James Reed: all about business
- Episodes
- 106
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Oct 19, 2026
About the podcast
'James Reed: all about business' puts you at the heart of fun, dynamic, candid conversation with business leaders, philanthropists and charitable celebrities as they use their journeys to give clear, actionable advice. Hosted by James Reed CBE, the Chairman and CEO of Reed Group, you’ll hear the highs and lows of what it means to be a true business leader to empower you to implement smarter, more meaningful strategy in your business or career.
Episodes 106
101. How to make your business community your competitive advantage| Ros Morgan
For years, this Ros showed up to work as someone she wasn't, and it took her far longer than she'd like to admit to realise it was quietly costing her the thing she needed most.In this episode of All About …
Show notes
For years, this Ros showed up to work as someone she wasn't, and it took her far longer than she'd like to admit to realise it was quietly costing her the thing she needed most.
In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Ros Morgan, chief executive of the Heart of London Business Alliance, the organisation representing over 500 businesses across London's West End.
Ros explains why, early in her career, she believed professionalism meant suppressing her personality entirely, dressing to fit in with an all-male board and refusing to discuss anything personal at work, and the moment she decided to deliberately drop that act. She breaks down why being more open with her team, rather than less, ended up making her more credible as a leader, not less.
The conversation also unpacks a second lesson from Ros' own career: her habit of saying yes to opportunities before she felt fully ready for them, including taking on her first CEO role in her early twenties with no real knowledge of the industry she was stepping into. She explains why she believes the businesses that succeed are the ones that get out and learn from their peers rather than trying to solve every problem alone.
Timestamps
01:41 What Is a BID
09:50 Scenes in the Square
17:53 London Safety Perception
29:53 How London Stays Ahead
36:21 Real Rates Reform Plan
45:46 Japan Resilience Lessons
57:29 Hiring For Culture Fit
Links
Find out more about Heart of London Business Alliance and their work here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
100. Building a brand people love and when to walk away | Cath Kidston
The moment a business starts making real money is exactly when it's most at risk of losing what made it work in the first place.In this special 100th episode of All About Business, James sits down with …
Show notes
The moment a business starts making real money is exactly when it's most at risk of losing what made it work in the first place.
In this special 100th episode of All About Business, James sits down with entrepreneur Cath Kidston MBE, who built a single shop into a globally recognised brand, watched its values slip once investors and private equity got involved, and has spent her second business, C.Atherley, making sure it never happens again.
Cath breaks down why she believes founders need to define their brand values early and write them down, long before growth, investment, or pressure to cut costs ever arrives. She explains how her first business began compromising on quality once money and new voices entered the business, and why a gut-instinct decision she couldn't justify on a spreadsheet turned out to be the right call all along.
The conversation also unpacks why building slowly and deliberately is better than scaling too early. Cath explains why she spent four to five years getting the foundations right in both of her businesses before pushing for growth, and why she believes it's nearly impossible to fix a business's culture or values once they've already slipped.
Timestamps (Audio)
01:46 C.Atherley Origins
08:55 Four Signature Scents
14:59 Building Smarter This Time
26:06 Naming Your Business
32:17 Brand Values No Compromise
38:52 Hiring Ops To Scale
43:09 Modern Marketing And Property
Links
Find out more about C. Atherley and their products here
Find out more about Joy of print and their products here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
99. How to cash out without selling out | Guy Singh-Watson
Every founder eventually hits a decision that determines whether their company survives them or dies with them. Almost all of them get it wrong.In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Guy …
Show notes
Every founder eventually hits a decision that determines whether their company survives them or dies with them. Almost all of them get it wrong.
In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford Organic Farmers, who turned three acres and a borrowed tractor into a £120 million business, and found a way to cash out on his terms without ever putting the company up for sale.
Guy breaks down why he sold shares to his own staff instead of chasing a trade sale or private equity deal, and the near-£2 million mistake Riverford made along the way. He also shares the moment he walked away from a major retail contract and why no single customer, however large, should ever be allowed to dictate your terms.
The conversation unpacks what changed once Guy made the shift to employee ownership. He also gets candid about leading as an intuitive, emotionally-driven founder, and how a genuine apology turned out to be one of the most underrated leadership tools he's used.
Timestamps
01:31 From Wheelbarrow to Veg Boxes
10:08 Leading Through Constant Change
17:56 Growth Drivers and Father’s Approval
20:15 Leadership Transformation and Coaching
25:27 Employee Ownership in Action
32:09 Why Employee Ownership
41:27 Greenwash and Trust
48:20 Supermarket Bullying Stories
Links
Follow Guy Singh-Watson on LinkedIn
Find out more about Riverford Organic Farmers and their products here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
98. The financial mechanics of scaling a high-value business | Ross Crane
What if you could see what your Rolex was actually worth before a dealer made an offer?In this episode, James is joined by Ross Crane to explain how that approach became a business, and what other founders can …
Show notes
What if you could see what your Rolex was actually worth before a dealer made an offer?
In this episode, James is joined by Ross Crane to explain how that approach became a business, and what other founders can learn from it. Ross Crane co-founded Subdial to make buying and selling pre-owned luxury watches clearer and faster. Its market data helps customers understand watch prices in an industry where values can be difficult to pin down.
They discuss how to recognise when an idea has reached a dead end, how to respond when a market drops, and why selling quickly can matter more than holding out for a bigger margin.
Ross also shares a difficult decision from before Subdial: closing an earlier venture after six months and returning £220,000 of unused seed funding to investors.
Timestamps
01:40 From Consulting to Startups
07:23 Pivoting Into Watches
10:16 Data Driven Pricing Model
21:43 How Subdial Works
32:54 Watches as Investable Hobby
49:32 Consignment Pricing Tiers
Links
Find out more about Subdial and their products here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
97. How to Scale, Adapt, and Win in a Broken Market | Rio Caraeff
Building and scaling a venture at the intersection of culture and technology requires deep industry insight, structural thinking, and relentless adaptability.In this episode of All About Business, James sits …
Show notes
Building and scaling a venture at the intersection of culture and technology requires deep industry insight, structural thinking, and relentless adaptability.
In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Rio Caraeff, Co-President of Musixmatch and former CEO of Vevo. Together they unpack a 30-year career spent shaping how music is distributed, monetized, and consumed globally. Rio shares candid stories from his early life, including how Dolly Parton taught him to read and how his father captured the legendary photo of Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar on fire, before detailing his pioneering moves in digital downloads with Steve Jobs and launching Vevo.
The conversation delves into the core mechanics and future of the music economy. Rio explains why he views music as a "$10 business stuck in a $5 bag," breaks down the friction caused by fractured global copyrights, and demonstrates how Musixmatch uses AI tools like Sentinel and Music Lens to protect rights holders, while turning decades of lyric metadata into actionable market intelligence.
Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to move legacy industries forward, a creator navigating the rise of generative AI, or a leader seeking to master complex ecosystems, this episode provides a realistic, forward-looking guide to strategy and innovation.
Timestamps
04:36 Growing Up Around Rockstars
07:37 What Music Got Wrong
17:55 Musixmatch Explained
22:44 Administration and Getting Paid
25:24 AI as a Music Superpower
33:30 Creativity Versus AI
39:24 Lyrics as Durable Signal
48:09 Sync and Forecasting Uses
51:52 Optimism and Superpowers
Links
Follow Rio Caraeff on LinkedIn
Find out more about Musixmatch and their services here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
96. The property market has changed. Here’s where the opportunity is now | David Powell
Navigating a competitive industry requires adaptability, sharp execution, and a clear focus on long-term value.In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with David Powell, CEO of Andrews Property …
Show notes
Navigating a competitive industry requires adaptability, sharp execution, and a clear focus on long-term value.
In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with David Powell, CEO of Andrews Property Group, to trace his rise from a 19-year-old negotiator to leading a major property services firm. David shares candid lessons on managing older teams at age 21, rebuilding after his employer collapsed post-2008 crash, and overcoming the "year-off penalty" after taking a 12-month sabbatical.
The conversation also explores broader economic and business realities. David breaks down why single-revenue models are giving way to multi-stream operations, how tax burdens directly suppress hiring and growth, and how emerging tech and AI can automate routine tasks to enhance human connection.
Whether you are looking to advance your career, navigate market downturns, or lead a purpose-driven business, this episode provides practical insights into resilience and leadership.
Timestamps
01:53 Falling Into Property
10:05 Crash and Starting Over
21:22 COVID Pivot to New Homes
28:24 New Models and Income Streams
34:40 Stamp Duty as a Market Brake
40:10 Taxes and Hiring Costs
Links
Follow David Powell on LinkedIn
Find out more about Andrews Property Group and their services here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
95. A business growth masterclass: Funding, branding and sales strategy | Emma Jones
Scaling a business demands a clear story, sales strategies, and a realistic approach to capital.In the third episode of our Summer Shorts series, James sits down with Enterprise Nation founder and UK Small …
Show notes
Scaling a business demands a clear story, sales strategies, and a realistic approach to capital.
In the third episode of our Summer Shorts series, James sits down with Enterprise Nation founder and UK Small Business Commissioner Emma Jones one final time, to dissect what it truly takes to transition from a running startup to a high-growth company. Emma outlines how to build a distinct brand without a massive budget, leveraging free PR opportunities like #JournoRequest, and why standing out comes down to knowing your exact story.
The conversation dives into practical sales tactics such as turning your former employer into your very first client to using persistent, value-led updates to close major buyers. Finally, Emma demystifies the funding landscape. She breaks down the critical difference between debt and equity, explains why you should raise "opportunity funding" before you actually need it, and outlines exactly what investors expect in return.
Whether you are looking to secure angel investment or simply expand your reach, this episode provides an actionable roadmap for your next stage of growth.
This episode concludes our 3-part masterclass with Emma Jones. From spotting your initial business idea in episode one, to setting up your operational foundation in episode two, and scaling for growth in episode three, this series delivers a complete, practical toolkit for every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.
Timestamps
06:21 Standing Out and Social Mission
10:09 Getting First Customers
13:04 Sales Follow Up and CRM
19:12 When to Raise Funding
20:22 Funding Sources and Angels
24:47 Debt vs Equity Decisions
Links
Find out more about Enterprise Nation and the support they offer here
Find out more about the Small Business Commissioner here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
94. How to write a business plan and manage cash flow in year one | Emma Jones
You can start a business for under £100, but building one that lasts requires navigating a minefield of practical, legal, and financial decisions.In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Emma …
Show notes
You can start a business for under £100, but building one that lasts requires navigating a minefield of practical, legal, and financial decisions.
In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Emma Jones to break down the mechanics of turning an idea into a fully operational company. Emma walks through the real-world choices every founder faces. From writing a lightweight five-page business plan to deciding whether to trade as a sole trader or a limited company.
Emma shares why cash flow, not profit, is the ultimate reality test for a startup, how to protect your brand name without spending thousands, and why bootstrapping for as long as possible gives you complete commercial clarity.
This short episode delivers a practical blueprint for managing your admin efficiently, choosing the right insurance, and ensuring your business stays cash-solvent from day one.
Timestamps (Audio)
05:13 Sole Trader vs Limited
07:50 Registering and Accountants
10:08 Outsource and Hire Smart
13:35 Protect Your IP
17:13 Bootstrapping on a Budget
19:02 Funding Options
20:45 Costs, Cash and Getting Paid
Links
Find out more about Enterprise Nation and the support they offer here
Find out more about the Small Business Commissioner here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
93. How to start a business: The step by step guide | Emma Jones
How do you start a business?In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Emma Jones, serial entrepreneur, founder of Enterprise Nation, and the UK’s Small Business Commissioner. This is part one …
Show notes
How do you start a business?
In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Emma Jones, serial entrepreneur, founder of Enterprise Nation, and the UK’s Small Business Commissioner. This is part one of a three-part masterclass on starting a business from scratch. Emma delivers practical, step-by-step advice on how to spot market gaps, validate ideas through smart market research, and build a focused niche.
Emma shares insight on why testing a business as a side hustle gives you the space to refine your model, how to navigate early-stage co-founder decisions, and why sharing your idea early brings crucial feedback rather than stolen IP.
This short episode gives a clear, realistic blueprint for knowing if your business idea is worth pursuing, leveraging free resources to test demand, and cultivating the daily resilience needed to keep going.
Timestamps
02:48 Why Start a Business
09:03 Test and Hustle
11:03 Common Early Mistakes
16:54 Skills and Resilience
19:16 Co-Founders and Mentors
Links
Find out more about Enterprise Nation and the support they offer here
Find out more about the Small Business Commissioner here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
92. When should you hire, raise or expand? The lessons from Forest Bikes | Caroline Seton
When do you hire, when do you raise, and when is expansion actually the right move?In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Forest co-founder Caroline Seton to pull back the curtain on how a …
Show notes
When do you hire, when do you raise, and when is expansion actually the right move?
In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Forest co-founder Caroline Seton to pull back the curtain on how a London startup scaled to over two million rides a month. From using smart pricing to make customers do the heavy lifting in logistics, to navigating 33 separate sets of local regulations, Caroline breaks down the raw operational tactics and tough strategic trade-offs required to build, survive, and scale an asset-heavy business.
Caroline gives a clear blueprint for turning operational headaches into profit drivers as they explore protecting margins through relentless asset care, knowing exactly when to double down, or kill an idea that isn't working.
Timestamps
01:38 Why Forest Started
10:32 Expanding Across London
15:09 Maintenance at Scale
21:38 Proof It Was Working
31:33 ULEZ and Space Reallocation
38:26 Making London Cycle Capital
44:50 Founder Advice and Tailwinds
Links
Follow Caroline Seton on LinkedIn
Find out more about Forest Bikes and their services HERE
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
91. How to build your own talent pipeline | Lisa Bryer OBE & Charlie Kennard MBE
If your industry is facing a talent shortage or failing to prepare the next generation of workers, the solution isn't to wait for traditional institutions to adapt, it's to build the training infrastructure …
Show notes
If your industry is facing a talent shortage or failing to prepare the next generation of workers, the solution isn't to wait for traditional institutions to adapt, it's to build the training infrastructure yourself.
In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Oscar-nominated film producer Lisa Bryer OBE, and Day One Trust CEO Charlie Kennard MBE. Together, they break down a practical masterclass in rapid business execution, industry-led talent pipelines, and building teams that deliver under high-stakes pressure.
Lisa shares how turning a 24-hour corporate bankruptcy into the birth of Cowboy Films, proved that operational agility outweighs legacy credentials. Charlie details how partnering directly with major global enterprises created a sustainable, job-ready workforce model that prioritizes work-ethic discipline, and real-world execution over academic theory.
This episode gives a clear blueprint for building talent pipelines in your own sector, turning unexpected crises into business momentum, and instilling non-negotiable professional behaviors across your workforce.
Timestamps
02:46 Lisa Builds Cowboy Films
06:17 Charlie Starts The Schools
17:47 Who The School Is For
25:14 Behaviours For Career Success
36:07 Industry Led Curriculum
38:59 Alumni Success Stories
56:26 Advice For Creatives
Links
Follow Charlie Kennard MBE on LinkedIn
Find out more about London Screen Academy and their work
Find out more about Comby Films and their work
Find out more about Day One Trust and their work
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
90. The lowest-risk way to scale a start-up | Jake Wilmot-Sitwell
Are you exhausting resources trying to build every system from scratch? You could achieve faster, safer, scale by taking a proven playbook. And executing it better than anyone else.In this episode of All About …
Show notes
Are you exhausting resources trying to build every system from scratch? You could achieve faster, safer, scale by taking a proven playbook. And executing it better than anyone else.
In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Jake Wilmot-Sitwell, co-founder and COO of Sandbox VR UK. Jake shares how he transitioned from venture capital to entrepreneurship, taking on £10M in capital to scale full-body, immersive VR experiences across the UK and Ireland.
Jake breaks down the core mechanics of their expansion strategy, explaining how a master franchise model eliminated the initial tech-development risk. He details their shift from capital-intensive flagship locations to lean, plug-and-play concession hubs, while sharing actionable frameworks for optimizing yield per square foot, leveraging media partnerships like Netflix, and scaling a frontline workforce.
Timestamps
01:56 Why VR and Entrepreneurship
09:57 Who Comes and Why It Works
22:40 High-End Tech Meets Hospitality
32:42 Hiring Young Teams
41:26 Fixes VAT Wages Rates
51:58 Future IP Partnerships
Links
Follow Jake Wilmot-Sitwell on LinkedIn
Find out more about Sandbox VR and their experiences here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
89. The business decision you'll thank yourself for in 5 years | James Perry
When your business hits an existential wall, are you willing to rethink your entire financial structure to protect your vision, or will you compromise the mission just to survive?Most founders believe scaling …
Show notes
When your business hits an existential wall, are you willing to rethink your entire financial structure to protect your vision, or will you compromise the mission just to survive?
Most founders believe scaling requires bowing to traditional venture capital and prioritizing short-term margins. COOK proved there is another way by surviving near-bankruptcy, funding its own expansion through an unexpected subsidiary, and scaling past £100 million while keeping absolute control over its mission.
In this episode of All About Business, James Perry, co-founder of COOK and co-founder of B Corp UK joins as guest, and he pulls back the curtain on the messy, high-stakes reality of building a national consumer brand from scratch without burning out or selling out.
They unpack the reality of operational risk, the hard lessons of founder resilience, and how building an inclusive hiring model through the RAW initiative turned a perceived workplace risk into one of their strongest operational assets.
James shares the gritty mechanics behind COOK’s early years: how a loss-making enterprise was kept afloat by a cash-generating bakery, why he turned away standard venture capital, and how leveraging national media attention led to finding the patient, long-term private capital that saved the business. He breaks down how the 2008 financial crash tested their model and why a relentless focus on product integrity built a moat that traditional competitors couldn't cross.
Timestamps
02:08 Cadbury Lessons
10:00 Family Bakery Origins
12:56 Founding Cook
28:48 B Corp Beginnings
37:10 Certifying and Building UK
41:05 RAW Talent Hiring Program
49:19 Systemic Capitalism Glitch
Links
Follow James Perry on LinkedIn
Find out more COOK and their products here
Find out more about B Lab UK and their work here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
88. How to build a disruptive product without outspending industry giants | Mark Rushmore
Most consumer goods brands ask you to buy more - SURI does the opposite. They designed a sustainable, electric toothbrush made from plant-based materials that is fully recyclable. As a result they scaled to …
Show notes
Most consumer goods brands ask you to buy more - SURI does the opposite. They designed a sustainable, electric toothbrush made from plant-based materials that is fully recyclable. As a result they scaled to over £50 million worth of sales in just four years.
In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Mark Rushmore, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Sustainable Rituals, SURI. The fast-growing personal care brand that’s disrupting a defended, multi-billion-pound market by proving that daily wellness routines don't have to come at the cost of the planet.
Mark shares his journey from the corporate training ground of Procter & Gamble to navigating extreme burnout after his first agency exit. He explains the business mechanics behind SURI’s rapid scale, and why focusing on a "minimum lovable product" unlocked a viral wave of word-of-mouth growth.
James and Mark explore the strategies behind scaling a highly productive 50-person team, using AI as an operational accelerant rather than a replacement, and the practical frameworks for making tough business decisions. They examine how to establish a values-led culture, why investing in founder relationships with business psychologists is critical to preventing scale-up failure, and what the next generation of consumer brands must do to win.
This leaves us with a compelling question: when building a product for the long term, are you treating your business decisions like a temporary hat, a reversible haircut, or a permanent tattoo?
Timestamps
04:19 Burnout and Life Reset
16:36 Origin Story of SURI
25:08 Pricing Strategy and Lovable Product
31:42 Competing with Giants and Expert Team
37:51 Hiring Values Framework
46:13 Brand Expansion Vision
51:55 Decision Making Lessons
Links
Follow Mark Rushmore on LinkedIn
Find out more SURI and their products here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
87. How to start and scale a charity: Supporting 7000 kids a week through football | Charlie Hyman
Most charities are told to secure funding before they spend. Bloomsbury Football did the opposite — investing in fundraising before the money existed, and growing from four children to 7,000 a week as a result …
Show notes
Most charities are told to secure funding before they spend. Bloomsbury Football did the opposite — investing in fundraising before the money existed, and growing from four children to 7,000 a week as a result.
In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Charlie Hyman, founder and CEO of Bloomsbury Football. His fast-growing social enterprise harnesses the universal power of grassroots football to tackle major societal challenges for young people, providing thousands of disadvantaged youth with vital role models, mental health support, and a true sense of belonging.
Charlie shares the 7 steps in starting, building and scaling a charity. He explains the business mechanics behind this scale: how diversifying income with brands like Mastercard and Adobe, and treating a charity like a high-growth private company unlocks true scale.
James and Charlie explore the strategy behind taking Bloomsbury national and how Charlie built a proprietary AI tool to scrape Charity Commission data for fundraising intelligence. They examine how to close high-value deals, attract top-tier corporate talent with pure purpose, and what commercial businesses can learn from high-ambition social enterprise models.
This leaves us with a compelling question: when building a company designed for impact, do your growth strategies reflect the actual size of the problem you are trying to solve?
Timestamps
03:05 Origin story volunteering
11:47 Income streams and bids
15:53 Charities vs businesses
21:23 Scaling leadership and coaches
32:12 Opportunistic Expansion Plans
38:12 AI Boosting Charity Impact
44:59 Fundraising Skills for Youth
Links
Follow Charlie Hyman on LinkedIn
Find out more Bloomsbury Football here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
86. Lab-grown diamonds were underestimated. Here's how they're disrupting luxury | Nathalie Morrison
Most people underestimated lab-grown diamonds. Conventional wisdom says that luxury is about heritage, exclusivity and the power of a brand. So why are consumers embracing them so quickly?And what does that …
Show notes
Most people underestimated lab-grown diamonds. Conventional wisdom says that luxury is about heritage, exclusivity and the power of a brand. So why are consumers embracing them so quickly?
And what does that tell us about the future of luxury businesses and the shift in consumer values?
In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Nathalie Morrison, founder and CEO of Astrea London. Her high-end jewellery brand focuses on ethical luxury, using the top 1% tier of lab-grown diamonds and 100% recycled gold to offer flawless purity that gives consumers more carats and less weight on their conscience.
Within just one year of launching, Astrea hit $1 million in sales, prompting Nathalie to leverage her banking network to raise £4 million at a £14 million valuation. The company has since attracted celebrity backing from Sarah Jessica Parker, who became both an investor and creative director after meeting Nathalie in New York.
Together, James and Nathalie explore the rapid shifts in consumer behaviour and the strategy required to position a disruptive brand at the highest end of a competitive market. They discuss the unique marketing channel she created by opening luxury boutiques inside world-renowned hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental, and the realities of challenging a century-old industry monopoly.
They also examine the changing values of the next generation of consumers, why diamonds are built for emotional enjoyment rather than financial investment, and the power of cold outreach—even when it leads to one of the world's most influential style icons becoming a business partner.
Timestamps
02:07 Nathalie Finance Background
06:45 How Lab Diamonds Are Made
14:43 Diamond Pricing Myths
22:27 Celebrity Investor Partner
29:10 Supply Chain And Quality
36:25 Scaling Challenges And Hiring
Links:
Follow Nathalie Morrison on LinkedIn
Find out more Astrea London and their products here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
85. "We were £1.5M in debt": The turnaround strategy that could save your business | Zoe Paskin
Financial crises can hit any business- especially in today's economy. Selling might feel like the only option. But is it?What should founders do when things look bleak? How do you rebuild momentum, and give …
Show notes
Financial crises can hit any business- especially in today's economy. Selling might feel like the only option. But is it?
What should founders do when things look bleak? How do you rebuild momentum, and give your business the best possible chance of surviving and thriving? When one pair of siblings were running The End nightclub, they found themselves £1.5 million in debt and facing enormous pressure to sell.
Instead, they chose a different path, and turned the business around.
In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Zoë Paskin, co-founder and managing director of Studio Paskin. They are the independent powerhouse behind legendary London destinations like The Palomar, The Barbary, and the Michelin-starred Evelyn's Table, celebrated for maintaining flawless standards in a brutal industry.
Zoë shares the remarkable story of turning around a legendary 90s nightclub facing massive debt, stepping into leadership when no one expected her to, and the reality of selling a business at its peak.
James and Zoë explore how to scale when the broader market is struggling, how to strip down operational expenses to rescue a business, and why the best career advice may be to simply : go wherever the biggest problems are.
Links:
Find out more Studio Paskin and their work here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
84. How to grow your business without losing control | David Palmer
Scaling a business seems like the obvious goal. But what if growth without the right strategy leads to losing control?In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with David Palmer, founder of Life of …
Show notes
Scaling a business seems like the obvious goal. But what if growth without the right strategy leads to losing control?
In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with David Palmer, founder of Life of Fish, the modern London fishmonger that started as a lockdown pop-up outside a Peckham cafe, and has now grown into a multi-site retail and wholesale business built on sustainability, craft, and genuine customer service.
Together James and David explore the harder lessons of growth: why expanding too fast almost broke the business, how to know when to consolidate rather than chase new opportunities, and what it means to build something that runs on profit rather than debt.
David shares what he learned starting work at Billingsgate Market at the age of 14 with no qualifications and no plan. Climbing into bins at 2am and learning to fillet fish under pressure, allowed David to slowly piecing together a skillset he didn't realise he was building. The lesson he took from those years is simple: nothing you learn is wasted, and starting from the bottom teaches you things no shortcut ever could.
They also discuss what it really takes to build a product business in a traditional industry that nobody had modernised.
Timestamps
2:11 Leaving school at 11
12:56 The entrepreneurial pivot question
15:14 The breakthrough moment
17:26 The gap in the market
19:33 COVID lockdown launch
21:15 70 people queue
38:55 Lesson on over expansion
39:57 Turning down free rent
43:39 Hiring philosophy
Links
Follow David Palmer on LinkedIn
Find out more Life of Fish and their products here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
83. Are you selling too early? The succession model most founders have never heard of | Victoria Stapleton
Thirty years of building a business without a board, without investors, and without ever wanting to sell, and it just keeps growing, there’s something to learn from that.In this episode of All About Business …
Show notes
Thirty years of building a business without a board, without investors, and without ever wanting to sell, and it just keeps growing, there’s something to learn from that.
In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Victoria Stapleton, founder of Brora, the British luxury cashmere and clothing brand. Victoria has built Brora over 30 years from a single supplier and a home phone number into a business with shops across the UK, a store on Madison Avenue, and a fiercely loyal customer base.
Victoria shares what she learned from building slowly and deliberately, and why organic growth gave her control, quality, and a life outside work. She also gives insight about why every founder considering outside investment should think carefully about what they are actually giving if they take it.
Together they explore what it really takes to run a product business built on craft and quality: how to manage suppliers, why the shop experience matters more than ever, and what you actually learn about your business by walking the warehouse floor every morning.
Victoria's tells is about who she transitioned Brora into an Employee Ownership Trust, one of the most underused business succession models in the UK, and how it works.
Timestamps
11:25 First Shop and Doing It All
18:49 Hiring and Building a Loyal Team
20:52 Organic Growth and Staying Independent
30:21 In Store Styling Magic
38:21 Bonuses Profit And Legacy
47:05 Store Locations And New York
54:19 Glasgow Store Failure Lessons
56:14 Final Questions And Farewell
Links
Find out more Brora and their products here
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
82. Start now. The sign your business idea is ready to build | Sahar Hashemi OBE
Most people think successful entrepreneurs spot brilliant ideas.Sahar Hashemi believes the opposite.In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Sahar Hashemi, entrepreneur, author, and founder of …
Show notes
Most people think successful entrepreneurs spot brilliant ideas.
Sahar Hashemi believes the opposite.
In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Sahar Hashemi, entrepreneur, author, and founder of Buy Women Built. They talk about Sahar’s journey over three decades building businesses, backing herself, and why entrepreneurship is far simpler than most people make it.
Sahar shares the hard lessons from scaling Coffee Republic to 110 stores and what happened when they handed the business to the professionals. What she learned about founders staying close to their customers, why bureaucracy is the silent killer of entrepreneurial culture, and why the moment you lose sight of who you are serving, is the moment a business starts to decline.
Together they explore what a startup mindset actually looks like in practice, how to know when a growing business is quietly losing its edge, and why the single most important thing any leader can do is keep their people connected to the customer. Sahar also makes the case that something done badly is better than if it’s not done at all, and that the best thing any aspiring entrepreneur can do is start somewhere, however small.
Timestamps
3:13 Discovering New York-style coffee
9:30 The decision to leave law
12:19 First Coffee Republic
16:54 Going public
26:39 The tweet that sparked Buy Women Built
35:05 The Rose Review of Entrepreneurship
40:43 The startup mindset
51:17 No plan, just purpose
Links
Follow Sahar Hashemi on LinkedIn
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
81. How Gousto is taking on the ultra-processed food industry | Timo Boldt
60% of the UK diet is ultra-processed. And the food industry is manufacturing your addiction. So why is this public health crisis continuing in plain sight, and what it would actually take to change it?Two …
Show notes
60% of the UK diet is ultra-processed. And the food industry is manufacturing your addiction. So why is this public health crisis continuing in plain sight, and what it would actually take to change it?
Two things are clear. Britain's food system is more broken than most people realise. And Gousto is far more interesting a business than its recipe boxes suggest.
In today’s episode, James speaks with Timo Boldt, founder and CEO of Gousto, about building one of the UK's most ambitious food businesses from scratch and why, 14 years and 80 million meals later, he's only just getting started.
Timo shares how he left a career in investment banking to start again. With no money, no network, no customers, he shares what that journey has taught him about fundraising without connections, growing with your customers and building a business around a problem genuinely worth solving.
They also discuss how Gousto has used AI intelligently from the beginning, not as a replacement for people, but as a tool that makes the whole operation sharper; from cutting food waste and optimising factory logistics to building fully personalised menus that 80% of customers now rely on.
Timestamps:
01:37 What Gousto Does
06:23 From Banking to Entrepreneurship
13:24 Scrappy Startup and First Orders
25:35 Affordability Taxes and Transparency
31:16 Healthy Without Preaching
34:33 Factories And Delivery Network
42:12 China Trip AI And Robotics
Links
Find out more about Gousto and their products
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
80. How a £5,000 workshop became a global luxury brand | Tom Faulkner
What does it take to build a luxury brand by accident and keep it thriving for 30 years without ever taking outside investment?In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Tom Faulkner …
Show notes
What does it take to build a luxury brand by accident and keep it thriving for 30 years without ever taking outside investment?
In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Tom Faulkner, award-winning British furniture designer and founder of Tom Faulkner Limited. They talk about the unlikely journey from redundancy at a record label to running one of the UK's most distinctive handcrafted furniture brands, with showrooms in London and New York, and a workshop in Swindon that has been making things by hand since 1996.
Tom shares the story of how a side hustle in hand-painted tabletops became a serious business the moment he discovered what you could do with metal. He talks about buying a Swindon fabrication workshop for £5,000, inheriting two employees, slowly building a loyal team and a global client base. All through organic growth, word of mouth, and relationships with interior designers.
They explore what it really means to build a premium, handcrafted brand in the modern world: the growing appetite among wealthy clients to understand how things are made, why British manufacturing remains a genuine selling point in the American market, and how Tom navigated the early months of US tariffs with a decision that cost him margin but protected his customer relationships.
Together they also discuss the challenge of succession and legacy for founder-led businesses, why Tom has never chased scale for its own sake, and what he hopes to do next.
Timestamps
4:56 From Chrysalis Records to Hand-Painted Furniture
8:40 Buying the Swindon Workshop (The £5,000 Decision)
12:56 The Pimlico Road Showroom & London's Design Cluster
15:53 Expanding to New York
20:24 Staying Artisan: Organic Growth & British Manufacturing
25:20 Signature Pieces: Capricorn & the Collections
36:13 Navigating Business Challenges & US Tariffs
43:01 Future Plans: Collaborations, Sculpture & What's Next
57:04 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
Follow Tom Faulkner on LinkedIn
Find out more about Tom Faulkner LTD and their products HERE
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
79. What businesses should learn from museums about innovation | Elizabeth McKay
How can a major museum be run with the same entrepreneurial mindset as a high-growth business?In today's episode, James Reed speaks with Elizabeth McKay, Director and CEO of the London Transport Museum. While …
Show notes
How can a major museum be run with the same entrepreneurial mindset as a high-growth business?
In today's episode, James Reed speaks with Elizabeth McKay, Director and CEO of the London Transport Museum. While many perceive museums as static archives, Elizabeth explains how she applies commercial strategy to ensure one of London’s most iconic cultural landmarks remains financially sustainable and relevant in a modern economy.
Elizabeth shares insights from her unconventional career journey and explains why the museum identifies as the best in the world for urban transport. They explore the evolution of work through the lens of London’s history, from the original "chairmen" who carried sedan chairs to the "navvies" who hand-dug the first underground network.
Together they discuss the balance between preserving heritage and driving innovation, including the story of Harry Beck’s revolutionary Tube map and how it was initially rejected for being too radical. Elizabeth also outlines the realities of leading a cultural institution that functions as both a charity and a successful commercial entity.
Timestamps
01:48 Transport history highlights
09:50 Young entrepreneurs message
20:04 Design DNA of TFL
24:26 Running the museum business
33:27 Leading through uncertainty
40:21 Funding model explained
45:10 Youth skills pipeline
Follow Elizabeth McCay on LinkedIn:
Find out more about TFL Museum and their exhibitions here:
Submit your application to Reed’s Entrepreneurs Fund for a chance to a £20,000 grant HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
78. The crisis facing UK retail and food businesses | Sarah Bradbury
Why are millions of jobs going unfilled in one of the UK’s biggest industries, while so many young people are struggling to find work?In this episode of all about business, James Reed speaks with Sarah …
Show notes
Why are millions of jobs going unfilled in one of the UK’s biggest industries, while so many young people are struggling to find work?
In this episode of all about business, James Reed speaks with Sarah Bradbury, CEO of the Institute of Grocery Distribution, about the future of the UK food industry, the growing challenge of attracting young talent, and why the sector may offer far more opportunities than people realise.
Sarah shares insights from her 25-year career across major retailers, before stepping into one of the most influential leadership roles in the UK food sector. She explains how IGD works across the entire food system and how they help competitors collaborate on the biggest long-term challenges facing the industry.
They explore the pressures reshaping food and retail, including changing consumer habits, climate change, AI, automation, workforce shortages, and the potential impact of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, on the future of food consumption.
Together they also discuss leadership, collaboration between rival businesses, and why the UK food industry remains one of the country’s most important, and underestimated, economic forces.
Timestamps
02:00 What IGD does
08:43 Retail tech and AI trends
12:27 UK food system challenges
18:36 Land use and solar farms
23:47 Hidden food careers
31:29 Youth unemployment urgency
43:27 Closing reflections and CEO Forum
Follow Sarah Bradbury on LinkedIn
Find out more about IGD and their impact HERE
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
77. What it’s really like running a funeral directors business | Damian Melville
Running a business is hard, but what is it like when your work sits at the centre of people’s most emotional moments?In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Damian Melville, Managing …
Show notes
Running a business is hard, but what is it like when your work sits at the centre of people’s most emotional moments?
In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Damian Melville, Managing Director of Melville & Daughter Funeral Directors. Together they explore leadership in one of the most emotionally demanding industries there is.
Damian shares his journey into the family business, reflecting on the responsibilities that come when helping people in their most vulnerable time, and how that shapes both leadership-style and company-culture. He shares what balancing tradition with modernisation means, the realities of running a business where empathy is as important as efficiency, and the discipline required to maintain high standards in sensitive circumstances.
The conversation explores what it means to lead with care while still making clear commercial decisions, how to build trust within communities, and why consistency and professionalism matter more than ever, in a service built on reputation. Damian also discusses the challenges of succession in a family-run business and the importance of supporting both clients and staff through emotionally complex work.
A thoughtful, grounded conversation about leadership, responsibility, and building a business where purpose and performance have to coexist every step of the way.
Timestamps
01:04 Finding a niche market
06:36 Going solo challenges
12:50 Winning trust locally
23:18 COVID shock to the system
36:27 Hiring costs and NI
43:25 A Funeral director day
01:00:26 Memorial innovations and burials
Follow Damian Melville on LinkedIn
Find out more about Melville & Daughters Funeral Directors here
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
76. How to get a pay rise: Salary negotiation that works | Connor Scully
Is an awkward conversation the only thing standing between you and the salary you deserve?In this episode of all about business, Connor Scully, Senior Executive Consultant at Reed Specialist Recruitment, sits …
Show notes
Is an awkward conversation the only thing standing between you and the salary you deserve?
In this episode of all about business, Connor Scully, Senior Executive Consultant at Reed Specialist Recruitment, sits down with James to discuss how professionals can effectively secure a pay rise in their current role.
Connor shares practical advice on how to move beyond the discomfort of pay discussions by focusing on preparation, timing, and proving your worth. The conversation explores how to assess whether you are truly due a salary increase, emphasizing the need to align your output with business goals and quantify your impact through measurable KPIs. Connor explains why being proactive, taking on extra responsibilities during company hardships, or "saying yes" to complex projects, is key to becoming an indispensable asset.
Whether you feel underpaid or are looking to take the next step in your career, this episode offers a step-by-step guide to navigating pay conversations with confidence and a growth mindset
Timestamps
02:00 Are You Due More
04:42 Prep And Timing Mistakes
09:38 When To Job Hunt
12:19 Ask In Person
15:36 Say Yes More Often
20:22 Employer Perspective on Pay Requests
Find out how Reed can help you advance your career here:
Find out more about Reed Specialist Recruitment here:
Find out more Number Eight restaurant here:
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
75. How to calculate what you're worth in the job market | Leanne Appleton
How do you know if you’re being offered what you’re worth?In this episode of all about business, Leanne Appleton, recruitment expert at Reed, speaks with James about how professionals can increase their earning …
Show notes
How do you know if you’re being offered what you’re worth?
In this episode of all about business, Leanne Appleton, recruitment expert at Reed, speaks with James about how professionals can increase their earning potential and achieve a higher salary.
Leanne shares practical insights into what really drives salary growth, from understanding your market value to building in-demand skills and positioning yourself effectively in the job market. She explains why working harder isn’t always enough, and how being more strategic about your career decisions can significantly impact your long-term earnings.
The conversation explores how to approach salary negotiations with confidence, including when to ask for a pay rise, how to benchmark your worth, and why timing plays a critical role. Leanne also highlights the importance of demonstrating impact through measurable results, rather than relying on tenure or job titles alone.
Timestamps
02:10 Know Your Worth
04:15 Recruiter Advantage
05:41 Benchmark Beyond Salary
08:36 Reading Job Ad Salaries
11:14 Negotiation Prep
14:20 Avoid Over Underselling
17:37 Benefits That Matter
19:36 Perks Employers Can Add
21:52 Probation Pay Reviews
24:39 Counteroffers Warning
Find out how Reed can help you advance your career here:
Find out more about Reed Specialist Recruitment here:
Find out more Number Eight restaurant here:
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
74. How to grow a business fast and exit successfully | Andrew Hulbert
How do you grow an idea into a multi-million pound business before the age of 40?In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Andrew Hulbert, entrepreneur and founder of Pareto Facilities …
Show notes
How do you grow an idea into a multi-million pound business before the age of 40?
In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Andrew Hulbert, entrepreneur and founder of Pareto Facilities Management, a company he built from his bedroom into a £50 million business before successfully exiting in his thirties.
Andrew shares the journey from a difficult start in Oxford and an unconventional path into business, to scaling rapidly in a competitive industry and navigating the realities of high-growth entrepreneurship. He reflects on the mindset required to build something from nothing, the importance of winning (and keeping) customers, and why consistency and execution matter more than ideas.
The conversation explores what it really takes to scale a business, from landing pivotal contracts that accelerate growth, to building a leadership team strong enough to step back from. Andrew also speaks candidly about the personal cost of success with long hours, burnout, and the moment he realised the business he built was no longer sustainable for the life he wanted.
Now focused on family, investing, and sustainability, Andrew offers a different perspective on success that goes beyond financial outcomes.
This is a grounded and honest conversation about entrepreneurship, growth, and what success really looks like once you’ve achieved it.
Timestamps
02:17 Council estate roots
09:20 Knife lesson turning point
22:06 Bedroom startup launch
34:14 Why sell the business
42:57 Health reset and purpose
46:50 Sales tricks that work
54:47 Advice for entrepreneurs
Follow Andrew Hulbert on LinkedIn
Find out more about Pareto Facilities
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
73. No cows here: Could your pint become your next leather wallet? | TJ Mitchell
Could the answer to a more sustainable handbag or wallet lie at the bottom of your pint glass?In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Dr. Edward "TJ" Mitchell, co-founder and Chief …
Show notes
Could the answer to a more sustainable handbag or wallet lie at the bottom of your pint glass?
In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Dr. Edward "TJ" Mitchell, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Arda Biomaterials, a London-based startup redefining the future of leather. Using cutting-edge technology, Arda transforms waste grain from brewers and distillers into sustainable, animal-, and plastic-free leather alternatives that are poised to disrupt the fashion and materials industries.
TJ shares his remarkable journey from a PhD in radioactive waste storage to the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship. He opens up about the pivotal moments that led to founding Arda Biomaterials, meeting his co-founder, and the bold decision to pivot from food-based protein products to sustainable materials. TJ also talks about the challenges of scaling a deep tech startup, from overcoming scientific and engineering hurdles, to building a team, and navigating the complexities of fundraising.
TJ reflects on the importance of networking and immersing yourself in the right communities, the art of storytelling as an entrepreneur, and why asking for advice often leads to unexpected opportunities.
Timestamps
02:39 From PhD research to entrepreneurship
06:22 Discovering the value of waste grain
12:15 Pivoting from food-based protein to leather alternatives
14:19 Using chemistry to mimic collagen for sustainable leather
20:33 The science behind transforming waste into leather-like materials
21:20 Why communication and storytelling are key for entrepreneurs
24:47 Advice for scientists: finding co-founders and startup programs
35:00 The future of plastic-free, animal-free materials in fashion
39:49 Arda Biomaterials’ vision as a waste transformation company
42:13 Scaling globally and creating local production facilities
Follow TJ Mitchell on LinkedIn
Find out more about Arda Biomaterials here
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
72. How to build a successful brand in a competitive market | Steve Perez
How do you turn a single idea into a global brand and keep winning in an industry where most products fade away?In this episode of all about business, James sits down with Steve Perez, founder of Global Brands …
Show notes
How do you turn a single idea into a global brand and keep winning in an industry where most products fade away?
In this episode of all about business, James sits down with Steve Perez, founder of Global Brands, to unpack the reality behind building one of the UK’s most successful drinks businesses from scratch.
Steve shares how he identified a gap in the market early on, and backed his instincts to create products that would resonate with a new generation of consumers, most notably the breakout success of VK. But Steve’s story isn’t just about spotting an opportunity, it’s about the discipline required to execute, the risks that come with backing your own judgement, and the resilience needed to navigate inevitable setbacks along the way.
The conversation goes deeper into what actually drives success in a highly competitive, fast-moving industry. Steve explains why understanding your customer better than anyone else is a non-negotiable, how to stay relevant as trends shift, and how many businesses fail not because of bad ideas, but because of poor execution.
He also reflects on leadership as a business scale. From making tough commercial decisions under pressure, to building a team you can trust, and knowing when to adapt, versus when to stay the course.
This is a grounded, experience-led conversation about entrepreneurship without the fluff that covers risk, resilience, execution, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.
Timestamps
02:56 From pub manager to van hustle
08:43 Business bust and rock bottom
14:33 Inventing VK
25:16 Keep your equity keep control
38:27 Building a hotel empire
43:36 High Court tax challenge
57:34 Multi-generational mindset
Follow Steve Perez on LinkedIn
Find out more Global Brands and VK
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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