From banker to business owner to Charity Chair - Tracy Fletcher, Smart Works Leeds

Listen to one the best connectors in the Leeds business eco-system; Gordon Bateman.Gordon discusses his business background and a series of fortunate accidents that led to one of the biggest events on the Leeds business calendar. He also gives us a great networking tip.If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.INTRODUCING GORDON BATEMANGordon Bateman has over 30 years’ experience supporting ambitious businesses and the investors who back them. He specialises in helping organisations design, build, and retain outstanding executive and non-executive teams that drive sustainable growth. Working closely with some of the UK’s most active investors, Gordon is a trusted advisor on talent strategy, portfolio development, and scaling challenges.Gordon founded Investor Ladder to strengthen connections between investors and regional innovation ecosystems. In 2023, he launched Climb to address three core needs: better support and advice for growing businesses, improved access to finance across the UK regions, and more effective international expansion - both into and out of the UK.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] The Journey to CRSI[00:03:00] The challenges in startup recruitment and navigating people management[00:08:00] The birth of Investor Ladder and connecting Investors with businesses[00:15:00] How Climb came about[00:18:00] The Impact of Climb on the business community[00:21:00] Highlights and Features of Climb 2025[00:24:00] How to optimise your experience at events3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSWhat works for an established business, doesn’t necessarily work for a start upBusiness is all about building relationshipsThe whole of the north is an amazing place to do business3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“We spend more time talking about the poor employees rather than those that are doing really well”“We had £16b of active funds in the room”“We all know we need to network, but most of us hate it”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk&nbsp;Websites:&nbsp;Climb - www.Climb-uk.comCRSi - www.crsi.teamInvestor ladder - www.investorladder.comLinkedIn:&nbsp;https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonbateman1/Shout out:&nbsp;Net-Zu (they don't have a website yet)DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from itYOU MAY ALSO LIKE (CLIMB SPEAKERS AS MENTIONED)Chris Black - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/chris-black/Jordan Dargue - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/lifted-ventures/George Fairhall - <a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/george-fairhall/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Amanda Cook launched her business after a failed MBO followed by a discussion over a pint of Guinness.Listen how she tells us about the importance of networking in the building of her business, how much support there is out there for businesses and and why cash is king.We also discuss Leeds United and aliens…. Although not in the same sentence!If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.INTRODUCING AMANDA COOKAmanda Cook has worked in commercial interior design and fitout for over 20 years. In 2019, she launched DesignTonic Ltd with Joe Darcy. They create amazing commercial spaces to work, rest and play in. From advice and inspiration through to full design, fit and furnish, their bespoke services give you exactly what you need to fit your timescale and budget.DesignTonic Team’s expert knowledge, precise attention to detail and friendly approach have already seen them complete fantastic projects for clients like Leeds United, Yorkshire County Cricket, Caddick, Vastint and Relentless. The business has now expanding adding their DT sports and DT projects brands. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] Introduction to Design Tonic[00:05:00] Creating a Business Plan and the first clients[00:11:00] Navigating COVID-19 challenges[00:14:00] The current state of the hospitality market[00:17:00] Expanding into sports and concert venues[00:23:00] Overcoming business challenges[00:26:00] How to build brand recognition[00:26:00] Supporting Smart Works4 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSIf you’ve got a business idea talk to as many people as you can. They’ll be willing to help.In the bars and restaurants, they now HAVE TO nail their service offerDo a good job. Do what you say you’ll do, and be nice to people.Don’t leave it as a customer-supplier relationship; you become partners3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“We went to every single event we were invited to”“Covid was a perfect time for bars and restaurants to do a refit”“It’s all through connections. Asking the right people”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk&nbsp;Website: https://designtonic.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atkinsonamanda/ www.linkedin.com/designtonic-ltdShout out: https://www.littlebaoboy.com/DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from itYOU MAY ALSO LIKETracey Fletcher, Smart Works (as mentioned) https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/tracy-fletcher-smartworks/ LUFC podcast The Square Ball https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/Yana Smaglo – Dragons...

Running a business can often be compared to riding a rollercoaster.&nbsp;From small beginnings in his kitchen to £1m orders from M&amp;S and winning awards to cashflow problems and crashing back down, today’s guest, Greg Fraser has ridden that rollercoaster.&nbsp;Listen to Greg’s amazing&nbsp; story and you’ll learn so many business lessons.If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.INTRODUCING GREG FRASERGreg Fraser is a multi-brand founder with a passion for building standout food and gifting businesses that bring joy, spark curiosity and challenge the norm.Greg has launched and grown The Bottled Baking Co and The Doggy Baking Co from scratch while also nurturing Laura’s Confectionery and Mon Dessert following an acquisition. From kitchen experiments to nationwide and worldwide listings, Greg Fraser has learnt what it takes to go from idea to shelf, and how to keep evolving in a fast-paced consumer world. He's also learnt the hard way, how the business world can be brutal and how life may not go the way you were expecting it to.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] The genesis of Bottle Baking Co[00:07:00] From hobby to business: The early days and scaling up[00:17:30] The Impact of COVID-19 on Business Growth[00:19:00] Transitioning to Full-Time Entrepreneurship[00:22:00] Challenges of rapid growth and stock management[00:30:00] Scaling production challenges[00:32:00] The excitement of partnering with Marks and Spencer[00:36:00] Financial struggles, cashflow management and the dangers of over-reliance on a single client[00:51:00] The Journey to Liquidation[00:57:00] Reflections on the Business Journey3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSStock management is food manufacture is key; getting hold of, and having enough, stockIf you haven’t got a business support network find one, and don’t be afraid to ask questionsSomeone always needs to be looking at the longer term strategy3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“The first Christmas orders came through in July” “I took time off for Christmas orders… and never went back”“It was risky borrowing that amount of money. I could buy a house with that!”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk&nbsp;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorfraser/Shout out: https://www.thebiskery.comDON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from itYOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/yana-smaglo/<a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/" rel="noopener...

Today’s guest runs a 1000 staff, 45 location, £300m turnover business. AND he’s a 6th generation family owner.Hear the fascinating story of Howarths Timber, the successes and failures of the business, how you manage such a huge entity and the family-owned aspects that power it. There's also learnings from the failures the company have experienced too.From sawing down trees to AI, this episode is one worth listening to….If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.INTRODUCING NICK HOWARTHNick Howarth joined the company in 1979 after completing a Management degree at Manchester University. He and his brother became joint chair in 1988 after their father died.The Howarth Timber Group is a 185-year-old Leeds based 7th generation family business with a turnover of £300 million, employs over 1,000 colleagues and is listed within the Sunday Times Best Places to Work Award. Howarth Timber Group import timber, value add process it and distribute it along with related building materials nationwide, operating from 45 locations.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] The history of Howarths Timber[00:07:30] Working in the family business[00:10:00] The development of Howarths into new markets[00:14:00] What is ‘value-add’? And helping the competitors…[00:17:00] The challenges to managing a huge operation[00:20:00] Adapting to market change and the businesses core values[00:30:00] The use of AI and technology in the business[00:35:00] The need for family emotional engagement in a family business[00:43:00] The failures and the lessons learnt3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSEmploy good people and let them understand what they need to do in terms of outputs and performanceLearn to swim in choppy seas when the market goes into a downturnMissed market opportunities (things you didn’t do) are also business failures3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“My dad would go into the forests, mark up trees and chop them down”“We’ve had a number of people with us over 50 years”“85% of our profits are invested back into the business”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk&nbsp;Website:&nbsp;https://howarth-group.co.uk/ Shout out:&nbsp;https://familybusinessuk.org/DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from itYOU MAY ALSO LIKE OTHER FAMILY BUSINESS EPISODESJames Kempley - Troy Foods - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/troy-foods/Jamie Bentley, Stephenson Personal Care - <a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jamie-bentley/" rel="noopener...

Jordan Appleson left school to go into employment at 17. He then went on to found, and sell, one of the most successful Leeds tech businesses.Listen as a chance conversation sparks a business idea, how a pivot really changed the business, the reasons for an abandoned PE raise and how a cold email turned into a business sale.Along with the undoubted successes there’s lots of ‘we didn't do this so well’. There is so much in this episode to learn from. Despite being so successful, today's guest Jordan is open enough to include of the things he didn’t get right on his journey so far.If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.INTRODUCING JORDAN APPLESONJordan Appleson is the Founder &amp; CEO of Hark, which was acquired by S&amp;P500 tech company SolarEdge Inc. Jordan is an expert on Industrial IoT tech for Energy Transition with a background in software and hardware. He is now leading teams and deployments globally.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] Leaving school at 17 and starting work full time[00:15:30] The effect of the Branded3 sale[00:19:00] The initial idea for Hark[00:23:00] The pivot into energy and the difficulties of revenue v focus[00:35:00] Business growth and lessons learnt[00:42:00] The sale of Hark[00:49:00] The investment round that didn’t happen[00:55:00] How to build culture post-acquisition5 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• If you’re starting up a business it’s not a part-time thing. You’re either in or out• A ‘low price, high volume’ business needs a big sales team around it• 80% of any good business idea is going to be execution• Build the culture early on and recruit to fit that culture• No-one believes in your business as much as you do3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“What on earth do they want with us? Is this a scam?“This guy looked like he could crush me with his thumb”“The deal was done on Christmas Day”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk&nbsp;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-appleson-3848315b/ Shout out: https://castrooms.com/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from itYOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/anna-sutton/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/<a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/yana-smaglo/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Today’s episode with Tracy Fletcher covers her time in banking and recruitment, with some great advice for YOU when YOU recruit staff, and then we discuss Smart Works Leeds where she is The Chair.Listen not only to what Smart Works Leeds does but, more importantly, how you can support and get involved with this much-needed and highly effective charity.If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.INTRODUCING TRACY FLETCHERTracy enjoyed a 20-year career in Financial Services, working in senior leadership roles, before launching her own banking recruitment business in 2008. Throughout her Career Tracy has been a huge advocate for women, being both an active signatory of the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter and mentoring a number of new business owners and finance professionals. She joined Smart Works initially in 2019 as a volunteer coach, and was appointed Chair in 2023, Following the sale of her recruitment business last year she is working on a number of consultancy assignments, giving herself some much-needed work life balance.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] Starting in banking and the skills learnt[00:04:00] Leaving banking and setting up a recruitment business[00:19:00] Getting the best out of your recruitment consultant[00:23:00] Splitting from a business partner[00:27:00] AI in recruitment[00:30:00] Exiting the business[00:33:00] What is Smart Works and what does it offer?[00:36:00] How Tracy got involved with Smart Works[00:38:00] The benefits of Smart Works[00:44:00] How you can help Smart Works[00:56:00] How to chair an all-female board3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Your team are people. They are not strategic pawns in your chess game• Being in business with somebody is like a marriage• In (any) meeting make sure all voices, especially female ones, are heard4 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“I have a heightened moral compass. And a very strong sense of justice”“I needed to spread my wings and listen to my heart”“Being a banker is marginally more respectable than being a recruiter”“Of 1000 women who came into Smart Works, 630 got a job with a month”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk Website: https://leeds.smartworks.org.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyfletchercampbellfletcher/https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-works-leeds/Shout outs:Jo Smedley - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-smedley-371a2335/ Charlotte Hopkinson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-hopkinson-0ba0515/ Amy

Angel Investment. What is it? Who needs it? What should you include in your agnel pitch deck? What are the pitfalls to look out for? And much more.Martin Avison heads up Leeds-based Angels Groups and gives us some insight into the complex world of Angel Investment.INTRODUCING MARTIN AVISONMartin Avison is the founder of angelgroups and Incluziv, with extensive expertise in investment, investor readiness, SME funding, pitching and regional economic development.Martin launched angel groups in the summer of 2015 after identifying a gap in the market to help fund and support SME businesses. He has a wealth of commercial experience gained over many years, which culminated in a Master’s Degree centred around angel investment.After years of managing what is now probably the largest angel network in the UK, Martin founded the software business, Incluziv to connect various stakeholders in the high-growtheco-system including other angel networks, Combined Authorities and Universities.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:30] What is an Angel Investor?[00:03:50] What type of business would benefit from Angel investment?[00:06:00] What are the key things businesses should look at when taking investment on?[00:10:00] What are the motivations for Angel investors?[00:15:00] How do angel groups work?[00:18:00] What should go in an angel investment pitch deck?[00:25:00] The questions regularly come up[00:31:00] What do start ups spend their investment on?[00:37:00] A disaster story… and the lessons learnt[00:40:00] Is an Agel Investor just a new boss?5 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGSYou don’t have to have all the answers when pitchingThere is no formula or equation for valuing a start up company - it’s just a gut feelIt’s in nobody’s interest for an investor to have too big a share of the companyIt’s really important for the investors to know what the dilution journey looks likeSpeak to your customers as early as you can3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“The entrepreneurs speak French. Angels speak German. My job is to translate"“I felt like a one-legged man in an ice-kicking contest”“You’re doing this for fun??? I go fishing for fun…”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com&nbsp;LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk&nbsp;Website: https://www.angelgroups.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-avison/&nbsp;https://www.linkedin.com/company/angelgroups/UK Business Angels Association - https://ukbaa.org.uk/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from itON THE SAME TOPIC YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THESE EPISODES<a...

How many times have you thought, ‘wouldn’t it be cool to run a bar’. Today we talk to someone who’s done exactly that…. And owned a brewery too. As you might expect it’s not as easy as you might think….He also drops a few truth bombs like ‘As a start up business owner you do roles that you a) haven’t been trained for, b) don’t like and c) aren’t very good at.' Hear also the great free item that will boost your customer satisfaction levels every time.If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.INTRODUCING JOHN GYNGELLAs the co-founder of North Bar, John has played a pivotal role in defining the craft beer landscape in the United Kingdom.Starting with North Bar in Leeds in 1997 - the UK’s original craft beer bar to becoming the driving force in the craft beer revolution after co-founding North Brewing Co.The brewery was born in 2015 and fast became a major player in the craft beer scene, winning numerous awards for its beers, team, design and marketing. Following the headwinds of Covid, the brewery was passed on to another local brewery in a pre-pack administration process.John is now building out the North Bar group from its current eight sites.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] From Town &amp; Country to opening the first North Bar[00:07:00] The hard graft of the early days[00:11:00] Expanding the business and the ‘hard parts’[00:16:00] The North Brewing story[00:26:00] The effects of Covid on the bars and the brewery[00:36:00] How to build a hospitality brand[00:41:00] The North Bar pub crawl as a promotion?3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Youth helps – because you are so clueless, nothing is a problem• As a start-up business owner you do roles that you a) haven’t been trained for, b) don’t like and c) aren’t very good at• Go the extra step – it really does make a difference to how your customers feel4 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“When we talk about KPIs and appraisals and such, it’s real turn off for me”“The stats say that the huge majority of businesses fail”“Everything we did during that process we did what we thought was right at the time”“Being nice is free”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk Website: https://northbar.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gyngell-3b565b144/ Shout out: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-slimming-698a4a3/ Buy the book - Unreasonable Hospitality.DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE...

Two letters are dominating business at the moment. A and I.But what is it and more importantly, how can it help your business?Today we speak to Jeremy Smith, Founder of Neural Voice about his AI business, how it came about, what it can do and the stresses and strains of raising the funding for it.If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.INTRODUCING JEREMY SMITHJeremy Smith is the founder and CEO of Neural Voice, a company redefining how businesses interact with customers through AI-driven voice technology. With a background in sales and business development, he understands the challenges of customer communication and saw an opportunity to make AI conversations feel more natural, responsive, and engaging.He launched Neural Voice to bridge the gap between automation and human-like interaction, creating a solution that helps businesses scale support, improve customer satisfaction, and provide instant, accessible information. Under his leadership, the company continues to push the boundaries of conversational AI, making it more intuitive and effective for businesses and their customers alike.Jeremy is passionate about technology, business strategy, and the future of AI-driven communication. When he’s not leading Neural Voice, he’s often exploring the latest trends in AI and innovation, or having real conversations over coffee.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] An idiot’s guide to AI[00:06:00] The first, failed, start up[00:10:30] Learnings from the first business[00:14:00] The switch to Neural Voice and the problem it solves[00:19:30] The investment raising journey – what is SEIS and EIS?[00:21:45] The importance of investor feedback after pitches[00:25:00] Refining the business case usage of the product[00:30:00] Navigating the angel investment challenges[00:33:00] Scaling the business efficiently[00:35:00] How to lead, through ‘extreme ownership’[00:41:00] The benefits of Neural Voice4 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Get your recruitment process right, to avoid hiring the wrong person• Selling a product is very different from selling a business idea to get funding• When you are looking for investment make sure you know all about SEIS and EIS• Make sure you learn from investors who say ‘no’3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“Sales is not where you are meant to be – you should be doing what I’m doing”“Let’s model the AI on my mum”“02 put me through to 8 different teams”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk Website: https://www.neural-voice.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsmithsales/ Shout out: https://thewai.co.uk/ Get the book ‘Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and...

From nightclubs to huge corporate events and how a 1970s ice-cream van led to the launch of a premium ice cream brand. Meet today’s guest, Dirk Mischendahl, MD of Northern Bloc. As well as the devastation that Covid caused on the business, there’s also loads more fascinating tales, and learnings.If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.INTRODUCING DIRK MISCHENDAHLDirk Mischendahl sold his Leeds events and communications agency, Logistik in 2014.He then started Northern Bloc Ice Cream; a disruptor brand which is now sold nationally and internationally, pioneering the vegan ice cream market a product which is now universally seen as the benchmark of what great ice cream looks like. With his wife, Pippa Hale, Dirk established the Northern Art Prize in 2006 to promote artistic talent within Yorkshire and taking this further in 2013 they both established The Tetley Art Gallery and is currently involved in Left Bank, a creative community based venue among various other roles. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] From University to business owner[00:07:00] Lessons learnt from the first business[00:13:00] The decision to exit and the start of Northern Bloc[00:22:00] From a Lifestyle brand to taking on Ben &amp; Jerrys[00:25:30] Moving from retail to B2B via wholesale[00:30:30] External investment, Covid and a change in ownership[00:40:00] How to fail quickly3 KEY TAKEAWAYS &amp; BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Your team can make a thousand mistakes a day, as long as it’s not the same one• Be careful who your shareholders are • The one thing that you can’t recreate is time. Don’t waste it on failing businesses3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“I bought a little 1971 ice cream van from a lady in Keighley called Sunshine Scoops”“Give us a flavour as to the size of the business”“Chocolate has gone up from £3.60 a kilo to £9.16 a kilo”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk Website: https://www.northern-bloc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkmischendahl/ Shout out: https://www.jim-fox.com/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from itYOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/entrepreneur-within/ (as mentioned)https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/business-problems-solved/<a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/" rel="noopener...