Cumbria Growth Hub Podcast

Winning moves is a social enterprise combining business diagnostic, digital, and research and evaluation consultancy with the aim of improving economic, environmental and societal outcomes.  We’re joined by Colin Bell and Maddison Walker to discuss the topic of innovation in business and Winning Moves’ new Innovation Sprint project delivered as part of the Cumbria Accelerator.   Our conversation covers:        Why is innovation important         Why do some businesses struggle to innovate         Breathing life into old products         What help is available to businesses         Fostering a culture of innovation         The role of leadership         Common misconceptions         Collaboration         Managing risk         Communicating to stakeholders         Future trends shaping innovation in business Find out more about Innovation Sprint: https://winningmoves.com/cumbria-accelerator/

A healthy workforce is good for business! Mentally and physically healthy employees mean reduced staff turnover and less absences, which can increase productivity with less money being paid out on sick leave. To help businesses improve the wellbeing of their staff, the government is piloting a new scheme in Cumbria and Lancashire, which will give businesses an 80% discount on the cost of running workplace health assessments. We're joined on the podcast this month by Tracey Hudson of Intelligent OH, who are a provider delivering the scheme. Tune in to find out more about how a workplace health assessment can give you actionable advice to help you look after your employees and boost productivity. For more information, go to contact www.intelligentoh.com/funding or contact Tracey Hudson on 07983 272 357 or email tracey@intelligentoh.com

This month on the Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast we’re joined by Martyn Staveley of 3 Peaks Consulting. Martyn is leading on our new Supply Chain Pilot Programme, which will offer 1-2-1 support to twelve businesses in Cumbria who are looking to enter new supply chains. In our conversation we discuss… Martyn’s background working in national and international supply chains and supporting businesses to access new opportunities; what businesses on the programme can expect (including a meet the buyer event); the need for a supply chain programme in Cumbria; demystifying procurement processes; and the importance of having strong presentation skills to progress through interviews with potential clients.   Anyone looking to get involved in the programme and work with Martyn should get in touch by emailing lesleyr@cumbriachamber.co.uk More information on the programme can be found here: https://cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk/business-support/supply-chain-pilot-programme

This month on the Growth Hub podcast we're joined by Mags Bradshaw of Red Button Marketing Training. Our conversation focusses on Mags’ innovative, straightforward approach to marketing strategy. We discuss: What is marketing Misconceptions surrounding marketing The role of the marketing process Communication about marketing accross the business Helping marketers navigate their roles and avoid burnout The Marketing Performance Framework Red Button Marketing Training's upcoming training sessions with Cumbria Business Growth Hub To join us for ‘Commercial Marketing Strategy’ training and learn how to create your own marketing roadmap  click here.

Colin Bell is the Founder and Director of Leap the Crowd and Co-founder and Director of WeDo Content. We've been working with Colin recently to deliver High Performance FLOW training to business leaders in Cumbria. High Performance FLOW is a programme designed to help ambitious and hardworking business owners to break through to their next level of growth and performance.  Tune in to find out more about how the concept of High Performance FLOW can help you take your business or career to the next level! We discuss: Colin's experience and background How does High Performance FLOW work? Starting with the individual rather than at the business How does the programme help business leaders develop their teams and workplace culture The impact of using inspirational speakers in the workshops The parellels between high performance in sport and in business The pilot project delivered in partnership with Cumbria Business Growth Hub

We're joined by Molly Hogg of Cumbria Action for Sustainability and Lesley Robinson of Cumbria Business Growth Hub to discuss the launch of the W&F Green Enterprise Hub, a dynamic initiative dedicated to supporting local organisations on their journey towards decarbonisation and sustainability.

This month we're joined by business mentor Gail Gravett who is leading on our pilot Mentoring Programme. Tune in to hear how important mentoring is for success in business with lots of examples and insights.  Click here to get involved in our pilot mentoring programme starting January 2024: 

We're joined on the Cumbria Growth Hub podcast by Growth Hub client, Matthew Stockwell, Director of Three Hills Gelato. During the episode we discuss: Matthew's journey to starting Three Hills Gelato How he learned the necessary skills The partnership with Torpenhow Farmhouse Dairy Sourcing high-quality, natural ingredients Coming up with new flavour ideas Challenges and successes encountered so far And the future of Three Hills Gelato Check out their website here: https://threehillsgelato.co.uk/

We talk to Sarah Peak from the Department for Business & Trade about: The UK's position as an exporter How Cumbria compares to the rest of the UK in terms of export How DBT can help businesses overcome export challenges DBT's Export Academy Export Champions Trade missions Find out more information about support on offer from DBT here: https://www.great.gov.uk/

Benchmark Index is a diagnostic tool which provides real time business performance data to create a baseline of the business’s current levels of attainment, an assessment of strengths and weaknesses, and the means to track progress over time. Cumbrian businesses can now access the Benchmark Index free of charge through Cumbria Business Growth Hub. To learn more email info@cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk or call 0844 257 8450.

Belfast-based supplier Fibrus have embarked on a project to connect 60,000 premises in the Cumbria to the fastest broadband on the market under the government’s Project Gigabit programme. As well as creating jobs for local residents, the project will also present opportunities for local businesses to become suppliers of Fibrus and its primary contracter, Viberoptix.  This episode features a conversation with Procurement Director at Fibrus, Neil Burrows, on how businesses can get involved.  Links discussed in the episode: Fibrus and Viberoptix's websites Fibrefast Full Fibre Broadband | Fibrus Viberoptix - Home - Northern Ireland Supplier registration email: supplier_registration@fibrus.com Neil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-burrows/

On this month's episode we're joined by Rebecca Smith of Box Box Solutions. As a business and management consultant Rebecca frequently looks for new and innovative solutions to problems faced by her clients. One of those is distributed leadership, a model which moves decision making from one individual to a collective group. In our conversation, we discuss distributed leadership, its advantages and how to start incorporating it into an organisation. We also discuss Rebecca's two free-to-attend webinars coming up in July with Cumbria Business Growth Hub: 20th July - How to create your MISSION, VISION, PURPOSE AND VALUES - Book here 27th July - How to create your HIGH-LEVEL BUSINESS PLAN - Book here Links to the videos discussed in the podcast: Gitte Frederiksen - Great leadership is a network, not a hierarchy - Watch here MindSpring Presents: "Greatness" by David Marquet - Watch here  

Our guest on the podcast today is one of our business start-up clients, Kellie Cox. After serving as a bomb disposal expert in the British Army, Kellie has now left the army to start her own meditation and wellness consultancy due to launch in September. We discuss Kellie's career in the military, how she got into meditation and how it has helped her through high-stress situations, and Armed Forces Day. Useful links for businesses discussed in the episode: Armed Forces Day - https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/ Armed Forces Covenant - https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/ Defence Employer Recognition Scheme - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-employer-recognition-scheme

On this month's episode, Joe is joined by Dr Zoe Billings and Mark Pannone of Adapt & Evolve Consultancy. The conversation covers Mark and Zoe's careers in the Police and how this led them to set up Adapt & Evolve, the importance of biological wellbeing and recognising the physical signs of stress, and steps we can take towards reducing stress.  To hear more from Mark and Zoe on biological wellbeing, make sure you attend our webinar on 28th July. More information - https://cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk/business-support/growth-hub-training-events More information on Adapt & Evolve Consultancy can be found on their website - https://adaptandevolve.co.uk/home/

In this episode we discuss how businesses can improve their cyber security with cyber security expert, Andy Mapp. 

Joe sits down with Sarah and Ruth from Made Smarter to discuss their work supporting Cumbrian businesses to adopt digital technology. In the podcast we cover: What is Made Smarter? Grant funding and the approval process Workforce development Examples of how businesses have used the funding to adopt technology How can businesses get inolved Find out more about Made Smarter here.

Joe interviews Amanda and Naomi from Cumbria Local Enterprise Parternership about their upcoming Skills Bootcamps. The bootcamps offer training in a variety of areas including 3D printing, project management, and leadership and management for the visitor economy. Tune in to find out more! 

The latest episode of the Growth Hub podcast features business adviser Ray McReadie who leads on our Workforce Development Service. Find out more here.

Join us as we sit down with previous Growth Hub client, Colin Sneath, owner of A Day's Walk Farm Shop. 

To contact Monica from CITB to find out how she can help, email: Monica.Costelloe@citb.co.uk