Lancashire Business Stories

Paul Limb

Business stories from the North West of England (and sometimes further afield) Hear from successful business owners with a great story to tell and from others who you can all learn from. Take action, watch, listen, learn and implement to grow yourself and your business.

Episodes

  1. May 26

    Building a Great Mortgage Business: Rachel Gill's Story

    Rachel Gill shares her career journey from early part-time work to financial services at Newcastle Building Society, studying marketing, training as a mortgage adviser, and working in estate agents, The Woolwich, and broker firms before launching her own brokerage (Aspect Mortgages) 22 years ago after completing a business plan course. She describes the challenges of being solo for three years, hiring her first employee without management experience, and later bringing her husband Richard into the business. Gill recounts surviving major disruptions including the 2008 downturn, COVID-19 (using furlough), and the Liz Truss period, noting improved preparedness and planning over time; the firm now has eight staff. Aspect Mortgages focuses on mortgages and protection with service-led KPIs (callback/response times, CRM tracking) and strong Google reviews, and Gill specializes in equity release/lifetime mortgages, which she aims to grow for an aging client base while beginning to consider long-term exit planning. LINKS Website: https://aspectmortgages.co.uk/ Rachel’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-gill-59113315/ Company LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspect-mortgages/   ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/ 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:29 Early Jobs and Uni 01:38 Mortgage Broker Path 03:08 Entrepreneur Spark at 16 03:53 Business Plan Breakthrough 06:38 Launching Aspect Mortgages 08:34 Solo Founder Years 09:45 First Hire Lessons 12:07 Leadership Skills Matter 16:23 2008 Crash Survival 19:28 COVID and Market Shifts 23:27 Service First Culture 26:13 Equity Release Explained 30:30 Client Niches and Insurance 33:46 Future Plans and Exit 38:03 Challenges and Resilience 40:59 Quick Fire Advice 44:59 Where to Find Aspect 46:03 Closing Thanks

    40 min

  2. May 21

    The Absolute Journey: Business Insights with Chris Hodgen

    The Absolute Journey: Business Insights with Chris Hodgen Chris recounts founding Absolute in Bolton after working in marketing at Reuters in London, launching on 5 October 1999 with interactive CD-ROM “business cards” before the internet and using a European license to win major clients (e.g., Fujifilm, Honda, Mattel, and 2.3 million “PokeRoms”). He describes early portfolio-driven growth, work in schools and universities, and a partnership ending around 2001. He explains a later diversion into a publishing/“Entertainment” venture (For Dummies digital license, a failed Nick Faldo golf product that led to losses, and a “pass your driving test” product), then refocusing after the 2008 crash to rebuild the agency and win larger work (e.g., Amir Khan, AA Driving School, Man City campaigns, Redrow rebrand). He outlines splitting the business into Absolute Agency (brand/campaign) and Absolute Nexer (bespoke web development) under Absolute Group, discusses culture, hybrid working, recruiting/process challenges, AI opportunities (including AI-only ads and Tefal imagery), and advice to pursue passion, get external support and use frameworks like Traction and Radical Candor. 00:00 Podcast Introduction 00:36 Chris Origin Story 01:04 CD-ROM Business Idea 02:41 Launching Absolute 1999 03:52 Motorsport Sponsorship Work 05:39 Naming Absolute 07:51 First Clients Portfolio 10:22 Partner Split Early Years 11:29 Early Growth Numbers 12:48 CD-ROM Boom Clients 14:02 Diversifying Mistake 15:05 Faldo Deal Goes Wrong 19:32 Golf Networking Stories 21:15 Reinventing After 2008 25:52 Splitting Into Two Brands 27:39 Ideal Client Fit 29:06 Redrow Rebrand Case Study 31:06 Premium Brand Breakthrough 31:45 Culture Values And Trust 32:50 No Yes Agency Mindset 34:00 Tendering Versus Creativity 34:47 Hybrid Work And Collaboration 37:20 Community Buzz In Studio 39:59 Five Year Plan Focus 41:06 AI Opportunities And Limits 42:44 Owner In Versus On 44:04 Leadership Role Lessons 45:50 Biggest Challenges Today 47:33 AI And Future Jobs 50:46 AI Creative Work Examples 56:06 Quickfire Business Advice 01:01:23 Books Podcasts And Learning 01:04:41 Closing Thanks And Wrap LINKS Absolute Agency Website: https://absolute.agency/ Absolute Nexa Website: https://absolute-nexa.agency/ Chris’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishodgen/   ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/

    1h 5m

  3. May 11

    Unlocking Success in Public Sector Bids: A Conversation with Tom Sander-Daniel

    From Bid Writer to Managing Director: Tom Sander-Daniel onGrowing Thornton & Lowe and Winning Public Sector Work  Tom discusses his career journey from studyinggeography to joining Thornton & Lowe as a bid writer eight years ago and becoming managing director last year, supported by leadership training (including ILM) and experience gained as the company grew from around 10–15people to about 65, including an acquisition. He explains Thornton & Lowe's core focus on helping organizations win public sector work through bid writing, advisory support, training, recruitment, and software: Tender Pipeline (opportunity searching with free and licensed options) and Tender Library (finding and reusing past bid content). The conversation covers bid/no-bid strategy, evidence-led responses, supplier engagement, frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems, challenges for SMEs versus incumbents, and how marketing and relationship-building before tenders drop can improve win chances. Tom shares three SME tips: build a targeted pipeline, plan engagement, and usestrong evidence.   00:00 Welcome and Intro 00:18 From Geography to Bids 02:15 Growing Into Leadership 03:59 Training and Accidental Managers 05:35 Becoming Managing Director 07:42 Team Growth and Remote Work 08:42 What Thornton and Lowe Does 10:03 Bid Support Levels Explained 11:51 Finding Tenders With Software 14:36 Tender Library Content Search 15:49 Training and Recruitment Services 18:24 SME Advice for Public Tenders 20:38 Winning Without ISO 21:41 Procurement Act Flexibility 22:25 Incumbent Myth Busting 23:22 Spotting Unfair Tenders 24:59 Shape Requirements Early 27:58 Framework Strategy Matters 28:17 Tender Types Explained 31:04 Frameworks Need Marketing 34:10 Bid Mentor and Outsourced Marketing 35:56 Three Tips for SMEs 38:01 Career Growth Advice 40:11 Where to Find Them LINKS Website: https://thorntonandlowe.com/ Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasdaniel94/ Tender Pipeline: https://bidsoftware.thorntonandlowe.com/tenderpipeline/ ActionCOACH: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton Paul Limb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/

    42 min

  4. May 1

    Building Perfect Recruitment: Lisa Brady's Story

    Lisa Brady on 18 Years of Perfect Recruitment: HospitalityRoots, Diversifying After COVID, and Building Relationships   Lisa Brady discusses her 18-year-old recruitmentconsultancy, Perfect Recruitment, based in Chorley and operating mainly acrossthe Northwest, providing temporary and permanent recruitment. Originallyfocused on hospitality, the business diversified after COVID into constructionand, via a merger with LHR Recruitment, expanded into admin and commercialroles, with most perm work now in renewables, construction, sales/marketing,and accounts, while hospitality is largely temp-led. Brady shares her path fromhotel receptionist to regional manager at a multinational agency, thenlaunching her own firm amid redundancies and just before the 2008 crash,growing through relationships and a major Preston temp contract that solvedcash flow. She critiques “shark” recruiters, emphasizes deep candidateinterviews, skills/attitude checks, honest client communication, and strongonboarding. Future plans include strengthening sectors and adding paid serviceslike training, CVs, job descriptions, and “talent for good” support.   00:00 Welcome and Overview 00:18 What Perfect Recruitment Does 01:08 From Employee to Founder 02:12 Hospitality Roots and Passion 03:53 Recruitment Reputation and Relationships 06:05 Early Growth and Cashflow Lessons 08:24 COVID Pivot and Sector Mix 11:11 Team Leadership and Working Less 12:55 Future Plans and Added Services 15:28 Awards and Business Exposure 16:59 Candidate Screening and Skills Tests 21:06 Chef Culture and Hiring Challenges 22:05 Handling Chef Walkouts 22:31 No Shows and Strike Rules 23:59 Winning Work and Networking 25:11 Candidate Led Marketing 25:53 Job Seeker Interview Prep 27:58 Killer Interview Questions 31:43 Employer Onboarding Essentials 34:54 Leadership and Team Challenges 37:50 Growth Plans and Succession 43:00 Resilience and Policy Changes 45:24 How to Contact Perfect Recruitment 46:36 Closing Thanks LINKS Perfect Recruitment Website: https://perfect-recruitment.co.uk/ Lisa’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-brady-perfectrecruitment/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectrecruitment/ Email: info@perfect-recruitment.co.uk Tel: 01257 264264 ActionCOACH: ⁠https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton⁠ Paul Limb: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/⁠

    48 min

  5. Apr 22

    Entrepreneurial Paws: Building a Brand with Carolina and River

    Carolina De Almeida Kennedy discusses her path from working in a students’ union and a mental health charity to business ownership, including an earlier side business selling brownies. She began volunteering at puppy classes, was mentored into dog training, worked in the field for several years alongside a job, reduced to part-time in 2024, and launched her own full-time business, Chewing with River, in April 2025. She explains the brand name came from initially selling natural dog treats and her golden retriever, River. Carolina combines dog training with remote canine nutrition advice, emphasizing tailored guidance, the link between gut and brain, and skepticism about conflicting online advice. She describes ethical brand collaborations without commissions, common client issues (dog/human reactivity and high arousal), and her approach focusing on emotions and stress, not just obedience skills. She outlines current services, an Amazon training/nutrition journal, plans for downloadable resources and an online membership, more talks/workshops (including with a vet clinic), and the need to build a business beyond trading time for money, highlighting mindset, networking, and openness to feedback. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:28 Early Career Background 01:29 First Business Baking 02:14 Volunteering Into Dogs 03:30 Mentorship to Trainer 04:35 Chewing With River Name 05:18 Nutrition and Training Niche 06:54 Nutrition Myths and Diets 09:00 Practical Feeding Choices 10:50 Ethical Brand Partnerships 13:04 Training Humans First 15:03 Common Behavior Challenges 17:21 Skills Versus Emotions 19:37 Services and Offers 20:24 Journal Book Idea 21:47 Scaling Beyond Time 24:25 Mentors and Community 27:45 Business Skills Matter 31:37 Online Membership Plans 33:19 Workshops and Confidence 35:40 Mindset and Self Talk 39:35 Advice for Entrepreneurs 42:57 Where to Find Her LINKS Website: https://www.chewingwithriver.com/ Follow Carolina and River on Instagram: @chewingwithriver LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolina-de-almeida-kennedy-19893b9a/ Email: hello@chewingwithriver.comWhatsApp: 07400 293288 ActionCOACH: ⁠https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton⁠ Paul Limb: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/⁠

    50 min

  6. Apr 10

    Expert Tips on Business Exit and Succession Planning with Nikki Whittle

    Preparing Your Business for Exit: Shareholder Agreements, Value Drivers and Due Diligence with Nick Whittle. In this Lancashire Business Stories Business Experts episode, Brabners partner Nick Whittle discusses preparing businesses for succession and exit well in advance (often 3–5 years), focusing on building asset value and reducing risk. He explains why bespoke shareholder agreements act like an insurance policy for good and bad times, especially in family businesses, and highlights issues like death of a shareholder, disputes, restrictive covenants, and the need for aligned wills and corporate documents, sometimes supported by insurance. The conversation covers value drivers and “reverse due diligence,” reducing reliance on founders, key staff, single customers or suppliers, and strengthening management teams, MI/forecasting, incentives and share schemes (e.g., EMI). They stress robust contracts, change-of-control clauses, and avoiding templated/AI-generated legal documents. For exits, they outline trade sales, PE, MBOs, EOTs, closures, and typical deal structures (deferred payments, loan notes, earnouts, rollover equity), plus assembling the right advisory team (M&A accountant, lawyer, financial advisor, broker). 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:32 Nick’s Legal Journey 01:47 Brabners Growth and Role 03:47 What Brabners Does 05:21 Exit Planning Mindset 07:37 Shareholders Agreement Basics 10:07 Fallouts and Family Risks 11:20 Death Clauses and Insurance 14:10 Avoid DIY Legal Templates 17:18 Understanding Business Value 21:01 Reverse Due Diligence Prep 22:14 Building a Strong Team 26:58 Incentives and Equity Schemes 29:53 Customer Supplier Concentration 32:48 Contracts and Change of Control 33:42 Transferable Contracts 34:26 Custom Terms Warning 35:53 Exit Options Planning 38:56 Family Succession Dynamics 43:18 Due Diligence Prep 47:19 Build Your Exit Team 52:05 Insurance and Hidden Risks 53:56 Earnouts and Rollovers 01:00:34 Vendor Finance Deals 01:04:39 Venture Capital Teaser 01:06:29 Find Nikki Online LINKS Brabners Website: https://www.brabners.com/ Nikki on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-whittle-056a2b17/ Nikki's Email: nicola.whittle@brabners.com ActionCOACH: ⁠https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton⁠ Paul Limb: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/⁠

    1h 10m

  7. Apr 8

    James Briers: From Rugby Fields to Business Success

    From Rugby Injury to AI Readiness: James Briers on Building Intelligent Delivery Solutions James Briers shares how a hamstring injury ended his semi-professional rugby league path and led him from a Ford engineering apprenticeship into IT automation and quality assurance, including work at Microsoft in Reading, before contracting and then co-founding Intelligent Delivery Solutions (IDS) in March 2015. IDS grew quickly (about £1.2m turnover in year one, hiring within months), initially focused on software QA and later expanding into data migration, integration, and data quality, building tools and learning from an unsuccessful attempt to pivot into a product company. He discusses mindset shifts from employment to contracting, the importance of relationships, understanding margins and finance, recruiting for attitude and culture across a distributed team (about 35 people), and lessons from a business-partner separation and stronger shareholder agreements. IDS is moving toward a consultancy-led platform and recurring revenue model centered on AI readiness, governance, and quality assurance. 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:37 From Apprenticeship to Rugby 01:52 Injury Sparks a Pivot 02:34 Automation at Microsoft 03:34 Contracting vs Business 06:17 Mindset for Contractors 09:07 Founding IDS in 2015 12:16 Early Growth and Hiring 14:30 Evolving Services and Products 16:28 Lessons from Product Missteps 18:47 AI Impact and Reality Check 24:07 What IDS Actually Delivers 28:06 Target Sectors and Partners 29:39 Knowing Your Numbers 32:56 People Hiring and Retention 33:36 Inclusive Culture Challenges 34:20 Hiring for Attitude Fit 36:42 Recruiting by Gut Feel 38:30 Talent Market Reality Check 40:51 AI Readiness Platform Vision 44:27 Recurring Revenue Shift 47:18 Partner Split Lessons 49:35 Three to Five Year Roadmap 50:42 Resilience Mindset Advice 55:44 Self Talk and Happiness 01:02:14 Big Goals and Influence 01:04:07 Book Recommendations Wrap 01:07:44 Final Thanks and Close LINKS Website: https://intelligent-ds.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-briers-entrepreneur/ ActionCOACH: ⁠⁠https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton⁠⁠ Paul Limb: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/⁠⁠

    1h 9m

  8. Mar 30

    Building Digital Foundations: Insights with Matt Tomkin

    Matt Tomkin on Entrepreneurship Lessons and Building Tao Digital Marketing Matt Tomkin discusses his path to business ownership, from streamlining operations at TV Video Direct to telecoms roles and founding Comms Consult, including major projects like We Buy Any Car’s drive-through valuation and bonded 3G connectivity. He later launched sportswear brand VO2 Sportswear, which grew rapidly but was liquidated due to cashflow and overtrading, teaching him humility, the need for reserves, and using good debt and forecasting. After working at Stanmore Insurance Brokers, he co-founded Tao (Tao Digital Marketing) in 2017, hiring within three months and reaching 12 staff by 2021, while describing COVID pressures and helping businesses for free. Tao now focuses on search marketing, ROI tracking, lead conversion speed, and AI-assisted response tools, aiming to expand into performance marketing and grow the team. 00:00 Welcome and Format 00:31 Early Tech Beginnings 03:09 Telecoms Sales Grind 04:15 Launching Comms Consult 04:58 Tech Projects and Exit 06:28 Sportswear Brand Origins 08:35 Endurance Mindset 13:20 V2 Growth and Cashflow Crash 15:43 Hard Lessons and Forecasting 21:06 Back to Entrepreneurship 23:33 Building Tower Marketing 26:00 COVID Stress and Survival 33:43 Tower Today and Services 35:11 Measuring Marketing ROI 36:50 How Map Pack Works 37:51 Local Search Beyond Trades 39:51 Tracking ROI With Dashboards 42:36 Lead Response Speed Problem 45:25 AI Agent For Instant Replies 47:20 Frictionless Buying Experience 48:37 Know Your Unit Economics 51:58 Lifetime Value And Ecommerce 54:46 Three Digital Marketing Tips 59:39 Who Benefits Most 01:01:50 Agency Vision And New Channels 01:04:24 Quickfire Advice And Resources 01:09:37 How To Get In Touch 01:10:22 Final Thanks And Wrap LINKS Website: https://taodigitalmarketing.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/taodigitalmarketing Matt's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-tomkin/

    1h 10m

  9. Mar 23

    From Drains to Deals: Jim Cheetham Potts on Winning Tenders and Building Bid Factors

    Jim Cheetham Potts discusses his journey from a nine-year local authority drainage engineering apprenticeship in Stockport to private contracting for water companies, moving into bid marketing and tendering as quality-based procurement grew. After seeing inconsistent bid-writing quality and small subcontractors treated poorly by large contractors, he identified a gap and, following a company reorganization, launched Bid Factors in March 2018 with early client support. He explains valuing services by ROI rather than hourly rates, the challenges of running a business—especially marketing and stable lead flow—and his mission to help local contractors compete, supporting social value and resilient communities. Bid Factors guides and manages tender processes, builds knowledge libraries, writes or critiques bids across sectors, advises on frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems, and recommends compliance, practice bids with feedback, and seeking help. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:35 Apprentice Drainage Engineer 01:48 Contracting Side Shift 04:05 Tendering and Quality Bids 06:26 Why Go Solo 09:18 Purpose and Social Value 10:52 Day One Planning 12:16 First Clients and Pricing 16:06 Freedom and Fulfillment 19:09 Business Realities and Growth 21:28 Biggest Challenge Marketing 25:23 Preparing Clients to Win 26:24 Retaining Clients Long Term 26:54 Bid Factors Services Overview 28:42 Writing And Critiquing Bids 30:16 Sectors And Universal Principles 32:13 Finding Public Tenders UK 33:15 Frameworks DPS And Open Tenders 36:25 Compliance And Bid Costs 38:02 Small Firms Can Win 41:38 Consortiums And Joint Ventures 44:34 Top Three Tender Tips 48:28 Business Owner Quickfire Wrap LINKS Bid Factors Website: https://bidfactors.co.uk/ Jim's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-cheetham-potts-steering-you-to-success/ FInd A Tender UK Gov: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search

    52 min

  10. Mar 16

    From Engineer to Founder: Philippa King Smith on Building SpiritSmith and Thoughtful Corporate Gifting

    Our guest this week is Philippa King Smith. Philippa shares how a love of physics and a careers day led her into mechanical engineering, graduating in 2001 and gaining early business experience at Rochdale firm BCH Coates before moving into pharmaceutical and operating-theatre air technology and later technical sales. Family life prompted her to seek work that kept her closer to home, leading to a role in her brother-in-law’s craft beer business where she added operational structure and helped spot a gap for more personal, bespoke gifting, which became Spirit Smith. She explains Spirit Smith’s purpose of making recipients feel valued, its shift from B2C to a corporate focus, and an app-based system that gathers recipient data to reduce errors and save clients time. She discusses lessons in accountability, belief, delegation, focus and consistency, her five-year vision for culture change around recognition. Spiritsmith - https://spiritsmith.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/philippakingsmith/ ValueBuilder Assessment - Click Here For Your Free Assessment DISC - Get Your Free DISC Assessment Here

    39 min

  11. Season 1, Episode 1 Trailer

    Lancashire Business Stories Trailer 1

    Welcome to the podcast for Lancashire. Featuring stories, expert advice and more, subscribe and follow for the best of Lancashire business stories.

    1 min

Trailer

About

Business stories from the North West of England (and sometimes further afield) Hear from successful business owners with a great story to tell and from others who you can all learn from. Take action, watch, listen, learn and implement to grow yourself and your business.

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