The Casla Podcast

We’re joined by Pete Osborne, Professor of Advanced Manufacturing at the University of Sheffield AMRC and Director at Innovation Launchpad Network+.Pete has worked at the AMRC for nearly 18 years, having originally come to Sheffield from Norfolk to study engineering - and, like many, never left.In this episode, Pete gives us a fascinating insight into the University of Sheffield AMRC: how it came about, what it does today, and the pivotal role it’s set to play in implementing the UK’s 10-year industrial strategy.Pete traces the AMRC’s origin story back to a conversation with Boeing that sparked the idea for an independent centre where manufacturers could test and validate the latest technologies.Backed by Boeing’s founding membership, that vision has grown into a powerhouse of over 100 industrial partners advancing manufacturing technology, supply chains, and workforce development across the UK.We dive into the AMRC’s most exciting current projects, from the Compass composites facility (developing next-generation aircraft components at scale) to small modular reactors with Rolls-Royce, and a novel on-site hydrogen generation solution being developed by Sheffield-based startup Suiso.Pete also makes a compelling case for what it takes to anchor innovation in a region: technology alone isn’t enough - you need supply chains, a skilled workforce, and the right local ecosystem all working together.He draws a striking parallel between Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Park and Microsoft’s unlikely roots in Seattle, arguing that South Yorkshire has all the ingredients to continue attracting investment and high-value jobs.The episode concludes with Pete’s take on the UK’s new industrial strategy: what it gets right (a clear sectoral focus, emphasis on skills, and being “unashamedly place-based”), and where it could go further - particularly on supply chain interconnectivity.Episode MapSection 1: The AMRC and its Origin Story — 0:16- How a Sheffield professor, a local cutting tool company, and Boeing created the AMRC — 1:23- What is the High Value Manufacturing Catapult? — 3:43Section 2: The AMRC’s Focus Areas and Innovations — 6:46- Core competencies: machining, composites, additive, digital, and more — 6:51- Compass: composites at speed and scale for next-gen aircraft — 9:12- Small modular reactors with Rolls-Royce — 9:12- Suiso: on-site hydrogen generation for traditional industries — 9:12Section 3: Energy, Sustainability, and the Digitalisation Challenge — 12:32- AI and digitalisation’s growing energy demands — 13:05- Factory Plus: the AMRC’s open-source smart data solution — 13:05- The future of offshore wind and the challenges of scale — 16:06Section 4: Anchoring Innovation in a Region — 18:45- The three things you need to anchor innovation locally — 18:45- Innovation districts: from concept to reality in Sheffield — 18:45- From Orgreave Colliery to the Advanced Manufacturing Park — 22:11- Changing perceptions of manufacturing careers — 24:58Section 5: The UK’s Industrial Strategy and South Yorkshire’s Role — 27:49- Why having an industrial strategy matters — 27:56- What the strategy gets right: skills, place-based focus, sectoral clarity — 27:56- Where it could go further: supply chains and regional finance — 27:56- South Yorkshire’s fit: advanced manufacturing, defence, clean energy, transport — 32:58- The ecosystem effect: Sheffield, Seattle, and the power of place — 35:23You can find Pete on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/profpeteosborne/Learn more about the University of Sheffield AMRC at amrc.co.uk.

We’re joined by Liz Goodbrand, certified ADHD and neuro-inclusion coach and founder of The Goodspace, supporting neurodivergent professionals and the organisations they work in.We talk about her pivot from corporate marketing leader to founder, how neurodiversity shows up in marketing teams, and practical ways leaders can build more neuro-inclusive environments. We cover burnout, masking, and how Liz is building an accessible coaching offer.Liz shares advice that’s useful for anyone: tune into your needs, manage your energy, and build trusting relationships at work.Episode map00:00 – 00:38 | WelcomeIntroducing Liz, plus two key threads: her career pivot and the link between marketing and neurodivergence.00:39 – 01:25 | Liz’s marketing careerA traditional path into leadership — and why coaching and developing people became the most energising part.01:26 – 05:47 | The pivot: ADHD diagnosis, burnout, and rethinking the next 20 yearsProcessing diagnosis, unlearning coping strategies, and choosing work that aligns with strengths and values.05:48 – 06:46 | Founder-market fit: building from lived experienceWhy founder-led businesses built around a lived problem resonate — and why corporate life can make it hard to be fully yourself.07:10 – 09:52 | Naming The Goodspace: values-first brand buildingA workshop-led naming process and the meaning behind “space.”10:23 – 14:56 | Marketing your own business is harder than marketing someone else’sOverthinking, rejection sensitivity, and losing the “team brain” you get in corporate.14:57 – 16:36 | Small business agility: creative campaigns without red tapeFast experimentation and the freedom founders have to ship ideas quickly.16:54 – 22:00 | The Four Ps and evolving ICP: from 1:1 coaching to accessible group programmesHow Liz’s ideal customer expanded through conversations — and how group offers improve access and community learning.22:01 – 24:39 | Co-creation in practice: building better events and better marketingHow co-creating with your audience improves decisions, outcomes, and participation.24:40 – 28:47 | LinkedIn: from broadcasting to two-way relationship buildingConfidence-first posting, then deeper engagement: DM follow-ups (not salesy), generous commenting, and using polls/comments as insight.28:48 – 35:24 | ‘Visibility’ in 2025 and why engagement metrics can misleadYou don’t need virality — you need to resonate. Some ideal customers may never engage, but still reach out.35:25 – 39:28 | Defining neurodivergence + why marketing attracts neurodivergent talentNeurodivergence as an umbrella term (ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, etc.), and why marketing fits: creativity, fast pattern-connection, curiosity, boldness, risk tolerance, emotional intelligence.39:29 – 44:58 | What neuro-inclusion looks like at workManager behaviours that help: open conversations, remove barriers, be explicit in briefs, use plain English — plus small adjustments like flexible start times.44:59 – 47:43 | Supporting yourself at work: energy management as a performance leverLiz’s framework: check energy daily (1–10), recharge before high-stakes moments, and use “active rest” — plus basics like hydration, protein, fresh air.47:44 – 53:23 | Managing neurodiverse teams: treat people as individuals and build psychological safetySupport starts with trust: invest in relationships so people feel safe sharing needs.53:24 – 57:11 | Rumination: the ‘hand on the hot stove’ analogyA mental model for breaking rumination loops — with the first step being simply noticing the spiral.57:12 – 58:23 | Wrap-up and where to find LizFind Liz on LinkedIn (Liz Goodbrand) and at thegoodspace.uk.

We're joined by Jake Bird, Director at JI Marketing, a consultancy that bridges the gap between AI innovation and strategic marketing. Jake founded JI Marketing in February 2025, after working in B2B marketing for the best part of a decade.In this bumper episode, Jake shares how he quickly recognised the major impact AI was going to have on B2B marketing (and particularly on how companies go about ABM), which led him to become Head of AI at the agency he was working for in 2023 - a role that he came up with and proposed to the company's directors.Jake combines deep expertise in both B2B marketing and all things AI - a potent and rare combination of skills which makes him a huge asset to B2B companies and agencies looking to increase go-to-market efficiency and effectiveness.Jake steers refreshingly clear of AI hyperbole and sensationalism: he recognises the transformational potential of the technology, while recognising that it isn't a silver bullet. He highlights the limitations of agentic AI, and provides specific examples of where AI can be deployed effectively and where it isn't so well-suited.The biggest opportunity to leverage AI today, according to Jake, is simple: train your employees to use it effectively, and see a relatively quick and low-cost 10 to 15% improvement in productivity.When it comes to content and marketing touchpoints, Jake is a strong advocate for quality over quantity - which is a view we share at Casla.Episode Map:Section 1: The JI Marketing Origin Story - 0:32Section 2: The State of AI in B2B Marketing - 5:44➤ Unrealistic expectations of agentic AI - 5:51➤ Why AI agents need to be treated as bottom up systems and processes, not top down - 35:07➤ Why it’s important to get into the mindset of swapping in and out of different AI tools - 43:42Section 3: What does the future hold for AI in B2B marketing - 49:30Bonus Questions - 1:04:00➤ If you could advise B2B businesses to do one thing in their marketing, what would it be? - 1:04:11➤ What's your most contrarian take when it comes to B2B marketing? 1.06.10You can find Jake on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakejbird/Follow JI Marketing on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ji-marketing/Visit JI Marketing's website here: https://jimarketing.ai/Follow Casla on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/casla-agency/Visit the Casla website here: https://www.casla.agency/

We’re joined by Caroline Voaden, B2B Communications Consultant and Founder at STORY Copywriting.After close to a decade inside corporate PR, advising banks, SaaS companies, governments and the occasional scandal-prone CEO, Caroline realised that most comms were "painfully dull, strategically thin or written by people who’ve never had to calm a board".Caroline is focused on creating clear, confident communication that builds brands when things are good, and protects them when they’re not.In the episode we cover:- What is B2B PR, in a nutshell- How B2B PR has changed and how it will continue to evolve in future- What's working and not working at the moment- The importance of connecting your content strategy and PR efforts- Can (and should) B2B PR be accountable for measurable impact on revenue- What impact (if any) has AI had on B2B PR?- Should brands focus on high volume content and PR efforts, or focus on fewer, bigger “moments”?- How can small and medium-sized B2B businesses utilise PR effectivelyYou can find Caroline on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-voaden-34002166/Check out STORY Copywriting on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storycopywriting/Visit the STORY Copywriting website here: https://www.storycopywriting.co/

We’re joined by Dan Mortimer, Head of Marketing at Nimble Approach, a technology consultancy headquartered in Sheffield.Early on in his career, Dan ran Norton Creative, a marketing agency formed as part of The Sheffield College, designed to help apprentices gain real world skills and experience working on live briefs for real companies. He has creative skills in video production, photography, design and websites, which he put to use at leading Sheffield agency Vivid Creative. Next, Dan led the marketing team for a HR Tech SaaS company, before moving to his current role at Nimble Approach where he is responsible for everything from strategy to delivery, utilising all the skills he has developed over his career.In the episode we cover:Being a solo marketer• The pros and cons • What Dan spends most of his time on• Content creation strategies for a solo marketer • How Dan has handled resourcing, including his sophisticated use of AI• Events as a useful space to bounce ideas around when working soloHow Nimble Approach’s marketing and sales approach is evolving• How the technology services market has changed over the past couple of years• The tech boom levelling out after covid • How Nimble Approach have adapted their go-to-market in response to the changes in the market and the company's rapid growthHow Nimble Approach are bringing sales and marketing together through a growth team• It's advantages when it comes to targeting and messaging• The occasional challenges of working in a joint team • Winning high-value enterprise deals requiring “a village”• Balancing people's own goals and targets in a joint team Marketing at the moment • What's working in B2B marketing• Dan’s inclusion in Prolific North's Top Northern Brand Marketers 2024 list• How Nimble Approach come up with propositions to take to market• Dan’s most contrarian take when it comes to B2B marketingYou can find Dan on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-mortimer/Check out Nimble Approach on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nimble-/Visit Nimble Approach's website here: https://nimbleapproach.com/

We're joined by Mel Kanarek, Digital Economy Specialist and Director at Sheffield Digital.Mel began her career in the music, fashion and consumer goods industries, but has always been far more interested in business to business and technology. In the early 1990s, Mel was able to combine these elements by working at a PR firm focused on B2B tech, experiencing the dot com boom and bust and Y2K.In a wide-ranging career, Mel has been an agency MD, run her own business, and been involved in start-ups.Mel returned to Sheffield in the mid-noughties and started to get involved in the city and wider region’s small business scene, using her marketing and business experience to help people develop and grow their businesses.By doing this in and around Sheffield, Mel built a strong understanding of the local tech ecosystem, and that’s mostly what she’s focused on now. Though officially “retired”, Mel is still actively involved in the Sheffield, South Yorkshire and broader UK tech scene, particularly through her roles with Sheffield Digital and The UK Tech Cluster Group.In the episode we cover:Sheffield Digital• The Sheffield Digital story and how the organisation came about• How Sheffield Digital has evolved over the last (nearly) ten years• The vision for the future of Sheffield DigitalThe UK Tech Cluster Group• What is the UK Tech Cluster Group• How Mel got involved in representing South Yorkshire• The purpose of the UK Tech Cluster GroupSheffield Ecosystem• Mel’s work developing the Sheffield technology, digital and broader business ecosystem, and her goals and some of the challenges she’s met • The different components and players in the ecosystem• Sheffield’s “marketing challenge”• Mel’s view on what a thriving innovation ecosystem looks like, and how that story can be told• What people should be excited about when it comes to SheffieldFind Mel on LinkedIn here.Find Sheffield Digital on LinkedIn here and visit their website here.

We're joined by Charlotte Allen, Marketing Manager at Millgate Connect.Charlotte began her B2B marketing career at GE, before moving on to Atmospheric Water Generation manufacturer Hogen Systems. Earlier this year, she started a new chapter at Millgate Connect, the telecommunications branch of tech firm Millgate.In the episode we cover:Manufacturing• What it's like to work as a marketer in the manufacturing sector• Some of the idiosyncrasies and nuances to be aware of• The main challenges• How working as a marketer in manufacturing compares to working in tech• The advice Charlotte would give to a budding marketer starting out in manufacturingMBA• Why Charlotte decided to do an MBA• The most important thing Charlotte learnt from doing her MBA• How completing an MBA changed the way Charlotte works day to day• What Charlotte would recommend to other people considering pursuing an MBAFreelancing• What motivated Charlotte to start freelancing • What kind of freelance projects Charlotte works on• What Charlotte has enjoyed the most about freelancing• How working freelance differs from working as an employeeFind Charlotte on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotteallen1991/Find Millgate Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/millgate-connect/Learn more about Millgate: https://millgate.co.uk/Find Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcosteloe/ Find Casla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/casla-agency/ Learn more about Casla: https://www.casla.agency/

We’re joined by freelance B2B copywriter and content strategist, Tom Wearing.Tom started his career as a graduate in a client services role at a large B2B marketing agency. He realised fairly quickly that he was better suited to working as a creative, and moved into the agency's copywriting team. Tom has developed a reputation for being an excellent copywriter, and has been working freelance since early 2022. Currently, his main focus is working with B2B agencies to support their enterprise accounts.In the episode we cover:• What forms B2B content can take• Where good content starts• What components will a good piece of content have• What are the biggest challenges when creating B2B content• What is the ideal relationship between strategist and creative• Why are creative and strategy separated• Tom's writing process and how it has evolved over time• The role, if any, of AI in writing• What does a good creative brief look like?• How Tom divides his services as a copywriter and content strategist• Tom's one piece of marketing advice for B2B businesses• Tom's most contrarian B2B marketing takeFind Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-wearing-b6406b129/Find Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcosteloe/ Find Casla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/casla-agency/ Learn more about Casla: https://www.casla.agency/

We’re joined by Fractional Marketing Strategist, Paola Piccinno. Paola has spent most of her career working at global tech corporations in the UK, EMEA and now APAC. Last year, she decided to embark on a fractional journey, and is currently focused on partnering with B2B agencies and companies all over the world to support them with their ABM and broader marketing initiatives.We cover:• How Paola would define account based marketing• Paola's view on the best place to start with ABM• The indicators that there could be a good case for 1 to 1 ABM• The factors behind a successful ABM programme• Techniques and approaches that Paola has seen work best recently• The most common reasons why ABM doesn't work• The best ways to get sales and other stakeholders on board with an ABM programme• The main things Paola has learnt this year, from an ABM perspective• What ABM trends Paola is seeing, and how ABM is evolving• The role of marketing technology in ABM• The projects Paola is currently working on• Paola's one piece of advice for B2B marketers• Paola's most contrarian B2B marketing takeFind Paola on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolapiccinno-abm-b2b-marketing/Find Piccinno Strategic Marketing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/piccinno-strategic-marketing/Learn more about Piccinno Stategic Marketing: https://www.piccinno.com.au/Find Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcosteloe/ Find Casla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/casla-agency/ Learn more about Casla: https://www.casla.agency/ 

We’re joined by Maddy Barber, who leads content marketing at award-winning conversation intelligence platform, Jiminny. We cover:• How Maddy would define content marketing• What good content marketing looks like• What content marketing approaches aren’t working so well• Maddy’s main learnings about content marketing this year• How Jiminny can help marketers create more compelling content• What a typical day looks like for Maddy in her role• Remote work at Jiminny and how it works for Maddy• Maddy’s one piece of advice for B2B marketers• Maddy’s most contrarian B2B marketing takeFind Maddy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddy-barber/Find Jiminny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jiminny/Learn more about Jiminny: https://jiminny.com/Find Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcosteloe/ Find Casla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/casla-agency/ Learn more about Casla: https://www.casla.agency/