A Cast of Entrepreneurs is back with another exciting episode featuring three brilliant entrepreneurs from the North East. This week, the cast are discussing what makes a brilliant workplace culture. Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Member Experience, are joined by:Kari Owers. Kari has been a creative communications consultant for over 25 years working with high profile consumer brands and entrepreneurial businesses around the world and is also on the board of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum. She founded O.agency in 2005 and as Chief Creative Officer she leads the client strategy team, who have worked with many top brand names including Dr.Martens, Parkdean Resorts, Fenwick, Flymo and IamProperty. Kari has won multiple awards which recognise her passion in creating a special agency culture, commitment to her people and youth talent and investment in the local community.Brendon Hayward. Brendon co-founded Osbit with two fellow engineers in 2010 and has led a number of key projects for the offshore wind industry, including the development of Osbit’s asset software package and safety framework. Brendon is the Chair of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, Chairman of a local youth charity and is passionate about developing organisational cultures and people.Jonny Grubin. Jonny is the founder & CEO of SoPost, the leading online product sampling platform. A serial entrepreneur, Jonny launched SoPost in 2012 with the goal of helping brands run powerful sampling campaigns online with a focus on relevance, data and analytics. Today, SoPost powers the online sampling for hundreds of brands and ships one order every two seconds to consumers around the world.In this episode, the cast share their experiences of creating a winning workplace culture, the ins and outs of how they got there, as well as why they feel that a great culture is integral to their business....Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/Connect with Kari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kariowers/Connect with Jonny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgrubin/Connect with Brendon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendon-hayward-5036b818/

We’re back with a new episode of A Cast of Entrepreneurs, and we have three brilliant entrepreneurs from the North East sharing their experiences of being based in this region.Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are joined by:Ammar Mirza, a multi-award-winning enterprise and innovation expert who has helped establish and scale several thousand businesses globally through the design, development and delivery of world leading accelerator and scale up programmes. With a portfolio of interests spanning across numerous sectors including property, edtech, health-tech and investment support Ammar is recognised as a leading authority on organisational growth.Charlie Hoult, a serial entrepreneur, currently involved in 4 businesses with combined staff over 500 and target turnover above £75m in 2024: Opencast, Hyhubs, Futureheads, Cheviot Insured. His work has always involved teams and he rates collaboration partners as the essence of his success. He is a firm advocate for building businesses on strong ethical values.Chloë Clover, the Co-Founder and CEO of the multi-award-winning agency Wander, a Personality First, Boundary Breaking Content Agency disrupting the way businesses market themselves online. Working with the biggest brands on the planet, crafting next level campaigns, and creating consistent and engaging content & social since 2018. Clover appeared in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list, highlighting her as a trailblazer and new world entrepreneur. Clover was also awarded 'Emerging Talent' at the Entrepreneurs Forum Awards and ‘Businesswoman of the Year’ at the Tees Businesswoman Awards.On this episode, the cast share their experiences of being entrepreneurs in the North East, whether they think location matters, their experiences of entrepreneurship in other locations, and how we can make our region a more inclusive space for businesses....Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/Connect with Ammar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ammar-mirza-cbe-2132622/Connect with Charlie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliehoult/Connect with Chloë: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-clover/

We’re back with another episode of A Cast of Entrepreneurs, joined by some more brilliant entrepreneurs from the North East. Today, we’re talking all about diverse leadership in the workplace and how this benefits your company. Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Member Experience are joined by: Joanna Feeley, Founder and Chief Executive at TrendBible, a futures agency predicting the future of life at home. Joanna’s career as a trend forecaster spans more than two decades. She has advised retailers, brands, charities, investors and governments all over the world, and had insights published by The Independent and Financial Times. Sarat Pediredla, Founder and CEO of Hedgehog Lab, a human-centred global tech consultancy. Sarat has led the company for over 16 years. He co-founded hedgehog lab in 2007 and transformed it from a small web development agency to a multi-million-pound company with over 100 employees and offices in the UK, US, and Bulgaria. As the CEO, Sarat is responsible for setting the company’s vision, strategy, and culture and overseeing operations, finances, and business development. In this episode, the cast share how they actively create a more diverse workplace, why they think it’s so important to do so, and how you, as leaders, can incorporate this into your everyday lives. ...Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/Connect with Joanna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-feeley-85919716/Connect with Sarat: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saratpediredla/

We’re back with a new series of A Cast of Entrepreneurs, and to kick off we’re hosting this special episode for International Women’s Day with three brilliant entrepreneurial women trailblazers from the North East sharing their experiences of running their own businesses in the region.. Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Member Experience are joined by: Lisa Eaton, a marketing expert, strategy consultant and founder of Fabric Academy: an online training provider that empowers ambitious marketers to excel worldwide. With more than two decades of experience in creating and executing marketing and communication strategies for global brands, including P&G, Visit England, Dulux and the NHS, Lisa has a deep understanding of what it takes to develop a high-level marketing strategy that makes an impact while delivering tangible business results. Claire Parry, Director of Week2Week Serviced Apartments Newcastle. Claire is passionate about the accommodation industry and prides herself on ensuring Week2Week is run transparently and honestly with the upmost integrity. Claire took the reins from her mother in 2013 and she strives to continue the strong family ethos within the company. Claire gives all team members a voice, with regular get togethers resulting in shared ideas, allowing Week2Week to grow. Charlotte Stærck, Co-Founder and CEO of Handbag Clinic Ltd. Charlotte is a pioneer in sustainable fashion, transforming the longest running luxury aftercare service into the first fully circular business model. Handbag Clinic buys, authenticates, sells and restores luxury designer handbags. Charlotte leads a business with sustained triple digit growth and a team of 50 throughout the UK. On this episode, the cast share their experiences of being female entrepreneurs in the North East, discuss who their entrepreneurial role models were growing up, the hurdles they’ve faced throughout their business journeys, and how we can do better at opening doors for female entrepreneurs. ... Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/ Connect with Lisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaeaton-marketingcoach/ Connect with Claire: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-parry-week2week/ Connect with Charlotte: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-staerck-00a694ba/

For the final episode of series one of A Cast of Entrepreneurs, we have three more outstanding North East entrepreneurs giving us real insight into their lives and businesses.Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are joined by:Bethany Ainsley, CEO & Founder at OptiMe. A qualified Corporate Wellbeing Specialist, Bethany is dedicated to improving wellbeing in the workplace. With OptiMe, she helps businesses create work environments where individuals can flourish and unleash their true potential. The OptiMe app and platform integrates advanced technology, data analytics and personalised experiences to deliver tailored wellbeing solutions. Bethany is also Chair at Nuvo Wellbeing and ActivCare, and a best-selling author.Dale Smith, Founder & CEO at The SDDE Smith Group. Dale leads a group of companies that provide end-to-end real estate solutions, including property consultancy, legal services, architectural and interior design, construction, and ongoing management for commercial, residential and holiday home properties. Dale’s background includes sporting success – he was the England Under-18 Golf captain and achieved a golfing scholarship at the University of San Diego.John Duns, Director and Joint Owner at North East Times Magazine, a leading regional business publication. Born and bred in the North East, John specialises in business development, marketing, and advertising. Previously, he’s held a variety of positions with companies from our region, including Business Development Director at Brewin Dolphin. He’s now passionate about celebrating and promoting the people and businesses in the North East.On this episode, the cast share more about their youth and early influences, their journeys into entrepreneurship, role models and support networks, how the business landscape has changed over time, the importance of prioritising wellbeing, and share top tips for budding entrepreneurs....Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/Connect with Bethany: www.linkedin.com/in/bethanyainsley/Connect with Dale: www.linkedin.com/in/dalesmithpvl/Connect with John: www.linkedin.com/in/john-duns-0396891a/?originalSubdomain=uk

Here’s another group of brilliant North East entrepreneurs, joining us on A Cast of Entrepreneurs to share their business journeys and real insights into their lives. Host Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum is joined by: Jo Feeley, Founder and Chief Executive at TrendBible, a futures agency predicting the future of life at home. Jo’s career as a trend forecaster spans more than two decades. She has advised retailers, brands, charities, investors and governments all over the world, and had insights published by The Independent and Financial Times. Jo has previously been named Entrepreneur of the Year at our Entrepreneurs’ Forum Awards. Rob Brown, Founder and Managing Director of JUMP, a brand communications company who offer graphic design, web design and web based business solutions. Motivated, ambitious, and passionate about the power of tech, Rob leads JUMP to develop and communicate brands through design and digital technology. Sarah Callender, COO at Duo Global Consulting. Sarah is an expert in human behaviour and works with growth focused businesses to better understand the behaviour of their people, through their signature behavioural mapping tool. Sarah is also COO and Co-Founder at The Elevator by Duo, a solution for ambitious growth focussed female leaders, with a signature women in leadership programme, community and retreats.On this episode, the cast talk about what it means to be an entrepreneur, how vital people and networks are when building a business, and what they envision in their futures. ... Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/ Connect with Jo: www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-feeley-85919716/ Connect with Rob: www.linkedin.com/in/berbbrown/ Connect with Sarah: www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcallender/

Join us for another episode of A Cast of Entrepreneurs to hear real insight into the lives and businesses of North East entrepreneurs. Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are joined by: Chris Peacock, Chief Executive of The Peacock Group which consists of three medical device companies employing over 170 people. Leading the business after a career in the aerospace industry, Chris is the fourth generation of family members to work at Peacocks since its beginnings in 1903. He’s also a former skydiving instructor and has won the British nationals three times! Ian Kinnery, Founder & CEO at Kinnery, where he provides scale-up business coaching for ambitious entrepreneurs, and Entrepreneurs’ Forum Scale Up Leaders Academy Coach. Ian set up his own coaching business after gaining experience in the motor industry and is passionate about continuous learning. Maureen (Mo) Brown, Founder of Sullivan Brown HR Recruitment and MI-Say Starter and Leaver Interview Specialists. Mo is an expert in Senior & Executive HR Recruitment and works to create a better work life for everyone, having adopted a values driven and flexible culture in her own businesses. This cast discuss the rollercoaster that is scaling a business and how to find success through complex change. They also share the importance of of mentors and coaching in personal and professional growth and sources of inspiration that have helped them through challenges. ... Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/ Connect with Chris: www.linkedin.com/in/chris-peacock-b3766a4/ Connect with Ian: www.linkedin.com/in/iankinnery/ Connect with Mo: www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-brown-6844a94/

We’re back with a new cast of entrepreneurs, talking about their business journeys and sharing their best advice. Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are joined by: Emma Gaudern, Co-Founder and Managing Director of EMG Solicitors, a full service private client practice offering advice in multiple legal areas. As a qualified solicitor with over 20 years’ experience, Emma’s time is divided between running the firm and acting as deputy or trustee to incapacitated and vulnerable individuals. Karen Weir, Managing Director at Weir Insurance. Karen is passionate about making insurance personal and creating an excellent place to work, with Weir Insurance working to take the hassle out of individual and business insurance. She’s also known as ‘Wonder Weir’ by her team! Pete Lillie, Founder at Double A Side Consulting. Pete’s expertise lies in implementing commercial strategies for both start-ups and larger multinational organisations. With his consulting business, Pete’s aim is to support with business development, coaching, and creating strategies that balance both commerciality and values. On this episode, the cast look back to why they set up their businesses, through to where they hope to be in the future. Along the way, they discuss the importance of being values led, having community impact, family and role models, and how we can encourage young people to be entrepreneurial. ... Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/ Connect with Emma: www.linkedin.com/in/emmagaudern/ Connect with Karen: www.linkedin.com/in/weirkaren/ Connect with Pete: www.linkedin.com/in/peter-lillie-52aa56a2/

Join us as we welcome another cast of entrepreneurs to the podcast who are sharing inspiration and entrepreneurial insights.Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are joined by:Amy Mooney, Co-Owner of Gas Angel. Gas Angel is a heating and renewables company that advocates for heat pumps, tree planting, and low carbon heating systems to provide efficient, sustainable heating solutions that result in savings for customers. Amy’s background is in sales and marketing - before launching Gas Angel, she was the co-founder of a leading marketing agency.Joanne Warren, Managing Director at Lumo. The Lumo team work with clients to maximise their Research and Development Tax Credits (R&D) claims with HMRC. Joanne helps business owners to improve their cashflow through innovation funding, boosting their business strategy by having R&D as a key part of their strategic plans.Owain Brennan, CEO at Seer BI. Seer BI develop AI and data science for maritime, logistics and industry specialists in deployable AI and machine learning. Owain specialises in solving problems with creative tools and data, aiming to make legacy industries frictionless by applying data science.This cast discuss what led them down the entrepreneurial path. They share the twists and turns they’ve experienced along the way, including building company culture and their recruitment strategy, pivots in direction or between industries, and the legacy they want to leave by making a positive impact with their work....Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-mooney-80693a24/Connect with Joanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lumojoanne/Connect with Owain: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owain-brennan/

Up next on A Cast of Entrepreneurs, we have another excellent trio of North East entrepreneurs sharing real insight into their lives and businesses. Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are joined by: Neil Henry, an award-winning business owner, who built then exited his successful business, HLA Services, which he owned for 20 years. He now mentors others to share his experience, along with networking to facilitate connections. Paul Edwards, Director at Edwards Commercial Cleaning Services Ltd. Paul’s vision was to create a business that provides an exceptional, personal service and value for money. Edwards Commercial Cleaning Services now have over 500 staff, hundreds of customers across the region, and take pride in meeting ISO quality and environmental standards. Ruth Plater, Founder and CEO at Radial Path. Ruth leads her branding and performance marketing organisation to support B2B digital infrastructure and tech businesses. Her career has been focused on scaling sales and marketing teams and leading brands to acquisition in the digital infrastructure space, including at a Silicon Valley SaaS company. This cast share their journeys from their first sparks of entrepreneurship to scaling businesses for sale. We hear their advice for budding entrepreneurs, why entrepreneurs need to build communities and how important it is to have a great team, how they support learning and development, and what they envision in their futures. ... Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/ Connect with Neil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-henry-minstr-a7b57333/ Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-edwards-9160391a/ Connect with Ruth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthplater/

Join us with our next brilliant cast of North East entrepreneurs as we aim to inspire and energise you, giving real insight into the entrepreneurial way of life. Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are joined by: Charlotte Nichols, owner of Harvey and Hugo, who provide PR, social media, and content marketing. A believer in the power of telling stories, Charlotte’s work focuses on building brands by creating emotional connections to reach hearts and minds. Charlotte also hosts her own podcast while holding various board and mentoring roles. Michaela Reaney, co-founder of Opportunity Global, a talent consultancy who support organisations with people development and preparing for the future of work. Michaela’s expertise lies in talent management, coaching, and recruitment; she has worked with organisations from SMEs to FTSE100 companies to empower them to reach their full potential. Michaela also facilitates connections and conversations as a TEDx organiser. Tim Wilks, Director at Lane7. Now with 13 venues (and counting), Lane7 is an all-in-one entertainment location, with bowling alleys, food and drink, and games and activities. After opening their flagship venue in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 2013, Tim has taken Lane7 across the country. He continues to launch venues, pushing boundaries by introducing new experiences. This cast share everything about the ups and downs of their lives as entrepreneurs, including how freedom is a motivator, the importance of creativity in business, the balance of boundaries and chaos, finding support with mentors and coaches, and the reality of how difficult it is to grow an independent business. ... Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/ Connect with Charlotte: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottenicholsharveyandhugo/ Connect with Michaela: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelareaney/ Connect with Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-wilks-aaa072106/

This episode features insights into the lives and businesses of another cast of entrepreneurs, as we find out what it’s really like to own and run businesses.Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are joined by:Gillian Courtney MBE, Managing Director at Stonelea Business Development. Gill is an experienced director with years of experience in the engineering industry. Throughout her career, she’s forged a path as a female leader in a male dominated industry and is skilled in business planning, business development, and organisational development.Keith Miller, Chairman at Miller International, a privately owned company based here in the North East who manufacture and supply earth moving equipment across the globe. Keith’s business recently celebrated its 45 year anniversary, employs over 200 people, and has plans for continued growth.Phil Kite, Founder of The Adventurers Drinks Company, Business Advisor, Motivational Speaker and Ocean Rower. Phil has spent 30 years in business managing engineering businesses. He’s now started a new venture, creating drinks inspired by adventurers which reflect their back story. In addition, Phil’s an avid adventurer himself, having rowed the Atlantic and been part of international expeditions.This cast of entrepreneurs discuss everything from changes in the engineering industry through time, to the drive and passion of entrepreneurs which leads them to try new things and find solutions, to the importance of effective leadership in building teams that thrive in different environments....Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/Connect with Gill: www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-courtney-mbe-a4244b18/Connect with Keith: www.linkedin.com/in/keith-miller-49093899/Connect with Phil: www.linkedin.com/in/phil-kite-b189a331/

Join us as we welcome another brilliant cast of entrepreneurs to the podcast for an honest look into their business lives. Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are joined by: Di Gates, a strategic marketing, business, and change consultant with 20 years of experience. Di has created Stick Theory, a collaboration consultancy offering both strategic planning and creative delivery, to help others grow their businesses. Di works with clients to find clear, effective solutions to complex challenges. Rez Gachcar, all-round innovator and inventor. Rez created Mud Daddy, an eco-friendly, mobile, and efficient cleaning device for washing pets, after identifying a gap in the market for this kind of product. Mud Daddy is now a multi-million-pound company, firmly established in the UK pet market. Rosie Bath, founder of Cera Cotton, a homeware and lifestyle brand which offers a range of non-plastic, waterproof textile products for everyday life. Cera Corron is a first of its kind sustainable business, using wax cotton as the primary fabric. Although wax cotton has been around for 500 years, it has never before been used to create products as Rosie has. We have some varied discussions with this cast, including why they wanted to become entrepreneurs, the journey of taking a product to market, the power of innovative thinking to generate ideas and find solutions to problems, and why the North East is a great place to grow a business. ... Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/ Connect with Di: www.linkedin.com/in/digates/ Connect with Rez: www.linkedin.com/in/rez-gachcar-92bb7a132/ Connect with Rosie: www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-bath-5b7087233/

Next up on A Cast of Entrepreneurs, we have three more incredible entrepreneurs sharing real insight into their lives and businesses. Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are joined by: Kimberley Turner, owner of games studio Double Eleven, one of the most exciting tech companies in the North East. Kim has grown Double Eleven with grit and determination. They’re now a muti-award winning games developer who bring massive franchises to new platforms and audiences across the globe, with over 300 employees and offices in the UK and Malaysia. Sara Davies MBE, founder of Crafter’s Companion, Strictly Come Dancing star and serial investor, including being a Dragon on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den. After spotting a gap in the market that led to launching Crafter’s Companion, Sara has grown a global business and presented on TV shopping channels across the world. Sara is a brilliant champion of the North East, brimming with energy and passion to share her experiences. Toby Bridges, Executive Chairman of NBT Group. Growing the business to multi-million-pound turnover, Toby led NBT Group to take a place on the North East’s 50 fastest growing companies list. Toby champions the benefits of collaboration and sharing knowledge, holding numerous roles in this capacity including growth board member on the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and Visiting Professor at Northumbria University. This cast of entrepreneurs discuss everything from why they first stepped onto the entrepreneurial path, what it took to scale their businesses and the sacrifices they made along the way, the illusive work/life balance, and the importance of mentoring in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. ... Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/ Connect with Kimberley: www.linkedin.com/in/kimtur8/ Connect with Sara: www.linkedin.com/in/sara-davies-mbe-7406854/ Connect with Toby: www.linkedin.com/in/tobybridges/

Settle in to hear another incredible cast of entrepreneurs sharing their honest insights about entrepreneurial life.On the second episode of A Cast of Entrepreneurs, hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are talking to:Chris March, Chief Executive Officer at Allies Group, a full service, results driven marketing agency. Chris has extensive experience in media and publishing. He has helped to create some of the North’s most recognisable publications, including Luxe Magazine, Fenwick Magazine, and NE1 Magazine.Sarah Thackray, Director at BeaconHouse Events, who deliver events through clever thinking, sustainable solutions, and exceptional customer service. Their events could be virtual, hybrid, or even outdoors, and include conferences, exhibitions, and awards ceremonies. Sarah’s vision is to drive a positive, lasting impact with every event.And Paul Blake, Owner and Managing Director at Newcastle Eagles Basketball Club, who play in the British Basketball League. Paul’s expertise lies in the business of sport and managing sports events.This cast of entrepreneurs look back to the early days of starting their businesses, through to the scale up process, and ahead to what the future holds. Listen to hear how they’ve dealt with imposter syndrome, built exceptional teams and supported their employees, and where they find inspiration to overcome their biggest challenges. You’ll also get some expert advice for stepping out on the entrepreneurial path....Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/ Connect with Chris: www.linkedin.com/in/chrismarchuk/Connect with Sarah: www.linkedin.com/in/sarahthackray/Connect with Paul: www.linkedin.com/in/paul-blake-06258219/

Welcome to our very first episode of A Cast of Entrepreneurs, brought to you by The Entrepreneurs’ Forum. We believe entrepreneurs have the power to inspire others by sharing their own stories. That’s why we’ve bought together an amazing cast of entrepreneurs to tell it as it is, giving you a real insight into what it’s like to be an entrepreneur.Hosts Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and Sally Cowling, Head of Marketing, are joined by our first cast taking to the stage:Mike O’Brien, co-founder of Opencast, a highly skilled and fast growing technology consultancy business. Mike founded Opencast along with his co-founder Charlie Hoult in 2012. Mike is also a Board member of The Entrepreneurs’ Forum and our reigning Entrepreneur of the Year.Sam Spoors founded her business Talentheads more recently in 2019. Talentheads are in-house recruitment strategists working alongside you to align your business strategy with your team.Finally, last but not least, we have Jason Turner, founder of Data2Action, the data compliance, security and analysis specialists business which he set up in 2017. Listen to hear this cast of entrepreneurs discuss everything from challenges to triumphs, where they get their inspiration from, how they balance the pressures of running their own businesses, and even why entrepreneurs are like Tiggers!...Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/Connect with Sam: www.linkedin.com/in/spoorssam/Connect with Jason: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-turner-5916695/Connect with Mike: www.linkedin.com/in/mike-o-brien-5309035/

Hello and welcome to A Cast of Entrepreneurs, brought to you by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.  I’m Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and together with Sally Cowling, our Head of Marketing, we’ve been talking to entrepreneurs from all over the North East about what it’s really like to be an entrepreneur. We’re getting the real insight into their lives and businesses.   This series brings together a cast of 36 North East entrepreneurs. So fasten your seatbelt as we’re going on a roller coaster ride from basketball to crafting, from excavation to Atlantic rowing, from selling darts in the playground to 70th birthday celebrations.   Join us as we talk to our resident entrepreneur of the year, Mike O’Brien from Opencast; Sara Davies MBE, crafting queen and TV dragon; Tim Wilks, owner of Lane 7, one of the Sunday Times fastest growing UK companies; and the youthful passion of startup entrepreneur Rosie Bath and her sustainable business Cera Cotton.   These are conversations to inspire you and to energise you. Enjoy listening!Get involved with The Entrepreneurs’ Forum: https://entrepreneursforum.net/