Clan Alchemy’s Post

What a week last week! Full of networking, learning & ‘doing’. Kicked off with an excellent ‘Social Media Trends’ workshop delivered by Caroline Wilson, hosted by Enterprise House Barnard Castle on behalf of Business Durham, with plenty of enlightenment & permission… (more on that soon!). Great to see Allison & Jonathon from TEESDALE CHEESEMAKERS LTD , and Karen Everson amongst others. Rapidly followed by a CIM | The Chartered Institute of Marketing webinar about the value of a sustainable brand strategy, reinforcing the importance of incorporating sustainability opportunities & practices into an organisation’s strategy. Then it was on to Newcastle for a north east Virgin StartUp meet up of founders & mentors, hearing the fascinating story of Craig Rose ‘s brand DOCTOR SEAWEED LIMITED. So good to finally meet Katie Willis face to face, and Andy Fishburn we definitely need more of these in the north east, please! Next stop, Sally Marshall’s ‘Ladies Who Brunch’, a brilliant networking group with the impressive Bianca Robinson explaining the impact CEO Sleepout UK has on local communities (yes network, you better watch out, it’s coming!). Lovely to also meet Mandy Shields, Diane Williamson, Suzanne Gander, Pat Chambers & Anne Sykes, and catch up with Janice Holton again. Finishing off with a whip round North East Expo to catch some familiar faces (James Ibbitson , Moira Barnes , Phil Pugh , Paul Lawton , Kevin Spowart , Paul Robinson , Phil Benton ) & make new connections (Jack Spoor , Tony Roxburgh ). If I missed you last week, give me a shout & we can sort a cuppa ☕️ #businessconnections #businessnetworking #businessdevelopment #marketingpresence #brandreputation #brandpresence #responsiblebusiness

“I don’t believe people want to turn up and do a bad job. I believe if they’re in the right role and you give them the right training, tools and support, they will flourish.” This was from one of our clients at last Friday’s business strategy and planning day in Roehampton. He’d had some big team break-throughs in the previous quarter and wanted to share what he’d learned with the group. As coaches we come across all sorts of beliefs, never more so than with regards to employees. This is definitely one of the more helpful ones. * Have you got the right people in the right seats on your bus? (upgrade transport as appropriate) * Do they know what ‘best practice’ looks like and have a clear definition of success? * Have they got the right systems and tools to do their job really well? * Are you giving them the right degrees of support, encouragement and challenge? * Are they all united behind a big, exciting, clear vision? If this feels ‘easier said than done’, let me know. I like a challenge! #growthclub #growthclublondon #businessstrategy #businessplanning #businesscoaching #actioncoachuk Ps this is a pic from the event. 60+ local business owners figuring out what great looks like for them – and how to make it happen. Our next GrowthClub (for Q4 2024) is on Friday 27th Sept – drop me a DM if you want in.

Not long now until The Inverness Chamber of Commerce Highland Business Week, and the Highland Spotlight event at The Drumossie Hotel Inverness. This will be our first Highland Business Week and we are more than a little bit excited. Not least because on Thursday 26th September, at the Chamber offices we will be holding this session "Innovation: it's easier than you think".. When we talk about innovating, we are really talking about is CHANGE. This change is important and value generating, and we believe it is going to be better than what we have already. As human beings we are all capable of making change happen (we have been doing it all our lives) and yet sometimes we can get stuck, and overwhelmed where it all seems too hard, or maybe we don't even now where to start, or who to get involved? Perhaps more importantly - what makes "Jammie Dodgers" a good example of innovation? (Thanks to "nibble my biscuit dot com" for the image) We will eat biscuits and explore - the myths around making change, or new things happen - why ideas get stuck, and how to unstick them - the mindsets that you need to be successful, and how to access them - and tricks of the trade that we have learned on the way, that anyone can apply and use in their organisation, and for any purpose. We will share what you need to have in place before you start; your "why" (the purpose), who in your organisation you will need support from, and how you can gain the resilience to keep going. This session will be part presentation, part Q&A, and we will even have you up on your feet and walking around (indoors, with tea & coffee - did we mention there will be biscuits?) We would love to have you join us, book your place (it's only £20, just to cover costs) by contacting [email protected] #innovation #change #makechangehappen #invernesschamber #HighlandBizWk #nibblemybiscuit

Thanks Simon Keegan and everyone who attended the round table on Tuesday with Wirral Chamber of Commerce Paula Basnett John Spofforth Gordon Andrews, Business Cash-Flow Finance Specialist Dean Paton Stephen Parry to name a few. This is the reason why Birkenhead has the capacity to reinvent itself and City Status would really help. 10 things Birkenhead was first with over the years. 1.     Public Park: Birkenhead Park, designed by Sir Joseph Paxton and opened in 1847, is considered the first publicly funded civic park in the world. Its design influenced the development of Central Park in New York City. 2.     Street Tramway: The Birkenhead tramways system, established in 1860, was the first street tramway in Europe. It pioneered the use of street-level tracks, setting a precedent for urban public transport. 3.     Municipal Water Supply System: Birkenhead was one of the first towns to introduce a municipal piped water supply system, providing clean water to its residents before many other places. 4.     Public Baths: Birkenhead opened one of the first public bathhouses, offering both swimming and bathing facilities to the public, improving hygiene and public health in the mid-19th century. 5.     Town Planning: The layout and planning of Birkenhead were innovative for their time, featuring broad street layouts and significant public amenities, influencing later urban planning. 6.     Mechanized Dock Dredging: The Birkenhead Docks were among the first to use mechanized systems for dock dredging and maintenance, improving efficiency in port operations. 7.     Use of Hydraulic Machinery: Birkenhead was pioneering in the use of hydraulic machinery for dock gates and bridges, advancing the technology used in maritime infrastructure. 8.     Public Funding of Culture: The Birkenhead Literary and Scientific Institution, established in the 1830s, was one of the first publicly funded cultural institutions, promoting education and learning in the community. 9.     Railway Innovations: The railway connections developed in Birkenhead included some of the earliest innovations in rail technology and management, improving transportation and commerce. 10.  Shipbuilding Techniques: The shipyards in Birkenhead were among the first to employ advanced shipbuilding techniques, including iron ships and technically advanced steamships.

Last night we hosted an inaugural Mayor's Business Roundtable event at Town Hall. I want to thank all the business leaders, the Town Clerk, our Town Manager, and the entire Council who all showed up for this first meeting. There will be more such events, and they are open to the public. Out of this inaugural event I hope to create a Farmville Business Roundtable that will meet quarterly to continue our discussions around challenges and opportunities in the Town of Farmville.. If you are interested in future Business Roundtables reach out to me [email protected] The Agenda: - Intro by Mayor Vincent - Index Card Challenge Exercise -"allowing for easy visualization and prioritization of the most significant issues by comparing them side-by-side, essentially helping to quickly identify the most pressing problems within a group." - Facilitated discussion led by Mayor Vincent diving deeper into top challenges. - Wrap Up by Mayor Vincent with next steps. The Top Challenges Identified: - Permit Delays - Regulation Burden - Recruitment / Retention of Businesses - Goal Alignment between Town / Businesses - Affordable Housing - More Recreation Public Spaces - New Business Success - Cost of Infrastructure - Parking and Store Hours - Lack of Enthusiasm #farmvilleva

Today we concluded our Regional Roadshow series with the Cornwall Regional Roadshow, in partnership with Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the University of Plymouth. This final event in our series brought together inspiring leaders, forward-thinking innovators, and our business community to discuss how we can amplify Cornwall and the South West’s voice on the national stage. Key insights from our speakers included: 📣 The urgent need for a strong, united voice for the South West to ensure our region isn’t left behind in national priorities. 🚀 The vast amount of opportunities in Cornwall and the wider region, and the importance of being bold and ambitious to fully realise our potential. 🔬 The region’s innovation and science assets are vital keys to driving growth. We must connect and integrate these unique capabilities for maximum impact. 🎨 Our creative economy has a vital role in supporting social mobility, enhancing Cornwall’s international appeal, and driving spillover impacts into sectors like technology, design, and customer experience. 🤝 It's critical to bring communities along on this journey, demonstrating the benefits of growth and harnessing workforce diversity to nurture talent. It has been fantastic to see the insights and energy that have emerged from each roadshow across the region. Together, we are shaping a bold vision for the South West - one that champions growth, innovation, and inclusivity. Join our newsletter to stay up to date with future events: http://eepurl.com/ieXiSv #BackTheGreatSouthWest #Cornwall #Investment #Innovation Joy Brown Karl Tucker Emma Hunt Mark Hewson. FCILT Kevin D Jones Linda Taylor Cornwall Trade & Investment Cornwall Council Falmouth University Perran Moon Jayne Kirkham Creative UK Cornwall Cornwall Manufacturers Group Open Skies Cornwall Cornwall Space Cluster Celtic Sea Power

Yesterday afternoon, the Switchfoot team spent quality time at the University of Surrey with our extended B Corp and better business family. (I even briefly got to say hi to Walter, our sailing buddy). There was fantastic free local beer, smoothies, and coffee flowing, and great conversations about how small businesses can influence change. I loved the event's open discussion about whether B Corp suits all businesses and the other available frameworks. There was much discussion about the power of having a framework to work towards, and B Corp is certainly not the only way to better business. Over a year ago, Sebastian Elwell FPFS TEP and about nine others met in a pub and decided to form a local group to encourage more small businesses to start their journeys towards better business. Roll on one year. The B local team had 200 people sign up on a wet March afternoon in Surrey. Thank you to all of the co-chairs. Events like yesterday take an immense amount of work, and it is easy to forget you are all running businesses and that B Local Surrey is a voluntary role. So, for anyone who says small businesses can’t make change happen, I challenge you to speak to the B corps in your area and see the changes they are making in their corner of the world/industry. Then consider: How can I help, or could I do more to influence change in my industry? Big things are happening, and they are being led by talented small business owners who don’t always shout loudly enough about the differences they are making. The B local event was an amazing platform to celebrate the success of some of our businesses, and I hope we can have more events to celebrate more of our local B corps soon. The change we need in the economy as we decarbonise and face the biodiversity crisis will be led by small businesses that innovate and disrupt what is considered normal. It is noticeable that there were businesses and organisations not in the room yesterday. If you want businesses to thrive in Surrey and the UK, you need to step up your support of the small businesses that were in the room. The challenge for the B local team is to keep up the great work, continue with the great collaboration, and encourage more people to start their journey or support others in starting their journey towards better business. Take a stand 💚 #PositiveClimateAction #SystemChange #SurreyBCorps #BCorpMonth

Something happened yesterday that made me laugh, someone asked my husband Bernie Devlin what he did for a living, Bernie responsed that he had retired! Here’s how retirement looks….. In 2019, Bernie Devlin and I made the significant decision to sell our West of Scotland early years business through an off-market deal. Since then we have retained The Cove our coffee shop in Gourock but otherwise our lives have taken a transformative turn. We’ve invested in commercial properties and holiday apartments and both embarked on new educational journeys - Bernie with a postgraduate degree in performance psychology and myself in interior design. This summer, we took another step forward by undergoing intensive training in the independent travel agency industry, perfectly aligning with our holiday apartment ventures. We're also passionate about giving back, engaging in various business mentoring projects. With Julie Duncan we run The Successful Collective, while we jointly Bernie Devlin and I host our podcast, "On the Edge of Possibility." Recently, I've been asked by several people how I manage being so ‘busy’. The “busy” of today is markedly different from the days when we were leading a team of over 120 and serving more than 5,000 customers. Now, our busy is intentional, with family—especially our 12-year-old daughter—taking precedence. Selling our business has granted us the freedom to choose our paths, and I prioritise work that brings me joy and fulfilment, surrounded by wonderful people. Happy work, happy projects with lovely people. I continue to love what I do because I choose projects that resonate with my passions in life. Little businesses all of which have thin thread that joins them and keeps us busy in a way that we enjoy. You will note that Bernie finds the perfect balance between business and golf these days too! If you’re interested in our latest endeavors, feel free to connect with us on Instagram: @mbrtravelco @gleneaglesluxuryapartments @casabanderaslacala @ontheedgeofpossibility @thecovegourock_ @thesuccessfulcollective @devlininteriordesign Connection in even the smallest of businesses is key. #smallbusinesslove #businessmentoring #businesscoaching

🚀 The latest edition of Fife Business Matters is out now! Check it out👇 #FifeBusiness #Innovation #LocalSuccess

New Episode of How I Built This with Guy Raz: Ben Weprin & Graduate Hotels In 2014, Ben Weprin took a bold approach in an already crowded hospitality market by creating Graduate Hotels, a chain designed to reflect the culture and charm of college towns. His vision? To craft a hotel experience that connects guests with the unique stories of their location—whether through iconic alumni photos or life-sized mascots in the lobby. After 13 years in commercial real estate, Ben realized that a hotel could tell a compelling story, just like a brand of shoes or cereal. He saw the potential during a renovation of a dilapidated Days Inn in Chicago, which became the blueprint for Graduate Hotels. Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 lockdowns, Ben’s entrepreneurial spirit didn’t waver. He secured the future of Graduate Hotels by partnering with Hilton, positioning the chain for rapid growth beyond its current 35+ locations. This episode is a masterclass in finding a unique niche in a competitive industry and driving growth through innovation. Episode: https://lnkd.in/eEWEx9XD #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #GraduateHotels #BenWeprin #HospitalityIndustry #HowIBuiltThis #Innovation #Branding #BusinessGrowth #Hilton #Hiltonhotels