‘It’s child’s play’ with ESP Play in Burnley

We swung by the offices of ESP Play, and climbed into conversation with Andrew Wood, Managing Director. Based in Burnley, ESP Play are an end-to-end playground designer and manufacturer, supplying equipment to schools, housing developers, and the leisure industry. We discussed the organisational culture of ESP Play, digital innovation in the playground market, and the physical and mental benefits of play in childhood. So, slide in and listen to the latest episode of ‘In the frame’!

We hopped on our milk float and headed up the M6 to Lancaster, where we chewed the cud with Mark Hestford, Group Financial Director, and Michael Sidley, Group Managing Director. SJ Bargh have a long-established history in specialised logistics within the agricultural sector, transporting raw milk from farm to processor. This year marks their 90th anniversary – but how does a heritage business ensure brand evolution and navigate modernisation of the industry through digital innovation? Listen to the latest episode of ‘In the frame’ to find out how this multi-generational family business continues to grow their legendairy status.

In a special edition episode of ‘In the frame’, we speak to Usama Al-Qassab, Marketing & Commercial Director, and Ulrika Högberg, Head of Community Strategy, at the AELTC – direct from the Championship Grounds. At Wimbledon, it's not just two weeks of tennis – it's all year round planning, precision, and partnerships. With a responsibility to preserve the prestige whilst courting a new generation of fans, how is Wimbledon's advantage maintained? Anything is possible with the right partners supporting you. So, tune in to the latest serving of 'In the frame' to find out more.

On this episode, we pull on our lab coats for a chat with Colin MacKay, CEO and Founder of Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services. Symbiosis is a specialist manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals for clients worldwide with an expertise that's globally recognised. We speak to Colin about the relentless incremental growth of Symbiosis, future expansion ambitions – and how Symbiosis negotiated symptomatic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. What can your business learn from Symbiosis’ journey? Join us to hear more.

Producing premium single malt Scotch whisky requires significant upfront investment, with products maturing for years before sale. So, what strategies do distillers employ to keep their cash flow off the rocks whilst laying down a legacy for the future? Pour yourself a wee dram and listen in as Euan Mitchell, Managing Director, shares the rich history, challenges, and future aspirations of Isle of Arran Distillers. Slàinte!

Join us as we dive headlong into discussion with Raffi Schieir, Director of supply chain business Bantam Materials UK Ltd and founder of Prevented Ocean Plastic (POP). With multiple sustainability-related awards and nominations under the belt, the POP brand is making a splash for both the business and their clients alike. Raffi shares how his goal to 'win the decade' has fostered growth that's both sustainable and profitable, and how embracing change, even in the face of challenges, can create new opportunities. Ready to chart your course to business success? Then tune in as we plunge into the full story.

Joining as a hands-on manager in his family’s multi-generational business, Shyam Raja, Managing Director of Midlands Care has since implemented back office structures - freeing his time to focus on the growth of the business. Sharing the success of recent acquisitions, Shyam describes how the business has stood resilient through hardship, integrating an inclusive organisational culture with a spotlight on evolving customer needs to make a real difference in the local care sector.

Celebrating Swift Dental's 40th anniversary, Roy McGillivray, CEO and co-founder, shares the growth story of the business. From its inception in a garden shed, Swift Dental has developed to become the UK’s largest full service dental lab, bridging the gap in skill shortages by leveraging digital technology to streamline workflows and attract a new set of talent. So, brace yourself as we drill into this story to discover how this future-focused business is upholding their position as an industry leader whilst staying true to their family business roots.

Founded in 1923 by pioneering psychiatrist Dr Kate Fraser, SAMH is a mental health charity built on change-making foundations. Adapting to meet rising service demands across Scotland's local communities, Billy Watson, Chief Executive, joins us on this episode to discuss the charity's new audience-focused strategy and objectives. Having just reached their centenary year, and with a powerful rebrand, Billy shares how the organisation is fine-tuning their approach to ensure their pivotal work continues.

Starting out as a distributor in the office furniture space, OE Electrics have evolved - through investment, acquisition and ambition - to become a manufacturer that’s reshaping how we think about power and charging solutions. From lecture halls to airport lounges and beyond, their goal is to enable people to charge their devices wherever they can sit, stand or walk. So, tune in to draw power from their growth story that could spark an idea for yours!