Dorset Business Matters

Simon Ellson - Coach and Author

Dorset Business Matters is a conversational podcast shining a light on the vibrant local business community across Dorset. Episodes feature candid chats with local business owners and entrepreneurs about the realities of running a business today, from the highs of success and innovation to the challenges of growth and sustainability. The show explores what makes Dorset a unique place to do business, celebrating the people, stories, and ideas driving the economy forward. Informal and inspiring, Dorset Business Matters offers listeners an authentic glimpse into the passion of local enterprise.

  1. May 19

    Ep0018 - Lorraine Barber - Wincombe Payrolls

    In this episode of Dorset Business Matters, Simon sits down with Lorraine Barber, founder of Wincombe Payrolls in Poole. Lorraine shares her journey from a controlled upbringing and failed RAF ambitions, through corporate finance roles, redundancy, motherhood and burnout, to eventually building her own successful payroll business from scratch. This is a conversation about resilience, taking back control, and why it’s never too late to start again. We discuss:• Why payroll became her passion• The reality of rebuilding a career after having children• Corporate burnout and lack of support• The mindset shift from employee to business owner• Freedom, flexibility and family priorities• Why saying “yes” to opportunities matters• The future of work, apprenticeships and AI• Building a business as an exit strategy and pension plan Honest, practical and refreshingly real, Lorraine’s story will resonate with anyone who has ever questioned whether they’re capable of more. A brilliant episode for business owners, parents, career changers and anyone thinking about taking the leap into self-employment.

    36 min

  2. May 11

    Ep0017 - Ian Girling - Chief Exec - Dorset Chamber

    What does a modern Chamber of Commerce really look like? In this episode of Dorset Business Matters, Simon Ellson sits down with Ian Girling, CEO of Dorset Chamber, for a candid conversation about business, leadership, resilience and why community matters more than ever. Ian shares his journey from delivering coal up Gold Hill in Shaftesbury to leading one of Dorset’s most influential business organisations. Along the way, they explore how Dorset Chamber has evolved from a traditional networking body into a modern, commercially driven organisation supporting business growth, international trade, skills development, wellbeing and lobbying government on behalf of Dorset businesses. The conversation covers:• Why business networking still matters in a digital world• The realities of running a membership organisation without government funding• Mental health, burnout and leadership during COVID• The changing role of women in business leadership• Why chambers must stay modern, engaging and commercially relevant• Supporting startups, scale-ups and established businesses alike• The importance of education, skills and future workforce planning• Ian’s terrifying parachute jump story for charity• What business owners can learn about resilience, instinct and leadership This is an honest, insightful and surprisingly personal conversation about business with purpose, leadership under pressure and creating meaningful impact in your community. If you run a business in Dorset, or anywhere for that matter, there’s plenty in here worth listening to.

    40 min

  3. May 4

    Ep0016 - Sam Stone - From Powerless to Powerful

    What if the advice you keep giving people is the reason nothing is changing? In this episode of Dorset Business Matters, I sit down with Sam Stone, founder of Life Coaching with Sam, for her very first podcast appearance. Sam spent 11 years in the NHS, children's social care, pupil referral units and schools — giving advice for a living. Then she discovered coaching, handed in her notice, and within a week was running her own business. It's a brilliantly honest conversation about what it actually takes to back yourself when the salary stops. What you'll take away: Why counselling looks backwards and coaching looks forwards — and why that distinction matters for anyone who feels stuckThe difference between giving advice and asking the right question (and why the "advice monster" is sabotaging your team and your kids)How reflection and awareness are the two most under-used skills in business and in lifeWhy confidence doesn't arrive first — opportunities do, and confidence followsHow Sam built her entire client base through Instagram from her kitchen table, with nothing more than a laptop and ZoomThe "what if it does work?" reframe that gets new business owners off the fenceWhy group coaching, school-age coaching and coaching in job centres could change the countryAnd the line every business owner needs on a Post-it: your business should fund your life, not consume itWhether you're running a £10m business or thinking about leaving a salary to start your own, Sam's story is a reminder that the person most likely to hold you back is the one in the mirror — and that a good coach, in sport or in life, is the fastest way to get out of your own way. Listen, share it with someone who's stuck, and let me know what lands. Follow Dorset Business Matters for weekly conversations with the people shaping business in the South West. Find Sam: lifecoachingwithsam.co.uk | Instagram @lifecoachingwithsamFind me: simonellson.com | westdorset.actioncoach.co.uk

    30 min

  4. Apr 27

    Ep0015 - Simon Kinsey - Why "Coasting" is Now a Death Sentence

    If you've been telling yourself AI is "a bit like Y2K" and will quietly blow over, this episode is the wake-up call. I sit down with Simon Kinsey, founder of Sparkstone Technology and Agent Factory, for a properly unflinching conversation about what AI actually means for SMEs right now. Simon spent 10 years as a chartered accountant before backing himself into business, has run Sparkstone for 28 years, and has kept the same senior team around him for 20 of those. He knows what resilience looks like — and he's just rebuilt a piece of software in six months that would previously have taken eight man-years. This is not hype. This is someone who builds the stuff, selling it to people who use it every day. What you'll take away: Why curiosity is the single most underrated trait in any business owner — and why it's non-negotiable nowThe honest truth about SMEs and AI: the biggest blocker isn't the tech, it's the lack of intent at the topWhat an AI "agent" actually is, broken down in plain English — a prompt, a tool, a container, and a way to repeat the jobThe real-world example of a hairdressing wholesaler pulling an extra £250k a year from WhatsApp photos of handwritten ordersThe chartered accountants saving a full person a month on VAT returns — with a build that pays for itself in 90 daysWhy "there are no easy jobs left" — and what that means for how you hire, train and promoteThe billion-dollar one-person business that Sam Altman predicted — and the founder who's already done itWhy Claude and desktop AI tools are only "the tiniest scratch on a massive surface"And the line every business owner needs tattooed somewhere visible: if you're coasting, you're dyingWe also get into the uncomfortable stuff — the minister for AI who doesn't use AI, 73% of employers reporting AI projects sabotaged by their own teams, and why the education system is still training people for 1952. Simon's closing line on entrepreneurship is one of the best I've had on the podcast: "The minute you go into business, you're inherently unemployable." Whether you're running a £10m business wondering where to start, or a one-person operation asking whether AI is worth bothering with (spoiler: day one, always), this one's for you. Follow Dorset Business Matters for weekly conversations with the people shaping business in the South West. Find Simon Kinsey: sparkstone.co.uk | agentfactory.co.ukFind me: simonellson.com | westdorset.actioncoach.co.uk

    43 min

  5. Apr 6

    Ep0014 - MIchelle Reade

    Most people don’t start businesses because they’re ready. They start because something inside them says, “There’s more than this.” In this episode of Dorset Business Matters, Simon sits down with Michelle Reade, founder of a wellness coaching practice, to unpack what it really takes to move from employed, to franchise success, to building a business of your own. Michelle spent 17 years helping others grow their businesses through franchising, scaling teams, and developing people — before finally taking the leap herself. What followed wasn’t just a new business, but a complete shift in identity, confidence, and direction. This is a conversation about more than business strategy. It’s about fear, confidence, and backing yourself. Inside this episode: • Why franchising can be a powerful way to start a business — and where it goes wrong • The biggest mistake service-based business owners make when they go out on their own • Why “borrowed advice” and copying others is holding people back • The truth about networking, confidence, and finding your tribe • How loneliness is quietly affecting business owners and their performance • What it really takes to move from practitioner to business owner Michelle also shares her longer-term vision of building accessible business support for people who wouldn’t normally get it — creating community, not just clients. If you’re starting out, feeling stuck, or trying to figure out your next move, this episode will give you a clearer direction — and probably a bit of a push.

    28 min

  6. Mar 23

    Ep013 - Rupert Holloway - Conker Distillery

    In the latest episode of Dorset Business Matters, I sat down with Rupert Holloway, founder of Conker Distillery — now 12+ years into the journey.  This isn’t a “look how successful it’s been” story. It’s a real look at what it takes to build, survive, and evolve a business through: • A booming start with zero real strategy • Hitting a plateau when the market catches up • Navigating COVID, cost of living, Brexit and supply chain chaos • Competing in an industry dominated by billion-pound brands • Learning (the hard way) that cashflow and numbers matter more than hype There’s also a brilliant thread running through this episode around brand. Not logos. Not colours. But what your business actually stands for. Rupert puts it simply: If people forget what your product tastes like, you’re fine. If they forget your brand… you’re gone. We also get into: • Why he wouldn’t start a gin business today • How Conker Coffee Liqueur became a real scale opportunity • The danger of chasing “what’s next” instead of doubling down on what works • Why staying in your lane might be the smartest move you make • And the one thing every business owner must understand from day one… 👉 Know your numbers. Not your turnover. Not your ego. Your real numbers. If you’re building a business, growing one, or thinking about stepping out on your own, this episode is worth your time. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: [Insert Podcast Link]

    40 min

  7. Mar 17

    EP012 - Chris Pink - Pinks Associates

    From Car Dealer to Independent Finance Broker: Courage, Cashflow and Building a Business the Hard Way In this episode of Dorset Business Matters, I sit down with Chris, who made the leap from the motor trade into building his own business as an independent finance broker. Chris shares the real story behind that move. Not the polished version. The honest one. Leaving a secure role, stepping away from the comfort of a salary, and backing himself to build something of his own in a world where trust, relationships and timing matter more than ever. We talk about: Chris’s background in the motor trade and what selling finance inside dealerships taught him Why moving to the “other side of the desk” gave him a stronger understanding of how finance really works The decision to go independent, and why it felt both terrifying and necessary What the first three months of self-employment were really like Building a client base through networking, referrals and consistency Why trust matters more than noise in financial services Cashflow pressure, invoice finance and the difference between factoring and invoice discounting How business owners can use funding properly to support growth instead of panic-filling gaps The importance of niching down instead of trying to be everything to everyone Why courage, conviction and proper support matter when you’re starting a business Chris also talks openly about the emotional side of business ownership. The pressure, the responsibility, the family balance, and the reality that when it’s your business, the buck stops with you. There’s also a brilliant thread running through this episode around research, AI and modern business building. Chris makes the point that there has never been more information, support and technology available to help someone start well, think clearly and move faster. But you still need to be bold enough to act. This is a grounded, practical conversation for anyone thinking about starting a business, growing one, or trying to get smarter about finance, cashflow and decision-making. If you want a business episode with real-world lessons, not fluff, this one delivers.

    41 min

  8. Mar 9

    Ep011 - Lee Hill - Runway

    Marketing Without Research Is Guesswork: Lee Hill on Why SMEs Jump Too Fast In this episode of Dorset Business Matters, I’m joined by Lee Hill, founder of Runway. Lee and his team do two things. For larger businesses and corporates, they deliver customer and market research. For SMEs, they’ve recently launched a drop-in Head of Marketing service for Managing Directors who need proper strategic support, without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire. The conversation hits a nerve straight away. Most SME marketing fails for one simple reason: people jump straight to execution. They start posting on social media, hiring a freelancer, running ads, sending emails… but they have not done the thinking first. Lee’s view is refreshingly blunt. If you have not stepped back to answer why the business exists, what problem it really solves, and what customers actually need, then what you are doing is not marketing. It is just activity. We talk about: Why marketing gets cut first when times are tough, and why that is usually the worst move The difference between marketing and sales, and why most businesses confuse the two How research often saves companies a “bucket load” of money by stopping them choosing the wrong channel What “lightweight” research actually looks like (and why you do not need 1,000 survey responses) Why websites were originally built like print brochures, and why that mistake still kills conversions today How brand trust can make people tolerate a clunky website, but new businesses do not get that luxury The smart way to use AI in marketing (hint: not asking it to invent your strategy from outdated online data) Lee’s real business lessons from COVID, scaling too fast, and building the second business with more discipline His practical advice for anyone about to leave employment and start a business His book recommendation: Good to Great by Jim Collins, especially the part about hiring self-motivated people If you’re building a business and your marketing plan is “in your head”, this episode will give you a friendly shove. Lee’s core message is clear: start with research, get confident in the problem you solve, then spend money on execution.

    35 min
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About

Dorset Business Matters is a conversational podcast shining a light on the vibrant local business community across Dorset. Episodes feature candid chats with local business owners and entrepreneurs about the realities of running a business today, from the highs of success and innovation to the challenges of growth and sustainability. The show explores what makes Dorset a unique place to do business, celebrating the people, stories, and ideas driving the economy forward. Informal and inspiring, Dorset Business Matters offers listeners an authentic glimpse into the passion of local enterprise.

Information

  • Creator
    Simon Ellson - Coach and Author
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Simon Ellson - Coach and Author
  • Show Website
    Dorset Business Matters