The Impact Sessions Podcast

Bianca Robinson is CEO of UK Charity, CEO Sleepout as well as a Lecturer at Teesside University specialising in "The Sustainable Organisation" and she is on a mission....... In this episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast, Bianca shares her insights into how the work her Charity does (and the Teesside University MBA Programme) can help to achieve genuine change; A change in attitudes A change in focus and,  A change to the lives of many affected by sleeping rough and a whole host of other associated situations.        She is passionate, she is driven and she is an inspiration. CEO Sleepout is a Grant Giving Charity, raising £millions and then distributing the funds to local charities after organising local senior executive and senior team sleepouts to raise awareness of those sleeping rough and also raise money to allow them to grant give.  All monies raised locally are distributed in the areas where the sleepouts take place to make that local difference that matters. We discuss how her mission to get business leaders to become "Stewards of Society" is progressing, why it is important and why there is an absolute need for this to happen. We discuss her Keynote Speaking engagements, her recent award as a "Northern Power Women - One to Watch" and her passion for spreading the message. We also share details of the forthcoming Big Summer Sleepout to be held overnight on Thursday 30th June 2022 and how ANYONE - Children, Students, Work Teams, Friends, Families, Social Groups, literally ANYONE can get involved, raise £100.00 and really make a difference. Details of how to get involved are here; https://ceosleepoutuk.com/big-summer-sleepout/ This is a truly inspiring Podcast episode with a guest who has travelled around the world to be making a genuine difference in your local area. Enjoy! Feedback, as always is most welcome. Contact Details Bianca Robonson CEO CEO Sleepout Tel +44 (0) 7901 977259 Email - bianca@ceosleepout.co.uk Web - www.ceosleepout.co.uk LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/birobinson/  

In this excellent episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast, we meet Rachel Hudson, the relatively new Managing Director of YB Fixings. We have entitled this episode - Building a Brand, A Value Set & Business Momentum as a New Managing Director. It's another cracking listen or watch - guaranteed. Rachel has had a very interesting and perhaps unorthodox journey into the role of MD, but her story, her passion and her vision for the business shine through as she shares her story - and perhaps some lessons for others in our relaxed discussions. How did Rachel get here? What was one of her first (perhaps surprising) priorities, and why? Where do her values and culture ambitions fit into her plans? What advantages does her disciplined financial background create? Why is she investing in the business right now? Why is learning & development important to her? How is being a woman in a heavily male-dominated sector working out? and much more......... This is a genuinely insightful episode that we are sure you will enjoy. Feedback as ever is most welcome, and don't forget to like and subscribe to receive your future Impact Sessions Podcasts on your favourite platforms automatically. Contact Details Rachel Hudson Managing Director YB Fixings Ltd Tel - +44 (0) 1793 838400 Email - rachelh@ybfixings.com Web - www.ybfixings.com LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rachel-h-3a64a853  

After taking redundancy in the early days of the pandemic and lockdown 1, what could our guest this week, Martin Bennett conceivably do to put food on his table - quite literally. This is a REET good episode of the Impact Sessions Podcast in which we meet Martin Bennett, Managing Director of Reet Yorkshire Food, a relatively new business building a strong brand, presence and following in the jams, chutneys and pickles market. But this is not just an episode for foodies, it has some great business lessons in here too. Martin shares how and why he set up the business, the thinking behind the name and brand, his vision for the business, how his many years in food manufacturing operations has allowed him to grow the brand and business and how he has overcome any number of challenges to stand on the edge of significant growth as we enter Q2 2022. He also discusses scaling up, keeping his products simple, but well packaged, building a following on various markets around the region - and much more..... Martin might describe himself as a "typical" Yorkshireman - straight forward, direct, plain-spoken and uncomplicated. So how do these traits serve him as he goes through his product and brand development journey? He has some reet good tales to tell and they are all in this episode. One not to be missed...... Feedback, as always is most welcome and don't forget to like, rate and importantly, subscribe, to get your weekly fix of the Impact Sessions Podcast directly to your favourite podcast platform. Contact Details Martin Bennett Managing Director, Reet Yorkshire Food Ltd Tel - +44 (0) 7545 893839 Email – martin@reetyorkshirefood.co.uk Web – www.reetyorkshirefood.co.uk LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/martin-bennett-093b443   

If you and your business have a vision, a mission or a set of values that you are trying to embed, if you need to shift the dial on developing and delivering any type of change, if you operate on a project management, operational or organisational programme basis, if you are a process led or process driven business, (basically most businesses in most sectors), then this is an Impact Sessions Podcast episode for you. Construction Financial Services FMCG Utilities Manufacturing Engineering Public Sector NHS Retail Logistics Supply Chain And many more.....  and let's not forget those ambitious, growth hungry SMEs too. They have the same challenges, and they could all do with a little insight into PMO from an expert. We have entitled this episode "What The Hell Is PMO & Why Might I Want To Adopt It" and to explore this landscape we are delighted to introduce and meet Ruth Geddes, CEO & Co-Founder of Prospect Change who is also a PMO Associate for the HiveMind Network. What are the principles of PMO? How does a PMO driven project work? Why would you consider adopting PMO principles on your projects? Where to start? How to embed PMO into your current and future change management ambitions? What are the commercial, operational and financial advantages of PMO? Ruth shares her insights in such an upbeat, positive and engaging manner that it is impossible not to be hooked in and explore change management & PMO for you, your team and your business. We hope that you will really enjoy this episode and as ever, we welcome your feedback. Contact Details Ruth Geddes CEO & Co-Founder, Prospect Change Tel - +44 (0) 7375 114040 Email - ruthgeddes@prospectchange.co.uk  Web - www.prospectchange.co.uk LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-geddes-a3413183/   

This is a Podcast steeped in great leadership, an unswerving focus on improving the customer experience and resilience of the highest order.  One not to be missed. Derren Gittins is Managing Director at Verplas, a UK based business, managing all of the same challenges as many over recent years, such as supply chain, transport costs, raw materials availability, the ups and downs of the pandemic, and much more. But that is only the half of it...... Having taken on the role in October 2020, travelling from the Midlands to the South Coast of England and staying over for 4 days a week to get things going, he quickly found that he had a big culture shift to implement if he was to be successful with his vision and ambitions for the business. The starting point was not brilliant, but you have to start somewhere. He was looking to build a successful, competitive business that truly put the customer at the heart of the experience, driving change through staff engagement and setting new standards across the team, all especially important in early challenging circumstances caused by the pandemic. But culture takes time...... Then BANG, just as he is re-structuring his team, implementing improvements to IT, assessing and re-thinking the customer journey through the Investors in Customers programme, and still managing day-to-day pandemic challenges, another THUNDERBOLT hits. We won't spoil the reveal, but it is safe to say that Derren must have felt like he had run over at least two or three black cats and broken several mirrors for him to be dealt the particular cards that came his way in 2021. This is another inspiring podcast episode of leadership, resilience, trust in his team, focus, re-thinking EVERYTHING and getting the job done. We challenge you not to be inspired by Derren's sheer force of nature and drive to succeed in the face of genuine adversity. Have a listen or watch and as ever, feedback is always welcome. Contact Details Derren Gittins Managing Director, Verplas Ltd Tel - +44 (0) 1202 825898 Email - derren.g@verplas.co.uk Web - www.verplas.co.uk LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/derren-gittins-2b5b5139    

James Steptoe is Global Sales Director at Puretech Process Systems Ltd. Sounds like a great role, plenty of travel to exotic destinations (and some not so exotic ones), developing relationships with customers and distributors across the world, attending exhibitions, networking, carrying out negotiations, and building an international sales funnel. So, you start the job as Global Sales Manager in Q3 2019 and get ready to go....... You have your strategy, your plan, your passport and your inoculations, and probably much more up your sleeve too. But oh wait, we have a global pandemic to contend with less than 6 months into the role and all bets are off....... But the role still needs you to deliver global sales growth - but now, without leaving your chair. This is a great podcast episode, offering insights into how James adapted his approach, developed his role in new ways and new directions and still delivered on the aspirations he had for the business when he took on the job of Global Sales Manager pre-pandemic. He must have done something right because he is now Global Sales Director and Puretech Process Systems continues to go from strength to strength, growing existing customer business, adopting new territories, with new customers and distributors and a building growing team to support them. What's more, James has recently been back on a plane - so the world is good again. This is a great episode covering change, resilience, adaptation, creativity, risk management, successful relationship building, global sales success and much more..... One not to be missed. Feedback as always is most welcome. Contact Details James Steptoe, Global Sales Director, Puretech Process Systems Ltd Tel - +44 (0) 7971 743484 Email - jsteptoe@puretech.uk.com Web - www.puretech.uk.com LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/james-steptoe-41098b40     

An insightful Podcast hosted by Nick Bramley, featuring Chris Shanks, Head of Sales & Andrew Vincent, CEO of QUICKBLOCK, a Glasgow based business that helps clients to create temporary, semi-permanent and permanent structures using the QUICKBLOCK product range. Sectors embracing this sustainable, environmentally friendly, 100% recycled and recyclable building material include; - Landscaping - Agriculture & Land Management - Light Construction - Events - Hospitality - Civil Engineering - Many More....... If you can imagine it, you can build it, and rebuild it if necessary, make a permanent structure with QUICKBLOCK. From a temporary storage unit or shed, to a smoking shelter, from event and hospitality furniture - lecterns, registration desks, stage areas etc, to landscape features, retaining walls and the like, this really is an amazing product. In the Podcast, we also discuss COP26, hosted in Glasgow and focusing on many of the conversations that QUICKBLOCK are having with their own fast-growing customer base. A really interesting listen or watch. Hope you enjoy........ Contact Details Chris Shanks Head of Sales Email - chris.shanks@quickblock.uk Tel - +44 (0) 7553 911207 Andrew Vincent CEO Email - andrew.vincent@quickblock.uk Tel - +44 (0) 7870 840011 Web - www.quickblock.uk 

This is Episode 52 of The Impact Sessions Podcast and we are about to take a break. So, how do you leave (for now) on a high with an awesome mid-season finale? Simple - you invite on a truly inspirational, engaging and irrepressible guest who will 100% inspire your audience. Meet Miriam Dervan, Executive Chair of MD Group, founding Trustee of a new Education Foundation supporting mental health in schools and Author of "To Be An Entrepreneur - Just Get On With It" - Amazon details in the notes below. Miriam is a genuine Entrepreneur, although had something of an accidental start to her entrepreneurial career. Whilst she is likely to have been successful at whatever she turned her hand and her passion to, her career in and around the sector in which she now thrives all started with her taking an initial 2 week temporary office job at the National Pharmacology Institute in Dublin (only after great persistence from a recruiter). Her now, hugely successful business, MD Group now employs over 160 staff in 6 global offices, serving many of the world’s leading Pharmaceutical and Life Science businesses with a range of innovative services. How did she start? What was it like taking on her first staff members Why does she want to inspire other women business owners & entrepreneurs? Where does her passion for the Foundation come from? Were they ever any doubts?   These and other topics are covered in a really high-paced episode. In recent years Miriam has also established an Educational Foundation to fund the appointment of mental health professionals into schools across the UK & Ireland - big plans for a big subject. She is a truly inspiring and inspirational guest with the unique storytelling skill of a fabulous Irishwoman. Miriam is great value and a great listen or watch.... We hope that you will love this episode and that it is a fitting mid-season finale for you to enjoy. Why not take this opportunity to give The Impact Sessions Podcast a nice 5* Review too - that would be greatly appreciated. Contact Details Miriam Dervan, Executive Chair MD Group Tel +44 (0) 7811 167848 Email - miriam.dervan@mdgroup.com Web - www.mdgroup.com LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/miriamdervan-mdgroup Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1784520934/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_glt_fabc_EYZAMTPD8NTXTF93Y2C2 

So, you start a business, you grow your business, you expand your customer base and you continue on a successful path and upward trajectory, but what's next? Well, at some stage, you might want to consider selling the business as an exit strategy, but this can be complex, fraught with stress and there are a myriad of options to confuse and potentially confound too. Which option might be right for you, and how do you know? Amongst the many potential pitfalls could be the absolute loss of the culture you have previously invested life, soul, blood, sweat and tears into, or the stripping of some of the assets, the decimating of your former employee team, or the swallowing of the business into a much bigger organisation who cannot wait to absorb the brand...... So what CAN it be like and what IS IT like to be the "acquired" and indeed the "acquirer"? To explore both sides of the "Business Buying & Business Selling Equation", we meet Peter Rowlands, Senior VP of Indutrade UK who have a positive and on-going business acquisition programme, as Indutrade, having acquired over 200 businesses globally in over 30 years of trading, and Paul Connor, Managing Director of Ellard, acquired by Indutrade UK over 3 years ago. Whether interested in buying and selling businesses or not, this is a fascinating episode that covers discussions around areas such as; Running a Successful, Attractive Business Culture, Vision, Values Collaboration Investment for Growth Effective Business Management Financials And much more.... Two great guests sharing their take on what it is like to be in the mix when offers are made and a sale is a great option. What happens before, during and crucially, afterwards...... The discussion might just surprise you. Another great episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast. As always, feedback is most welcome. Contact Details Peter Rowlands Senior VP, Indutrade UK Tel +44 (0) 161 241 1820 Email - peter.rowlands@indutrade.co.uk Web - www.indutrade.co.uk LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/peter-rowlands-6b547a43   Contact Details Paul Connor Managing Director Ellard Ltd Tel +44 (0) 7968 254610 Email - paulc@ellard.co.uk Web - www.ellard.co.uk LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/connorpaul/ 

The Impact Sessions Podcast Reaches a Milestone Today - Our 50th Episode...... Thanks to all of my previous excellent guests, those that are regular and supportive subscribers, getting their fix every Tuesday and also to the occasional listener or viewer. Your collective support is, and remains most welcome and appreciated. So, to celebrate our special episode, what better way to do it than with a beer - or more accurately, by meeting a legend in the world of brewing in Yorkshire - Kate Balchin, Director of Sales, Marketing & Export at Wold Top Brewery. Wold Top was one of the first, most successful (and popular) breweries that was spawned out of farming diversification just after the turn of the millennium. On this celebratory episode, we discuss areas such as; How & why brewing came about at Wold Top Farm? Why the natural resources at the Farm made this something of a no-brainer decision? Growing from a micro-brewery servicing local hostelries to a brand beloved in places like Italy. Scaling up and diversifying into a bottle-led future - helping the business during the COVID crisis. Choosing names for the beers - is it scientific or something else, and who chooses? Surprisingly quick production - from raw ingredients to the cask, keg or bottle The future of Wold Top as a destination & hospitality venue in its own right. And more........ Why not get a bottle of Wold Gold, Wold Top Bitter, Scarborough Fair IPA, Helo Velo, Headland Red or even a Marmalade Porter, sit back, crack the bottle open and listen or watch this special episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast - Wold Top beers are available in many local supermarkets, Farm Shops, Restaurants, many Yorkshire pubs (on draft) or from the Wold Top website - details below..... You will not be disappointed. You do not grow to be a successful brewery in a very competitive market if you don't brew excellent beers! Also, if you like a Beer Festival, why not check out the Wold Top Big Sky Beer Festival at the end of August - www.woldtopbrewery.co.uk/products/44/big-sky-beer-festival-2021  Enjoy this episode and thanks Kate for being a brilliant guest for this 50th Podcast Special. Contact Details Kate Balchin, Director of Sales, Marketing & Export Wold Top Brewery Tel +44 (0) 1723 892222 Email - katebalchin@woldtopbrewery.co.uk  Website - www.woldtopbrewery.co.uk LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katebalchin/  

The “Caged Animal” in Question in This Week’s Impact Sessions Podcast Title is Mona Norman, Managing Director of Brand Yorkshire and latterly Fogal & Barnes - (More on That Shortly)..... Mona is one of life’s “people people”, who operates a fantastic Networking & Conference Business, hit hard, like many in the pandemic. She loves her members and loves the dynamics of her regular networking and annual conference live events. So if you can’t organise face-to-face live events, how else can you keep energised and focused in a COVID19 crisis, when virtual networking just isn’t cutting the mustard? Obviously, you open a Fine Jewellery retail store - Fogal & Barnes. After all, the High Street has been untouched by all of this hasn’t it? Oh wait! This is a great episode exploring the energy and passion of a genuine relationship builder - coming through the pandemic one step at a time and backing her instincts for doing the right thing. We even have an intervention from Mona’s dog! Fogal & Barnes after a recent re-opening is going from strength to strength, helping people to celebrate life-changing events such as engagements and weddings, and much more BUT THE BIGGEST NEWS IS THAT BRAND YORKSHIRE NETWORKING IS BACK, THE BRAND YORKSHIRE OCTOBER CONFERENCE IS BACK & MONA IS BACK..... It was great to explore the return of COVID-safe networking, the ambitions for an October socially distanced but large-scale Conference and even what (if anything) will replace the handshake when we can all meet again? It really is a fabulous session with a warm, charismatic, passionate, people person ready to get back out there and inspire some of the Yorkshire Region’s most dynamic businesses. We know that you will enjoy it, but feedback, as always would be most welcome. Contact Details Mona Norman Managing Director - Brand Yorkshire Managing Director - Fogal & Barnes Fine Jewellery Tel +44 (0) 7748 117977 Email - mona@brandyorkshire.com Website - www.brandyorkshire.com Website - https://fogalandbarnes.com LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/monanorman8 

How does a Secondary School DT Teacher develop a product to reduce stress, improve wellbeing & wellness and create a calming influence for its users - all supporting the scientifically robust technique of “conscious breathing”? On this episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast, we meet Michael Crinnion.  Working with Richard Hall and the team at Pd-m International in Thirsk, he has created Luma³. Not only is Luma³ a beautifully designed, tactile piece of desk furniture, but it genuinely improves stress management and wellbeing for its users through a simple but effective light source that encourages calmness through conscious breathing. No intrusive buzzing No shaming reminders to do something - we know which Apps we mean No commitment to reaching targets Just a calming, soothing reminder to do some conscious breathing Brilliantly simple, brilliantly effective And it works....... And YOU can even get involved. Michael is launching a Kickstarter Funding Opportunity in early May (4th).  Do you want to invest in a product that has a very bright future - apologies for the awful pun!!!! Full details of Luma³ can be found here - https://luma3.uk/ Another great Impact Sessions Podcast episode that we hope you will enjoy. Feedback is always welcome.... Why not subscribe to get your usual fix every Tuesday and check out the back catalogue too? Contact Details Michael Crinnion Luma³ Tel - +44 (0) 7936 739386 Email - michael@mindbodygoals.uk Website - https://luma3.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-crinnion/ 

One of IMPACTUS Group's longest-standing and most valued clients, SES Engineering Services is celebrating 60 years in business on Monday 19th April.  That is a massive milestone and as part of the celebrations, we recorded this Special Edition Podcast. We meet the longest serving man, Dave Stoughair - nearly 47 years service and still counting, the longest serving woman, Sarah Jones - who started way back in 1982, the Managing Director, Steve Joyce, himself no slouch in the longevity stakes with 27 years service and one of their very latest, and youngest recruits, Megan Bailey who only joined the business in October 2020. This is a genuine, heartfelt, relaxed and humorous celebration of SES (and the world of work) through the ages in support of their 60th Birthday. Whilst, as you may imagine, there are obviously a number of internal reference points that will only resonate with those involved in the business, there are a lot of interesting and fun exchanges that look at all sorts of areas and reminiscences that hopefully will be enjoyable to a wider audience. Things like; Drilling holes through concrete with hand-tools before power tools were common on site The Boss calling at your house to tell you where to report to tomorrow - long before WhatsApp The Post-Room, a long-extinct staple of the office environment, long before email took over Carbon paper and the blue handed colleagues Smoking in the workplace - what the hell was that all about? Early faxes that just said "Hello" and yet still fascinated the recipients Sharing one PC with dozens of colleagues - and learning how to switch it on Massive mobile phones and even bigger battery packs Interview suits And much more...... We even give a shout out to the heinous Findus Crispy Pancake and the £100,000 Findus French Bread Pizza. All of this is punctuated by a few "pop classics" (plus Maria Carey)! Come on, you know you want to listen or watch! It was great fun to record, full of great stories and a great insight into SES Engineering Services and also the wider workplace over at least the last 47 of those fabulous 60 years. If you are of a certain age (or even at the start of your career), this will either give you a warm glow of reminiscence or make you incredulous at how people used to work. As Megan says, she would "die without her mobile phone". She may well have died trying to carry a mobile phone battery pack the size of a small filing cabinet in the early 90's. Hope you enjoy!

We could have called this week's episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast - "How to Run a Successful Manufacturing Business Without Setting Foot In The Premises for Over a Year"! On this episode, we meet both Neil Matthews, Managing Director and Chris Shanks, Sales Manager of Irvine Springs, a high-performance springs manufacturer based, not surprisingly in Irvine in Ayrshire, Scotland. Well, that's where the business (and Chris) is based, but Managing Director Neil is based in Redditch, in the West Midlands of England. That's over a 5 hour drive and 300 miles away...... Since the global pandemic hit, and since the UK has had an ever-changing set of restrictions, many of which differed between England & Scotland, it has simply not been possible for Neil to be on-site, so Chris has had to take on the local mantle - or has he? Chris has also worked predominantly from home throughout the pandemic, and yet Irvine Springs has not only survived, but has come through and started 2021 in particular like a train. Are there lessons here for others? On another great Impact Sessions Podcast, we discuss, amongst other things; How Irvine Springs developed a sales and marketing approach and action plan during tight restrictions that allowed them to come out fighting in 2021. What being part of a bigger business group (Irvine Springs is an Indutrade business) has brought to the table in these challenging times? Managing and leading remotely. Creating a culture of trust and "can do". Lessons learnt. What the future holds for a UK Manufacturer and why embracing the likes of "Sustainability Development Goals" is a key to future success. And much more...... This was the first Podcast that either Neil or Chris had recorded and they were great! Give it a watch or listen for some inspiring content and conversation. Feedback as always is most welcome. Contact Details Neil Matthews, Managing Director, Irvine Springs Tel - +44 (0) 7985 281706 Email - neil.matthews@irvinesprings.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-matthews-7a413644/   Chris Shanks, Sales Manager, Irvine Springs Tel - +44 (0) 1294 279396 Email - chris.shanks@irvinesprings.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisshanks1/  Website - https://irvinesprings.com/ 

On this week's episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast we meet Lisa East, Managing Director of The Thinking Cap and we explore all things content. From content creation to creating a content calendar and plan but particularly, how ANYONE can and should be able to be interesting on the right social media platforms. We discuss how the global pandemic has changed the face of content, with more people having more time to create more, but is that necessarily a good thing? Lisa shares some great tips on where to start if you are not sure, and some questions to ask yourself before just diving in. We look at design v the written word - what works best and how to stop the social media "scroll" too. Lisa also discusses lead generation using content and how to sustain growth if you have an opportunity to exploit. Basically, if you run a business, are responsible for developing the profile of a business, or are just looking at ways to up your content "game" then give this excellent podcast a watch or listen. Lisa really is at the top of her game. Feedback, as always is most welcome. Contact Details Lisa East Managing Director The Thinking Cap Tel - +44 (0) 7436 223688 Email - lisa@thethinkingcap.co.uk  Web - www.thethinkingcap.co.uk  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaeast/ 

Why & How Does a High-Flying, City Banker Just Walk Away From a Career in The City of London & Start To Sell Pet Products in Huddersfield Instead - And All Before He Hit His Early 30's? Join us on this week's episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast as we meet a very honest, open and forthright guest who did just that, (well he is from Yorkshire, so we expect those characteristics don't we), and all in the name of supporting his family, following his passion for his local economy whilst also protecting his own mental health and wellbeing into the bargain. Simon Brown, is a Director at Sniffers Petcare a highly successful pet products business which has been established for over 40 years, selling high quality pet products, snacks etc to the trade. The business has had steady growth over the years but Simon shares some exciting (and scary) big plans to grow again with a significant investment in a new warehouse facility underway to meet the needs of an ever-demanding and upwardly mobile customer base. Dog ownership in the UK continues to rocket as working from home has allowed many to realise their dream of having a family pooch.  Growth in the number of dog owners looking for healthy snacks and quality food for their prized pets has also been significant, but the success of Sniffers Petcare isn't accidental or just about luck. Whilst the Sniffers product range is wide, varied and top quality, innovation in product development over recent years has helped to meet modern, demanding dog ownership requirements for top class snacks and the business now sets trends rather than follows them. They are always looking to be ahead of the next curve. Listen to Simon share his vision for how he helps to run the business, how he influences and understands the financials and how he makes MASSIVE decisions based on that level of financial certainty.  This really is a lesson in where entrepreneurship meets operational rigour and it makes a great Podcast episode. We hope that you enjoy it , and don't forget, if you are buying your dog biscuits, treats and snacks from a retailer, ask them if they have Sniffiers Petcare on their shelves..... Your dog will not be disappointed! Contact Details Simon Brown Director, Sniffers Petcare Tel +44 (0) 1484 538281 Tel +44 (0) 7463 760945 Email - simon@snifferspetcare.co.uk  Web - www.snifferspetcare.co.uk  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spbrownmarketing/ 

When “Customer Journey Expert” Nigel Greenwood set his mind to creating a brand new resource for SME businesses to access real time, valuable and valued information, he probably didn’t envisage the trials and tribulations of his own journey to come. But, after developing prototypes, testing the concept and then the user experience, many times over, he is delighted to launch BuBul. Join me on this episode of the Impact Sessions as we meet Nigel and discuss what BuBul is all about and what he has learnt about devising, designing and launching a brand new platform? What has he learnt about himself and what are his ambitions for this new resource for the SME business community? BuBul and Nigel recognise that starting or growing a thriving business is an exciting but demanding challenge. Every day brings crucial problems and questions such as: • I'm not converting sales, what can I do? • How can I find the right customers? • How do I increase my profits? • How can I retain more customers? Getting the right business advice is vital to business success and BuBul does this by putting you in a virtual room with over 30 business experts who will give you the advice you need. A really interesting podcast episode that takes you on a journey of focus & resilience as a genuine expert gets to share his passion for creating access to high quality business advice. Feedback, as always is most welcome. Contact Details Nigel Greenwood Customer Experience Consultant & BuBul Founder Tel - +44 (0) 7545 569775 Email - nigel@simplycustomer.co.uk Web - www.bubulexpert.com LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/ngreenwood 

Wow, we hope that this Impact Sessions Podcast Episode Will Blow You Away..... It certainly did us! Former Podcast Guest, Paul Lillywhite contacted me and said he was working with an inspirational team who he felt would be great guests for the Podcast and a real value add to the Podcast library - How could I resist? That they turned out to be a team of 6 x Lower 6th / Year 11 Students from St. Peter's School in York was the real surprise, but not once we had met and interviewed them. It has been an absolute pleasure to see such passion, energy and focus of the team, a team who are a great credit to themselves, the school and their business - YES, THEIR BUSINESS! The team are competing in a national Young Enterprise Competition, setting up and running a business over the course of 3 terms, with all of the required rigour, focus and structure you have to demonstrate as you would if you have to manage and run a business with in the "real world". They chose a Social Enterprise Structure for the business, appointed a Board of Directors including Joint Managing Directors, a Sales Director, a Marketing Director, and a couple of Social Media stars, all supported by a cast of over 20 Students all playing other key roles. It has been some journey - So what is the business? During lockdown 1 in March 2020, one of the Students, Lucy had an idea for a simple cookbook to help her elderly Gran / Nan who had previously been diagnosed with Alzheimer's but wanted to still enjoy cooking with her husband and her Carer, (and hopefully Lucy after lockdown was lifted). It was not an idea for a business at that stage, just something great she could do for her cherished Gran / Nan. From that simple idea, "Caring Through Cooking - Bringing Generations Together" was born as THE idea that St. Peter's wanted to adopt as their business entry in the Young Enterprise Competition come September 2020.  From then to March 2021, the journey has been one of creativity, collaboration, communication and of course hard work. It has been about researching, launching & published an excellent cookbook "Caring Through Cooking - Bringing Generations Together". Developing their sales & marketing strategies including an Instagram presence, a website and even a QR code backed series of cookery demonstrations to support the book and conducting market research and collaboration projects with the Alzheimer's Research UK to validate their products from a safety and accessibility perspective. All whilst working and studying remotely for the vast majority of the time! Watch or listen to this episode to see how the students have managed all of this and have a product range on the launchpad of success. If you have experienced a relative with Alzheimer's or if you just want to help these excellent students to make a difference, their contact details, including where to buy the book or access their product range are included here. A truly inspiring episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast, we hope that you will agree. Contact Details St. Peter's School Young Enterprise Team - Caring Through Cooking - Bringing Generations Together Lead Teacher - Mr Dominic Shread Email - d.shread@stpetersyork.org.uk Website for Books - https://www.ye-tradingstation.org.uk/product/bringing-generations-together-cookbook?v=282  Instagram - caringthroughcooking 

Another Episode in our "Positivity in a Pandemic" Mini-Series..... Steve Joyce, Managing Director of SES Engineering Services is an inspiration and my guest on this episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast..... From Apprentice Electrician (a job his Mum put him forward for without his knowledge when he left school at 15) to Managing Director of a £180m+ national Mechanical & Electrical Engineering business, he has had quite the journey. Loads of moves and promotions (you will have to listen or watch to find out how many), all on an upward trajectory and all backed by one common thread - POSITIVITY. And this from a guy who didn't even know what an Electrician was or did until his first day at work....... 28 years later, and he knows his business inside out. This is an inspirational story of opportunity, backing yourself and developing exceptional people and leadership skills along the way, with two very life changing moments thrown in too. You will be hard pressed not to be inspired. Why was 2015 so important to Steve? If you think 2020 was a challenge - have a listen to see what Steve had to overcome - and why he remains so upbeat about 2021 and beyond? You will really enjoy this episode - I guarantee. Feedback, as always is most welcome. Contact Details Steve Joyce Managing Director SES Engineering Services Tel - 0191 258 6627 Email (PA) - Debbi Potts - dpotts@ses-ltd.co.uk Website - www.ses-ltd.co.uk LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-joyce-56198416/ 

Matthew Ord of LV Shipping & Transport has a great Job Title - Company Ambassador...... How cool is that, or is it? How did it come about, what does it mean, what is the difference between that and other business development and senior level titles and what has been the impact of being a Company Ambassador in a large Shipping & Transport Business? We explore the career path that got Matthew to here, how he embraces the role and how it opens doors to prospects, clients and collaboration partners alike. More than just looking at a simple job title, we explore some really interesting perspectives on the economy, Brexit, local business relationships, networking and more.... Matthew is a really engaging guest and he plugs his knowledge and passion for the North East directly into this week's Impact Sessions Podcast - another great listen or watch. Hope you enjoy it - feedback, as always, most welcome..... Contact Details Matthew Ord Company Ambassador LV Shipping & Transport Tel - 07467 953505 Email - matthew.ord@lvshipping.com Web - www.lvshipping.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-ord-9053a03a/