The Small Business Sessions

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the ninth and final episode in the current series is Steve Folland, a freelancer podcaster and video editor. With a long career in radio, Steve went freelance in 2013 and hasn't looked back! Alongside his work creating videos and podcasts for other people, he launched his own show, Being Freelance, in January 2015, followed by the Being Freelance vlog in 2016. Steve, who has been using Dropbox since 2013, also runs the Being Freelance community and is the co-host of Doing It For The Kids, a podcast for freelance parents which won gold for Best Business Podcast at the British Podcast Awards in 2021.In the show, Dan and Steve discuss topics including:how to succeed as a freelancerhow to set your prices as a freelancerhow to win new freelancer clientstech tools to boost productivity and efficiencythe impact of AI on the creative sectorDropbox is the one place to keep life organised and keep work moving. Tools include Dropbox, File Request, Dropbox Replay and Dropbox Sign.Big thanks for tuning into series seven of the Small Business Sessions. Look out for series eight in January 2025! -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode eight is Stephen Lane, founder of entertainment memorabilia business Propstore. In the early 90s, movie lover Stephen began hunting for the props and costumes that were used to create his favourite films. His collecting hobby became a business in 1998 and more than 25 years later, Propstore has 70 employees in London and Los Angeles and more than 25,000 square feet of archived props and costumes. The business also turns over £35m despite Stephen having taken on no external investment. Since it started, Propstore has located and auctioned thousands of famous items to collectors around the world. Items include the lightsaber used by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back, Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones Fedora, and guitars played on stage by the Gallagher brothers from Oasis. In an insights and advice packed episode, the entrepreneur discusses turning a love for movie props into an actual business, how he tracks down memorabilia to sell, reaching a £35m turnover despite taking on no external investment, establishing a business in the US, running a business during several economic downturns and lots more. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode seven is mixed media visual artist and Enterprise Nation member Christian Azolan. After a work contract ended due to the coronavirus pandemic, he began creating digital illustrations. That hobby soon turned into a business as Christian used the downtime during lockdown to create a brand for selling his limited edition artwork online. Since then, Christian has had several successful exhibitions, and achieved a significant amount of press coverage for his work. In the episode, Dan and Christian discuss how artists can commercialise their work, his brilliant advice for how small business owners can make media headlines, the importance of knowing your numbers, how he is bringing artists together via a social enterprise collective, the business boosting benefits of being an Enterprise Nation member, and lots more!-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode six is Kat Pither, founder of eco-friendly yoga mats and accessories brand Yogi Bare. Kat first got into yoga while in rehab to deal with anxiety, PTSD and addiction. That love of the practice led her to becoming a yoga teacher, and she started Yogi Bare as a side project.  During the brilliant conversation, Dan and Kat discuss using yoga to deal with mental health, starting a product business, encouraging a strong and supportive community around a business, building an ethical and sustainable company, growing a team and lots more.-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode five is Erika Robinson, UK general manager at digital marketing platform Constant Contact, one of the partners of Enterprise Nation's business.connected programme. During her career, Erika has spent two decades working across strategy and finance for some of the UK's most recognisable brands, including financial software giant Intuit, and mental health company Headspace. Erika is also a small business owner herself so has an in-depth understanding of entrepreneurs' priorities and predicaments. In 2019, she founded Picnic, a play centre where children can learn about the world by acting out roles in everyday life, such as putting out a fire, delivering the post and serving customers in a shop. The business has employed over 30 people and welcomed 200,000 parents and children through its doors. In the show, we discuss Erika's tips for how to succeed with your digital marketing, her lessons from working in top companies, why she believes small businesses have several superpowers that big companies don't have and her experiences running her own small business. Constant Contact offers email and digital marketing tools that make it easy for your small business or nonprofit to get the attention and revenue it deserves. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode four is Dhruvin Patel, co-founder of blue light screen eye protector brand Ocushield. Whilst studying optometry at university, Dhruvin launched the initial development of his blue light filtering technology that make eyes healthier, improves sleep and boosts happiness. Since then, the business has grown into an international brand that has helped more than 300,000 eyes in over 147 countries. Ocushield also appeared an BBC TV's Dragons' Den and secured investment from Peter Jones and Tej Lalvani. The deal ended up not going through, but Ocushield went on to get £1m in funding, much more than they secured on the show. In the episode, Dhruvin discusses what happened on Dragons' Den, why the deal ended up not going through, how he raised more funding, his tips for accessing finance, managing relationships with investors and lots more. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode three is Jade Beason, founder of The Creator Project, who helps entrepreneurs to grow their online presence, multiply their income streams and create profitable businesses.Jade began her career in marketing and sponsorship, but quit corporate life in 2021. She used her eight years of experience to turn her YouTube channel into a six-figure business shortly after uploading her first video. In the show, we discuss switching from a side hustle to a full-time business, and how to grow a successful YouTube channel, plus Jade's tips for growing a subscription service and making the most of social media to power your entrepreneurial success. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode two is Marnie Swindells, founder of Bronx Boxing Club, who won BBC TV's The Apprentice in 2023. Marnie started boxing at the age of 17 and dreamed of opening her own club. She did just that in February 2023 when she launched her business in South East London, and is going for growth with the help of the £250,000 investment she won from Lord Sugar on the show. During our conversation, we discuss how Marnie's long held love for boxing became a business, what it's really like to appear on The Apprentice, the experience of working with Lord Sugar and her tips for entrepreneurial success.-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode one of the new season is Elsie Rutterford, co-founder of skincare brand BYBI Beauty. The original idea for the business, which stands for ‘By Beauty Insiders’, came about after Elsie and her partner Dominika started making their own natural skincare products using food. The brand's products are now sold online and in retailers around the world.  During the fascinating chat, Elsie and Dan discuss growing a multi-million-pound brand, creating the world's first carbon negative skincare product, raising finance, getting stocked in major retailers, personal branding and more.  -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for the 10th and final episode in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin is Cynthia V Davis CBE, founder of Diversifying Group. Cynthia has more than 20 years of experience in the recruitment industry having worked within and recruited for several well-known large brands. In 2015 she started her own business to help organisations become more inclusive and make recruiting decisions that better reflect our diverse society. In the episode, Cynthia and Dan discuss what diversity means, why it's important for small businesses, the power of being a B Corp and what more needs to be done to support female entrepreneurs. Big thanks to everyone who has tuned in to the sixth season of the Small Business Sessions.-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode nine in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin is social entrepreneur Navjot Sawhney, founder of The Washing Machine Project. Navjot is a former Dyson engineer, and he was volunteering in India when he noticed the burden placed on women by unpaid domestic work. This inspired him to design the Divya, a crank-handle manual washing machine that is off-grid, fully sustainable and saves both water and time. Through the Washing Machine Project, tens of thousands of people have been impacted worldwide, women have been empowered and hundreds of washing machines have been distributed to villages, refugee camps, schools and orphanages. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode eight in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Cat Byrne, founder of Gatto Web.Cat is a Manchester-based creative designer who set up her business in 2014. She helps small companies to develop a strong brand so they stand out and attract their target customers In the episode, Cat and Dan delve into what makes a great brand, how to stay consistent with yours and top tips for great design. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode seven in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to a successful online influencer who uses social media to provide short and snappy advice on all things personal finance.  As Cazza Time on Instagram and TikTok, Cameron has built up a following of more than half a million people who enjoy his tips on everything from tax and student loans to money saving ideas and investments. In the episode, Dan and Cameron discuss the world of online influencing, how to make great video content and the power of TikTok for small businesses. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode six in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Daisy Morrs, founder of social media consultancy and digital community The Selfhood and author of Community Is Your Currency, a book which teaches business owners the steps to growing a meaningful online community.   Daisy started her journey in entrepreneurship after being frustrated by the lack of down-to-earth and human advice for those trying to find their way in the world of digital marketing and social media. In the episode, we discuss the power of community and how founders can build a strong and authentic community around their business. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode five in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Rachel Waring.Rachel is a wedding stylist turned creative marketing consultant. She supports independent businesses to produce creative content and show off their best work.Rachel has a particular focus on how founders can make the most of social media platform Pinterest and that's a key subject discussed in the show. Dan and Rachel also chat about how to stay creative, the secrets to successful content planning and what AI means for content creation. ----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode four in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Kay Suppamas, founder of Leafage, the London-based company focused on nature-inspired experiences with terrarium workshops and kits. In 2016, after the sudden loss of her father, Kay realised the importance of putting your wellbeing first and how plants can support mental health. She then started a journey to creating a business that revolutionises how city dwellers, with limited access to green space, interact with nature. In the episode, we hear Kay's inspiring story and her tips for business success. ----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode three in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the third episode is business and marketing strategist Alice Benham. Alice had an early start in the world of work after leaving school aged 16 to run a team of Christmas elves. When she was 17, Alice became a freelance social media manager. Alice has since gone on to launch a successful podcast, run retreats, work with hundreds of one-to-one clients and be featured in top publications like Forbes and Business Insider.  In the episode, we discuss why young people should consider entrepreneurship as a career, the secrets to business growth, powering your marketing strategy and why taking uncomfortable actions is vitally important.  ----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode two in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the second episode is Sarah de-Vere Drummond, co-founder of Kip Hideaways, the membership website for affordable self-catering holiday rentals.  Sarah previously worked in the boutique travel industry and with her co-founder Liz Simpson spotted a gap in the market for an online community that features only self-catering hideaways.   Many of properties featured on the website are under the radar so they are kept exclusive by a membership service.Despite launching during the coronavirus pandemic when travel wasn't possible, the business saw a growth in memberships as people dreamt of their next holiday once restrictions were removed. ----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back! This sixth season is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the first episode is Ailis Topley, founder of sustainable and refillable candles company Pott Candles.Ailis’ business started as a lockdown hobby in 2020, but it now has sales of over £1m, its products are stocked in Selfridges and John Lewis and Ailis was named by Forbes as one of Europe's top young entrepreneurs.  Tune into the episode to hear the inspiring Pott Candles story and its founder’s tips for business success. ----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

We've reached the end of series five of the Small Business Sessions. Joining us for the final episode is the brilliant serial entrepreneur, Simon Squibb, who has made it his mission to help 10 million people start and grow a business through The Purposeful Project.Simon's vision for supporting so many new entrepreneurs is driven by his own personal experiences. He left school at 15 and was kicked out of home by his mum but went on to start 19 companies and invest in over 60 start-ups. He also sold his branding and digital agency, Fluid, to PwC.Simon joins journalist Dan Martin to share insights from his incredible entrepreneurial adventures.For more information about Enterprise Nation and to listen to more episodes, visit www.enterprisenation.com/podcast Big thanks to all our brilliant guests and to everyone who has tuned in to this series of the podcast.