Laurie Fermor co founded Freddie's Farm with her husband after walking around the aisles of a supermarket feeling unimpressed with the selection of snacks available for kids. The couple knew they could make something that was better quality and tastier with the ingredients they had on their doorstep as vegetable and fruit farmers. Rather than just think, they acted and what a journey it has been. In this exclusive interview, Laurie describes how they managed to turn their passion into a successful business now on a global trajectory. A real inspiration for budding entrepreneurs everywhere!
Elspeth started Dunn Virtually to help SME businesses or busy individuals who need the support of an assistant but are not yet able to commit to someone full or part time. She enjoys working within different sectors and brings experience of being an Executive level PA and Project Manager to businesses. Since leaving the University of Wales, Newport in 2004 with a BSc (Hons.) degree in Business Administration. Elspeth has worked within businesses ranging from Multinational and SMEs (Medium, Small and Micro) to Academia. Located in Ashford, Kent, Dunn Virtually is equipped to support business locally, nationally and internationally where required. Elspeth is also passionate about her work with Wet Wheels South East. Wetwheels offers a unique opportunity for disabled and disadvantaged people of all ages - including those with multiple, profound and complex impairments - to access the water.
Julie and Alfie are founders of Dolly and Friends Dog Training. Between Julie & Alfie, they have seen 100’s of dogs and have thousands of hours’ worth of experience. Working with dogs and helping dog owners is their passion, no dog is too big or small, they train them all. They take pride in their work, as their reviews will testify. They also work with the prestigious trainer Nigel Marshall at Dog Trainer UK and are proud of what they achieve with him. If you want to see two individuals with a passion for all things canine then check out this fabulous interview.
James Hanaway is Director of Development at the Cheetah Conservation Fund UK. Th CCF is a global leader in the research and conservation of the cheetah. They run award-winning programmes in education, conservation and habitat restoration and are dedicated to protecting the cheetah in the wild. CCF UK focuses on building their network and support base in the UK.
Today's guest is music industry veteran Nick Stewart, who signed U2, Killing Joke and The Long Ryders to Island Records. Nick's career, spanning nearly 30 years, includes stints at Island Records, Polygram, Sony BMG and Warner Music. He has worked with, amongst others, Robert Palmer, Grace Jones, Steve Winwood, Blondie, Lonestar, The Eagles, Echo And The Bunnymen, The Storys, New Order, Thin Lizzy, Sir Elton John and Dire Straits. Enjoy.
Rupinder is a COACH, CONSULTANT, NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and TRUSTEE with experience in Marketing • Branding • Change Management • Insights & Strategy. She is a creative and commercially astute director with over 25 years’ experience developing and executing effective marketing and brand strategy to facilitate business success. Innovative, intuitive, with the ability to ensure long-term engagement across all audiences. An experienced NED with The Piece Hall and British Weightlifting and Executive Consultant with a proven capacity to provide constructive challenge, set big picture strategy and provide pragmatic guidance on how to best use the available experiences to meet these goals. Proven national and international track record in sports retail strategy, employee experience insight & strategy, product and services marketing and NPD, workshop design and management, automotive, oil & chemical marketing, mobile retail strategy and FMCG management.
Stefan Johansson is a Swedish racing driver who drove in Formula One for both Ferrari and McLaren, among other teams. Since leaving Formula One he has won the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans and raced in a number of categories, including CART, various kinds of Sports car racing and Grand Prix Masters.
Paul Arnold is a composer and classically trained musician, gifted at the piano, guitar and trumpet, although not usually at the same time. He has an MSc in Music Technology and a BA (Hons) in Music and Computing and his musical influences include 80s glam rock music, film scores and pop music of most sorts past and present. It’s important to have a broad appreciation of music in this chosen field!
Originally from Norfolk, and a member of the family which produced Britain's greatest naval hero, Philip's work within executive search over the past 14 years and as a Trustee has provided him with a unique opportunity to develop long term relationships with senior figures within the commercial, financial services, academic, public and not for profit sectors and within government and Parliament.
He has served as the Founder Chair of the 7/7 Memorial Trust and as Vice Chair of Best Beginnings and currently serves as a trustee of Coram Beanstalk, the national literacy charity, Theodora Children's Charity, which brings music, magic, fun and laughter to children in hospitals, hospices and specialist care through visits from Giggle Doctors and as a Member of the Survivors Advisory Forum at the National Emergencies Trust.
Philip has built an enviable reputation within executive search as a consequence of his understanding of the sectors within which he works, his connections, the strength and quality of the shortlists he is able to deliver and his palpable commitment to supporting clients to achieve the diversity they seek.
Mo Ali is an award winning director, working with some of the most innovative actors/artists/brands in the European and African entertainment industry. His feature debut, the post-apocalyptic action-thriller "Shank", was released theatrically in 2010, entering the UK Charts at number 4 and has now been released in more than 15 territories around the world. His second feature, "Montana", was a searing look at life in the underbelly of London. After appearing at the Sitges Film Festival, the most prestigious genre festival in the world, it sold to 30 territories and it went on to be nominated for Best Independent Feature at the NFAs and both Best Picture and Best Director at the Screen National Awards. Mo is also a board member of British Urban Film Festival, patron of the East Side Educational Trust and mentors over 26 young London based filmmakers.
Robin Cousins, MBE is a British former competitive figure skater who was BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1980. He was the 1980 Olympic champion, the 1980 European champion, a three-time World medalist (1978–1980) and four-time British national champion (1977–1980), winning all of these titles during his amateur career. He followed this with a successful career as a professional figure skater and later starred in ice shows as well as producing several of his own. He is able to spin in either direction, both clockwise and anti-clockwise, which is an unusual skill for a figure skater.
Off the ice, Cousins has commentated on figure skating events for the BBC, and he assumed the position of head judge on ITV's Dancing on Ice show from 2006 to 2014. He has also appeared in theatre productions, including the West End.
Originally from Stanmore and Edgware in north London, David Stark started work after leaving school for Premier Drums, before joining Dick James Music, Decca Records and MAM Records as international press officer. He later moved over to the press side of the business, working for Billboard/Music & Media and editing such magazines as Sound Engineer & Producer before launching his own title, SongLink International, for songwriters and music publishers in 1993, which he still publishes today online. He is the recipient of a prestigious BASCA Gold Badge Award for services to the music industry, and was inducted as a Companion of LIPA by Sir Paul McCartney in 2006. He has also adjudicated at many song contest around the world; was co-founder of the Unisong International Contest; and is regarded by many as one of the best-connected people in the entire music industry.
Helen has worked within and for theatres, arts organisations, museums, galleries, heritage sites and festivals across the UK for over 25 years. She was part of the team that set up and delivered Cultureshock (Commonwealth Games North West Cultural Programme), the inaugural Manchester International Festival and the Marketing Co-ordination Unit at Marketing Manchester and was Joint Head of Marketing at British Ceramics Biennial for 10 years. Helen was one of the founding directors of CTConsults for 10 years until 2021. She is currently Press & Comms Lead for Walk the Plank's Festival UK*2022 commission Green Space Dark Skies. Enjoy.
Simon Jones is Chair of Helping Rhinos USA. He has spent time on conservation projects in Africa, working specifically on rhino conservation. In 2012 Simon felt his perfect blend of experience in both the charity and business sectors, combined with an unwavering passion for wildlife conservation, and in particular the rhino could be used to greater effect. Simon founded Helping Rhinos in the UK and brings an essential link between Helping Rhinos in the UK and USA, ensuring strategies and objectives have a global and aligned approach.
Mangrove forests are crucial to the health of the planet, gobbling up CO2 from the atmosphere and providing a home for a diverse array of species. But these rich habitats are under continual threat from deforestation and industry. In an empowering talk, conservationist and TED Fellow Ashwin Naidu overseas community-driven efforts in South and Southeast Asia working to protect mangroves -- all with a little help from the mysterious and endangered fishing cat. Enjoy.
Sir Andrew Parmley was born in Blackpool and educated at the Royal Academy of Music, the Universities of Manchester and London, and Jesus College Cambridge. He has had a career in education and music, and served as the 689th Lord Mayor of London in 2016-17. He is Governor of the The Honourable The Irish Society, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Organists, and past Chairman and Visiting Professor of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Sir Andrew is also an Honorary Member and International Ambassador of the London Symphony Orchestra, and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music. In addition to a doctorate in 17th-century French opera, he also holds honorary doctorates from City and Strathclyde Universities.
Over the past few years singer Sarah Moule has established a rapidly growing reputation as one of Britain’s most exciting new jazz talents. Her highly acclaimed debut album It’s A Nice Thought, released in 2002, showed that in lyricist Fran Landesman and composer Simon Wallace (“one of the finest songwriting partnerships alive” The Observer) she has found a source of contemporary songs which are melodic, thought-provoking, literate and witty, and lend themselves perfectly to Sarah’s classic vocal interpretation. Sarah grew up in Bexhill-on-Sea on the East Sussex coast where her passion for singing was sparked by singing English folk songs with her large musical family. She spent the 1980s working and travelling in South America, Asia, China, Australia, Europe and the USA. On returning to London in the early 1990s she met jazz singers Ian Shaw and Claire Martin who introduced her to the song-writing team of veteran American lyricist Fran Landesman and Welsh pianist and composer Simon Wallace.
Julia Fry is Head Of Communications at Extreme E. With 15 years of experience in PR, Communications and Press Operations under her belt she is passionate about using sports to tell stories which inspire or have a greater purpose. She specialises in sports, adventure and lifestyle media management, major event press operations, and global media relations. She loves seeking out and telling stories, creating impact and building positive relationships.
Motorsport Montage 1
Sam Smith is a journalist and media specialist with extensive experience specifically in Formula E and endurance sportscar racing, but also many other categories of motorsport. He has attended all but six Formula E races since the start of the series in 2014, and has reported on Formula E for Autosport, Motorsport.com and the e-racing 365 website. He has also been the host of many post-race press conferences in the FIA World Endurance Championship and Formula E. He has contributed to many other magazines, including Motor Sport, Racecar Engineering, Motorsport Aktuell and the official FIA magazine. Residing in Cambridgeshire, UK, he is married with a daughter and is part of the founding editorial team of ‘The Race’ digital motorsport channel.
