Edward Ryder
Founder, Biskit Ltd
Founder of Biskit Ltd and host of Connect Over A Cuppa, Edward draws on more than 30 years working with organisations ranging from ambitious SMEs to international companies. In this interactive session, Edward shared the habits he has consistently observed in successful businesses, exploring leadership, curiosity, customer experience, ambitious thinking, data, people and the practical disciplines that help organisations adapt, grow and accelerate.
The 10 Habits of Successful Companies
Sue Moul
Fractional FD, Headstar
Fractional Finance Director Sue Moul from Headstar brought decades of financial experience to Connect Over A Cuppa, exploring how businesses can gain greater control and understanding of their finances. Sue shared practical insights into knowing which numbers matter, interpreting what the figures are really telling you, forecasting effectively and using financial information to make better decisions and support sustainable business growth.
Getting the Numbers Right
Simone Talfourd
Adventurer, speaker and world record holder
Adventurer, sailor, paddler, presenter and author Simone Talfourd joined us to explore The Adventure Mindset. Drawing on her extraordinary adventures, Simone demonstrated how stepping beyond the familiar and taking measured risks can develop courage, resilience, curiosity and self-belief. Her session showed that adventure doesn’t have to mean climbing mountains—it can simply mean challenging yourself to discover what you’re capable of, in business and in life.
Rebecca Pick
Founder, Pick Protection
Entrepreneur Rebecca Pick shared the remarkable journey behind Pick Protection, the personal safety business she founded in 2014, raised £2.5m to develop and subsequently sold to Arnold Clark. Rebecca talked openly about spotting opportunities, changing direction when the market demands it, surrounding yourself with the right people and developing the resilience and self-belief required to build and grow a successful business.
Jo-Leigh Thompson
Director, Foxglove Care
Jo-Leigh Thompson shared the story behind Foxglove Care and the realities of building and growing a successful business within the care sector, now employing over 150 people. Drawing on her own entrepreneurial journey, Jo-Leigh explored the challenges of scaling while maintaining quality, developing the right team and culture, and staying focused on the people the business exists to support. An open and practical insight into leadership, growth and purpose in business.
Andy Sherratt
Spa Professional Academy
Andrew Sherratt from SPA Professional Academy joined us to explore how marketing is changing and what businesses need to do to stay relevant. From strategy, customer experience and brand through to sustainability, innovation and AI, Andrew challenged us to think beyond traditional marketing and consider how the whole organisation contributes to attracting, engaging and retaining tomorrow’s customers.
Zach Greaves & Charlotte Gale
Artus Digital & Charlotte Gale Photography
FWith decades of experience in the communications industry, Zach Greaves and Charlotte Gale joined us to explore the power of understanding and communicating your brand. They looked at how businesses can define what they really stand for, identify the messages that matter to their customers and communicate those messages effectively through both words and imagery.
Are You Brand Content?
Claire Bennett
Common Purpose
Claire Bennett from Common Purpose joined us to explore what good leadership looks like in an increasingly complex and uncertain world. Her session challenged traditional ideas about leaders needing to have all the answers, instead exploring the importance of listening, learning from different perspectives, working across boundaries and creating the conditions for others to contribute. A thought-provoking discussion about leading when there isn’t an obvious solution.
Michael Manning
Founder, Guided Sky
Founder of Guided Sky, Michael Manning joined us to demystify CRM and explore how growing businesses can use technology more effectively. Drawing on his experience with Salesforce, Michael looked at how better systems can bring customer information together, reduce administration, improve visibility and provide leaders with better information for decision-making—without assuming that sophisticated CRM technology is only for large companies.
A people-first approach to CRM success