Podcast

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, sponsored by Affinia, host Sue Wilcock and co-host Rob Thacker talk to Matt Freestone, founder & MD of Unmatched.
Matt talks about how a CRM can revolutionise your business. He reflects on his early career as a 26 year old in charge of a £2.5 million marketing budget and how he now helps clients build £25k a month extra revenue. Matt offers practical insights that will resonate with business owners, directors, and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, sponsored by Affinia, host and Managing Editor of UK Director Magazines, Sue Wilcock, and co-host Rob Thacker, CEO of Sona Insurance, are joined by podcast producer Callum Howard, co-founder of Limitless Film and Media.

This episode is a recap of our most recent episodes where we chat about the common threads coming up in our conversations around running a business and reflect on the lessons we’ve learned. We also take a trip down memory lane, chatting about music memories and recalling the most impactful advertising campaigns of our youth, and how things have changed from then to now.

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, sponsored by Affinia, host Sue Wilcock and co-host Rob Thacker talk to Bob Steward & Mark Hart, Joint Managing Directors of Barnes Construction.

This is a fascinating insight into how two experienced operators share the responsibility of running a business as joint MDs. Bob and Mark are two very different people, but they have built a thriving partnership. We take a trip down memory lane, and they share their secrets to keeping the friendship alive both personally and professionally.

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, sponsored by Affinia, host Sue Wilcock and co-host Rob Thacker talk to Simon Bennett, CEO of VINTTRO.

Simon always brings a fantastic energy, and this episode is no different. We delve into his lifelong insomnia, building a successful lifestyle insurance business on just four hours of sleep, how he uses music as a creative outlet, and how his early career formed the foundation for how he runs his business today.

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, sponsored by Affinia, co-host Rob Thacker of Sona Insurance, talks to Gemma ‘aka’ Rosie Cairns, CEO of ROL Cruise.

After a successful transition into an employee ownership trust, ROL Cruise has become one of the UK’s best companies to work for. Find out how Gemma navigates the balance of power, as well as the surprising way she gets herself motivated to face the day.

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, sponsored by Affinia, co-host Rob Thacker of Sona Insurance, talks to Jenny Hanlon, CEO of Adnams Southwold.

This is a glimpse into Jenny’s rise through the ranks of one of Suffolk’s most prestigious businesses, juggling life in the boardroom and as a parent, as well as how she sees herself as a custodian of the centuries-old Adnams brand which spans brewing, distilling, wine, retail, and hotels.

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, sponsored by Affinia, co-host Rob Thacker, CEO of Sona Insurance, talks to ex-MD, speaker, and new head of operations at Finova Money, Anna Butcher.

There is so much to take from the episode. Anna talks candidly about being a young MD in financial services despite not being qualified in the field, how she believes that creating the best environment and culture for a team yields the best results, and how she’s grown a reputation for leading teams that deliver results.

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, sponsored by Unity Online, host Sue Wilcock and co-host Alex Pattenden talk to Michelle Denny, Founder and MD of Michelle Denny Recruitment.
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Michelle talks about how she fell into recruitment at a fairly late stage in her career, and the pivotal point that led her to take the gigantic step and set up her own business six years ago at the age of 53. She shares her vulnerability and challenges around running her business, as well as explaining the reasons behind her a straight-talking, people-first approach. She also talks about her plans for the future, why family is so important, and how she would advise her younger self to be more courageous and to not be frightened about making mistakes.

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, sponsored by Unity Online, host Sue Wilcock and co-host Matt Sykes talk to Founder and CEO of HALO, Paul Hamilton.
HALO is the world’s first Purebred Unicorn and the UK’s second most valuable software company (behind sage). Paul shares his reasons behind starting the business, how they hire on character rather than experience, and how the business has grown from its HQ in Suffolk, to become a global player employing hundreds of people, competing with the leading AI platforms, Salesforce and ServiceNow. He also talks about the HALO mission to ‘change the way the world works’ and the launch of halograduates.com, aimed at supporting the next generation of talent into the industry.

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, sponsored by Unity Online, host Sue Wilcock and co-host Matt Sykes talk to Jake Nicholls, CEO of Tru7 Group. Jake is the third generation in the family business, having made the decision to join Tru7 in his mid-twenties after giving up competing internationally as a professional motorcross rider. In this episode Jake talks about his reasons for making this decision and how the family dynamic works, and shares how he is learning from his father and being given the freedom to put his own stamp on the business. He also talks about legacy and how he believes in the next generation and is actively encouraging younger people to join the business and make a difference.

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, sponsored by Unity Online, host Sue Wilcock and co-host Matt Sykes talk to Therapeutic Coach, Cassandra Andrews, who is on a mission to help men 40+ find the emotional and physical freedom they crave. As a self-confessed podcast junkie, she consumes everything she can on mindset and motivation and in this episode, she shares her thoughts about how we have a generation of men who are repressing their emotions and gives listeners some free tools and takeaways to help men with their self-awareness. She also talks about her new book ‘Unlearning Masculinity’ and how she feels about treating people how you would want to be treated, and why she thinks that’s a load of rubbish.

In this episode of the UK Director Business podcast, which is sponsored by Unity Online, host Sue Wilcock welcomes guest Steve Flory, MD of Hudson Group and Chair of Ipswich Central, who shares his career journey from working in IT in the insurance sector, to launching his business, Ansaback, and then buying Hudson Group, which produces branded display products. Steve shares his valuable insights into entrepreneurship, customer service, and community engagement. He also discusses the importance of recognising opportunities, being resourceful and adaptable in business, as well as highlighting his commitment to serving the community in Ipswich, emphasising social inclusion and support for the homeless.