10th Degree Podcast
By Anthony Story
10th Degree PodcastMay 06, 2021
Ready for Take-Off
In this episode of The 10th Degree Podcast we focus on Silicon South’s mission for 2022.
For most, business is looking strong in 2022, but there’s big pressure on hiring and retaining staff. This impacts all levels: from junior – to middle – to senior.
Salvation partly lies through university and college talent pipelines, but we need to attract staff from outside the region too – especially at mid-level. Meanwhile local agencies are working with some seriously impressive clients – from Virgin – to Marvel – to influencers like KSI.
We have a wealth of talent deserving a bonanza of client interest. Fabulous opportunities – yes – but a lot of work needed to exploit this much more effectively.
Silicon South’s mission for 2022 is to sit at the heart of helping the sector solve these challenges and maximise the opportunities. Ready for Take Off invites local businesses to join the conversation about how this needs to happen. Share their priorities, hear what others want, and find out what’s already happening.
C21st Customer Conundrum
In this episode of The 10th Degree podcast, we discuss the C21st Customer Conundrum with three experts in their fields.
As high streets continue to be hit by the impact of Covid and a drop in footfall, we are seeing new ways to connect with customers emerging. Whether it’s developing alternative ways to sell or pivoting to provide brand new services, this event explored some of the successful approaches local small businesses can and have embraced.
The panel further discuss and identify the key issues most likely to impact retail, shops, restaurants and coffee bars in 2022.
Our panel for this episode are:
Jamie Derrick - JD Ecommerce
Emma Jones - South Coast Social
Mark Masters - You Are The Media
Maintain and improve employee performance & wellbeing in challenging conditions.
For this podcast, the 10th degree takes a slightly different approach. We've brought together a panel of top experts together for an in-depth discussion around maintaining and improving the performance & wellbeing of employees, in what has been the most challenging of times.
More broadly, this event looks at techniques for improving employee wellbeing and productivity, as well as managing the impact of digital and remote working.
Furthermore, the panel explores the increasing pressures of digital and technological interactions, how to keep one’s cool in challenging conditions and improving staff engagement overall through a sustainability agenda.
Our panel for this episode are:
Jen Swaine - 3 Sided Cube
Carolyn Freeman - Cybercology
Tracey Howes - Advanced Oxygen Advantage Instructor
Nick Whitnell - Daring Works
How traditional journalism is adapting for the digital age with Darren Slade
Journalism has been around for a while. Yet, the role of 'journalism' has changed drastically since its first existence.
In this episode, Anthony speaks with expert Darren Slade, Group business editor for the Daily Echo titles in Hampshire and Dorset, on how his has witnessed these changes first hand and how we expects journalism as we know it to change with new digital technologies coming into play.
Defining and achieving business success with Warren Munson
Entrepreneur and expert speaker, Warren Munson, is the Founder of the multi award-winning tax and business advisory firm, Inspire, creator of the exclusive membership community for entrepreneurs and business leaders, Evolve, and author of ‘Evolve to Succeed – The Entrepreneur’s Journey’.
A forward-thinking, innovative and sometimes disruptive industry leader, Warren’s own personal journey, together with his deep industry knowledge and experience working with an array of entrepreneurs and business leaders, gives him a unique insight into what it takes to succeed – both personally and professionally.
It is these experiences and key learnings that Anthony, Director of Silicon South, finds out about in this episode.
Reinforcing your message by putting fun first with Mike Hawkyard
In today’s market where attention spans are limited and opportunities are numerous, crafting an entertaining experience becomes the key to landing your marketing message. Having made the shrewd jump from web design to game design, Mike Hawkyard found the game format to be a perfect match for this ethos, one which he holds to this day.
Having made waves and developed games that have topped the charts in every country with an app store, Mike discusses how he attracted the attention of giant companies like Lego and Disney, and which game principles can be translated into real life structures.
This episode of 10th Degree covers:
- Making the leap from website design to game development
- Marketing to big companies as a small business
- Mike’s ethos of ‘Fun first, Message second’
- The nuanced difference between gamification and games
- Translating game-based, task-reward structures into real life
- Importance of enthusiastic team members who also challenge your ideas
Entrepreneurship as the pursuit of freedom with Paul Tansey
Having spent over 18 years building a team of self-professed “marketing nerds”, Paul Tansey is a man with a firm grasp on digital marketing in a rapidly evolving market. His story is one of highs and lows, with lessons for us all on finding a work-life balance that allows us to chase a dream.
In this episode we learn how Paul, MD at Intergage, adapted to the rise of open source software, how he discovered the value that his team places on flexible working, and the pursuit of freedom that forms the foundation of any entrepreneur’s journey.
This episode of 10th Degree covers:
- The early years of selling software as a service
- Learning the importance of self-care
- The game-changing threat of open source software
- Handling a difference of opinion in business leadership
- Fulfilling staff’s dreams in order to fulfil your own
- Flexible working and the next generation
- Finding the biggest lessons in your mistakes
The selfless side of leadership with Paul Kinkaid
This episode of 10th Degree covers:
- Army leadership in popular media vs real life
- How people manage things, but leaders manage people
- Identifying the best leader for the job, and how that’s not always the most talented person
- Conveying a unifying purpose
- Paul’s concept of forensic leadership - everything leaves a trace
- Finding the right motivation for your team beyond purely financial
Designing a long-lasting user experience with Simon Norris
This episode of 10th Degree covers:
- The far reaching elements of UX beyond just the product/service
- Valuing people’s privacy as customers become more aware
- How technology alone does not improve customer experiences
- Simon’s desire to strive for perfection
- Refining the approach through continuous improvement
- Having an experience strategy to complement the business strategy
- The role of authenticity in UX design
Coaching businesses to define and achieve their goals with James Akin Smith
This episode of The 10th Degree covers:
- Why a business might need guidance
- Two-way trust in a coaching relationship
- Determining business operations by assessing personal goals
- Time-management vs Self-management
- Breaking out of the comfort zone
Building a loyal online audience through content marketing with Mark Masters #S1E10
With the online world overrun with different tools and platforms, it’s easy to be unsure how to promote yourself through the noise and what content you should be posting. Mark Masters is passionate about building loyal online audiences, as a relationship tool for every business, but only if it’s done the right way!
Author of The Content Revolution, founder of The ID Group and creator of You Are The Media, Mark is against dull content, spammy selling tactics and uncomfortable forceful messages, in this episode he discusses how to use the spaces in front of you to build trusted relationships that make people feel relaxed and willing to approach you as an expert.
This episode of The 10th Degree covers
- Content Marketing
- Adding value through stories
- Importance of values and principles in marketing
- How to become the media
- Finding a space and owning it
- Building trust
- Finding allies that will support you
Links and references at https://www.10thdegree.co.uk/
The importance of building your business reputation and maintaining communications with Liz Willingham #S1E9
In the thick of a crisis like the coronavirus, your business communications have to change and hiding under a rock is really not going to serve you. As a PR Business Leader, Founder of Liz Lean PR and Director at the British Chamber of Commerce, Liz Willingham is helping businesses daily navigate their way through.
In this podcast she delves into why businesses should maintain communications and customer relationships, the importance of reputation and how to adapt and be creative in business during uncertain times. Away from the coronavirus challenge, we also discuss how to implement a PR strategy, cover the old school question - is there such a thing as bad publicity? Analyse the power of a pet story, the rise of becoming “Tik Tok famous” and share a few examples of sneaky and amusing accidental PR stunts she’s pulled herself in the past!
This episode of The 10th Degree covers:
- The importance of business reputation
- Maintaining communications and customer relationships
- Understanding why your client or customer should buy from you
- How to implement a PR strategy
- Building relationships with editors
- Adapting and being creative in uncertain times.
- Examples of successful publicity stunts
Links and references at: http://10thdegree.co.uk
Four steps to generating and converting new business opportunities with Katie Street #S1E8
Selling is the lifeblood of a business, but lots of us find it really tricky. We get too eager, tongue tied, put people off or sometimes don’t even realise when people are really interested. With a career spanning across large and small agencies, both brand and client side, and now Founder of Street Agency, Katie Street enables agencies to get noticed by the brands that need them.
In this episode, Katie provides a number of tips and tricks to help you build new relationships, generate leads and improve your conversion rate. She has a very honest view discussing how to build trust, be helpful, give back and remember to be human in your approach to sales.
This episode of The 10th Degree covers:
- Defining your sales pitch
- Creating and implementing your value proposition
- The power of events
- The psychology of selling
- Referral schemes and employee advocacy
- Showcasing case studies.
Links and references at: http://10thdegree.co.uk/post/katie-street
Defining markets and building value with Adrian Dwyer #S1E7
Product-focused entrepreneur Adrian Dwyer has worked with and founded multiple technology companies covering industries including wave energy, autonomous vehicles and would-care technology.
He’s an adviser on the commercialisation of IP, including angel and private equity fund-raising. Adrian shares examples of the importance of stepping back and positioning your product within the right market, building revenue traction and creating value for acquisition. We also look into the lessons and advice he provides to his own mentees and the importance of mentoring.
This episode of The 10th Degree covers: Choosing the right market for your product, Re-focusing your product, Common mistakes of early-stage companies, Building value for acquisition, Future-planning, Mentoring.
Links and references at: https://www.10thdegree.co.uk/
Analysing your business financials and planning for the future with Chris Grubb #S1E6
Finances are often the most under appreciated part of entrepreneurship, yet the impact a good Financial Director can add to a start-up and scale-up business is invaluable.
We talk to Financial Director Chris Grubb about creating the steps to take to create financial feedback loop in your business, where your numbers show you what steps to take and then insights into the results those actions are having as well as planning for the future.
This episode of The 10th Degree covers: how to segment your revenue streams for accurate reporting, the value a Financial Director can add to your business, measuring staff time efficiency, forecasting and projecting the years ahead, setting financial targets, shareholder value analysis, business mission vs vision.
Links and references: https://www.10thdegree.co.uk/chris-grubb
Building a motivated team and successful business planning with Sue Pilgrim #S1E5
From recruiting Richard Branson’s office staff and their legendary Virgin Records parties, to “Wolf of Wall Street” style training sessions in the 80’s, Sue Pilgrim boasts over 35 years of experience in the recruitment industry, as well as building a multi-national agency. Sue Pilgrim understands the importance of people and relationship building for start-up and scale-up businesses and we discuss the top tips for recruiting the right people, team dynamics, on-boarding processes and ways to keep your team motivated as your business grows. This episode of The 10th Degree covers: Recruiting the right people, Business planning and recession-proofing, Building relationships with clients and employees, The importance of face-to-face communication, Hiring graduates, Team dynamics, Keeping your team motivated, Interview techniques, On-boarding processes. Links and references available here: https://www.10thdegree.co.uk/post/sue-pilgrim
Legal considerations for scale-up businesses with Shaun Guppy #S1E4
“Better Call Shaun!” In his position as a Company and Commercial Solicitor, Shaun Guppy is unique in his approachable, understanding and pragmatic manner in the world of corporate Law.
He provides a variety of legal tips and tricks for new companies to consider when scaling-up, from key documentation to put in place at start-up level to looking towards your exit in the future. Whilst also delving into the similarities and differences of real-world Law firms verses their televised counter-parts.
This episode of The 10th Degree covers: Building a relationship with your business advisers, Considerations when taking on employees or hiring contractors, Dealing with debt recovery, Key disputes in the sale of a company, Non-disclosure agreements and intellectual property.
Links and references available at https://www.10thdegree.co.uk/post/shaun-guppy
Growing an agency & social media for business with Clare Groombridge #S1E3
From growing up in a zoo, studying ancient history, becoming an air hostess, training as a paralegal and then launching a leading Social Media agency whilst on maternity leave, Clare Groombridge has a number of strings to her bow. Founder of South Coast Social, a results-driven social media agency in Bournemouth & London, we delve into Clare’s experience of growing an agency, her top tips on using social media for business and her love of the 80’s American action drama: “Top Gun.” This episode of The 10th Degree covers: Growing your business through freelancers or employees, Learning to delegate as your business accelerates, Identifying yourself as an entrepreneur, The steps to launching a successful social media campaign, Top tips and tricks on using social media for business including: being authentic, picking your networks, algorithms, paid vs organic content and creating controversy. Links and references available at: https://www.10thdegree.co.uk/post/clare-groombridge
Delivering award-winning projects through team culture and management with Jen Swain #S1E2
From increasing the number of blood donations to preparing people for global disasters and creating apps for dogs, Jen Swain’s work is all about using technology for good and to improve key issues in society. As Head of Operations at the award-winning app development company and digital tech agency, 3 Sided Cube, we talk to Jen about projects, process and people management to deliver outstanding work and nurture long-term client relationships. This episode of The 10th Degree covers: Organisational Flow and Processes, How developing a work culture can enable success, Managing client expectations, Defining what your client’s customers want, Quoting projects to ensure profitability, Time management across a team. Links and references available at: https://www.10thdegree.co.uk/post/jen-swain
The realities of entrepreneurship with Andrew Walker #S1E1
Do the skills and traits required to win in sport also apply to running a successful business? Start-up advisor, strategist and software expert Andrew Walker discusses the realities of entrepreneurship. He provides a very honest, down-to-earth view on the type of people and set of skills required to start and scale a successful business, from building your co-founding team, to understanding your end goal whilst sharing his experiences in building and selling “Software as a service” (SAAS) companies. This episode of The 10th Degree covers: Tools to help define your business strategy, Understanding your product, Solo-founder vs Co-Founding, Founder & Shareholder Agreements, Being cautious with selling equity, Investment - Finding Good Money vs Bad Money, The process of selling a company. Links and references available at: https://www.10thdegree.co.uk/post/andrew-walker
Welcome to The 10th Degree Podcast from your host, Anthony Story
Welcome to The 10th Degree Podcast. In this introductory episode, the host Anthony Story introduces himself and the podcast and what to expect in each new episode.