The Small Business Sessions

Enterprise Nation
The Small Business Sessions

The Small Business Sessions is a weekly podcast from Enterprise Nation and the business.connected training programme that shares top tips and stories from some of Britain's best entrepreneurs and digital experts. Enterprise Nation helps people turn their good ideas into great businesses through inspirational events, a supportive community, expert content and a campaigning voice. Find out more at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast and www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected   And for a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit https://www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice

  1. 26 FEB

    Olly Tyler, Shroot: Buying a failing business and turning it into a success

    The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the eighth and final episode in the series is Olly Tyler, owner of greetings card business, Shroot. Shroot creates eco-friendly, biodegradable cards that come with everything you need to grow microgreens, including the pot. It's a gift, card, experience and snack all in one. Olly didn't start the business, but bought it as a failing venture. He has since turned it into a great success, and has also purchased two other businesses; Kabloom and Bottle Farm.  In the inspiring episode, Olly and Dan discuss topics including: Why Olly bought Shroot and his advice to others for buying a businessHow he turned a failing business into a successOliver's advice for entrepreneurs struggling with their businessFunding strategies for growing a businessHow being an Enterprise Nation member has benefitted OllyBig thanks for tuning into series eight of the Small Business Sessions. Look out for series nine coming soon! -----  The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected For a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

    24 min
  2. 19 FEB

    Saasha Celestial-One, Olio: How to build a successful app

    The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the seventh episode is Saasha Celestial-One, co-founder of local sharing app Olio. The idea for Saasha's groundbreaking business came about when her business partner Tessa Clarke trawled the streets looking for someone who might be able to use her spare food when she was moving house. The two friends tested their solution in a WhatsApp group for neighbours in North London, and it's now an app used by millions around the world for finding what they need and sharing what they don't with local people. In an inspiring episode, Sasha and Dan discuss: tips for growing a successful apphow to use business to benefit the environmentthe UK as a good place to grow a technology companyhow Saasha funded the companyrunning a business with a co-founderhow to build partnerships with big organisationshow businesses can continue to innovate-----  The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected For a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

    23 min
  3. 12 FEB

    Jake Bucknall: Selling pizzas in lockdown to a thriving food business

    The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the sixth episode is Jake Bucknall, co-founder of pizza business Dinner for One Hundred. Chef Jake started the company in South London in 2020 with his former tour guide friend Jacob as a dinner for 100 people.  But then lockdown hit so they decided to sell pizzas outside Jacob's mum's house. The popularity was so great that they ran out of space and moved to a pop-up site.  That has now been developed into a permanent pizzeria, alongside another bar, selling their pizzas in a central London pub and running four events a month.  In the show, Dan and Jake discuss topics including the impact of the pandemictips for setting up a restauranthow to be successful at crowdfunding the secrets to putting on a great eventtips for business success-----  The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected For a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

    36 min
  4. 5 FEB

    Josh Kleiner: The story behind the Sandwich Sandwich viral sensation

    The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the fifth episode is Josh Kleiner, who runs sandwich shop chain Sandwich Sandwich with his dad Nick. The family business started with a small shop in Bristol in 2010 and now has three branches in the south west city. In 2023, the business was named Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year and won £100,000. This allowed the father and son team to open a flagship London store which is so popular that people queue for up to an hour to buy their lunch. The success of the business has also been helped by social media. Its famous giant sandwiches have gone viral many times, with TikTok influencer Kalani Ghost Hunter telling his three million followers that it was "one of the best things he has ever put in his mouth". In the show, Dan and Josh discuss: how the business has grown from the first small shopthe reasons behind its popularity on social mediathe impact the social media buzz has had on the businessopening a flagship branch in Londonhis advice for running a high street businesshis tips for business success----- The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected For a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

    31 min
  5. 29 JAN

    Elyssa Desai: How founders can overcome imposter syndrome and burnout

    The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the fourth episode is Elyssa Desai. Elyssa is a mindset expert, speaker and coach who guides business owners and others through their what am I doing with my life moments. A huge focus of her work is helping individuals to understand and reprogramme their mindset so they can confidently achieve their dreams. In the inspiring episode, Dan and Elyssa discuss topics including: How to manage imposter syndrome as a business ownerDealing with burnoutHow being an Enterprise Nation adviser has helped her businessStarting a business during the COVID-19 pandemicTips for podcasting----- The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected For a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

    31 min
  6. 22 JAN

    Lynsey Crombie, Queen of Clean: How to build a big community online

    The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the third episode is is Lynsey Crombie, also known as the Queen of Clean. Lynsey first joined Instagram in 2016 and posted an image of her newly clean floor with a bottle of product. Despite having only 40 followers, she got 190 likes and realised she was on to something.  Within six months, Lynsey had 7,000 followers, started being paid by brands to promote their products and became the UK's first cleaning influencer.  Nearly a million people now keep up to date with Lynsey's cleaning tips on social media, she has written several books, and she makes regular appearances on television shows including ITV's This Morning and Good Morning Britain.  In the episode, Lynsey and Dan discuss topics including: becoming a social media influencerhow to grow a following online negotiating influencer deals with brandsbuilding a career as a TV expert the power of Facebook groupsmanaging a work/life balance----- The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected For a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

    32 min
  7. 15 JAN

    Clare Andrews: Turning a love for air fryers into a business and 100,000 social media followers

    The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the second episode is Clare Andrews, the home cook turned social media sensation who's known as the Air Fryer Angel.  Clare's culinary journey began during the lockdowns of 2020 when she was gifted an air fryer.  She began to explore the full potential of the popular kitchen gadget and shared her air fryer recipes on Instagram.  Clare now has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, has published three bestselling cookbooks and has appeared on several air fryer-themed TV programmes.  In the show, we discuss Clare's journey to becoming a social media influencer plus her tips for growing a following online, writing a book and attracting media coverage.  ----- The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected For a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

    29 min
  8. 8 JAN

    Richard Harpin: The founder who sold his business for £4 billion

    The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the first episode in the new series is entrepreneur and investor Richard Harpin. Richard is best known as founder of home assistance company, HomeServe, but his entrepreneurial journey began at an early age. That included selling rabbits at age 6, and running a fishing fly-tie company, which earnt him enough for the deposit on his first house. Richard grew HomeServe into a FTSE 100 listed business, with thousands of employees serving millions of customers around the world. In 2023 he sold it to Brookfield Asset Management for £4.1 billion. Richard has stayed on as chair of HomeServe EMEA. He also invests in other entrepreneurs via Growth Partner and in 2023, he acquired Business Leader, a platform and membership community supporting mid-sized firms. With Richard's huge entrepreneurial experience, this is a podcast you don't want to miss! ----- The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected For a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

    34 min
4.8
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

The Small Business Sessions is a weekly podcast from Enterprise Nation and the business.connected training programme that shares top tips and stories from some of Britain's best entrepreneurs and digital experts. Enterprise Nation helps people turn their good ideas into great businesses through inspirational events, a supportive community, expert content and a campaigning voice. Find out more at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast and www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected   And for a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit https://www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice

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