Share Sounds related to Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders - Profiles

David Glover is a franchising specialist, who spent his early career in the law. He was instrumental in setting up the Subway chain as a successful franchise before spending time with Mailboxes and in serviced apartments. He says franchising ought to be ‘taught in schools’ and is the perfect route for becoming your own boss. He’s acting managing director of franchise care provider Caremark and is Chair for the London and South East forum for the British Franchise Association. He’s a keen cricketer and one-time student DJ.

Adam talks to city lawyer Clive Halperin from GSC on the life cycle of a business and what the key events throughout that life are that may need the help of a business doctor. From the legal entity at conception to the growth stages and problems with accessing finance or sacrificing equity for investment. They also discuss the issues that can lead to the death of a business and also discuss why businesses rarely have the equivalent of a health check.

Dr Andy Cope is a psychologist who has written extensively about the power of positive mood and thought and runs The Art of Brilliance, delivering workshops on the topic of ‘happy’. He lectures widely, and has worked with the workforces of some leading organisations – IKEA, DHL and Toyota among them. He favours smiley-face t-shirts rather than suits, and says that only about 2% of the population are stand out happy and positive, and that we can learn a lot from them if we allow ourselves to catch their ‘contagious poistivity’. He’s also a children’s author.

Adam talks to personal finance expert, author and TV presenter Jasmine Birtles about the 70th anniversary of the NHS and what companies, such as retailer Iceland, are doing to reward or incentivise people who work for the NHS and other emergency services. They discuss how companies can build goodwill and increase loyalty by rewarding those who go the extra mile. They talk about the psychology of discounting and deals and how we’ve moved on from feeling embarrassed about showing a discount voucher to a waiter in a restaurant.

Mike Southon is a former mobile DJ, musician and singer as well as an astute businessman. He was co-founder of The Instruction Set in 1984, selling training in computer services, later selling on out to Hoskyns (now Cap Gemini Ernst & Young). He’s collaborated in and helped set up numerous companies, and is a published author several times over – and is regarded as one of the most experienced entrepreneur mentors in the UK. His original book from 2002, ‘The Beermat Entrepreneur’ has been updated for 2018. He says one the secrets of entrepreneurial success is to ‘find a foil’ – someone who compliments what you do, and be nice!

Peter Aiers is Chief Executive at the Churches Conservation Trust, and he has had a life-long interest in history and conservation. His organisation maintains over 300 historic places of worship and he manages 80 people and a multi million pound fundraising pot. He’s spent 12 years at the organisation and took over as CEO seven months ago. He’s always worked in conservation (apart from a stint working in a chippy!) and says it was refreshing being given ‘the push to make something happen and to prove myself’ when he was appointed the first conservation officer for the Church of England. He loves the outdoors, Manchester rock music and new challenges.

Adam Cox is joined by Calum Brannan, tech start-up entrepreneur and CEO of “No Agent”: a new app designed specifically for landlords. They discuss frustrations that Buy-to-Let landlords have with working with letting agents, and how “No Agent” can make a difference. Calum explains his experience of letting agents as inefficient and overpriced, and how he intends to disrupt the old-fashioned market in the same way that Uber transformed the taxi industry.

Adam Cox talks to Michael Shapiro, Head of Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution at GSC Solicitors LLP, about one of the most visible parts of the legal process: litigation. Michael explains that a lot of litigation comes about as a result of poor planning at the start of a business relationship, and that prevention is much better and cheaper than the cure. He talks about why factors such as ego, stubbornness and revenge can drive a case to court – and why there are much better, and far less risky, ways to seek resolution. Would you take your business to court to prove a point?

Helen Brand is Chief Executive of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the global body for professional accountants – yet admits to not having trained in accountancy! She maintains that a career choice in the industry is a terrific grounding for any business. Her personal interests lie in politics and international relations. She enjoys travel, and is a supporter of gender diversity in business. Having spent time working in the children’s shoe department of a store, she says we shouldn’t shy away from jobs which might not necessarily boost a CV – because they can be career- and knowledge-enhancing all the same! Helen was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in June 2011.

Adam talks to Anthony Coumbe, Senior Environment Manager for the HS2 – the UK’s largest ever infrastructure project, about why making environmental concerns a priority are so crucial to the process. They discuss how communities have been involved in environmental decisions and how animals, trees and organisms unique to specific towns and areas are being fully considered throughout construction.