"Just Don’t Take No for an Answer" - Andy Pear on the Power of Persistence, Starting Messy and Scaling Big

https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts221/v4/2a/21/e7/2a21e7c4-13e8-667e-4069-78c4dfe2540e/mza_16787546589562734637.jpg/600x600bb.jpg

The Graft Podcast

Ben Glimmerveen

22 episodes

4 days ago

GRAFT is a podcast that strips away the glossy veneer of success to reveal the true stories of determination, resilience, and hard work that drive remarkable achievements. Hosted by Ben Glimmerveen, each episode features in-depth conversations with individuals who've built their success through sheer graft, exploring the challenges, sacrifices, and lessons learned along the way.

Business

RSS

All content for The Graft Podcast is the property of Ben Glimmerveen and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Business

https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/43512178/43512178-1745229735435-40c3fefda9cb1.jpg

"Just Don’t Take No for an Answer" - Andy Pear on the Power of Persistence, Starting Messy and Scaling Big

The Graft Podcast

55 minutes 26 seconds

4 months ago

"Just Don’t Take No for an Answer" - Andy Pear on the Power of Persistence, Starting Messy and Scaling Big

What does it really take to build a business empire - while surviving recessions, dodgy manufacturers, and your kids joining the company?

This week, we sit down with Andy Pear: entrepreneur, founder of First Aid UK, and the man behind some of Congleton’s most iconic businesses. From remortgaging his home to buy a failing medical supply company, to opening a 300,000 sq ft manufacturing site in China - and later sinking millions into a heritage hospitality venue - Andy’s journey is a masterclass in what it means to graft.

🎧 Listen as we discuss...

(00:00) – From Selfridges to medical sales: the unexpected career beginnings

(03:04) – The £15K loan that turned into a £500K buyout (thanks, Dad)

(07:00) – Scaling First Aid UK and learning what wasn’t working

(09:00) – Why he sold his first business and started again from scratch

(12:10) – Navigating shady Chinese factories (and building his own)

(19:00) – Surviving recessions, supplier stress, and managing cashflow

(21:00) – Honesty, decency, generosity: the simple HR philosophy that works

(27:00) – Spelling mistakes, car bumps, and letting people learn by doing

(30:00) – What it’s like managing your kids in a growing business

(34:00) – Why stepping back as MD gave him the freedom to step up as mentor

(40:00) – Buying The Lion & Swan and turning a crumbling pub into a destination

(44:00) – Would he go into hospitality again? (The answer might surprise you)

(48:00) – What makes Pax, the iconic restaurant, work after 40+ years

(50:00) – His biggest business lesson from a gold-medal Olympic family

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Push the envelope: When the door closes, knock on the side gate. Then climb over it.

Build trust with your suppliers: Honesty buys you time (and sometimes survival).

Let people make mistakes: It’s how they learn—and how your company grows.

Legacy isn’t just business: It’s family, community, and what you leave behind in the places that raised you.

GUEST

Andy Pear - Entrepreneur, Founder of First Aid UK, Owner of The Lion & Swan and Pax, Chairman of Reliance Medical