What One Thing?

Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

One business. One lesson. Every episode.  Real businesses. Real stories. Real-time. What One Thing? is the straight-talking bi-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 fortnightly — follow to catch the next one.

  1. Oct 7

    How to Stop Firefighting in Your Manufacturing Business - Harvey Leach

    What happens when your manufacturing business grows, your team gets bigger… but somehow everything feels harder to control? In this episode of What One Thing, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by Harvey Leach to talk about a problem many growing manufacturing businesses will recognise: firefighting. Harvey shares his own experience in the automotive industry, where every day became a cycle of chasing parts, answering problems and simply trying to get through the day. The turning point wasn’t working harder or recruiting more people. It was creating visibility, structure and simple daily routines that helped the team regain control. We talk about: Why growing manufacturing businesses can lose control as teams expandThe difference between urgent work and important workHow to create better visibility across production and your wider teamWhy departments need to understand how their work fits togetherHow to move from constant firefighting to continuous improvementDeveloping people as they move from technical roles into managementThe small changes manufacturing leaders can start making tomorrowIf your business is successful but increasingly feels like everyone is incredibly busy without quite knowing whether you're moving forward, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can actually use. Because sometimes the answer isn't more people, more hours or working harder. It's stepping back long enough to understand what's really going on. What One Thing is brought to you by Corbar Accounting Ltd and Affirm IT, sharing practical conversations and ideas to help business owners build stronger, better-run businesses. What One Thing is brought to you by Affirm IT and Corbar Accounting. Listen to What One Thing? and discover the one lesson that could change the way you run your business. What One Thing? is the business podcast focused on practical ideas growing business owners can actually implement — without the fluff. Connect with Harvey Leach: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jharveyleach/ Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/ Affirm IT Services https://affirmit.co.uk/ Corbar Accounting https://corbar.uk/

  2. Sep 23

    Know Your Numbers: Management Accounts, Profit Margins & Better Business Decisions - Marc McArdle

    Do you really know what’s going on in your business financially? In this episode of What One Thing, Hayley and Phil are joined by Marc McCardle, who shares how a post-Covid shock forced him to get much closer to the numbers behind his family business. After years of growth, rising costs and squeezed margins started to have an impact. The problem was, relying on year-end accounts meant Marc didn’t see what was happening quickly enough. That became the start of a journey into management accounts, gross and net profit margins, understanding costs and getting much more granular about where the business was actually making money. Marc shares what he learned, the practical changes the business made and why knowing his numbers now gives him far more confidence when making decisions about pricing, costs, recruitment and future growth. We also talk about: • Why year-end accounts alone might not tell you enough • Gross profit vs net profit and why the gap matters • How rising costs can quietly erode your margins • Using management accounts to spot problems earlier • Understanding profitability by product, service or client • Why business owners can be reluctant to increase prices • How better financial information helps you make decisions • Using AI to analyse and understand business data • The role of accountants, mentors and outside perspectives • Why knowing your numbers becomes even more important as your business grows This isn’t about becoming an accountant or spending your life buried in spreadsheets. It’s about having enough visibility over your business to understand what’s working, what isn’t and what you might need to change. Because better numbers aren’t really about the numbers. They’re about making better business decisions. What One Thing is brought to you by Affirm IT and Corbar Accounting. Listen to What One Thing? and discover the one lesson that could change the way you run your business. What One Thing? is the business podcast focused on practical ideas growing business owners can actually implement — without the fluff. Connect with Marc McArdle: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-mcardle-18a29521/ Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/ Affirm IT Services https://affirmit.co.uk/ Corbar Accounting https://corbar.uk/

  3. Sep 9

    The Superhero Complex: Business Growth, Boundaries & Learning to Let Go - Ben McManus

    What happens when the very thing that makes you good at running a business starts costing you outside of it? In this episode of What One Thing?, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by Ben McManus, founder of BM Civil Engineering, to talk about what Ben calls his “superhero complex” — his drive to solve problems, do things properly and deliver for his clients, whatever it takes. It’s an approach that has helped Ben grow a successful civil engineering consultancy, build a strong team and develop client relationships where he’s prepared to have difficult conversations, stand by his pricing and even walk away from work when it doesn’t feel right. But there’s another side to it. Ben shares candidly how prioritising the business has sometimes come at a cost to himself and his family — and why he’s now learning that not every problem needs Batman. We talk about: having the confidence to say no to the wrong clients and opportunitieschoosing doing the right thing over the immediate financial winadding value without simply adding more workpricing based on the service you want to deliverbuilding genuine, valuable client relationshipsdelegating as your business and team growcreating false urgency as a business ownerwork-life balance and learning to switch offwhy a small number of deep business relationships can beat hundreds of superficial ones If you’re a business owner, founder or entrepreneur who feels responsible for everything, struggles to switch off or finds it difficult to let other people take over, this conversation might feel very familiar. Because sometimes the next stage of growing your business isn’t about doing more. It’s about realising you don’t have to save Gotham every day. Listen to What One Thing? and discover the one lesson that could change the way you run your business. What One Thing? is the business podcast focused on practical ideas growing business owners can actually implement — without the fluff. Connect with Ben McManus: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-mcmanus-ieng-mice-57b48aa2/ Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/ Affirm IT Services https://affirmit.co.uk/ Corbar Accounting https://corbar.uk/

  4. Aug 26

    Your Brand Isn’t Your Logo: How Manufacturers Build a Business People Trust - Lucy Rennie

    What makes a manufacturing business the one customers trust, recommend and keep coming back to? It isn't a new logo. It isn't posting more on LinkedIn. And it definitely isn't creating content simply because somebody told you that you should. In this episode of What One Thing?, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by Lucy Rennie to unpack what building a genuinely trusted brand looks like for manufacturing and engineering businesses — and why it has to start on the inside. Lucy shares why so many established manufacturers jump straight to marketing without first understanding what they stand for, what they want to be known for and why customers and employees should care. We get into: Why your brand is much more than your logo, website or marketingThe mistake manufacturers make when they jump straight into marketingWhy building a trusted brand starts with the owner and leadership teamThe simple questions you should be asking your employees and customersHow customer retention, referrals and recommendations reveal the strength of your brandWhy your existing customers could be more valuable than constantly chasing new leadsHow to work out what you actually want customers to say about your businessWhy your employees can become some of your strongest brand ambassadorsThe role of authenticity and real people as AI-generated content becomes increasingly commonHow one manufacturing business grew from around £1.6m to £8m while taking a long-term, inside-out approach to its brandAnd crucially, this isn't just a conversation about “branding”. Lucy gives practical exercises you can take back into your business, including a simple employee pulse survey and the “fly on the wall” exercise: if you could overhear your ideal customers talking about your business when you weren't in the room, what would you want them to say? Because people are going to form an opinion of your business anyway. The question is: are you being intentional about what that opinion is? If you run or lead an established manufacturing, engineering or growing SME and want to build a business customers trust, employees are proud to work for and people naturally recommend, this episode is for you. What One Thing? is the business podcast focused on practical ideas growing business owners can actually implement — without the fluff. Connect with Lucy Rennie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyrennie1/ Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/ Affirm IT Services https://affirmit.co.uk/ Corbar Accounting https://corbar.uk/

    Your Brand Isn’t Your Logo: How Manufacturers Build a Business People Trust - Lucy Rennie

  5. Aug 12

    How Manufacturers Can Win More Business: Turn Marketing Into Sales - René Power

    Most manufacturing businesses spend their time chasing new leads while overlooking one of the biggest opportunities already sitting in front of them. In this episode, we are joined by Rene Power, an industrial marketing specialist with more than 30 years' experience helping manufacturing and professional service businesses attract, convert and retain high value clients. CIM qualified and self employed since 2015, Rene has guided businesses through the challenges of pre Covid, the pandemic itself and the ever changing business landscape that followed. Today, through Rene Power Marketing, he helps businesses build sustainable growth using practical, high impact marketing strategies that actually generate results. Together we discuss the "blindingly obvious" strategy that many manufacturers still aren't using, why businesses are often afraid to simply "make the ask", and how historical sales data could become your most valuable source of new work. In this episode we cover: ●      Why reactivating previous prospects is often faster and more profitable than cold outreach. ●      The real reason business owners avoid direct conversations. ●      How to combine LinkedIn, personal branding and one to one networking effectively. ●      Turning past enquiries into a warm sales pipeline. ●      Managing ghosting, stalled projects and inconsistent sales cycles. ●      Lessons from running businesses through Covid and beyond. ●      Why being brave enough to ask can transform your business. Whether you're a manufacturing business owner, sales director or marketer looking to win more of the right work, this episode is packed with practical advice you can put into action immediately. Connect with Rene Power: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renepower/ Connect with the hosts: Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/ Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/

  6. Jul 29

    Practical AI Processes - Marie Piercy

    AI is everywhere, but are small businesses actually using it to save time and improve the way they work? In this episode of What One Thing, hosts Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by AI specialist Marie Piercy to explore how business owners can move beyond experimenting with AI and start building practical, repeatable systems that make a real difference. From creating AI-powered ideal client profiles using your existing customers, to building sales and marketing processes without losing the human touch, this conversation is packed with practical ideas that any business can start implementing today. After the interview, Hayley and Phil reflect on the episode, sharing the ideas they'll be taking back into their own businesses, the importance of starting small, and why making time to "play" with AI might be the biggest step of all. In this episode you'll discover:How to use AI to build a better ideal client profileWhy your existing customers are the best place to startHow AI can support your sales and marketing processWhy AI should enhance, not replace, human relationshipsSimple ways to start using AI without feeling overwhelmedThe practical changes Hayley and Phil are making after this conversationWhether you're completely new to AI or looking for practical ways to use it in your business, this episode is full of actionable insights that you can implement straight away. 🎙 About What One Thing Every episode we ask successful business owners one simple question: "What's the one thing that's helped move your business forward?" Hosted by: Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting Phil Davenport – Affirm IT New episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations that give business owners one practical idea they can implement immediately. Every episode asks one successful business owner: What's your one thing? Connect with us Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting Phil Davenport – Affirm IT Connect with Marie Marie Piercy - fusion growth #Sales #Marketing #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #USP #SalesStrategy #BusinessDevelopment #CustomerExperience #BrandStory #BusinessPodcast #WhatOneThing #LeadGeneration #BusinessAdvice #MarketingStrategy

    Practical AI Processes - Marie Piercy

  7. Jul 15

    People Buy Holes, Not Drills:| How to Stand Out and Win More Customers - Alastair Ruston

    Everyone says you need a USP. But what if that's the wrong place to start? In this episode of What One Thing, hosts Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter are joined by sales consultant Alastair Ruston to explore one of the most powerful concepts in sales and marketing: People don't buy what you do. They buy the result of what you do. From the famous phrase "People buy holes, not drills" to practical ways of uncovering what really makes your business different, this conversation is packed with ideas every business owner can put into practice. Whether you're an accountant, IT company, manufacturer or service business, if you've ever struggled to explain why customers should choose you, this episode is for you. In this episode you'll learn:✅ Why your USP probably isn't your real differentiator ✅ The simple questions every business owner should ask themselves ✅ Why your staff can help uncover what makes your business special ✅ How your customers already know your biggest selling point ✅ Why people buy emotionally before they justify logically ✅ How AI can help turn customer feedback into compelling marketing If you've ever found yourself saying "we're different because we offer great service," this episode will completely change how you think about selling your business. 🎙 About What One Thing Every episode we ask successful business owners one simple question: "What's the one thing that's helped move your business forward?" Hosted by: Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting Phil Davenport – Affirm IT New episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations that give business owners one practical idea they can implement immediately. Every episode asks one successful business owner: What's your one thing? Connect with us Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting Phil Davenport – Affirm IT Connect with Alastair Alastair Ruston - Blitz Sales Solutions #Sales #Marketing #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #USP #SalesStrategy #BusinessDevelopment #CustomerExperience #BrandStory #BusinessPodcast #WhatOneThing #LeadGeneration #BusinessAdvice #MarketingStrategy

    People Buy Holes, Not Drills:| How to Stand Out and Win More Customers - Alastair Ruston

  8. Jun 30

    The Business Plan You Should Never Stop Updating - Laura Holland

    Running a business isn't just about writing a business plan... it's about continually evolving it. In this episode of What One Thing?, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by structural engineer and business owner Laura Holland to explore why business planning should be a living document, not something you complete once and forget. Laura shares the honest reality of growing an engineering consultancy from scratch, the confidence challenges that come with leadership, when to hire (and when to say no), and why business coaching transformed the way she runs her company. Whether you're starting your first business or scaling an established one, this episode is packed with practical advice on planning for growth without losing sight of why you started. In this episode we discuss:✔️ Why your business plan should evolve with your business ✔️ The confidence challenges every business owner faces ✔️ Hiring, staffing and growing the right team ✔️ Knowing when to say no to new work ✔️ Vision boards vs business plans ✔️ Business coaching and accountability ✔️ Why success often feels uncomfortable ✔️ Building a business around the life you actually want One of the biggest lessons from this conversation is that nothing in business is fixed. Businesses evolve, people evolve and your plans should evolve too. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by business planning, struggled with confidence or wondered whether you're growing too quickly, this episode is for you. Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations that give business owners one practical idea they can implement immediately. Every episode asks one successful business owner: What's your one thing? Connect with us Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting Phil Davenport – Affirm IT Connect with Laura Laura Holland - Ecotech Engineers #BusinessPlanning #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #Leadership #BusinessCoach #ScalingABusiness #BusinessOwner #SME #Confidence #Hiring #VisionBoard #WorkLifeBalance #WhatOneThing #Engineering #LeadershipDevelopment

    The Business Plan You Should Never Stop Updating - Laura Holland
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About

One business. One lesson. Every episode.  Real businesses. Real stories. Real-time. What One Thing? is the straight-talking bi-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 fortnightly — follow to catch the next one.

Information

  • Creator
    Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter
  • Show Website
    What One Thing?