ScaleUp Radio MonkeyPants Productions

Welcome to another insightful episode of ScaleUp Radio! I'm Granger Forson, your host from BizSmart Gloucestershire, committed to guiding you through the complexities of scaling up your business with ease and joy. You can discover more about the journey to business joy at [www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk](http://www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk) or connect with me on LinkedIn.
 
Today, we dive into the inspiring journey of Fiona McKinnon, a visionary in the tech start-up world who transitioned from the brink of burnout to founding the Moment Company. Fiona shares her profound insights on creating a culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and performance, drawing from her own experiences to enlighten us on building a people-focused culture ad starts with being curious about me.
 
In this episode, Fiona discusses her career spanning over two decades in tech start-ups, her pivotal moment of change due to burnout, and how it led her to co-found the Moment Company. She emphasises the significance of psychological safety, trust, communication, and the ground-breaking strategies implemented at Keynes Digital to foster rapid growth and a nurturing work environment.
 
Fiona also delves into her personal growth journey, hosting the podcast "May the Life Force Be With You," exploring the realms of mindfulness, spirituality, and personal development. Her story is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of wellbeing in the workplace.
 
Listeners will be captivated by Fiona's advice on cultivating a successful business environment that champions employee wellbeing as a cornerstone for growth. She highlights practical steps for start-ups aiming to emulate the success of Keynes Digital, stressing the importance of understanding the 'why' behind your business and embracing new ways of thinking.
 
Join us as we explore Fiona McKinnon's transformative journey, unveiling the essence of leadership, culture, and wellbeing in the fast-paced tech industry. Discover how to integrate these principles into your scale up strategy for sustainable success.
 
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
 
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/apply
 
You can get in touch with Granger here:
grangerf@biz-smart.co.uk
 
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
 
Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
 
Fiona can be found here:
 
linkedin.com/in/fiona-mckinnon
https://momentcompany.co/
 
Resources:
 
Into The Magic Shop by Dr James Doty - https://www.waterstones.com/book/into-the-magic-shop/dr-james-doty/9781444786194
 
May The Lifeforce Be With You podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@Maythelifeforcebewithyou
 
The Rest Is Politics - https://therestispolitics.supportingcast.fm/
 
The Rest Is Entertainment - https://www.goalhangerpodcasts.com/the-rest-is-entertainment
 
Diary of a CEO - https://stevenbartlett.com/doac
 
F1 podcast - https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/all.podcast.html
 
Whoop app - https://www.whoop.com/gb/en/

Welcome back to another delicious slice of inspiration on ScaleUp Radio, where we feast on the success stories that warm the entrepreneurial soul. I'm your host, Granger Forson. You can find me nurturing the seeds of business joy at [www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk](http://www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk) or connecting the dots of opportunity on LinkedIn.
 
Today, we delve into the savoury journey of Rachael Willoughby, a maven in melding creative ingenuity with gustatory delight through her ventures, Square One Software and CasaGees Pizza Delivery.
 
Rachael's odyssey is a testament to the transformative power of adversity, pivoting from graphic design to web development amidst the 2009 recession, only to concoct a whole new success recipe with CasaGees during the lockdown.
 
Her story is a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and the art of leveraging one's passion into a thriving business.
 
With over two decades of experience under her belt, Rachael's insights are golden for anyone looking to navigate the tumultuous waters of entrepreneurship with grace and gusto.
 
In this episode, we explore how Rachael's knack for networking, her strategic pivot to digital marketing, and the embrace of a "Fix what bugs you" mentality propelled her software business to new heights.
 
Meanwhile, CasaGees stands as a testament to the power of quality, community engagement, and creative marketing – from the "50% Club" to serendipitous pizza giveaways that captured the hearts (and stomachs) of her local area.
 
Listeners, prepare to be inspired by Rachael's journey from facing the brink during a recession to rolling out the dough of her dreams amidst a global pandemic.
 
Her story is a rich blend of perseverance, strategic innovation, and the joy of bringing people together, whether through pixels or pizzas.
 
Remember, in the world of business, every challenge is just an ingredient in the recipe for success.
 
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business.
 
ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
 
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please email using the address below.
 
You can get in touch with Granger here:
grangerf@biz-smart.co.uk
 
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
‌
Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey.
 
He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
 
More on the Book HERE - 
 
Scale your Business - The Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System
 
Rachael can be found here:
linkedin.com/in/rachaelwilloughby
https://casagees.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/@elliottrichmondwp
 
Resources:
High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/high-performance-habits-how-extraordinary-people-become-that-way-brendon-burchard/101940?ean=9781788176576
 
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-7-habits-of-highly-effective-people-revised-and-updated-30th-anniversary-edition-stephen-r-covey/3555997?ean=9781471195204
 
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz - https://profitfirstbook.com/
 
Just F*cking Do It by Noor Hibbert - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/just-f-cking-do-it-stop-playing-small-transform-your-life-noor-hibbert/6240417?ean=9781473692954
 
Zoho Expense - https://www.zoho.com/uk/expense/
 

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. 
 
I’m Kevin Brent and today we dive into the inspiring story of Sophie Preston-Hall, the dynamic founder of Catering Elite. With just £300 and a vision, Sophie transformed a simple idea into a leading specialist recruitment agency in the hospitality and catering industry.
 
Despite facing the daunting challenges of COVID-19, a £180k VAT miscalculation, and the complexities of managing a diverse workforce, Sophie's unwavering resilience and deep industry insight have steered Catering Elite through 22 years of growth and innovation.
 
From leveraging technology like WhatsApp to mastering the art of work-life balance for her team, Sophie's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, strategic thinking, and true passion for one's industry.
 
Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever
you like to listen to your podcasts.
 
Join us as we uncover the secrets behind her success, the lessons learned from setbacks, and her plans for the future in this compelling episode of ScaleUp Radio.
 
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/apply
You can get in touch with Kevin here:
kevin@biz-smart.co.uk
grangerf@biz-smart.co.uk
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
 
Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
 
Sophie can be found here:
https://cateringelite.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/Catering_Elite
https://twitter.com/SophiePrestonHa
https://www.instagram.com/cateringelite_/
https://www.instagram.com/sprestonhall/
https://www.facebook.com/CateringEliteLimited
linkedin.com/in/sophie-preston-hall-1b1a3221
 
Resources:
Diary of a CEO podcast - https://stevenbartlett.com/doac
Federation of Small Business - https://www.fsb.org.uk/
Recruitment and Employment Confederation - https://www.rec.uk.com/
The Princes Trust - https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/
WhatsApp - https://web.whatsapp.com/

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences.
I’m Kevin Brent today I’m joined by Logan Naidu, the founder and Group CEO of Kernel Global.
Logan takes us through his journey of scaling businesses, from his first recruitment firm to the success of Kernel Global, now a company with 250 staff across five offices. He shares invaluable lessons on the importance of assembling the right team, focusing on cash generation over revenue, and the critical role of culture and communication in scaling up.
Logan also discusses the impact of private equity investment in accelerating business growth, the innovative "classroom to boardroom" recruitment model, and the significance of aligning with the right investors.
This episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to scale their business effectively.
Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.
Join us for a masterclass in entrepreneurship and leadership with Logan Naidu.
 
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/apply
You can get in touch with Kevin here:
kevin@biz-smart.co.uk
grangerf@biz-smart.co.uk
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
 
Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
 
Logan can be found here:
linkedin.com/in/logan-naidu-3b10b51
https://www.kernel-global.com/
logan@kernel-global.com
 
Resources:
Good To Great by Jim Collins - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/good-to-great-jim-collins/2101805?ean=9780712676090
The Branded Gentry by David Hopper and Charles Vallance - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-branded-gentry-how-a-new-era-of-entrepreneurs-made-their-names-david-hopper/4024375?ean=9781908739780

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences.
I’m Kevin Brent and this week on the show I’m joined by Alex Smith and Mike Penrose, co-founders of The Sustainability Group.
They'll share their journey with FuturePlus, a tool that's reshaping how companies approach sustainability, their strategic growth to $1M ARR, and their visionary path towards profitability and global impact.
From overcoming VC challenges to key hiring decisions and their unique fundraising approach, Alex and Mike offer invaluable insights for any entrepreneur.
Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever
you like to listen to your podcasts.
Tune in as we dive into their mission to build a sustainable future, the lessons they've learned, and the wisdom they're eager to share.
This is a conversation packed with inspiration, strategy, and actionable advice for the sustainable entrepreneur in all of us.
 
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/apply
You can get in touch with Kevin here:
kevin@biz-smart.co.uk
 
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
 
Alex & Mike can be found here:
www.future-plus.co.uk
linkedin.com/in/alexandra-smith-ab788779
linkedin.com/in/mike-penrose-9a981b2

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences.
I’m Kevin Brent and today we’re joined by Ella Peters, the innovative mind behind Skylos Collective and Super Yacht Nanny.
From yacht stewardess to a pioneer in sustainable luxury, Ella shares her story of merging ethical practices with luxury in the pet accessory market and revolutionising childcare in the yachting industry.
With a focus on sustainable development, extensive R&D, and educating a market that values luxury just as much as sustainability, Ella sets her sights on ambitious goals for the future, including hitting revenue targets, achieving B Corp status, and expanding partnerships.
Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever
you like to listen to your podcasts.
 
Join us for a captivating episode on navigating the seas of sustainability and luxury with Ella Peters. Let's dive in!
 
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/apply
You can get in touch with Kevin here:
kevin@biz-smart.co.uk
 
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
 
Ella can be found here:
ella@skyloscollective.co.uk
https://skyloscollective.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/skyloscollective/
https://www.instagram.com/superyachtnanny/
 
Resources:
Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/never-split-the-difference-negotiating-as-if-your-life-depended-on-it-chris-voss/3692653?ean=9781847941497
Google Calendar - https://calendar.google.com/