Tales from The Engine Room

The Skiff

Meet the people who make up The Skiff a coworking community in central Brighton, Sussex, UK. Interviewed by Caroline Beavon.

Episodes

  1. Tom Buck

    06/13/2023

    Tom Buck

    In this episode of Tales from the Engine Room, host Caroline Beavon interviews Tom Buck, the founder of Fair Internet Report. Tom shares his journey of creating websites that analyse mobile broadband speeds in the UK, starting with his frustrations about certain network coverage areas. His entrepreneurial spirit drives him to find ways to monetize the websites, which involves incorporating mobile phone deals that visitors might find beneficial. Tom discusses the utilization of open data from sources like Measurement Labs (M-Lab), and he emphasises the challenges of making such massive datasets comprehensible and accessible to the general public. An interesting discussion on the unpredictability of SEO leads to Tom expressing his skepticism towards those who over-promise on SEO capabilities. The conversation transitions to the challenges and benefits Tom experiences due to his position on the autism spectrum, including his difficulty in writing compelling copy for his websites. Tom mentions his reliance on AI tools, specifically ChatGPT, to help him create more engaging content. These tools alleviate the stress of producing compelling writing, thereby enabling him to focus on data analysis and website development. Tom offers insights into his work habits, explaining his ability to stay focused on engaging tasks and his tactic of switching to different tasks when one proves too challenging. Lastly, Tom discusses his various projects, the most successful of which, crimerate.co.uk, he developed during a bout of burnout. He talks about the challenges of monetizing the site, given the nature of its content. The future, he hints, might involve exploring the realm of open energy data. Find out more about Tom's business at https://fairinternetreport.com

    25 min
  2. Alice Dewar-Mills

    06/13/2023

    Alice Dewar-Mills

    In this episode of Tales from the Engine Room, host Caroline Beavon interviews Alice Dewar-Mills, the founder of Looking Glass Solutions.  Alice's company is committed to simplifying contract and commercial strategy procedures for small businesses. Alice shares her passion for aiding individuals and companies in the intricate world of contracts. Discussion Points Include: Introduction to Alice's background as a commercial director and her choice to launch her own enterprise, Looking Glass Solutions, a business that offers contract reviews, and plans for training for freelancers.Alice's initiation into the realm of contract management during her placement year at Rolls-Royce, which was part of her degree at the University of Bath.Discussion on the significance of comprehending contracts when negotiating with large corporations. Alice underscores the potential hazards of losing intellectual property or consenting to disadvantageous terms without adequate understanding.An exploration of Alice's perspective on her services as an alternative to legal consultation, presenting both commercial and legal acumen.Alice's plans for Looking Glass Solutions to deliver training for in-house contract management for small businesses and freelancers. Alice stresses that contracts are just a discussion and shouldn't be daunting.A conversation on the dynamics of freelancing and remote work, the flexible nature of freelancing, and how a uniform approach does not apply to all.Alice's experience as a remote worker for about 15 years, her strategies to create virtual communities to combat solitude, and ensure an efficient workflow. A conversation about the importance of sharing personal information, within limits, to establish connections with colleagues.A deeper dive into the work-life balance, examples of people who can proficiently manage their professional and personal lives, and the rising need for flexibility in the modern workspace.Find out more about Alice's business at https://lookingglasssolutions.com/

    26 min

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Meet the people who make up The Skiff a coworking community in central Brighton, Sussex, UK. Interviewed by Caroline Beavon.