by Phil Fraser
On the Leeds Business podcast I chat to inspiring, fascinating and super-impressive Leeds Business Owners, lifting the lid on their own unique personal business journeys; the ups, the downs, the successes and the failures and their own secret sauce. We also get a unique ‘how to…’ from each guest, to assist you on your own business journey. In addition we speak the city’s movers and shakers, and specialists on everything business related. I’ll be speaking to Founders who have sold their business for millions, start-up Founders who have an exciting new product or service, major Business Owners with the city’s biggest companies, fascinating hidden Leeds businesses and everyone in between… just as long as they have an interesting business journey to share, I’ll be talking to them.. The ‘how to..’ segment will share essential business learnings like; * How to raise Angel Investment? * How to create a business plan? * How to sell your business? * How to create a business strategy? * How to build a marketing campaign? * How to buy a business competitor? * How to read a P&L statement … and much much more… Why Leeds? It’s a brilliant place to live, work and play and is full of brilliant businesses and inspirational business leaders. And it’s my hometown. So if you’re a Business owner, or want to be one, or are simply interested in the Leeds business scene, you’ll want to be listening. The show is free to listen to and there’s a new episode every Wednesday, released at 7.00am so you can listen on your morning commute, at the gym, in the park or at home. The Leeds Business Podcast is hosted by Phil Fraser. Phil launched, scaled and sold his own business and is now a Business Sounding Board helping SME Business Owners like you to NOT be lonely at the top. Phil loves to hear other people’s business journeys. Want to suggest a guest for the show? Email [email protected]. If you’re a Business Owner who’s feeling lonely at the top, or is strategically stuck or simply needs a supportive, confidential ear from someone who’s been there done that, email [email protected]. Leeds Business Podcast is produced by Simon Treen at Western Studios in Leeds.
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7/3/2023
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April 16, 2025
<p>What happens after the cameras stop rolling when you win The Apprentice?</p><p>After hearing her story last year (give it a listen If you haven’t yet - link below) we caught up with 2024 Apprentice winner, Rachel Woolford, to find out what’s been happening in the business since she won, how she spent the £250,000, the ups (and downs) of being a winner and how much is Lord Sugar involved?</p><p><strong>INTRODUCING RACHEL WOOLFORD</strong></p><p>Rachel Woolford is the owner and founder of boutique gym, North Studio, which has two locations in North Leeds and one in Harrogate. </p><p>She was the winner of the BBC's The Apprentice in 2024.</p><p><strong>EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p><p>[00:00:30] Introducing Rachel Woolford</p><p>[00:03:00] Development and expansion of the business in the last 12 months</p><p>[00:08:00] Pros and cons of expanding by buying an existing business</p><p>[00:12:30] The importance of delegation</p><p>[00:18:00] Expanding the business offering</p><p>[00:23:00] The input from, and benefits of, Lord Sugar and his team</p><p>[00:28:00] Navigating personal challenges post-The Apprentice</p><p>[00:33:00] The positives and leveraging the opportunities from being on The Apprentice</p><p>[00:40:00] Watching The Apprentice from the outside, and thoughts on it</p><p>[00:45:00] How to keep value in your business</p><p><strong>3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS</strong></p><ul><li>Being a cash buyer doesn’t necessarily speed the property buying process up</li><li>If you’re comfortable in your business, you’re in the wrong place</li><li>Go on The Apprentice but only if you’re serious about your business</li></ul><br/><p><br></p><p><strong>3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR</strong></p><p>“The Apprentice is about who can handle chaos the best”</p><p>“it took 6-9 months to understand our relationship”</p><p>“I was given a really cool, horrendously loud Defender to drive for free for a year”</p><p><strong>VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="http://www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com</a> </p><p>LinkedIn - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/</a></p><p>Work with Phil - <a href="http://www.philfraser.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.philfraser.co.uk</a> </p><p>Website: <a href="https://northstudioleeds.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://northstudioleeds.co.uk/</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-woolford-948528216/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-woolford-948528216/</a></p><p> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/northstudioleeds/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/northstudioleeds/</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rachelwoolford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/rachelwoolford/</a></p><p>Shout out: <a href="https://www.studiosister.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.studiosister.co.uk/</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’</strong></p><p>My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.</p><p>Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it</p><p><br></p><p><strong>YOU MAY ALSO LIKE</strong></p><p>Rachel Woolford, first episode - <a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/rachel-woolford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/rachel-woolford/</a></p><p>Queen of Mean from The Apprentice - <a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/linda-plant" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/linda-plant</a></p><p><a...
April 9, 2025
<p>Matt Cheshire, CEO of the Needs Group offers a VIP concierge service to the rich and famous. Matt has over 25 years of experience providing quality services to a variety of clients. Matt tells us how he got into this fascinating niche sector, how he deals with people who never get told no, the ups and downs caused by Covid and the importance of pampered pooches to the business.</p><p><strong>INTRODUCING MATT CHESHIRE</strong></p><p>Matt has worked in the entertainment and private aviation industry for the past 26 years in a variety of roles, with most of it spent working for some of the world’s biggest Music, Sports and TV personalities providing them with VIP concierge services that are now mirrored in Artist Needs.</p><p>The company has expanded into four different facets that form The Needs Group; specialists in artist services, private aviation, event furniture hire and VIP concierge services.</p><p><strong>EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p><p>[00:00:00] Introducing the Needs Group</p><p>[00:06:30] From Sound Engineer to side hustle to Business Owner</p><p>[00:14:00] How the aviation division began and then furniture</p><p>[00:18:00] Growing a business by organic growth alone</p><p>[00:24:00] The (very interesting) impact of Covid</p><p>[00:31:00] the importance of third party suppliers</p><p>[00:37:00] How to manage expectations</p><p>[00:40:00] The power in being personable</p><p>[00:40:00] Fuck ups, weird requests and a regret</p><p><br></p><p><strong>3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS</strong></p><p>• You have to be constantly thinking and evolving</p><p>• We are only as good as our last job</p><p>• Be honest with clients to ensure that expectations are properly managed</p><p><br></p><p><strong>4 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR</strong></p><p>“We’ve now got seven Premier League clubs we do all the player movement for”</p><p>“Our long term gain has been phenomenal because we have built phenomenal amounts of trust”</p><p>“There’s a huge element of luck, a huge element of trust and a huge element of loyalty”</p><p>“The music side dried up, and the aviation side went bonkers”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com </a></p><p>LinkedIn - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/</a></p><p>Work with Phil - <a href="https://www.philfraser.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.philfraser.co.uk </a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.theneedsgroup.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.theneedsgroup.com/ </a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcheshire" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcheshire</a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’</strong></p><p>My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.</p><p>Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it</p><p><br></p><p><strong>YOU MAY ALSO LIKE</strong></p><p>https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/</p><p>https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/yana-smaglo/ </p><p>https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/ </p><p><br></p><p><strong>ABOUT YOUR HOST</strong></p><p>Phil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.</p><p>As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra...
April 2, 2025
<p>This week we speak to Graeme Hall, Executive Chairman of Brandon Medical.</p><p>Graeme shares with us a great template for turning around a failing business, navigating selling into the NHS, the importance of company culture and values and also gives a simple, but really useful guide on how to start exporting.</p><p><strong>INTRODUCING GRAEME HALL</strong></p><p>Graeme is Executive Chairman of Brandon Medical and Co-Owner with his brother Adrian. He also serves as a Director of Medilink North of England, a professional association dedicated to growing the Healthcare Technology sector and is Chairman of the Hospital Turnkey Suppliers Association. </p><p>Graeme was awarded ‘Director of the Year’ by the Institute of Directors in 2010 for his role in the development of Brandon Medical into a well-respected medical technology business.</p><p><strong>EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p><p>[00:00:00] From engineer to entrepreneur and acquisition</p><p>[00:05:00] Turning the acquisition around one problem at a time</p><p>[00:11:00] The problems that dealing with the NHS brings</p><p>[00:15:00] Developing the business, and a few false dawns</p><p>[00:20:00] The difficulty in consistent culture in an international company</p><p>[00:25:00] The value of awards in business</p><p>[00:30:00] Exiting the business; the thinking behind exiting, the planning and the execution</p><p>[00:41:00] A practical guide to exporting</p><p><strong>3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS</strong></p><p>• Rather than start a business, buy one that has at least an office and basic staff and a product</p><p>• If there’s big barriers to entry it stops other companies taking business away from you</p><p>• Not all businesses are sellable and not all businesses are inter-generational</p><p><br></p><p><strong>3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR</strong></p><p>“We borrowed money to buy the business. 10 weeks later we’d repaid the loan”</p><p>“One of our values is friendliness – we don’t have to be friends with people we work with but we have to be good colleagues”</p><p>“Competitors are a great source of market information and education”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com </a></p><p>LinkedIn - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/</a></p><p>Work with Phil - <a href="https://www.philfraser.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.philfraser.co.uk </a></p><p><br></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.brandon-medical.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.brandon-medical.com/ </a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/graeme-hall-257078a/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/graeme-hall-257078a/ </a></p><p>Shout out: <a href="https://www.medilinkuk.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.medilinkuk.com/ </a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’</strong></p><p>My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.</p><p>Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it</p><p><br></p><p><strong>YOU MAY ALSO LIKE</strong></p><p><a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/the-square-ball/</a></p><p><a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/yana-smaglo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/yana-smaglo/</a></p><p><a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/...
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