What One Thing?

Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter
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One business. One lesson. Every week.  Real businesses. Real stories. Real-time. What One Thing? is the straight-talking weekly podcast for growing UK businesses with a team who are on the move — building, scaling, and figuring it out as they go. Join co-hosts Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) and Phil Davenport (Affirm IT) as they chat with fellow business owners and share their own lessons from the journey — the things they wish they'd known, the wins, the wobbles, and the one thing that made the biggest difference. Each episode is 15–25 minutes of real-world insight, a few laughs, and practical takeaways to help you grow a better business — without the fluff. 🎙️ Expect: Honest interviews with business owners on the growTopic episodes on key business challengesStraight answers, no jargonOne clear lesson, every week👀 Also on YouTube — because yes, it’s filmed too.📍 Based in Derbyshire, speaking to businesses across the UK. New episodes every week — follow to catch the next one.

  1. 12/24/2025

    What We’ve Learned From Running a Weekly Podcast as Business Owners| What One Thing

    What’s one thing about starting a podcast that you thought would be easy… but wasn’t? In this behind-the-scenes episode of What One Thing, hosts Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) and Phil Davenport (Affirm IT Services) reflect honestly on what it’s really like running a weekly podcast alongside two busy businesses. They share what surprised them, what took far longer than expected (editing, captions, clips, admin), how tough audience growth can be without consistent marketing, and how they’ve embraced AI tools (Riverside transcripts + GPT) to save time and tighten up the show. If you’re a business owner considering launching a podcast — or you’re trying to build your brand through content without burning out — this episode is packed with real-world lessons. ⏱️ Episode timestamps 00:05 – What seemed easy but wasn’t?  00:10 – Audience growth struggles  00:44 – Editing + admin reality  01:58 – Why structure matters  02:38 – The surprising part: enjoying it  03:07 – Guest lessons that changed how we run our businesses  05:07 – Unexpected benefits (collaboration + confidence)  08:13 – Playing the long game + consistency  09:05 – ROI and the “soft introduction” effect  12:24 – What we’d do differently if we started again  15:25 – Using AI to speed up content creation  18:58 – Final thoughts: make it enjoyable or you won’t stick with it If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a business owner who’s thinking about hitting “record.” What One Thing Podcast – with Phil & Hayley Each week, business owners share the one thing that made the biggest difference in their business journey — and hosts Phil (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley (Corbar Accounting) dive into the lessons, laughs, and lightbulb moments along the way. If you’re a UK business owner looking for real stories and practical insights on growth, leadership, IT, and finance — this is the podcast for you! Connect with the hosts Phil Davenport | Affirm IT Services LinkedIn https://affirmit.co.uk/ Hayley Baxter | Corbar Accounting LinkedIn https://corbar.uk/ Follow What One Thing Listen & watch on: https://www.pod.whatonething.uk/ Instagram LinkedIn YouTube #UKBusinessPodcast, #SmallBusinessGrowth, #BusinessLessons, #EastMidlandsBusiness

    20 min

  2. 12/17/2025

    Taking Radical Responsibility in Business: How Jo Simpson Survived the 2008 Crash

    What do you do when your business looks successful on the outside… but the numbers tell a very different story? In this episode of What One Thing, Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) and Phil Davenport (Affirm IT Services) talk to Jo Simpson, an accountant who grew multiple businesses – including two multi–seven-figure ventures – before the 2008 crash exposed just how fragile things really were.  Jo shares: How she realised strong revenue was hiding weak financial foundationsWhy she spent months blaming the government, banks and everyone else before accepting that nobody was coming to save her The “stop it and tidy up” approach she used to face every number, cost and commitment in both life and businessHow honest conversations with suppliers, clients and even HMRC helped her keep going when most businesses folded Phil and Hayley use Jo’s story as a springboard to talk about: The difference between blame and responsibility for business ownersWhy knowing your numbers and having solid IT systems is essential if you want a resilient, scalable businessHow strong relationships – with suppliers, clients and your team – can carry you through a recession, a pandemic and everything in between If you’re a business owner in the East Midlands (or anywhere else) who wants to grow and sleep at night, this episode will challenge how you think about responsibility, risk and leadership. What One Thing Podcast – with Phil & Hayley Each week, business owners share the one thing that made the biggest difference in their business journey — and hosts Phil (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley (Corbar Accounting) dive into the lessons, laughs, and lightbulb moments along the way. If you’re a UK business owner looking for real stories and practical insights on growth, leadership, IT, and finance — this is the podcast for you! Connect with the hosts Phil Davenport | Affirm IT Services LinkedIn https://affirmit.co.uk/ Hayley Baxter | Corbar Accounting LinkedIn https://corbar.uk/ Follow What One Thing Listen & watch on: https://www.pod.whatonething.uk/ Instagram LinkedIn YouTube #UKBusinessPodcast, #SmallBusinessGrowth, #BusinessLessons, #EastMidlandsBusiness

    32 min
  3. Can “Nice” Leaders Scale a Business? Systems, Culture & Growth with Neil Shaw | What One Thing Pod

    12/10/2025

    Can “Nice” Leaders Scale a Business? Systems, Culture & Growth with Neil Shaw | What One Thing Pod

    Can you really scale from 4 to nearly 40 people and keep a calm, positive, nice culture? In this episode of What One Thing, hosts Hayley Baxter (Corbarr Accounting) and Phil Davenport (Affirm IT Services) talk with former MSP owner Neil Shaw about growing an IT business fast – without losing your values or your mind. Neil shares how he: Grew an MSP from 4 staff and 25 clients to nearly 40 staff and 150+ managed clientsUsed systems, processes and documentation to stop everything falling apartDeveloped leaders from within the team using management and leadership trainingBuilt a culture that kept staff churn incredibly low over 7 yearsBalanced being “nice” with still being clear, fair and commercially focusedIf you’re an IT business owner, accountant, or run any growing SME, this episode will help you think differently about what leadership looks like – especially if you don’t fit the traditional “hard-nosed” mould. In this episode you’ll learn: The first steps to systemising your business as you scaleHow to avoid departments becoming disjointed as you growWhy regular, focused meetings beat complicated management fadsThe power of being transparent with your team and your clientsThe one piece of advice Neil would give any business owner on a growth journey🎧 Listen now and find your “one thing” to move your business forward. About Neil Been in the IT industry for 30 years. Various roles including PC builder, onsite engineer, consultant, and director, throw in a failed MBO and then having a silly idea to start an MSP - Co-founded True MSP in 2017 and exited in Jan 2025. Neil Shaw - LinkedIn What One Thing Podcast – with Phil & Hayley Each week, business owners share the one thing that made the biggest difference in their business journey — and hosts Phil (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley (Corbar Accounting) dive into the lessons, laughs, and lightbulb moments along the way. If you’re a UK business owner looking for real stories and practical insights on growth, leadership, IT, and finance — this is the podcast for you! Connect with the hosts Phil Davenport | Affirm IT Services LinkedIn https://affirmit.co.uk/ Hayley Baxter | Corbar Accounting LinkedIn https://corbar.uk/ Follow What One Thing Listen & watch on: https://www.pod.whatonething.uk/ Instagram LinkedIn YouTube #UKBusinessPodcast, #SmallBusinessGrowth, #BusinessLessons, #EastMidlandsBusiness

    23 min
  4. “Bums on Seats” Hiring: How Small Businesses Can Recruit & Keep the Right People

    12/03/2025

    “Bums on Seats” Hiring: How Small Businesses Can Recruit & Keep the Right People

    Traditional recruitment is broken – especially for small businesses. In this episode of What One Thing, hosts Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) and Phil Davenport (Affirm IT Services) talk with Rebecca Morris from Benchmark Recruit about why “bums on seats” hiring is costing businesses far more than they realise. They dig into: How commission-led recruitment encourages poaching and churnWhy values-led hiring matters so much for small businesses with small teamsThe real cost of getting recruitment wrong (beyond the invoice)What a good induction process should look like from day oneHow AI and automation are changing recruitment – and why human relationships still winHayley brings the financial and commercial angle – looking at the true cost of a bad hire and why cheap routes like job boards aren’t always cheaper in the long run. Phil adds the IT and systems perspective – from having laptops and tech ready on day one to using tools properly without losing the human touch. If you’re a business owner in the UK with a growing team and you want to recruit better and keep great people longer, this one’s for you. 👉 Listen, follow, and share with another business owner who’s about to make their next hire. What One Thing Podcast – with Phil & Hayley Each week, business owners share the one thing that made the biggest difference in their business journey — and hosts Phil (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley (Corbar Accounting) dive into the lessons, laughs, and lightbulb moments along the way. If you’re a UK business owner looking for real stories and practical insights on growth, leadership, IT, and finance — this is the podcast for you! Connect with the hosts Phil Davenport | Affirm IT Services LinkedIn https://affirmit.co.uk/ Hayley Baxter | Corbar Accounting LinkedIn https://corbar.uk/ Follow What One Thing Listen & watch on: https://www.pod.whatonething.uk/ Instagram LinkedIn YouTube #UKBusinessPodcast, #SmallBusinessGrowth, #BusinessLessons, #EastMidlandsBusiness

    26 min

  5. 11/26/2025

    Why Discounting Could Destroy Your Business (and How to Avoid It) | Stuart Mason

    In this episode of What One Thing, Phil Davenport (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) sit down with entrepreneur Stuart Mason to unpack a business collapse that no one saw coming—until it was too late. This conversation isn’t about doom and gloom. It’s about the real risks small and medium-sized businesses face, especially around discounting, cashflow, pricing pressure, and over-stretching for growth. Phil and Hayley break down the lessons through the lens of IT, Accounting and everyday business decision-making—so East Midlands business owners can take action before problems escalate. ⭐ What You’ll Learn Why discounting is far more dangerous than most businesses realiseThe real maths behind discounting (and how much more you must sell to break even)How profitable businesses still end up in cashflow troubleWhy asset-rich companies aren’t as safe as they seemHow Phil handles discount pressure in IT support without damaging long-term client relationshipsHow Hayley coaches business owners to make financially intelligent, data-led decisionsWhy confidence in your pricing is a business superpower💬 About Your Hosts Phil Davenport is an IT specialist supporting East Midlands businesses with secure, reliable systems that prevent costly surprises. Hayley Baxter is an accountant who helps business owners understand their numbers, build sustainable pricing strategies and stay cashflow-strong. Their mission? To help business owners grow with fewer headaches—and a lot more confidence. 🎧 Perfect for: Manufacturing and professional services businesses · SME owners with 5–50 staff · Business leaders who want to price properly, protect margins, and avoid cashflow traps. If you’ve ever wondered whether discounting is harmless—or “just what the industry does”—this episode will change the way you think about pricing forever. Connect with Stuart LinkedIn Buy Stuart's book here What One Thing Podcast – with Phil & Hayley Each week, business owners share the one thing that made the biggest difference in their business journey — and hosts Phil (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley (Corbar Accounting) dive into the lessons, laughs, and lightbulb moments along the way. If you’re a UK business owner looking for real stories and practical insights on growth, leadership, IT, and finance — this is the podcast for you! Connect with the hosts Phil Davenport | Affirm IT Services LinkedIn https://affirmit.co.uk/ Hayley Baxter | Corbar Accounting LinkedIn https://corbar.uk/ Follow What One Thing Listen & watch on: https://www.pod.whatonething.uk/ Instagram LinkedIn YouTube #UKBusinessPodcast, #SmallBusinessGrowth, #BusinessLessons, #EastMidlandsBusiness

    29 min

  6. 11/19/2025

    Burnout, Crisis & Starting Again: Phil & Hayley Talk Real Leadership with Angela Hodgson

    This week on What One Thing, Phil Davenport (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) sit down with leadership consultant Angela Hodgson (Ignite Improvement Ltd), who went from leading a global team through Barcelona riots, burnout and personal loss… to rebuilding her career with clarity, courage and a brand-new purpose. It’s a powerful conversation — but as always, Phil and Hayley bring it back to what really matters for small business owners across the East Midlands: your people, your values, and the way you lead when pressure hits. In this episode: The moment Angela realised corporate cared more about products than people What it’s like leading a team through real-world crisis — and why clear communication matters How burnout, grief and Covid created a complete reset moment The leap from corporate into the SME world (and why it’s more relatable than you think) Why building visibility online is essential before you ever quit your job How to find your niche — and the freedom to change it later Phil’s IT perspective: why “you’re on your own in a crisis” is exactly why SMEs need resilient systems & communication tools Hayley’s accounting lens: how financial clarity (and partner support!) shapes every big career leap Whether you’re in corporate and dreaming of your own thing, or already running a business and trying to build a stronger team, this conversation is packed with insight, honesty and proper real-world lessons. ⭐ Your hosts — share their big takeaways: You can go through more than you ever expected and still come out the other side stronger If your values and your work don’t align, staying put is often the bigger risk Visibility matters — online presence, networking and conversations are business gold You don’t need the perfect niche from day one. You just need to start. 🎁 Angela’s Free Team Performance Assessment Free gift for the listeners: POWER Framework  🔧 Who This Episode Is For Business owners in the UK with 5–50 employees who want to: Build high-performing teams Strengthen leadership skills Prepare for growth Improve communication and resilience Learn from real stories, not theory Perfect for manufacturing, professional services, IT-heavy teams, and founders ready to step into leadership. Connect with Angela  Facebook LinkedIn What One Thing Podcast – with Phil & Hayley Each week, business owners share the one thing that made the biggest difference in their business journey — and hosts Phil (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley (Corbar Accounting) dive into the lessons, laughs, and lightbulb moments along the way. If you’re a UK business owner looking for real stories and practical insights on growth, leadership, IT, and finance — this is the podcast for you! Connect with the hosts Phil Davenport | Affirm IT Services LinkedIn https://affirmit.co.uk/ Hayley Baxter | Corbar Accounting LinkedIn https://corbar.uk/ Follow What One Thing Listen & watch on: https://www.pod.whatonething.uk/ Instagram LinkedIn YouTube #UKBusinessPodcast, #SmallBusinessGrowth, #BusinessLessons, #EastMidlandsBusiness

    28 min
  7. Delegation, Trust & Turnaround: How One Business Owner Rebuilt After Losing £80K

    11/12/2025

    Delegation, Trust & Turnaround: How One Business Owner Rebuilt After Losing £80K

    When everything seems to be going wrong, the hardest truth to face is that you might be the problem.  In this episode, hosts Phil Davenport (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) talk with Steve Knowles, who shares how a consultant’s brutal honesty turned his struggling accountancy practice around — and what that taught him about leadership, control, and trust. Key Takeaways: How Steve recovered from losing £80K by bringing in the right outside helpWhy business owners need to know their weaknesses — and hire around themThe power of values-based leadershipLetting your team find their own way (even when it’s not your way)Why “delegating, not abdicating” is crucial for growthPhil and Hayley’s reflections: Phil connects Steve’s story to the importance of trusting your team and embracing marginal gains — those small, consistent improvements that build real momentum. Hayley relates it to the emotional toll of leadership and the balance between structure and humanity when leading a growing team. Whether you’re running a manufacturing firm, professional service business, or IT or accounting practice, this conversation is full of real-world lessons about growth, resilience, and staying human in a world of systems and automation. 🎧 Listen now to hear how to spot the warning signs before things go wrong — and how to build a business that runs on trust, not burnout. #WhatOneThingPodcast #SmallBusinessGrowth #LeadershipLessons #Delegation #TeamValues #EntrepreneurMindset #EastMidlandsBusiness #AffirmIT #CorbarAccounting What One Thing Podcast – with Phil & Hayley Each week, business owners share the one thing that made the biggest difference in their business journey — and hosts Phil (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley (Corbar Accounting) dive into the lessons, laughs, and lightbulb moments along the way. If you’re a UK business owner looking for real stories and practical insights on growth, leadership, IT, and finance — this is the podcast for you! Connect with the hosts Phil Davenport | Affirm IT Services LinkedIn https://affirmit.co.uk/ Hayley Baxter | Corbar Accounting LinkedIn https://corbar.uk/ Follow What One Thing Listen & watch on: https://www.pod.whatonething.uk/ Instagram LinkedIn YouTube #UKBusinessPodcast, #SmallBusinessGrowth, #BusinessLessons, #EastMidlandsBusiness

    25 min

  8. 11/05/2025

    AI for SMEs: How Small Businesses Can Save Hours Every Week (with Neil MacDonald)

    AI isn’t just for big corporations — it’s for small businesses too. In this episode of What One Thing, Phil Davenport, Hayley Baxter, and Craig Millar sit down with Neil MacDonald from Technology4Business to explore how small businesses can use AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to save time, simplify work, and get better results. Neil shares practical, real-world examples of AI in action — from automating repetitive admin tasks to creating smarter systems that free people up to focus on what matters. 💡 You’ll learn: Why AI is your “junior colleague,” not your replacementHow to get started with AI even if you’re not technicalWhy “60% done” is better than “perfect but never shipped”🎧 Listen now to discover how AI can make your business faster, calmer, and more human. Guest: Neil MacDonald, Technology4Business Hosts: Phil Davenport (Affirm IT), Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting), Craig Millar (Portal Technologies) 🔗 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whatonething #AIForSMEs #SmallBusiness #WhatOneThingPodcast #TechMadeHuman #AffirmIT What One Thing Podcast – with Phil & Hayley Each week, business owners share the one thing that made the biggest difference in their business journey — and hosts Phil (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley (Corbar Accounting) dive into the lessons, laughs, and lightbulb moments along the way. If you’re a UK business owner looking for real stories and practical insights on growth, leadership, IT, and finance — this is the podcast for you! Connect with the hosts Phil Davenport | Affirm IT Services LinkedIn https://affirmit.co.uk/ Hayley Baxter | Corbar Accounting LinkedIn https://corbar.uk/ Follow What One Thing Listen & watch on: https://www.pod.whatonething.uk/ Instagram LinkedIn YouTube #UKBusinessPodcast, #SmallBusinessGrowth, #BusinessLessons, #EastMidlandsBusiness

    33 min
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About

One business. One lesson. Every week.  Real businesses. Real stories. Real-time. What One Thing? is the straight-talking weekly podcast for growing UK businesses with a team who are on the move — building, scaling, and figuring it out as they go. Join co-hosts Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) and Phil Davenport (Affirm IT) as they chat with fellow business owners and share their own lessons from the journey — the things they wish they'd known, the wins, the wobbles, and the one thing that made the biggest difference. Each episode is 15–25 minutes of real-world insight, a few laughs, and practical takeaways to help you grow a better business — without the fluff. 🎙️ Expect: Honest interviews with business owners on the growTopic episodes on key business challengesStraight answers, no jargonOne clear lesson, every week👀 Also on YouTube — because yes, it’s filmed too.📍 Based in Derbyshire, speaking to businesses across the UK. New episodes every week — follow to catch the next one.

Information

  • Creator
    Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 What One Thing?
  • Show Website
    What One Thing?