their business journey.Find out more about Outset Cornwall and Rustic Cakes Cornwall:www.outset.org/cornwallwww.rusticcakescornwall.comWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

Doing something you love is the ultimate work/life goal, so when you find a hobby or passion and get to turn that into a business, work no longer seems like a chore. We speak to David Curtis, founder of Spartin Nerf Gaming, about getting his business started and how his love of cos-play became his livelihood.Find out more about Outset Cornwall:www.outset.org/cornwallWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

Learning how to visually market your products can seem like a mysterious art, but for retail businesses, getting it right is important. Any retail business, whether online or offline, can fail or fly based on how attractive their product offering looks. We speak to Outset Cornwall business advisor (and resident retail expert) Veronique Eastham, who shares some simple but practical top tips that you can easily implement in your business, to enhance your shopfront and draw customers in.Find out more about Outset Cornwall:www.outset.org/cornwallWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

Throughout the pandemic, Zoom experienced phenomenal success globally, pivoting their business to become a leader in helping schools, organisations and businesses continue working, communicating and trading, at a time when we were confined to our own homes.  Generating over $4billion revenue in 2021, Zoom has become synonymous with video chat, and looks set to continue growing as more organisations and companies around the world choose to adopt a more remote or hybrid way of working. We talk to Charlotte Holloway, Government Relations Director UK & Ireland at Zoom,  about the story of one of the world's fastest growing apps, and how small businesses can harness the power of Zoom's technology for their benefit.Find out more about Outset Cornwall and Zoom:www.outset.org/cornwallhttps://zoom.usWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

These days,  we increasingly rely on internet-connected devices at work, in our businesses and in our personal lives. And with that reliance comes the issue of cybercrime and how vulnerable we are to it.Attackers continue to take advantage, of both individuals and businesses. In fact more than 85% of UK businesses were subject to  a successful cyber attack in 2020/21, costing these businesses an average of just over £8,000.But what can we do to protect ourselves?This month, our host Rich Gunton discusses the issue with Detective Inspector Ross Brown, head of cyber and innovation at the South West Cyber Resilience Centre. Set up in October 2020 and led by serving police officers, the SWCRC's mission is to help small businesses and charities protect themselves from cybercrime.  Packed full of practical tips and guidance on how we can all stay safe online, along with details of SWCRC's free membership offer, this is a must-listen for any small business. Find out more about Outset Cornwall and SWCRC:www.outset.org/cornwallhttps://www.swcrc.co.ukWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

From organic handmade skincare products to elegant beauty parlours and distinctive yoga classes, the importance of incorporating self-care and wellbeing in the workplace, as well as into our daily lives, remains strong and continues to grow as a trend. Here in Cornwall, there is a robust community of beauty, wellbeing and self-care businesses starting up across the county, as more people attempt to harness the growing trend and introduce wellness into their routines and into their businesses, both as employers and for their employees.  Hannah May, co-founder of The Cornish Seaweed Bath Company, tells our host Rich Gunton about how it all started on a beach in West Cornwall, how they have successfully developed and grown their business, and how important it is to have some downtime.Find out more about Outset Cornwall and The Cornish Seaweed Bath Company:www.outset.org/cornwallwww.cornishseaweedbath.co.ukWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

Belinda Shipp has had a long and successful career as Head of Marketing for the famous Cornish brand Rodda’s. She is now channelling her learnings and experience into her own business, the Cornish Marketing Consultancy. Belinda has been awarded a Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and is a StoryBrand certified guide and Business Made Simple certified coach. Belinda speaks about her passionate belief in the power of getting your marketing message clear and defined. This episode is packed full of great hints and tips for your website and wider marketing efforts. Belinda explains how getting to grips with your core message and brand story can have a direct impact on how your customers feel, and ultimately how that will drive business for you. Find out more about Outset Cornwall and Cornish Marketing Consultancy: www.outset.org/cornwallhttps://cornishmarketing.co.ukWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

Ian Williams is a business advisor at Outset Cornwall, with a lifetime of experience in finance for small businesses from a range of different financial settings, giving him a great insight into the best advice for small businesses. Ian has a wealth of knowledge on tax, bookkeeping best practice, legalities, and the day-to-day finances for small businesses. Ian chats to our host Rich Gunton about the technicalities of filing your tax return with HMRC, various methods for maintaining effective bookkeeping strategies for sole traders, and the benefits of outsourcing some of the financial management aspects of your small business. From what to think about when engaging an accountant, to the things involved with contracting a bookkeeper, plus how best to prepare for business loans or investment into a small business, there is much to learn from this discussion to help you take the next step in growing your business. We hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. Find out more about Outset Cornwall at www.outset.org/cornwall

Adam Hall is the Head of Sustainability at the Internet Fusion Group, an online retailer with 11 outdoor sports websites catering for adventure and sporting enthusiasts. From surfing to equestrian, motorcross, scuba diving and Alpine sports, they are the go-to niche retailer for these sports. Collectively Internet Fusion works with over 1000 brands, and their sustainability focus means they can reach these brands and work on practical ways to reduce carbon footprint and plastic consumption. Within Adam’s role he works on tangible ways he can create positive environmental impact on a day-to-day basis, actively working to provide helpful tool kits for everyone to make sustainable changes in their business. Adam speaks to our podcast host Rich Gunton about the many practical ways he has helped make sustainable change achievable for small businesses. After collaborating with organisations such as the 2Minute Beach Clean, and Protect Our Waters, Adam speaks about the POW Pledge and other real steps start-ups and entrepreneurs can take to reduce their environmental impact and boost their profitability. From ocean water quality to the oxygen, we breath, Adam speaks passionately about the many critically important reasons why small businesses play a key role in the fight against climate change.We hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey.  Find out more about Outset Cornwall and Internet Fusion Group: www.outset.org/cornwallwww.internetfusion.co.ukThe Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

Cecily Mills is the founder and CEO of Cecily’s Dairy Free Ice Cream, a natural dairy free alternative selling in Ocado and M&S amongst others. Since the business started in 2015 Cecily has been on an incredible journey from kitchen table recipes, to pitching in the Dragon’s Den and securing an investment from Jenny Campbell. Cecily’s Ice Cream, formerly Coconut Organics is now a nationwide brand, and has won numerous awards including seven Great Taste Awards across the flavour range. This is an amazing brand going from strength to strength, and all manufactured in the heart of Cornwall.Cecily chats to our host Rich Gunton, about the nitty gritty of selling into large supermarket chains and explains how important gathering a strong team is to the growth and expansion of a small business. From family inspiration for flavours to kitchen table trial and error, Cecily tells the story of how she has built this remarkable brand. Leaning on her previous career experience of retail management with M&S and Ocado, Cecily was brave enough to take risks, and most importantly action, towards building her dream. An extremely inspirational podcast listen, Cecily will have you itching to start chasing those kitchen table dreams.Find out more about Outset Cornwall and Cecily's Ice Cream: www.outset.org/cornwallhttps://cecilys.coWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey.  

 The Outset Podcast is hosted by Outset Cornwall, providing support and inspiration to help you to start, run and grow your small business.Al Pidwell is a business advisor at Outset Cornwall, with experience in working in the UK providing business consultancy services to clients both nationally and internationally.Al chats to our host Rich Gunton, about the do’s and don’ts of engaging your first accountant. From there you might want to consider payroll solutions, and Al speaks about how this can free up precious time for growing your business. Other topics include getting the right kind of tax advice and assistance with human resourcing. Al also talks through the steps of potentially outsourcing your web presence and establishing a profile online by leveraging the skills and knowledge of a professional. There is so much packed into this thirty minutes, it is sure to help you take the next step in growing your business.  Find out more about Outset Cornwall: www.outset.org/cornwallWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

Redundancy always feels like something that happens to other people. Andrew Songhurst worked for the same company for 36 years and never considered that redundancy would be something he would have to deal with. He got his first job at a local print firm when he left school at 18, eventually becoming a manager. He survived several company take-overs and then the covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and he was faced with the threat of unemployment.The Outset Podcast host Rich Gunton talks to Andrew about how he is using the extensive contacts and skills he has gained from decades in the industry to run his own print consultancy firm – Songhurst Print. Andrew is definitely a glass half full kind of person and in this episode, he gives advice and tips to anyone in the same situation. If you are facing redundancy but have always been tempted to build a business for yourself, perhaps you’ve never had the confidence to leave a regular wage and now you are being forced to - this episode is for you.Find out more:Outset Cornwall: www.outset.org/cornwallSonghurst Print website: https://www.songhurstprint.co.ukWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

Creating a website is a bit like building a house. Do you build it yourself or blow the budget and hire a professional? If you are starting to think about building a new website for your business there are lots of different elements you’ll need to think about.How much should a new website cost?What images should you use and where can you get them from?What about text – should you write it yourself?Jane Hooper is the Creative and Online Manager for Outset Cornwall and has extensive experience in designing and building websites for a range of businesses across many different industries. Jane chats to Rich about some of the main things you need to think about when starting to plan your new website project.

Have you just launched a new Facebook page for your business, but have no idea what to actually add to it? Do you know what your customers want to hear from you on social media?Anna Ireland has extensive experience in marketing and content writing and has recently started her own copywriting and marketing support business, The Writer in the Nest.Rich Gunton chats to Anna about how to communicate your passion, being ready to change things when they don’t work and why you shouldn’t be on TikTok just for the sake of it. Find out more about Outset Cornwall and Anna Ireland at The Writer in the Nest:Outset Cornwall: www.outset.org/cornwallThe Writer in the Nest: https://www.thewriterinthenest.com   We hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey.  The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business. 

Are you working alone and getting so busy you’re finding you have to turn work down? Have you got more work than you can cope with? If you need to make the leap to taking on your first employee, have a listen to our latest podcast episode with employment specialist Donna Morcom.Donna runs the hugely successful HR and employment law specialist company Sekoya, building her own consultancy after being made redundant in 2013. She now employs 11 people, supporting over 160 employer clients and knows all the ins and outs of how to get it right when employing your first member of staff.She also talks about the benefits of having somebody else to share your business journey and her plans for Sekoya, including expansion, acquisition and a new wellness service for employers to help take care of their employees.We hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.Find out more about:Outset Cornwall - www.outset.org/cornwallSekoya - www.sekoya.com

The Outset Podcast is hosted by Outset Cornwall, providing support and inspiration to help you to start, run and grow your small business.Valentina Langley was in the midst of planning the opening of her brand-new delicatessen in the centre of Truro when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.Forced to rethink her plans, she decided to offer gourmet Italian food boxes, freshly prepared in her kitchen, to help bring an authentic slice of Italy to people’s homes.Valentina chats to our host Rich about her lifelong passion for food,  her childhood spent growing up in Italy and how the challenges she faced starting her business during the pandemic has opened her eyes to more ways she can run her food business. Find out more about Outset Cornwall and La Pineta:Outset Cornwall: www.outset.org/cornwallLa Pineta: https://www.lapinetaitaliandeli.comWe hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.

The Outset Podcast is hosted by Outset Cornwall, providing support and inspiration to help you start, run and grow your small business.Tony Sampson is the founder and Managing Director of Newquay-based Naked Solar, and recently celebrated 10 years in business. Tony was one of the first people to be part of the Outset Cornwall in programme in 2009; award-winning fully-funded support and training for people wanting to start their own business or go self-employed. He now runs a hugely successful solar installation company, employing 28 people and has won a host of awards including The UK’s Best Solar Panel Installer.Tony chats to our host Rich Gunton, about still feeling like a start-up ten years into his business, employing the right people and why team building by a pool in Portugal is better than building a raft.We hope you enjoy this episode. Get in touch for more information on how we can support your business start-up journey. The Outset Cornwall programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the Outset Foundation, supporting people to become self-employed or start their own business.Find out more about Outset Cornwall and Naked Solar:Outset Cornwall: www.outset.org/cornwallNaked Solar: https://nakedsolar.co.uk