The Small Business Sessions

Welcome to Small Business Sessions, brought to you by Enterprise Nation as part of Powering Local Businesses , our collaboration with EDF Small Business and Square. In this series, we're speaking to founders and entrepreneurs about the real stories behind starting, growing and rebuilding small businesses. Expect honest conversations, practical lessons and first-hand insight from people who have built businesses with purpose. In this episode of the series, we're joined by Dee Omole, founder of Dee's Basement , a confectionery studio specialising in nostalgia-inspired cakes and desserts. Dee shares how a final-year university project at the University of Westminster became the foundation for Dee's Basement. She turned a pandemic‑lost pastry job into a thriving, community‑driven DIY cookie and dessert brand by leveraging affordable pop‑up spaces, relentless social‑media engagement, and small‑batch creativity to grow sustainably while maintaining personal control over her work. What began as postal cookies and hand-painted madeleines has grown into a business that counts Pinterest and Liberty London among its brand partners. Dee talks about building a loyal community on social media, learning to spot brands that want free work in exchange for "exposure," expanding from a home kitchen to a commercial kitchen, and writing her first cookbook with Quadrille, an imprint of Penguin. Topics discussed in the episode: How Dee built an online following, partly through the extra visibility black-owned businesses gained during the Black Lives Matter movement Winning brand partnerships with the likes of Pinterest and Liberty London by pitching ideas rather than simply offering catering Learning to spot brands offering "exposure" instead of payment while going viral with 12 million TikTok views from a video of her washing a fake display cake Running sold-out pop-up cafés in a neighbouring unit borrowed from her sister, and hosting small, intimate cake-decorating workshops Writing and publishing her cookbook, A Little of What You Fancy , with Quadrille, which was built around small-batch recipes designed to reduce waste for beginner bakers Learning to say no and protecting her wellbeing ----- Powering Local Businesses We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably. Get free support now

Welcome to Small Business Sessions, brought to you by Enterprise Nation as part of Powering Local Businesses , our collaboration with EDF Small Business and Square. In this series, we're speaking to founders and entrepreneurs about the real stories behind starting, growing and rebuilding small businesses. Expect honest conversations, practical lessons and first-hand insight from people who have built businesses with purpose. In this episode of the series, we're joined by Usman Khalid, founder of Haven Coffee , an organic coffee brand and social enterprise with a mission to challenge false narratives about refugees in the UK. Usman shares how his own experience as a refugee, his work with Counterpoints Arts and support from The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network helped him develop the idea for Haven Coffee. He talks about building a business with no previous experience, starting with weekend market stalls, opening a small coffee shop and using coffee, barista training, comedy and visual art to create opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers. Topics discussed in the episode: How Usman's experience of gaining refugee status in 2015 shaped the idea behind Haven Coffee Why Haven Coffee is a business first, not a charity, even though social impact is central to its purpose Starting with weekend market stalls and coffee sales at events before opening a physical shop The reality of running a very small physical coffee shop and the challenge of trying to grow when income is limited How Usman created Laff-Uccino, a comedy event that trains refugees and asylum seekers in stand-up comedy Working with high-profile comedians including Nish Kumar and Ed Gamble to bring audiences to the events Providing barista training for refugees and asylum seekers so they can build practical skills for employment The role of supportive people, artists, comedians and local networks in helping Haven Coffee keep going ----- Powering Local Businesses We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably. Get free support now

Welcome to Small Business Sessions, brought to you by Enterprise Nation as part of Powering Local Businesses , our collaboration with EDF Small Business and Square. In this series, we're speaking to founders and entrepreneurs about the real stories behind starting, growing and rebuilding small businesses. Expect honest conversations, practical lessons and first-hand insight from people who have built businesses with purpose. In this episode of the series, we're joined by Charlie Duckworth, founder of Community Sauna Baths , the not-for-profit social enterprise making sauna and cold plunge more affordable and accessible across London. Charlie shares how the idea came together after the pandemic, why he wanted to create a regular, community-focused sauna experience outside of expensive gyms and spas, and how the business grew from a low-cost garden site into a five-site operation. He also talks about operating as a community interest company, working with local authorities, funding outreach sessions and building a wider movement through the Community Sauna Network. Topics discussed in the episode: Why Charlie wanted to create a regular sauna experience that focused on heat, cold and social connection Setting up as a community interest company and why the not-for-profit model mattered from the start Finding a landlord willing to take a chance on the idea and starting in a low-fi garden space Funding new sites through pre-sale tickets, discounted sessions, small loans and reinvested income How Community Sauna Baths uses paid tickets to fund outreach, free sessions and local community work Working with the NHS through social prescribing and bringing people into sauna through GP referrals Charlie's ambition to bring community sauna facilities to every London borough by 2030 ----- Powering Local Businesses We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably. Get free support now

Welcome to Small Business Sessions, brought to you by Enterprise Nation as part of Powering Local Businesses , our collaboration with EDF Small Business and Square. In this series, we're speaking to founders and entrepreneurs about the real stories behind starting, growing and rebuilding small businesses. Expect honest conversations, practical lessons and first-hand insight from people who have built businesses with purpose. In this episode, we're joined by Jade Georgiou, co-founder of Hackney Barkers , the dog grooming business built around community, care and ethical products. Jade shares how she left her job as a receptionist to train as a dog groomer, later opening her own salon in Hackney after spotting what felt like the perfect sign – an Irish Terrier in the window of the premises. She talks about the realities of running a physical business, learning to set boundaries with customers, supporting other local dog businesses and building a salon where dogs, owners and staff feel properly looked after. Topics discussed in the episode: Why growing up in an entrepreneurial family made opening a salon feel like a natural next step Building the shop with family help and putting personal money, pride and energy into the space The early challenge of saying yes to every customer and learning to set proper business rules Taking on the first employee and realising the business needed stronger processes Why community is central to Hackney Barkers, from referrals to sharing local businesses' services Offering free grooming for unhoused people's dogs and why Jade wants the business to help beyond paying customers How Jade chooses local and ethical suppliers that align with Hackney Barkers' ethos ----- Powering Local Businesses We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably. Get free support now

Welcome to Small Business Sessions, brought to you by Enterprise Nation as part of Powering Local Businesses , our collaboration with EDF Small Business and Square. In this series, we're speaking to founders and entrepreneurs about the real stories behind starting, growing and rebuilding small businesses. Expect honest conversations, practical lessons and first-hand insight from people who have built businesses with purpose. In this episode, we're joined by Max Tobias, co-founder of The Dusty Knuckle, one of London's best-known bakery businesses. Max shares how his experience working with young people in the youth justice system led to the idea for a bakery that could create real opportunities for people facing barriers to employment. He talks about starting small, growing from a shipping container and building a business whose product has to stand on its own while the social impact sits at the heart of the company. Topics discussed in the episode: How Max's background in youth intervention and youth justice shaped the idea for his business Using a local restaurant's pizza oven early in the morning to test the product and build demand How The Dusty Knuckle's youth employment programme supports young people coming from custody, care, insecure housing and other difficult circumstances Training the wider team to support young people without making the programme feel separate from the business What it's like running a bakery business in 2026, including rising costs, early starts and the pressure on hospitality Why Max wants the business to become a London community asset people genuinely care about ----- Powering Local Businesses We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably. Get free support now

Welcome to Small Business Sessions, brought to you by Enterprise Nation as part of Powering Local Businesses , our collaboration with EDF Small Business and Square. In this series, we're speaking to founders and entrepreneurs about the real stories behind starting, growing and rebuilding small businesses. Expect honest conversations, practical lessons and first-hand insight from people who have built businesses with purpose. In this episode, we're joined by Nik Southern, founder of Grace & Thorn, the floristry business known for its wild, natural and rule-breaking approach to flowers and plants. Nik shares how she moved from recruitment into floristry, built the business from her living room and grew it into one of London's best-known independent florists. Topics discussed in the episode: Why Nik left recruitment after 13 years and retrained as a florist in her mid-30s Starting Grace & Thorn from her living room and selling flowers through friends, pubs and word of mouth Moving from a small basement studio to a Hackney Road shop as the business started to grow The challenges of running a high-street shop, from service charges to safety and rising pressure Why Nik closed the shop and moved to a more manageable studio model How Grace & Thorn built strong roots in Hackney's creative small business community The burnout, guilt and pressure that can come with running a creative business for nearly 15 years ----- Powering Local Businesses We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably. Get free support now

Welcome to Small Business Sessions, brought to you by Enterprise Nation as part of Powering Local Businesses , our collaboration with EDF Small Business and Square. This series explores the practical steps small businesses can take to grow and thrive – from improving energy efficiency and embracing sustainability to creating a lasting impact in their local communities. In this episode, we're joined by Rob Wilson, co-founder of Toast Brewing, a brewery that makes craft beer using surplus bread. Rob shares how Toast Brewing began as a project to raise awareness of food waste, why the team turned surplus bread into beer, and how the business has grown into a mission-led brand stocked by major retailers. Topics discussed in the episode: Why food waste is one of the biggest environmental issues the planet is facing How getting hold of surplus bread is, as Rob puts it, "depressingly easy" Why Toast donates 1% of revenue or 100% of profits to environmental charities Attracting investors including National Geographic and Heineken International Becoming a B Corp and why the process helped Toast improve its internal culture Expanding internationally through licensing, collaboration and local brewing partnerships Why Rob believes purpose-led businesses still need to focus hard on product quality ----- Powering Local Businesses We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably. Get free support now

Welcome to Small Business Sessions, brought to you by Enterprise Nation as part of Powering Local Businesses , our collaboration with EDF Small Business and Square. This series explores the practical steps small businesses can take to grow and thrive – from improving energy efficiency and embracing sustainability to creating a lasting impact in their local communities. In this first episode of the series, we're joined by Renée Elliott, founder of Planet Organic, the UK's first fully certified organic supermarket. Renée shares how she launched Planet Organic in 1995, why values were at the heart of the business from day one and what happened when she returned years later to rescue it from administration. Topics discussed in the episode: Why Renée started the business to do something meaningful, not simply to make money The slow start after opening in November 1995, and why Renée feared the business might not survive What happened when Renée was pushed out of the business and had to reinvent herself as a mentor Why she returned in 2023 to help rescue Planet Organic from administration Rebuilding the business by reconnecting it with its original values, product standards and community Why community events, in-store expertise and team training matter in modern high street retail How Planet Organic has approached sustainability through core values and evolving, aspirational standards ----- Powering Local Businesses We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably. Get free support now

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the 10th and final episode in the series is Susan Allen, co-founder of sustainable period care products business Here We Flo . Susan Allen and her co-founder Tara Chandra started Here we Flo after being disappointed at the lack of organic and sustainable personal care products in the market. The business is now stocked in major retailers and has several big name advisers and investors on board. Topics discussed in the episode include: Running a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. How Here We Flo got stocked in Sainsbury's, Boots, Whole Foods and more big retailers. Susan's brilliant advice for making a success of being stocked in big retailers. Securing advisers and investors from Graze, Charlotte Tilbury, Unilever, M&S, L'Oreal, and more. Becoming a B Corp. ---- This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vodafone Business, the Nation’s Network*, as part of the business.connected campaign which helps small businesses embrace digital change and grow online. Access free training in a range of digital business areas, from online marketing to AI and smarter working at www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected Listen to and watch previous podcast episodes at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast *The Nation's Network: Vodafone - nation's most valuable brand, verified by Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands Report 2024, and supporting the nation since 1984 through to 2025's major summer events. See full verification of the substantiation: www.vodafone.co.uk/TNN

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the ninth episode is Millie Flemington-Clare, founder of accessible and inclusive makeup brand Human Beauty. Millie was born with a rare genetic condition called Cystinosis, which affects only 3,000 people worldwide. Her frustration with the lack of accessible products in the beauty industry inspired her to start her own brand. Human Beauty sells product designed for disabled and neurodivergent people, featuring anti-roll packaging, sensory-friendly formulas, and QR codes with audio descriptions. Millie has won several awards and secured funding from a range of sources, including a £50,000 grant from Innovate UK and investment on BBC TV's Dragons' Den. Beyond Human Beauty, Millie works as a design and accessibility consultant, helping brands and institutions build inclusion into their foundations. Topics discussed in the episode: Turning ideas into physical products. How Millie is shaking up the makeup industry. How Millie won a £50,000 funding and her tips for successful grant applications. The impact of appearing on Dragons' Den. What more needs to be done to support disabled entrepreneurs. Why Millie's community is so vital to the business and how she engages them. ---- This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vodafone Business, the Nation’s Network*, as part of the business.connected campaign which helps small businesses embrace digital change and grow online. Access free training in a range of digital business areas, from online marketing to AI and smarter working at www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected Listen to and watch previous podcast episodes at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast *The Nation's Network: Vodafone - nation's most valuable brand, verified by Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands Report 2024, and supporting the nation since 1984 through to 2025's major summer events. See full verification of the substantiation: www.vodafone.co.uk/TNN

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the eighth episode is Dominic Mills, co-founder of local experiences marketplace Yuup . Dominic was inspired to start Yuup after struggling to find the gift of a local experience for his wife. He could only find the usual experience offerings from national providers, and nothing that reflected Bristol, the city where he lives. Yuup is now a thriving marketplace of experiences offered by hundreds of small businesses in Bristol, Bath, Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Durham, Northampton, Nottingham. Yuup has also branched out into its running its own events such as a spectacular drone show this Christmas . Topics discussed in the episode include: Dominic's experience of growing and selling a marketing agency before he started Yuup and lessons he learnt. His start-up challenges and how he overcame them. Launching a platform for physical experiences during a global pandemic. How he convince the first businesses to join Yuup. How Yuup crowdfunded almost £1m. Building a team. How Yuup decides which cities to expand to. How Yuup measures its mission for delivering a positive social impact. Branching out into running Yuup's own events such as drone shows and immersive experiences. ---- This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vodafone Business, the Nation’s Network*, as part of the business.connected campaign which helps small businesses embrace digital change and grow online. Access free training in a range of digital business areas, from online marketing to AI and smarter working at www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected Listen to and watch previous podcast episodes at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast *The Nation's Network: Vodafone - nation's most valuable brand, verified by Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands Report 2024, and supporting the nation since 1984 through to 2025's major summer events. See full verification of the substantiation: www.vodafone.co.uk/TNN

Welcome to the Small Business Sessions: Founder Fails podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation, in collaboration with Hiscox. In this series, we're sitting down with bold business voices to talk candidly about their biggest fails, unexpected lessons and the power of getting back up. Expect honest conversations, tales of resilience and real talk from founders who turned mistakes into movement. In episode six, we're joined by Sam Matanle, the co-founder of Batch LDN, a clothing company with a focus on sustainability. In this episode, Sam reflects on turning a 2024 break-in into a bold, humorous campaign. He also shares how crisis storytelling, transparency and resilience have shaped his approach to leadership, building a brand and navigating failure. Topics discussed in the episode: The simple problem that sparked Batch LDN's made-to-order approach Tackling smart-casual dressing and the waste that traditional fashion models create The emotional impact of failure and why accepting "it might fail" builds clarity Knowing when to push through a setback and when a pivot is genuinely needed Impostor syndrome as a sign of growth (not inadequacy) ----- Whether you're a sole trader, scaling a start-up or running a growing enterprise, Hiscox business insurance could protect you if the worst happens. Their policies are built around your business to protect you from the real risks you face every day. Head to https://www.hiscox.co.uk/business-insurance to learn more.

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the seventh episode is Ryan Panchoo, founder of gluten free doughnut brand Borough 22 . What started as making doughnuts for his children due to a frustration at the lack of allergen-free treats at events is now a brand that regularly sells out in Selfridges. Ryan has grown his business from hand delivering his products on the London Underground, to going full time after nine years, being stocked in one of the UK's most iconic retailers and selling overseas. Topics discussed in the episode include: Hand delivering his doughnuts on the London Underground. How he used social media to promote his products from day one. How a follower tagging Selfridges on Instagram led to Borough 22 being stocked. Switching from running the business as a side hustle to going full time. How he raising investment to fund a commercial kitchen. Letting go of doing everything and decided to grow a team. Borough 22's global fans including one who flew from Norway to get the products and an American fan who offered to pay for Ryan's flight to Detroit to make his doughnuts! ---- This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vodafone Business, the Nation’s Network*, as part of the business.connected campaign which helps small businesses embrace digital change and grow online. Access free training in a range of digital business areas, from online marketing to AI and smarter working at www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected Listen to and watch previous podcast episodes at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast *The Nation's Network: Vodafone - nation's most valuable brand, verified by Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands Report 2024, and supporting the nation since 1984 through to 2025's major summer events. See full verification of the substantiation: www.vodafone.co.uk/TNN

Welcome to the Small Business Sessions: Founder Fails podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation, in collaboration with Hiscox. In this series, we're sitting down with bold business voices to talk candidly about their biggest fails, unexpected lessons and the power of getting back up. Expect honest conversations, tales of resilience and real talk from founders who turned mistakes into movement. In episode five, we're joined by Daisy Morris, social media strategist, community builder and bestselling author. Daisy shares how creativity, vulnerability and connection have shaped her entrepreneurial journey. She also opens up about the realities of failure, how to make authentic connections online and why building community is the foundation of sustainable growth. From creative flops to finding freedom in doing things your own way, this conversation is a powerful reminder that success is as much about people as it is about purpose. Topics discussed in the episode: How building connection became the driving force behind her business How to build meaningful relationships in a digital world The "we vs. me" approach to social media and creating content that resonates The importance of sharing failures online when things go wrong Taking ideas from seed to reality – and knowing when to pivot or persevere ----- Whether you're a sole trader, scaling a start-up or running a growing enterprise, Hiscox business insurance could protect you if the worst happens. Their policies are built around your business to protect you from the real risks you face every day. Head to https://www.hiscox.co.uk/business-insurance to learn more.

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the sixth episode is Zoë Chapman, founder of The Whizzer , the revolutionary portable toilets for adults and children. Zoë started her business in 2020 while recovering from spinal surgery. She decided to turn into reality a portable toilet invention she had come up with in 2015 when she was potty training her son and looking after her disabled father. Since then, she has gone on to sell thousands of products and land an investment deal on BBC TV's Dragons' Den. Throughout her journey, networks and networking have been crucial to Zoë's success. That includes joining Enterprise Nation, getting a contact for a trusted manufacturer from a fellow entrepreneur, getting Instagram followers to test products and recruiting customers as freelancers to help her business. Topics discussed in the episode include: Finding a manufacturer with a limited budget and getting the product manufactured. How Enterprise Nation has helped her business. How a customer helped Zoë get stocked in a national retailer. The impact of appearing on TV's Dragons' Den. The other female entrepreneurs who inspire and influence Zoë. ---- This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vodafone Business, the Nation’s Network*, as part of the business.connected campaign which helps small businesses embrace digital change and grow online. Access free training in a range of digital business areas, from online marketing to AI and smarter working at www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected Listen to and watch previous podcast episodes at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast *The Nation's Network: Vodafone - nation's most valuable brand, verified by Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands Report 2024, and supporting the nation since 1984 through to 2025's major summer events. See full verification of the substantiation: www.vodafone.co.uk/TNN

Welcome to the Small Business Sessions: Founder Fails podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation, in collaboration with Hiscox. In this series, we're sitting down with bold business voices to talk candidly about their biggest fails, unexpected lessons and the power of getting back up. Expect honest conversations, tales of resilience and real talk from founders who turned mistakes into movement. In episode four, we're joined by Tom Voller, the co-founder of global creative production agency Dojo Films . Tom shares the messy realities behind running a creative business. From early missteps and undercharging to losing major projects and learning to own mistakes publicly, Tom opens up about what failure really looks like in the world of creative entrepreneurship – and why honesty has become his biggest business tool. Topics discussed in the episode: · Why not knowing what you're doing can be an advantage when building a creative career · How therapy, coaching and community can help founders become resilient · Why publicly owning your failures builds trust with clients and audiences · How honesty online has helped Tom attract new business and find peace with vulnerability · The need for more open conversations about undercharging, ghosting and client challenges in the creative industry ----- Whether you're a sole trader, scaling a start-up or running a growing enterprise, Hiscox business insurance could protect you if the worst happens. Their policies are built around your business to protect you from the real risks you face every day. Head to https://www.hiscox.co.uk/business-insurance to learn more.

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the fifth episode is Julianne Ponan, founder of Creative Nature, the range of snack bars and other products that are free of the top 14 allergens. Julianne was inspired to start the business after suffering with anaphylaxis and allergies from the age of two. Her conditions have led to her being admitted to intensive care several times. Creative Nature products are now stocked in hundreds of stores and sold in countries around the world. Topics discussed in the episode include: How she got started with Creative Nature. How she got her products stocked in several large retail chains. Why she pulled out of having her products in Holland & Barrett. Her experience appearing on Dragons’ Den and why she turned down the deal. Her advice for growing a team. Lessons from failing at crowdfunding before she successfully crowdfunded £500,000. Securing significant media coverage and how other entrepreneurs can do the same. Exporting her products to over 16 countries. ---- This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vodafone Business, the Nation’s Network*, as part of the business.connected campaign which helps small businesses embrace digital change and grow online. Access free training in a range of digital business areas, from online marketing to AI and smarter working at www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected Listen to and watch previous podcast episodes at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast *The Nation's Network: Vodafone - nation's most valuable brand, verified by Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands Report 2024, and supporting the nation since 1984 through to 2025's major summer events. See full verification of the substantiation: www.vodafone.co.uk/TNN

Welcome to the Small Business Sessions: Founder Fails podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation, in collaboration with Hiscox. In this series, we're sitting down with bold business voices to talk candidly about their biggest fails, unexpected lessons and the power of getting back up. Expect honest conversations, tales of resilience and real talk from founders who turned mistakes into movement. In episode three, we're joined by Anisah Osman Britton, an award-winning tech entrepreneur, writer and business founder who received an MBE for services to diversity in technology. Anisah talks about her journey into tech, founding 23 Code Street, navigating start-up culture, representation and the pressures of being a purpose-driven entrepreneur. Topics discussed in the episode: How Anisah entered the tech world and what she learned in the early days of start-up life Why she founded 23 Code Street to get more women – especially women of colour – into technical roles and decision-making spaces Navigating identity beyond your first venture and learning to reinvent yourself The toll of purpose-driven entrepreneurship on health, including stress-related illness and recovery What needs to change in the ecosystem to normalise failure for women founders ----- Whether you're a sole trader, scaling a start-up or running a growing enterprise, Hiscox business insurance could protect you if the worst happens. Their policies are built around your business to protect you from the real risks you face every day. Head to https://www.hiscox.co.uk/business-insurance to learn more.

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the fourth episode is Theo Paphitis, Dragons' Den investor and entrepreneur. As one of the UK's most high profile entrepreneurs, Theo is known as being one of the investors on BBC TV show Dragons' Den. He is also famous for turning around struggling high street brands like Ryman and Robert Dyas. Theo does much to support small business owners, including through his #SBS Small Business Sunday community . In a wide ranging and inspiring converation, Theo discusses his extensive entrepreneurial career with loads of insights and advice. Don't miss this episode! Topics discussed in the episode include: His early entrepreneurial experience including running a school tuck shop. The impact of dyslexia on his entrepreneurial career. Transitioning from working as a tea boy to starting his own property finance company at age 23. How he has turned around struggling retail brands like Ryman and Robert Dyas. What is it like running high street businesses right now and what the government needs to do to support them. Stories from TV's Dragons' Den. Why he started his Small Business Sunday competition in 2010. Why he still gets imposter syndrome. What he thinks about AI. His top advice for business success. ---- This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vodafone Business, the Nation’s Network*, as part of the business.connected campaign which helps small businesses embrace digital change and grow online. Access free training in a range of digital business areas, from online marketing to AI and smarter working at www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected Listen to and watch previous podcast episodes at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast *The Nation's Network: Vodafone - nation's most valuable brand, verified by Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands Report 2024, and supporting the nation since 1984 through to 2025's major summer events. See full verification of the substantiation: www.vodafone.co.uk/TNN

Welcome to the Small Business Sessions: Founder Fails podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation, in collaboration with Hiscox. In this series, we're sitting down with bold business voices to talk candidly about their biggest fails, unexpected lessons and the power of getting back up. Expect honest conversations, tales of resilience and real talk from founders who turned mistakes into movement. In episode two, we're joined by Deepak Ravindran, co-founder of Oddbox, the UK’s first sustainable fruit and veg box delivery service. Deepak is now an executive coach for startup founders and leaders, helping others navigate the personal and professional challenges that come with building mission-led businesses. In this conversation, Deepak shares the personal and leadership lessons behind building a food-waste-fighting business — from early doubts and bold career moves to burnout, identity shifts, and the surprising ways failure shaped the journey. Topics discussed in the episode: The leap from a stable career in finance to founding Oddbox The tough early years — self-doubt, rejection, and redefining success How to separate your self-worth from your business identity Burnout, therapy, and rebuilding purpose after growth and pressure Leadership lessons learned the hard way Why founders should reframe “failure” as an experiment, not an identity The importance of reconnecting with your “why” and values ----- Whether you're a sole trader, scaling a start-up or running a growing enterprise, Hiscox business insurance could protect you if the worst happens. Their policies are built around your business to protect you from the real risks you face every day. Head to https://www.hiscox.co.uk/business-insurance to learn more.