Business Ready Podcast
After the success of our Brexit Ready podcast, we’re delighted to be back for a fresh series with a brand-new name and focus themed around business resilience.
In today’s climate we know that SMEs are constantly having to adapt to change and futureproof their business. The impact of the pandemic has also brought on complex and unique challenges for business owners. With all of this in mind for our new Business Ready podcast, we have distilled the concept of resilience into three accessible episodes on the below topics.
In each episode, hear from industry experts and business owners with valuable insight to share on issues really relevant in the SME space right now.
You can subscribe to the Business Ready Podcast through your favourite podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts and Pocketcast or stream now on Spotify or Acast.
Today, we’re talking about net zero with:
- Dr Sid Pourfalah – Founder and CEO, Concrete4Change
- Fiona Edwards – Head of Sustainability, JPA Workspaces
- Fleur Record-Smith – Founder of Hayne House wedding venue, who just won the Sustainable Business award at the Kent Wedding awards
Today, we’re talking about digital with:
- Greg – who runs technically innovative business Refinery Works
- Julian Mobbs – Senior Business Advisor and Entrepreneur
- Cheryl Luzet – CEO of Digital Marketing Agency Wagada
- Alex Eade – Marketing Manager, Footprint Digital
Today, we’re talking about business resilience and recruitment with:
- Josie Pollard – Office Administrator, To The Rise Bakery
- Frances Wetherilt – Transform Advisor, Sussex Council of Training Providers
- Deborah O’Sullivan – Director, Ten2Two Recruitment Agency
Catch up with Brexit Ready
If you missed our Brexit Ready podcast series, you can find all episodes below. Brought to you by the London Business Hub, listen to London businesses on how they prepared for the end of the transition period from exporting to staffing and much more…
Series 1
In this episode, we’re asking how UK businesses can continue to employ EU talent. How else are businesses going to remain globally competitive after losing a massive part of their workforce? Journalist Nick Wallis is joined by Sir William Sargent of visual effects company Framestore and immigration lawyer Sacha Schoenfeld. Together, they try to find some answers.
In this episode, we’re tackling the T-word. That’s right, tariffs. Will they, won’t they and how can businesses prepare? Journalist Nick Wallis speaks to Wilda Haddad from Dina Foods and Ian Wright of the Food and Drink Federation. Together, they try to find some answers.
In this episode, we’re trying to get to grips with labelling. There’s no definitive advice online, so what are businesses meant to do? Journalist Nick Wallis speaks to Mark McCormack from party supplies company, Talking Tables, and commercial lawyer Stephen Sidkin. Together, they try to find some answers.
In this episode – what happens when half your workforce goes back to the EU? Can apprenticeship schemes help pick up the pieces? But what if they’ve not worked for you before? Journalist Nick Wallis speaks to Sital Punja from couture dressmakers, Threads London, and Anna Ambrose from new apprenticeship scheme, London Progression Collaboration.
Series 2
In the first episode of the new series of Brexit Ready, Nick Wallis explores what has changed since the UK and the EU reached a trade deal. Speaking to all our experts from the previous episodes, we discuss matters such as tariffs, immigration laws, labelling and apprenticeships and its effect on London businesses.
In this episode we explore the challenges that the UK music industry face as they navigate the lack of any specific privileges in the UK’s trade deal with the EU. Nick Wallis meets Paul Crockford, the founder of Crockford Management, who has been working in the music industry since the 1970s. They speak to Brexit specialist lawyers Mandy Higgins and Jaqui Bickerton from Weightmans Solicitors to answer some questions on how organising tours is likely to change across the EU.
In this episode of Brexit Ready, Nick Wallis tackles a matter that is still up in the air and will affect a wide range of businesses – Data Flow. Carl Fryer from the crowd-testing business Testbirds.com is asking questions to our expert Madeleine Rhodes of Redfern Legal, about the transfer of data in and out of Europe as well as to third party countries.
Nick Wallis once again journeys to the border, this time to explore customs arrangements. Importing and Exporting changes are having a significant impact on business, but what can you do to help adjust? Ed Carpenter, CEO of Very Good and Proper, a furniture design studio and manufacturer discusses how they’ve found business since January 1st and on hand to help answer his questions is Alexandra Turner, Head of Customs and Export Control at Customs Connect.
Series 3
This episode will explore changes to VAT following the end of the EU transition period. We will also hear from experts including:
- Jason Croke – VAT Director with Rayner Essex
- Ruth Corkin – Director of Indirect Tax at Hillier Hopkins
- Laura Rudoe – Founder of Evolve Organic Beauty
You can download a transcript of the episode here.
This episode will explore the workforce and Brexit. We will also hear from experts including:
- Mike Russell – a business consultant who runs MKR Solutions Ltd
- Kate Goodman – HR specialist at her company Kalida People and also HR lead at Brexit for Business
- Duncan Sambrook – Founder of SEB Brewing and Packaging
You can download a transcript of the episode here.
This episode will explore the supply chain and Brexit. We will also hear from experts including:
- Olly Bridge-Head of Operational Consulting at Grant Thornton
- Isobel Sheldon OBE –Chief Strategy Officer Britishvolt & Member of the Board of Trustees Faraday Institution
- Sam Walker – COO and CFO of Lanserring
You can download a transcript of the episode here.
If some of the issues raised by our podcast have got you thinking about what you might need to do next, the London Business Hub is here to help. You can book an appointment with one of our Business Advisers. For more specific Brexit related support, speak to one of our EU Specialist Advisers.
You can subscribe to the Business Ready Podcast through your favourite podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts and Pocketcast or stream now on Spotify or Acast.
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