Businesswise: The Voice Of Business Networking In Swindon podcast

12:29

Today Hannah Edwards is talking to Sabrina O’Keeffe of Charming Bee Accessories. Her business came about when Sabrina was out of work. Having always been crafty, she did a jewellery course and some workshops, then started making sterling silver jewellery, and absolutely loved it. Sabrina has only been an official member of Businesswise for around a month. She came along at the very beginning of her self-employed business journey, which is quite unusual. Having worked in the corporate world for 20 years, she was used to being able to bounce ideas off the people around her. Working on her own, she found it much harder. She shares how generally she doesn’t like having to talk in front of people, or in fact talk about herself much, but after being welcomed into the room and group on her first visit, she decided to join. Sabrina talks about loving the fact that because there are so many different personalities and businesses, many of whom have experience of being self-employed, they are happy to help and make suggestions about business-related things. One of the things that she loves about Businesswise is the way that people ask about what you’re doing; share your posts on social media and genuinely take an interest in what you’re doing in your business. Businesswise are quite a lively bunch of people, and although Sabrina finds it difficult to talk about herself the group have made it very easy for her, hence her joining! She’d encourage anyone else who is nervous about networking to just try it! If you’d like to know more about Sabrina and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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I’ve been over that mountain – I can help hold your hand through this! with Ali Newnham and Jess Walters 25:12

14 days ago25:12

25:12

For our Businesswise collaboration podcast today, Joe Tompkinson is talking to Ali Newnham and Jess Walters. Ali is the Operations Manager for MoovaHome selling houses, renting and managing HMOs. Jess works for Howden Insurance, local insurance brokers offering commercial and personal insurance. They both talk about the passion they each have for their businesses. Ali and Jess talk about how collaboration is something that works well for them in both of their businesses, and they feel it helps make business flow better. There is a great synergy between the two businesses. They also both agree that there’s a lot of collaboration with many other members of Businesswise too when it comes to referring people. The more you talk with people the more likely it is that those opportunities appear. The people in the group are the most important part of belonging and the reason to keep coming back. Joe, Ali and Jess talk about how supportive the group is, and how they even support each other online making recommendations on social media, and it doesn’t feel like a chore because of the genuine connection. Both Ali and Jess talk about their plans for 2025. If you’d like to know more about Ali, Jess and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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Businesswise is a heart-led group with Fiona Da Silva Adams 21:12

28 days ago21:12

21:12

Today Joe Tompkinson interviews Fi Da Silva Adams of Revolution Performing Arts. Fi talks about starting Revolution Performing Arts in 2007, and how it went from her working with her own children because there was nothing available for them, then gradually growing until it has ended up a full-time business providing after school performing arts clubs and other activities. She talks about how the business started off as Drama Babes, where all she had was a piece of rolled up carpet which would become a magic flying carpet for the children in the group to have amazing, imaginary adventures. Within a year of starting with just one class, they had 13 classes. What is unique about Revolution is that the performing arts provision is led by the young people. Something being completely led by children and which is also completely inclusive is very special. Fi has been a member of Businesswise since June 2023. Initially she didn’t think it would be something that would work for her, but when she came along she felt very comfortable and happy and loved the support from the group. She loves the relationships that are formed in the group, and has collaborated with Barbara Leatham, our photographer, who has been teaching photography to some of the young people that Revolution work with. Fi talks about some of the upcoming projects and performances that Revolution Performing Arts are going to be undertaking in 2025. If you’d like to know more about Fi and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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We have clients countrywide but wanted to know more local businesses with Claire Brewerton 17:19

6 weeks ago17:19

17:19

In today’s edition of the Businesswise podcast, Hannah Edwards talks to Claire Brewerton from The Virtual Business Centre, a telephone answering and call handling business. Claire explains why when she has a business that has clients country wide, she decided to join Businesswise. She has only been a member for a few months but is already enjoying it and reaping the benefits. She has run her business for around 20 years and shares her first experiences of networking. Also, because of family responsibilities, she talks about how over the years she has tried networking at many different times. Now as her children are older she is able to attend the early morning meetings. Claire talks about how she loves the atmosphere of Businesswise, in comparison to some of the previous networking groups she’s attended. She’d recommend the group to others because of their friendly manner and the way they welcome you when you first join, even though it’s obvious that everyone knows each other. Many people don’t understand or even realise that they may need a telephone answering service, so Claire talks about how her business helps businesses. She also talks about the wide range of businesses that her 20 year old business supports, which now includes members of Businesswise too. Also, during the conversation Hannah and Claire talk about the huge advantages of being a member of Businesswise. If you’d like to know more about Claire and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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Businesswise is like having a whole load of business coaches in your pocket with Louise Muir Sage 23:36

8 weeks ago23:36

23:36

Joe Tompkinson’s guest today on the Businesswise podcast, is Lou Muir Sage of Wellness Wiltshire, who is a relatively new member having only joined in February last year. Lou talks about her business, how she is a Reiki practitioner and also a meditation facilitator. She talks about how she has overcome her own struggles and now she wants to help other people to reconnect with themselves. She explains what Reiki is, and she and Joe talk about people’s perceptions of what it is and Lou spells out exactly what it is and how it works. She also talks about her love of crystals and her recent venture, Coffee and Crystal where she shares the different properties that they all have. Joining Businesswise completely changed Lou’s perception of what networking is. Prior to visiting, she had been told, wrongly, that networking is all about sales, but having visited and now joined the group, she fully understands it is all about making connections. She knows she has a host of people who have her back. Lou has also introduced her sister, Sabrina to the group, who runs her own silver jewellery business, and as someone who is normally very shy, she has become very comfortable talking in front of a room of strangers – which shows the embracing environment that the group creates. She also feels that Businesswise has helped her to gain the belief and confidence that she can do what she wants to do. If you’d like to know more about Lou and Businesswise visit https://businesswise.org.uk/…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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We are all in the same boat – running a business and it helps you realize -you’re not alone with Barbara Leatham and Liza van Zyl 23:35

10 weeks ago23:35

23:35

Joe Tompkinson hosts today’s Businesswise podcast, talking about collaboration with Barbara Leatham of Barbara Leatham Photography and Liza Van Zyl of Priory Heating. Liza has been a member of Businesswise for longer than Barbara and has in fact had the privilege of working with Barbara before she joined last year. Liza loves the fact that because they both belong to the business group, when Barbara photographs Liza and her team, if she needs to ask any advice, they can chat at a meeting. They both talk about how collaboration isn’t always about business to business, but at times, because they get on well as people, they can support each other in other ways – having someone to talk to about problems. Also, collaboration isn’t always obvious. Barbara wanted to start working on photography training and needed photos of herself working with people to be able to promote this. When she talked about this at a Businesswise meeting, Liza straight away offered her and her team to be in the photographs. Both agree that one of the best things about being in Businesswise is the fact that although we are an eclectic mix of people, we all have similar issues in business – there’s always going to be someone in the room who has struggled or had problems with the same things you are. And, because of the make-up of the group, it’s a place where you can ask for help. Another thing the two ladies have in common is, they were both previously in the armed forces and they share their experience of transitioning from military life to lives outside. If you’d like to know more about Barbara and Liza and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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Businesswise has grown in a broader way, offering many more opportunities with Lis McDermott 25:47

12 weeks ago25:47

25:47

Joe Tompkinson hosts today’s Businesswise podcast and is joined by Lis McDermott, author and writing mentor. Lis talks about how long she’s been in Businesswise; why the group came about and the changes and the opportunities that have opened up during that time. The main reason she has stayed in the group is because of the wonderful ethos of the group, which is down to the individuals in the group. Working alone, from home can be solitary, and having the opportunity to meet up with other business people every two weeks is important; they are her business family. She briefly shares how she embraced being an author after closing her previous business during lockdown. And talks about her process of writing novels; how she comes up with ideas and what she likes writing about in particular and why. Lis also shares a little about mentoring other writers and what a privilege it is. She talks about how she has collaborated with people in the group – some in terms of them helping her with research, and others in terms of using their business for her business – such as having her bookmarks, fliers and business banners done by Steve Munson, who has the design and print chair in the group. If you’d like to know more about Lis and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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Businesswise is about proper friendships and proper referrals with Dawn Prosser 18:08

14 weeks ago18:08

18:08

Today’s presenter, Fiona Da Silva talks to Dawn Prosser, who has the charity seat in Businesswise and now runs the Swindon Night Shelter and Renew Swindon. Dawn, who has been a member of the group for 10 years, talks about how the networking group has supported her over the years. Initially, her subs were paid for by a previous member, and then she joined. When she joined the group she had set up Gateway Furniture and ran that between 2009 and 2017, when it was handed over to someone else. She joined the Night Shelter a couple days a week as the food manager, and also started the Renew Swindon project, which is a community centre in Penhill. She is now full-time at the Night Shelter too. Dawn explains how both Renew and the Night Shelter support people, and how both charities have developed over time. She also explains the difference between a CIC (Community Interest Company) and a charity, and therefore Renew is a CIC. We also talk about some of the reasons that people end up homeless, and how for both the people in the Night Shelter and those visiting Renew, having the opportunity to mix with other people is vital for their mental well-being. She also shares how members of Businesswise have supported the charities over the years – from rewiring a whole shop, helping with electrics in the Renew workshop, plumbing, photographs to, as a team transforming a porter cabin into emergency accommodation. Different members often give a day of their time to work as a team to support the charity. They also often donate ticket sales from open networking evenings. If you’d like to know more about Dawn and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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The group is still as brilliant as it was when it started years ago! with Steve Munson 18:58

16 weeks ago18:58

18:58

Today's host is Hannah Edwards of Scott Media and she's talking to Steve Munson of the newly merged ASF Creative. Steve was one of the founder members when Businesswise started more than 10 years ago and recently came back. Steve holds the print seat in the group and his company was originally called Studio Creative Services. As Steve shares he has recently merged with another company to create ASF Creative. Hannah and Steve discuss how he and fellow member Lis McDermott are the only original members of the group which broke away from another networking group and how the group has grown and changed over the course of the years. They talk about what makes the group unique including the brilliant and vibrant personalities from many of the other members who are finding more and more ways to be different when it comes to their sixty seconds including singing and poetry! Steve shares why he chose Businesswise to be his networking group to attend and part of that is how supportive everyone in the group is. They may not be in need of his services at the time but members happily refer each other whenever they can including on social media. To finish Steve shares why he thinks Businesswise is the group that you should go to if you're a nervous networker! If you’d like to know more about Steve and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/ and if you’d like to visit email secretary@businesswise.org.uk – we do have to check first that your seat is vacant. If it’s not you will be put on a waiting list…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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Biohazard Cleaning and Health and Safety – a match made in heaven! with Andrew Wilkinson and Laura Dent 25:15

18 weeks ago25:15

25:15

In the first of our new collaboration series, Hannah Edwards from Scott Media talks to Andrew Wilkinson of Secure Safety Solutions and Laura Dent of So Fresh and So Clean. After sharing a little about their individual businesses, Andrew and Laura talk about how they started to collaborate after meeting at our Businesswise networking group. Laura talks about how she first got to know Andrew and learnt more about his business and how it could support her business before considering working with him. For her, doing research first was important as she’s worked with other supplies in the past and things haven’t worked out. Now they’re collaborating and things work very well, because they get on, and also both support each other’s business. Andrew enjoys working with Laura, because of her work ethic, and the support she receives from his business is perfect. She knows that her clients also benefit from Andrew's company’s input. Having the biohazard cleaning is something that Laura has to ensure is safe, and Andrew, who hasn’t worked in this field previously has ensured he is up to date with all of the latest legislation. They both give examples of how the collaboration works so well, including Andrew impressing Laura with his quick responses to emails and also the fact he promptly sends information to her clients when asked. Both Andrew and Laura give their tips about why networking works – and especially Business Wise. Here are just 3 of their tips. Even if you’re scared of networking – just do it! Don’t go along with preconceived ideas about what people expect. Whereas family and friends may try to help with problems, they often don’t know how to run a business – our group does. If you’d like to know more about Andrew, Laura and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/ and if you’d like to visit email secretary@businesswise.org.uk – we do have to check first that your seat is vacant. If it’s not you will be put on a waiting list…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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Looking back on 2024 with John Lewis and Hannah Edwards 25:49

20 weeks ago25:49

25:49

In our final podcast of the year, Hannah Edwards representing Scott Media talks to John Lewis of JL Mindset Performance about being in their roles on the Businesswise committee for this year and reminiscing about all the things that have happened. John is the chairperson for the group, and Hannah is the group secretary – roles they both talk about with passion! Our first podcast was launched earlier this year, when our then chair, Dave, talked about his reasons for stepping down and John talked about stepping up into the role. John, who has loved being chair, explains the logistics of what goes on behind the scenes to organise the meetings, which is quite a task when you have 32 members. And it’s not just the practical planning, the committee also have a lot of extra work in between the meetings. Hannah and John talk about how, because the group is run like a business too, they have to ensure members get the best value for their money. There are a huge number of events and opportunities that the committee have overseen during this last year. Being in the secretary role, Hannah doesn’t only work in the week leading up to the meetings – but most of the time between. They talk about the wonderful characters that make up the group; 32 members all with different opinions and ideas and experienced businesspeople in their own right. Over time, the group has come together to create a culture where everyone opens up honestly about both business and personal things and knows they’re in a safe place. Both Hannah and John are looking forward to March, when the committee are planning another open networking evening, following the successful one the group had in February this year. If you’d like to know more about John, Hannah and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/ and if you’d like to visit email secretary@businesswise.org.uk – we do have to check first that your seat is vacant. If it’s not you will be put on a waiting list…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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We’re all in the same boat – running a business with Liza van Zyl 13:54

22 weeks ago13:54

13:54

Today our host Lis McDermott is talking to member Liza van Zyl of Priory Heating Limited. Based in Swindon, Liza runs a small domestic plumbing and heating company that she set up in 2013 and has been in business for 11 years. Liza talks about what it is like being a female in a very male dominated industry, and why she finds it easy and is very comfortable in her working environment and she is not alone, as there is another female plumber working in Swindon too. She shares her passion for her business, and also how she likes to ensure she supports her elderly clients, particularly in winter. Liza also talks about growing up in South Africa, before leaving to work in Holland and then joining the British Army for eight years prior to starting her business. She has been a member of Businesswise for 5 years, and initially was sceptical about the whole idea, as it wasn’t an environment she’d been in before. Her first visit to a networking group was everything negative that she had expected the experience to be, and didn’t go back. However, when she visited Businesswise, she enjoyed it, and recognising that she’d found the right group for her, joined. The healthy environment where everyone can communicate with each other freely, whether to celebrate or to commiserate over some negatives – we’re all business people sharing the same types of problems. She also enjoys the other opportunities that Businesswise offers too, which not all networking groups do. If you’d like to know more about Liza and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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We both celebrate and support each other – it’s like an extended family with Yvonne Parker 16:51

24 weeks ago16:51

16:51

In today’s podcast our presenter Fiona Da Silva Adams is talking to Yvonne Parker for Yvonne Parker Hypnotherapy who explains how she helps people when working with them. She talks about how many more people are recognising the benefits of different therapy techniques, and also understanding the advantages of maintenance sessions. Yvonne also shares how hypnotherapy can help with so many issues, from confidence and low esteem to helping people with eating disorders and even pain. Yvonne talks about why she became a therapist after previously being an accountant, and the journey that she went on to become who she is today. She has been a member of Businesswise for two years and loves it. She loves the people and the support she has gained whilst being a member.Originally, she came as a sub for another member then decided to join herself. Yvonne understands the importance of referrals for her business but also how important it is to get to know people well and build relationships. Yvonne also talks about how she and another member in Businesswise who has a similar business swap session and support each other – something that wouldn’t have happened, had she not joined the group. Plus, she knows that there are people within the group who she could turn to for support if it was needed. If you’d like to know more about Yvonne and Businesswise, visit https://businesswise.org.uk/…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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As soon as you walk in the door you get a smile and feel the warmth straight away with Jess Walters 15:25

26 weeks ago15:25

15:25

In today's podcast our presenter, Lis McDermott talks to Jess Walters of Howden Insurance. This is the new name for A Plan, and Jess points out that Howden Insurance is not the kitchen company – that is Howdens with an S. They were A Plan for over 60 years, so it’s not so easy for people to remember the change. Jess talks about how she got into insurance, because it wasn’t always the thing she wanted to do. She shares a secret not many people know – that she was planning to go to music college, but in the end that didn’t happen. She loves working in the industry, which is good, because she knows that many people find it really boring, and it’s not something they want to deal with. There’s too much jargon too but the more she learns, the more she loves it. Jess particularly loves working with clients who visit when they need their insurance sorting out. She enjoys helping people who feel completely baffled by it all. She also explains the difference between advised and non-advised companies, which is interesting to learn about. Jess does a lot of networking, including Businesswise. On her first visit she was subbing for someone else from her office who couldn’t make it, and straight away she felt welcomed when she walked into the room. She knows that if she needs business advice, or even personal advice, she could ask her Businesswise friends. Although networking for many people is scary, Jess’s advice is that it is one of the best things you can do for your business, in terms of confidence and self esteem. If you’d like to know more about Jess and Businesswise, visit: https://businesswise.org.uk/ and if you’d like to visit email secretary@businesswise.org.uk – we do have to check first that your seat is vacant. If it’s not you can be put on the waiting list.…

Businesswise: The Voice of Business Networking in Swindon

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Networking today is the most important thing any business can do with Dawn Pursall 24:45

28 weeks ago24:45