Brake Time

Shelbourne Motors
  • 0.0 (0)
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Let's have a peek under the bonnet, shall we? Brake Time pumps the brakes on the busy, fascinating lives of our guests, helping them slow down and open up. Hosted by Caroline Willis, Director at Shelbourne Motors - one of Northern Ireland's biggest and best dealer groups - the show shares the unfiltered stories of CEOs, entrepreneurs, experts, and individuals who know their industry as if they had been the authors. It's our hope you'll find some motivation, inspiration, or even just a little time to apply your own brakes.

Episodes

  1. FEB 4

    Jackie Reid: Taking Deli Lites from 30 to 30 Million Sandwich Sales Per Year

    Entrepreneur and founder JACKIE REID breaks down how Deli Lites went from selling 30 sandwiches to 30 million all over the world, the truth about what it takes to achieve such uncompromising growth, and her ambition to one day see Deli Lites products in New York. JACKIE REID is Founder and Sales director at DeliLites – the Home of Food on the Move. Jackie is responsible for the growth of Deli Lites into a global powerhouse of premium food-to-go products that has seen them supply huge names like Boots, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Spar (Scotland),SuperValu, Centra, Mace, Costa Coffee, Aer Lingus, and Applegreen. She’s also steered the ship to multiple award wins including several Sammie awards, a WTCE win in the ‘Ones To Watch 2024’ category, several Greater Newry Area Business Awards, and becoming the world’s first B-Corp sandwich producer.   She explains: 🟩The beauty of the New York Deli scene and why she had to recreate it back home 🟩 How going through the school of hard knocks taught her more about business than any textbook ever could 🟩 How dedication to service, and a late night call, doubled her business almost instantly 🟩 The key to confidence even when you feel like an imposter 🟩 The science behind how Deli Lites keep their homemade products fresh, even when exporting throughout Europe 🟩 The decision to push for B-Corp status   Timestamps (5:50) The New York Deli that inspired Deli Lites (11:00) 10x their orders in the first week (12:53) What it really took to make it in those early days (23:00) The call with Costa Coffee that changed it all (27:30) How to maintain consistent quality during rapidgrowth (31:30) Jackie’s key to confidence when running a businessand dealing with imposter syndrome (37:00) Creating alignment through culture (43:15) How Jackie landed supply contracts with Aer Lingus,American Airlines and discover Air (46:05) How Deli Lites keep products fresh when supplying toEurope (48:51) How the flavours of Ireland tickled Germany’s tastebuds (51:28) How Deli Lites achieved B-Corp status (58:50) Deli Lites plans to supply to New York (1:01:20) What’s Jackie’s go to sandwich? (1:02:25) Jackie’s routine for continuously showing up todrive her business (1:09:20) Jackie talks cars   Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 💬, and subscribe 🔔 if you enjoyed this episode. Let us know what you think and click the bell icon to stay updated on new episodes when they’re released.   Follow Jackie: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-reid-786a92a1/   Follow Deli Lites: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/delilites/   Follow the BrakeTime Podcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/braketimepodcast/ YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUhw1xuzq5GF_4G3C9AgHjK4Emuf8jWGy&si=ORsy3aWSrmf-HfJv

    1h 14m

  2. 12/11/2025

    Bridgene Keeley: We’re On A Mission To Change The Perception Of Hospitality

    Serial hotelier Bridgene Keeley reveals how her family wentfrom living above their restaurant to a portfolio of 7 hotels, the Group’s plans for the Armagh City Hotel, how she manages imposter syndrome, and the goal of expanding to Manhattan. Bridgene Keeley is the Sales, Marketing and CommunicationsDirector for the multi-award winning, family-owned McKeever Hotel group. Her people first approach embodies the Group’s ‘We Do More’ ethos, a practice that ensures each guest an authentic experience and one that led to a 97% staff retention following COVID. Bridgene has been vital to the company’s culture, growth strategy, and commitment to exceptional service. She Explains: 🟩How her unconventional childhood fuelled her passion for the business 🟩The responsibility of leadership in supporting your people 🟩Her early intention to leave the family business 🟩How she rebranded an entire hotel by herself at 23 🟩How she still gets imposter syndrome and how she copes with it 🟩Her plans to conquer New York   (00:00) Intro (01:02) Bridgene’s Unconventional Upbringing (07:20) You could have a beautiful hospitality brand but it means nothing without this (10:29) The most vital component in business operations (11:44) The one skill you need to succeed, no matter your career (13:10) The heart and beginning of the business (17:15) Bridgene didn’t want to join the family business (19:29) How Bridgene convinced her parents at 23 to rebrand Dunsilly by herself (21:20) The moment Bridgene found meaning (25:35) The difficulty in maintaining family values when expanding (28:20) Hire Specialists if you want to reach the next level (29:30) The thing that saved the group during COVID (31:00) This story completely embodies the Group’s values (36:45) The importance of local businesses (39:01) The decision to purchase the Armagh City Hotel and plans for the future (43:40) Running the Group as a second generation Director (45:20) How to deal with imposter syndrome (46:45) Bridgene’s goal of New York expansion (49:20) The Green Rooms initiative (54:30) Bridgene’s obsession with Formula 1 (55:46) Was Lando Norris a worthy winner? (58:28) Bridgene’s first car (01:00:49) What you might not know about Bridgene   Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 💬, and subscribe 🔔 if you enjoyed this episode. Let us know what you think and click the bell icon to stay updated on new episodes when they’re released. Follow Bridgene: LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4pWX1Ys   Follow McKeever Hotels: LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/3KKjJ7l   Follow the BrakeTime Podcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/braketimepodcast/

    1h 5m

  3. 11/27/2025

    Fred Ward: The Early Days of Shelbourne Motors — Hard Work, Family & Ambition

    Founder and owner of Shelbourne Motors, FRED WARD, reveals what it took to build the company, his winning days as a rally driver, how he spent time in hospital after an incident with a cow, and the one thing he regrets not doing in his life. Fred Ward, founder of Shelbourne Motors, began his journey as a young entrepreneur with little more than determination, mechanical skill, and a vision for what a modern motor business could become. Starting from a modest petrol station in 1973, he often worked 7-day weeks to build a reputation for trust, service, and community. Over the decades, his hands-on leadership and knack for finding the next best deal transformed Shelbourne Motors into one of Northern Ireland’s leading multi-franchise automotive groups, leading them to be named Dealer group of the Year in 2024 and 2025. Today, Fred stands as a respected business leader whose legacy continues through a thriving family-run company shaped by his values and relentless drive. He explains: 🟩 How he and Bertie Fisher won the team prize rallying the Circuit of Ireland without competition brake pads 🟩 His run in with a cow on a dark country road that led to a night in hospital 🟩 How a write up in a magazine helped sell his first Toyota from the drive of his house 🟩 Why he wasn’t the first person interested in buying the original Shelbourne filling station 🟩 How he managed to stock the original forecourt without any money 🟩 How a strangers wedding night inspired the name of the company 🟩 Why cattle dealers stopped him going to school on Mondays 🟩 The secret to surviving 50 years in business 🟩 The one and only regret he has 🟩 The 1 million spark plug deal with a Swiss agent 🟩 Where he thinks the entrepreneurial spirit comes from 🟩 The book that gave him the ideas for growth and success (00:00) Intro (01:14) Fred's truly classic first car (02:40) Winning the Circuit of Ireland Team Prize with Bertie Fisher (06:45) How a cow put Fred in Hospital (08:14) Fred's early career (09:43) The £75 sale that launched Fred's love for selling cars (11:29) How Fred landed the Toyota brand (12:49) Selling his first Toyota from the driveway of his house (13:19) Without him Fred would never have bought the Shelbourne filling station (14:08) How Fred stocked the site with no money (14:49) A strangers honeymoon night inspires the company name (15:39) The mentor who pushed Fred to success (16:05) Why cattle stopped Fred going to school on Monday's (17:07) How Shelbourne evolved from a simple filling station to a fully fledged car dealer (19:40) The secret to surviving 50 years in business (22:50) The one regret Fred has in life (23:34) The 1 million spark plug sale (24:47) The lessons Fred learned from starting work at 14 years old (26:00) You're not born the entrepreneurial spirit. It comes from this (27:05) The book that revolutionised Fred's thinking about Business (35:27) Fred's hopes for the future of Shelbourne Motors Fred’s go-to book that helped revolutionise his business: https://bit.ly/4ilVMiZ Follow the Brake Time Podcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/braketimepodcast/

    41 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

Let's have a peek under the bonnet, shall we? Brake Time pumps the brakes on the busy, fascinating lives of our guests, helping them slow down and open up. Hosted by Caroline Willis, Director at Shelbourne Motors - one of Northern Ireland's biggest and best dealer groups - the show shares the unfiltered stories of CEOs, entrepreneurs, experts, and individuals who know their industry as if they had been the authors. It's our hope you'll find some motivation, inspiration, or even just a little time to apply your own brakes.

Information

  • Creator
    Shelbourne Motors
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Shelbourne Motors
  • Show Website
    Brake Time