Business Leader

Chris Oglesby, Bruntwood CEO, joined us on the Business Leader podcast to discuss building Bruntwood into a powerhouse real estate business, responsible for some of the most important regeneration projects in Manchester and the north-west England. With over £1bn of assets and projects covering millions of square feet, Oglesby has successfully scaled an inherited business into a giant. We find out how. Read Graham Ruddick’s key takeaways here: https://lnkd.in/eJR6a5xy

It’s hard to tempt people back to the office these days, but what if your new workspace was a primary school? You can still see the faded hopscotch marks on the floor of the playground and above the entrance door is the word “Infants” engraved in stone. But the people who walk beneath it now are more likely to be 20-something eco-disruptors. Hawley Infants is a classic Victorian-era primary school in north London, but it’s now buzzing with start-up entrepreneurs. That’s because the building is part of the Camden Collective, a charity set up in the wake of the financial crisis in 2009 that uses pop-up spaces to support enterprise in the community. Transport for London, which owns the building, is going to redevelop it to make a new tube entrance for Camden Town station in the next five to 10 years. In the meantime, it is offering them a temporary lease, so the start-up founders are going back to school... I went to meet them for Business Leader. Thanks to Robert Fiehn Leyah March Jade Batstone Eddie Gillow Think & Do Camden DON'T WASTE TASTE Oshun Labs Amy G. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eAsCYpaP

Now, more than ever, your idle cash should be making you money.      When your business banks with OakNorth, you can earn up to 4.75% AER* interest on excess funds, get access to sector-specific support from a dedicated Business Partner, plus you can be up and running in days.     Apply now: https://lnkd.in/eqUFxx9T    *Variable rate correct as of 22-Aug-2024. T&Cs apply. #Sponsored

I used to tell my kids, ‘Don’t talk to strangers!’ Now, 20 years later, I’m opening my door to welcome them into my house.... When the pandemic hit and everyone was rushing out of the big cities, the entrepreneur in me said to do the opposite. So, I took the plunge and invested in a home in London, now I split my time between there and Yorkshire. This is also where I host some of the Business Leader Growth Workshops. For those of you who don't know, these workshops are my way of sharing insights and learnings, including my 8 secrets to building a billion-pound business—the 8 things I’m convinced would’ve helped me build HomeServe in half the time. When I first started holding these workshops, people were surprised that I invited them to my home. I got a lot of funny looks! “Richard, are you sure you want to invite people to your house?” But so far, I have found that it has been the best place to foster meaningful conversations where people feel connected and inspired. It’s shown me that mixing business with a bit of pleasure can work wonders—and that strangers can become valued connections. We’ve got a few more dates lined up, and I’d be delighted to welcome some new entrepreneurs at my doorstep.

Great to catch up with recycling entrepreneur Bruce Bratley of First Mile | Certified B Corp for a Business Leader interview today. We discussed: ♻️ Early days of the business, when founders get their hands dirty ♻️ Scaling through specialised customer acquisition ♻️ Competitive recycling and employee incentives in large companies ♻️ What can be done nationally to improve recycling rates Podcast, video and more to come soon.

Sometimes it's the simple things that generate the greatest impact. Absolutely loved this example of Richard Harpin welcoming entrepreneurs into his London home (not a fancy office!), to sit around the dining room table and participate in a Business Leader Growth Workshop. And it's proof of what I'm always talking about - how investing in our connection is the most powerful tool we have for guaranteeing success - in business and all aspects of life. Because when we work together instead of against each other, we're not only sharing business insights and knowledge, we're merging our thoughts and desires. And when we do this with the right intention, we each come away all pumped up with that extra dose of EQ. As we head into this new AI era where things are going to shift drastically at some point, learning how to boost our EQ together is going to be the most important skill for business success. You can call it many other things - this or that kind of leadership - whatever the trendy term is. But what's really beneath all these things is the ability to make room in our hearts for others. To truly care about lifting others and helping accelerate their success. That's what it all comes down to, and Richard Harpin is a shining example of that. If you are reading this and thinking - well it's easy for him to be so generous with his home and his time because he's wealthy - you would be wrong. There are all kinds of people with this attitude from all walks of life. We need to promote these good examples, so that everyone will gradually understand that we can only succeed together. I know you're very focused on the UK, but I'm sure the incredible entrepreneurs we have here in Israel would love to have a chance to meet you one day Richard Harpin. #leadership #entrepreneur #connection #uk #business

As our Membership Launch nears, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the progress we’ve already made in bringing the best of mid-sized British business leaders together. Growing is a business is no easy feat, and it’s been incredible to have Richard Harpin’s guidance in understanding the challenges that business leaders face and providing the actionable steps needed to overcome them. We’ve hosted numerous Growth Workshops, where business leaders come to share their stories, their insights and learn – not just from Richard – but from each other. Thank you Andre Barrett - it was great to have you with us at our large Growth Workshop. Here’s to many more. Our Growth Workshops are held every month, and if you’re a mid-sized business owner, this is your opportunity to learn the Secrets that’ll help your business grow. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e73i6eJH

It’s time to redefine imposter syndrome. We’re so used to hearing of imposter syndrome as a purely negative feeling that we need to overcome. But what if we could reframe the lens through which we understand it and redirect this energy towards driving our success? Jake Humphrey on why imposter syndrome and envy might not be as bad as you think.

The latest edition of Business Leader is out, including my ‘View From The North’ article. I’ve done an interview with Simon M. about the rise of Modern Milkman. It’s a fantastic publication and the cover story is a profile about the founders who’ve built the UK’s billion-pound businesses and the stories behind them. Well done to editor-in-chief Graham Ruddick and his team at Business Leader.

Taking a step back from leading to learn valuable skills is an important task for any business leader. But it's also important to trust your entrepreneurial instincts. Matt Grech-Smith shares his story on the Business Leader podcast. The full episode is available here: https://lnkd.in/eARkyHKh