The Stirling Business Podcast

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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. 3D AGO

    A Founder’s Journey From Coffee Shop To Social Enterprise

    A shuttered coffee shop, a health scare, and a city centre in flux—Sarah Macmillan threads these turns into a single, generous idea: food as a tool for dignity and connection. We sit down with the founder of Kitchen at 44 to unpack how a home baking hustle became a community interest company shaping Stirling’s social fabric, one shared plate at a time. From Glasgow roots to King Street, Sarah’s path shows what happens when a kitchen is designed not just to cook, but to welcome. We explore the practical engine behind that welcome. Kitchen at 44 reinvests profits to address the social impacts of food: access, affordability, food waste, and the confidence to cook. During the pandemic, Sarah’s ties to local surplus channels turned vanloads of excellent M&S food away from bins and into fridges, reframing “charity” as a collective save. That momentum evolved into Stirling Community Food, proving how grassroots logistics and neighbour networks can scale. Today, the focus is cohesion in a hard-to-measure city centre where a transient student population often masks need. The Monday community dinners—simple, regular, and open—bring people back to the table, swapping isolation for conversation, and data points for names and faces. Looking ahead, sustainability means selling accessible “leisure and pleasure” cook classes—think Victoria sponge, scones, roasts—priced for a lovely afternoon out rather than luxury. Those profits circle back to fund community meals and skills sessions, keeping the mission independent and rooted in dignity. Sarah isn’t chasing headlines; she’s building a place people love enough to return to, week after week. If stories of food access, surplus rescue, social enterprise, and grassroots community-building speak to you, this conversation will stay with you long after the last course. Enjoy the episode? Follow the show, share it with a friend in Stirling or beyond, and leave a quick review so more people can find these community-driven stories.

    27 min

  2. MAR 12

    Why Independent Businesses And Smarter Policy Can Save Our High Streets

    Start with a simple truth: you never say you’re from a retail park. We dig into what makes a place feel alive with Professor Lee Sparks, whose four decades in retail studies and university leadership reveal how business models, planning choices, and community action shape the heart of a city. From the early lessons of a Queensland shopping centre to chairing Scotland’s Towns Partnership, Lee maps the real story behind “the death of the high street” and shows where the renewal is already taking root. We talk data and decisions: online sales now hover around 28–30%, decentralised shopping has thinned footfall, and employers wrestle with rising costs. Yet beneath the headlines, independents and smaller chains are moving into spaces vacated by overbuilt nationals, offering authentic products and richer service. Lee explains why local spend sticks—accountants, suppliers, trades—and how tools like Scotland Loves Local kept money in communities during Covid and continue to strengthen loyalty. We explore Stirling’s emerging ecosystem of makers, cook schools, and galleries, and why experiential retail beats functional errands for drawing people back to town. Then we get practical about unlocking empty buildings. Upper floors matter for housing, safety and vibrancy; heritage sites can shift from dust to destination with the right finance, sequencing, and flexible planning. We connect the dots between direct rail links, a growing film studio presence, and the National Aquaculture Technology Innovation Hub—and how each can pull visitors and students into the city centre. Lee calls for universities to regain an entrepreneurial edge, valuing impact and live business projects as much as papers, and for policy to price the true costs of car-centric sprawl while making adaptive reuse easier. If you care about thriving main streets, stronger local economies, and giving people a reason to linger, this conversation is a playbook. Subscribe, share with a fellow town-centre champion, and leave a review with one idea your city should try next.

    32 min

  3. MAR 10

    How A Wolf-Themed Festival Aims To Ignite Stirling’s Nightlife

    A city after dark tells a different story—and Stirling is ready to write it. We sit down with Kevin Harrison, director of Artlink Central and partner with Scene Stirling, to unveil Culture Night: a citywide celebration designed to spark the night-time economy and turn heritage into living theatre. Built on the energy of Stirling 900, the event blends headline performances with free pop-ups so anyone can step into the action, from castle ramparts to hidden ballrooms and buzzing hotel lobbies. The heartbeat this year is Carnival of the Wolf, a playful theme rooted in local folklore that invites masks, transformation, and rewilding. Kevin shares how the wolf legend threads through architecture, stories, and community identity—and why that symbolism opens doors for dance, comedy, street performance, digital art, and family-friendly spectacle. We map the shape of the night: a late afternoon start at Stirling Castle, a surge of activity across the city from 6pm, and a spread into the wider area, drawing visitors to explore, stay out later, and discover culture in unexpected places. Businesses get a clear path to join the party. Learn how venues can host funded acts, create wolf-themed menus or DJ sets, extend opening hours, and feature on a city map that guides audiences through ticketed highlights and free experiences. Kevin outlines the rollout timeline, with announcements and headliners landing at the Tolbooth and the Albert Halls, plus how sponsorship, press, and social channels will amplify visibility. Most of all, hear why the festival’s grassroots core—community commissions, diverse art forms, and local talent—makes this night distinctly Stirling. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves a good city adventure, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Ready to run with the wolves? Follow updates via council and Scene Stirling channels, reach out at hello@scenesterling.com, and plan your route at yoursterling.com.

    21 min

  4. MAR 6

    Building Confidence: A Woman Leading Construction

    What if complex builds felt calm, honest and human from day one? We sit with Pam Wilson—co-founder of Kevin Wilson Master Builders and Scotland’s female president of the Federation of Master Builders—to unpack two decades of lessons that turn disruption into trust and craft into confidence. Pam’s path wasn’t straight. She moved from communications and hospitality into construction, splitting roles with her joiner husband: he owns the tools, she owns the client journey. Together they built a business that survived 2008’s shock, graduated to limited status, and learned to scale without losing touch. The secret is simple and rare: remove client anxiety so trades can excel. Pam maps the messy phases, sets expectations early, and reframes choices—tiles, floors, finishes—so every decision feels like progress, not pressure. We dig into the projects that test real skill: conservation-area renovations, quirky extensions, and turnkey design-and-build, including work for international clients who need a safe pair of hands. Pam shares the “three-card” approach to service levels, proving that tailored communication can be a tool as effective as any saw. She opens up about boundaries and burnout, the lure of late-night emails, and the practical steps that gave her evenings back. Beyond the site, Pam leads. At the Federation of Master Builders she champions CPD, contract support, and helplines, and helps shape policy at Holyrood—pushing for a dedicated construction minister and running member meetups that keep SMEs connected. Partnerships with architects, interior designers and suppliers turn bold ideas into clean finishes, while her next chapter points toward owning premises and small developments to build long-term resilience. Mentoring ties it all together. Through Career Ready, Pam mentors teenagers across 18 months with paid internships, and she’s qualifying to mentor adults too. Her message is clear: failure is data, not destiny; confidence is a practice; and progress rarely runs in a straight line. If you care about better builds, stronger teams, and pathways for women in construction, this conversation is your blueprint. Enjoyed the show? Follow, rate and review, then share it with someone planning a renovation or starting a trade business. Your feedback helps more listeners find these stories.

    37 min

  5. FEB 27

    From War To Enterprise: Building A UK Network For Ukrainian Businesswomen

    We trace Anna’s path from arriving in Scotland to founding a fast-growing club for Ukrainian businesswomen, turning fear and isolation into practical support and shared strength. From first meetups to national chapters, we explore education, partnerships, and the shift from support to voice. • founding purpose to support displaced Ukrainian businesswomen  • growth from local meetups to UK-wide membership  • online and offline events for access and inclusion  • practical help on taxes, legal setup, and grants  • coaching, informal days, and company visits  • collaborations with Business Gateway and Chambers of Commerce  • cross-community networking with Scottish entrepreneurs  • next steps: Cambridge chapter, YouTube, and podcasts

    19 min

  6. FEB 23

    From Blown Glass To Global Whisky: Karen Somerville On Craft, Festivals, And Mentoring

    Karen Somerville shares how a sealed glass angel turned a whisky legend into a global brand, then charts her pivot into mentoring, festivals, and hands-on consulting. We explore practical networking, women-led business support, and why calm problem solving beats panic. • origin of Angel Share and the whisky myth • scaling craft glassware into global export • limited editions and collector demand • transition of the workshop and legacy • shift into consulting and mentoring founders • practical fixes for cash flow, exports, and ops • value of local networking and agency support • women’s peer groups and joining criteria • festivals, distilleries, and future whisky projects • resilient mindset and advice to new founders

    20 min

  7. FEB 17

    How A Teacher Became A Team Captain To Ride 800 Miles For My Name’ Is Doddy

    A fresh start can change a life, but turning that energy into a movement can change many. We sit down with Pauline Elizabeth—teacher, endurance athlete, and team captain of the Dawn Patrol Riders—to unpack the Doddy800: an 800-mile effort from Melrose to Dublin raising funds for My Name’ Is Doddy and motor neurone disease research. What begins as a story about a name change becomes a blueprint for how community, sport, and purpose fuse into real impact. Pauline traces her route from business director back to the classroom, and from casual runs in Dollar to Ironman finishes with the Dollar Tri Twits. Along the way, we explore the practical magic of group momentum: 5 a.m. city roll-outs, relay pacing to hold 14 mph, and the unsung heroes in the sweeper van keeping bikes rolling over four demanding days. The itinerary is ambitious—Melrose to Leeds to Cheltenham, a night freight ferry from Pembroke to Rosslare, then a final push to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium—and every mile is tied to a clear target: £27,000 for this new team, with youth-led crews aiming even higher. Beyond the ride, the heart of this episode is community. We shine a light on grassroots fundraising tactics, from turbo sessions outside the local deli to pub quizzes led by 22-year-old rider Struan Yearsley. We also share the team’s school outreach, delivering a Doddy Cape education pack focused on kindness, generosity, and civic action—small steps that form future fundraisers and leaders. And if you’re in Leeds, there’s an open call for accommodation to help seven riders and their support crew rest between stages. If you care about endurance sport, charity rides, or the fight against MND, this conversation brings tangible details and real emotion—tears at finish lines, laughter on the road, and a throughline of relentless hope. Tap to listen, donate via the Dawn Patrol Riders JustGiving page, and share this story with someone who inspires you to go the extra mile. If the episode moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and help us keep the momentum rolling.

    23 min

  8. FEB 13

    Networking That Actually Works; Inside Revitalised Business Club

    We sit down with Lee Foster, founder of Revitalised Business Club, to map how a coffee meetup grew into a hybrid network built on structure, trust and practical sales mentoring. From table talks to peer cohorts and a Stirling co‑working perk, this is networking that delivers. • Lee’s corporate sales roots and move to Scotland • Why Revitalised Connected People was created and named • Coffee chat to 129 attendees in months • Format: table talks, 30‑second intros, member spotlights • Branches in Stirling, Glasgow, East Kilbride and Ayrshire • Hybrid model with global online events and mentors • Seven Step Sales Moment and take‑home worksheets • Relationship‑led referrals and cross‑industry best practice • Peer membership cohort with 12‑month roadmap • Annual summit, exhibitor expo and community events • Stirling perk: free co‑working after branch meetings • Goals: grow branches, expand online reach, speak on sales Do come along to one of the events. They're really, really good value.

    19 min
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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/

Information

  • Creator
    Various
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Stirling Business Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Stirling Business Podcast