The Stirling Business Podcast

Various

What Does The Stirling Podcast Offer? The Stirling Business Podcast is recorded at Studio King Street in Stirling and produced by Johnston Media (Crieff). The podcast shines a spotlight on the people, businesses, and organisations shaping Stirling’s thriving business community. Our aim is to produce engaging and insightful conversations that share real stories from local entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators. Each episode provides listeners with valuable insights, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of the businesses driving the region forward. By featuring a wide range of guests, The Stirling Business Podcast helps promote local enterprises, build connections within the business community, and give businesses a platform to share their journey, challenges, and successes. What guests receive: A professionally recorded podcast episodeHigh-quality audio and video productionSocial media clips to promote the episodeExposure to the local business communityA permanent platform to share their story and expertise🎙️ Interested in being featured?  To book your recording at Studio King Street visit - https://studiokingstreet.com/

  1. 1d ago

    Ollie Jones: Director of Juniper Property Services

    In this episode of the Stirling Business Podcast, host Neil Munday sits down with Ollie Jones, Director of Juniper Property Services and Juniper Rentals, to talk about his journey into the property industry and how he went from property investor to managing a portfolio of more than 90 short-term rental properties. Ollie shares how his journey started with his own experiences in property, including a memorable period “living in a cupboard” during the Edinburgh Fringe, before recognising an opportunity to build a property management service of his own. With the business continuing to grow, he talks about the realities of managing properties across Stirling, Glasgow and Perthshire and what it takes to successfully scale within the serviced accommodation industry. The conversation explores the importance of design-led renovations, why professional interior design can make such a difference to the performance of a property, and how working with Sante Designs has helped create spaces that stand out in an increasingly competitive market. Ollie also discusses the operational challenges that come with managing a growing portfolio while maintaining consistently high standards for both property owners and guests. Ollie also shares the next chapter of the business, including the acquisition of Victoria Square Guest House and the move into the hotel industry. He talks about what this expansion means for Juniper, the lessons he has learned along the way and where he sees opportunities for further growth within hospitality. Looking ahead, Ollie shares his thoughts on the future of Stirling city centre and the importance of local businesses working together to create a stronger “circular economy”, where businesses support one another and help keep more spending within the local community. Whether you’re a property investor, local business owner or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation offers a fascinating insight into growing a property and hospitality business, managing the challenges that come with scaling and recognising new opportunities along the way. If you’re looking for practical inspiration on property investment, serviced accommodation, growing a business and building strong relationships within the local community, this conversation is well worth a listen. Subscribe to the Stirling Business Podcast, share the episode with someone interested in property or growing their own business, and leave us a review with the biggest lesson you took away from Ollie’s story.

  2. Sep 1

    Alex Sorlei: Building a successful Pizzeria in Stirling

    In this episode of the Stirling Business Podcast, host Neil Munday sits down with Alex Sorlei, Co-Founder and Director of Piotsa, to talk about his journey from Italy to Stirling and how his passion for authentic Neapolitan pizza grew into a successful business. Alex shares how a late-night craving during his university days sparked a 3am idea that would eventually lead to the opening of his first pizzeria on Friars Street. With no previous business experience, he learned as he went, navigating the challenges of starting and growing a business while staying focused on quality, simplicity and creating great pizza. The conversation explores why high-quality ingredients and a “less is more” approach are at the heart of Piotsa, the secret behind their signature dough, and the importance of finding the right business partner. Alex also talks about working alongside David, how they balance finance and operations, and what they’ve learned while growing the business. Looking ahead, Alex shares some of Piotsa’s exciting plans for the future, including pizza-making classes, tasting menus and even a custom web app he developed to help solve everyday challenges faced by small businesses. Whether you’re a pizza lover, a local business owner or an aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation offers a fascinating insight into what it takes to turn a simple idea into a growing business, while learning along the way and never compromising on quality. If you’re looking for practical inspiration on starting a business, building the right partnership, overcoming challenges and turning an idea into something successful, this conversation is well worth a listen. Subscribe to the Stirling Business Podcast, share the episode with someone who loves great pizza or has ambitions of starting their own business, and leave us a review with the biggest lesson you took away from Alex’s story.

  3. Aug 25

    Mairead Hume: The Secret to Building a Global Luxury Brand in Stirling

    What happens when a love of golf meets one of Scotland’s most iconic heritage fabrics? In this episode of the Stirling Business Podcast, host Neil Munday sits down with Stirling born entrepreneur Mairead Hume, founder of the Mairead Hume Harris Tweed Golf Collection, to explore how a simple idea grew into an international business. Mairead shares her journey from a career in international travel and luxury golf tours to discovering the craftsmanship and tradition behind Harris Tweed. What began with an idea for a golf shoe bag, made using an old singer sewing machine in her father’s garage, developed into a growing collection that has reached customers around the world and is now supplied to the iconic Old Course at St Andrews. In this episode, we hear about Mairead’s Stirling roots and the experiences that shaped her entrepreneurial journey, from Camp America and working in international travel to building a business from the ground up with support from Business Gateway Stirling. Mairead also shares the fascinating story behind Harris Tweed and its traditional hand-weaving process, as well as how she has taken a distinctly Scottish product to customers across South Korea, Finland and prestigious private members’ golf clubs in the United States. The conversation also looks at what comes next for the Mairead Hume Harris Tweed Golf Collection, including how digital innovation and AI could help bring traditional Scottish craftsmanship to a new generation of customers while protecting the heritage and authenticity that make Harris Tweed so special. Whether you’re interested in golf, Scottish heritage or entrepreneurship, Mairead’s story offers a brilliant insight into turning a simple idea into an international brand while remaining connected to its Stirling roots. If you’re looking for inspiration on starting a business, taking a local product to a global audience or combining tradition with modern innovation, this conversation is well worth a listen. Subscribe to the Stirling Business Podcast, share the episode with someone who loves golf, Scottish craftsmanship or business, and leave us a review with the biggest lesson you took away from Mairead’s story.

  4. Jul 29

    Steve Jelfs: How Defibrillators Save Lives In Workplaces And Communities

    Someone collapses, a crowd forms, and the most common response is to freeze. That hesitation is exactly what resuscitation specialist Steve Jelfs wants to change, and he joins us in the studio to explain how defibrillation and CPR really work when seconds matter.  We talk through what an AED (automated external defibrillator) actually does, why it is designed for non-medical people, and how the voice prompts guide you from calling 999 to starting chest compressions and delivering a shock only when it is needed. Steve shares what he has seen across decades in the ambulance service, the Red Cross, and international clinical training, plus the simple truth that every minute of delay can cut survival dramatically.  From a business and community angle, we dig into where defibrillators should be placed, how small businesses can think about the cost, and what “ready to use” means in practice: checking expiry dates on pads, replacing batteries, and not ignoring warning alarms. We also get into a system gap that can cost time, the need to register devices on the British Heart Foundation’s The Circuit database so ambulance control rooms can direct callers to the nearest AED, and Steve’s push for stronger expectations around registration and maintenance.  If you want clear, practical guidance on AEDs, first aid training, workplace safety, and improving cardiac arrest survival in Stirling and beyond, this conversation will leave you better prepared. Subscribe, share it with someone who runs a workplace or community venue, and leave us a review with one thing you would do differently after listening.

  5. Jul 14

    Craig Mitchell: Craig Mitchell: Why Buying a Home Is Harder Than It Should Be

    Walking away from a senior construction career is one thing. Doing it to build a fresh, community-first estate agency in Falkirk is another. We sit down with Craig Mitchell, founder of Pop Homes, to talk about what he learned during 13 years at Persimmon Homes and why the home buying and home selling journey so often feels confusing, stressful, and harder than it needs to be. We get into Craig’s path from trainee sales adviser to Sales Director for the North Scotland region, including how the pandemic disrupted transactions and raised expectations around communication and certainty. Craig breaks down the real-world difference between buying a new build and purchasing an existing home: the structure, the pace, and why the legal process can feel similar even when the experience is not. If you are a first-time buyer, a first-time seller, or simply trying to make sense of the Scottish property market, you will take away practical ways to stay informed and reduce overwhelm. Craig also shares what comes next: launching a local business podcast designed to spotlight Falkirk entrepreneurs, start-ups, and well-known brands, helping them build brand awareness through stories people actually want to hear. We talk guests, marketing, networking through groups like the Chamber of Commerce, the role of social media, and why he is choosing steady, scalable growth instead of chasing constant content. If you enjoy the chat, subscribe, share it with a local business owner, and leave us a review so more people can find the Stirling Business Podcast.

About

What Does The Stirling Podcast Offer? The Stirling Business Podcast is recorded at Studio King Street in Stirling and produced by Johnston Media (Crieff). The podcast shines a spotlight on the people, businesses, and organisations shaping Stirling’s thriving business community. Our aim is to produce engaging and insightful conversations that share real stories from local entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators. Each episode provides listeners with valuable insights, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of the businesses driving the region forward. By featuring a wide range of guests, The Stirling Business Podcast helps promote local enterprises, build connections within the business community, and give businesses a platform to share their journey, challenges, and successes. What guests receive: A professionally recorded podcast episodeHigh-quality audio and video productionSocial media clips to promote the episodeExposure to the local business communityA permanent platform to share their story and expertise🎙️ Interested in being featured?  To book your recording at Studio King Street visit - https://studiokingstreet.com/