Episode #417 - Scaling with Simplicity: A Conversation with Steve Witt
Release Date: 09/30/2024
Episode #499 - A Mission to Reinvent Fleet Security Through Camaraderie and Code - with Kevin Pope
ScaleUp Radio
Hi, I’m Granger Forson – find me at or connect with me on LinkedIn. In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I’m joined by Kevin Pope, the dynamic Managing Director of Protrack Solutions and Biostart Security. Kevin’s story begins with a military mindset and a knack for spotting opportunity. After leaving the army, he entered the world of telematics and soon saw a gap he just had to fill. That leap of faith led to Protrack – a vehicle and fleet tracking business that’s now an innovation leader in compliance apps and software integration for businesses across...
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Episode #498 - Building Meaningful Business Communities Online – with James West
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, we dive into the world of business networking with James West, the co-founder of Onle Networking – a platform that’s reimagining how small businesses connect, collaborate and grow through a fully online model. Founded on the belief that great business relationships are built on authenticity and community rather than pressure and rules, Onle has grown impressively to 360 members across 25 UK groups, with recent expansion into Ireland and the US. Unlike traditional models, Onle operates entirely online and uses a flexible monthly subscription model designed...
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Episode #497 - Authenticity & Real Stories Are The Superpower Of The Small Business - with Guy Hayward
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, we're joined by Guy Hayward, founder of Local Heroes Marketing – a business born from a mission to help independent companies compete against much larger rivals. With over 30 years of experience in global advertising for brands like Nike, Adidas, Microsoft, and Coca-Cola, Guy brings a wealth of insight into how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can level the playing field through smarter, more authentic marketing. Local Heroes Marketing, launched just over a year ago, is all about enabling SMEs to “punch above their weight.” In our conversation, Guy...
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Episode #496 - Putting People First in HR - with Claire Loftus
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Claire Loftus, the dynamic founder of Evolve, a people-first HR consultancy operating across Northern Ireland, Great Britain, and the Republic of Ireland. Claire shares her journey from working in HR and navigating personal health challenges to founding Evolve in 2017. With a team of nine working remotely, Evolve offers flexible, pragmatic HR support tailored to a diverse range of clients – from startups to large corporates – across multiple jurisdictions. 🔍 Episode Highlights: The Evolve Ethos: A refreshingly human approach to...
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Episode #495 - The Startup That Refused to Follow the Rules by an Accountant Reinventing Event Finances One Festival at a Time - with Chris Carter
ScaleUp Radio
Hi, I’m Granger Forson – you can find me at or on LinkedIn. In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I’m joined by Chris Carter, founder of EventWise and long-time accountant behind In The Loop. Chris shares an incredible five-year journey of building a startup in one of the most volatile industries – live events – all while raising a young family, getting married, and self-funding the entire venture. His software, EventWise, was born out of necessity during the Covid-19 pandemic, but it's proving even more vital today. EventWise helps event organisers replace clunky,...
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Episode #494 - ScaleUp Club Exclusive: Building Habits and Processes - with Craig Hellen of Bexmedia
ScaleUp Radio
In this exclusive ScaleUp Club edition of ScaleUp Radio, we’re joined by Craig Hellen, founder of Bexmedia, a video and motion graphics agency with nearly two decades of experience. This intimate discussion explores how Craig has implemented processes and built habits that help a small, creative team stay aligned, accountable, and productive – all while preserving a strong company culture. What You’ll Learn: How building consistent internal systems (like naming conventions and structured meetings) can improve clarity and alignment across the business. Why clearly communicating the...
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Episode #493 - Smart Growth with Smart Lockers – with Ryan Slaney
ScaleUp Radio
Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I’m Kevin Brent, and in today's episode, I’m joined by Ryan Slaney, Founder and Managing Director of iLockerz – a business that’s leading the way in smart locker solutions for a wide range of industries. Our conversation today is structured in three parts: First, we take a look at iLockerz as a business, including its smart...
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Episode #492 - Turning Passion into Luxury - with Karen Yates
ScaleUp Radio
Hi there, and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our scaleup journeys a little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I’m Kevin Brent, and in today's episode, I’m joined by Karen Yates, founder of Taylor Yates, a luxury handbag and accessories brand based in the UK. Our conversation today is structured in three parts: We start by discussing the business itself, its model, and where it is on the scaleup journey. We then explore Karen’s perspectives on the challenges of...
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Episode #491 - Brand Like a Jedi, Lead Like a Human and Why Purpose-Driven Companies Attract Loyal Teams and Clients - with Darrell Irwin
ScaleUp Radio
Hi, I’m Granger Forson – find me at or connect on LinkedIn – and in this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I talk with Darrell Irwin, the visionary founder behind Cre8ion, Digital, and Humans. Darrell’s story isn’t just about scaling multiple businesses – it’s about scaling with meaning. From walking away from a lucrative agency deal over ethical misalignment to founding Cre8ion, a brand marketing agency rooted in purpose, Darrell shows us what it looks like when personal values shape business success. We explore how he built a tight-knit team through a...
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Episode #490 - Reignite Your Creativity and Build a Beautiful Business from Fabric and Focus - with Alice Garrett
ScaleUp Radio
Hi, I’m Granger Forson – you can find me at or connect with me on LinkedIn. In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I’m joined by the inspiring Alice Garrett, founder of Alice Caroline, a business built around the joyful art of quilting, Liberty Fabrics, and empowering creativity. What began as a desire to make Liberty Fabric more accessible to fellow enthusiasts has grown into a thriving enterprise with 34 staff, global reach, and over 700 fabrics curated for quilters, makers, and creatives. Alice’s story is not just about fabric – it’s about passion, purpose, and...
info_outlineIn this engaging episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent sits down with Steve Witt, co-founder of Not Just Travel, to explore the journey and growth of this unique travel franchise business. Founded in 2001, Not Just Travel has become one of the fastest-growing franchises in the UK, with a network of home-based travel consultants. Steve shares valuable insights into their business model, growth strategies, and the lessons they've learned along the way.
Key Discussion Points:
Business Model & Background:
Not Just Travel offers personalised travel booking services through franchised home-based consultants.
The company shifted to a franchise model in 2008, allowing for rapid scaling without the cash flow challenges of hiring employees.
Scaling Through Franchising:
The franchise model has enabled Not Just Travel to add around 200 new franchises per year.
The company places a strong emphasis on training, support systems, and cultivating a positive company culture, including daily team huddles and success recognition programs.
Leadership and Strategy:
Steve emphasises the importance of documented processes and systems, and having a clear "North Star" vision.
They've learned from hiring mistakes, now prioritising cultural fit over technical skills.
A strategic decision to reinvest profits has fueled growth, with a focus on long-term success rather than short-term gains.
Steve Witt's journey with Not Just Travel is a testament to the power of a simple, scalable business model and a strong company culture. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or an established business owner, there's plenty to learn from Steve's experiences and insights.
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:
https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin
You can get in touch with Kevin here:
Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
Steve can be found here:
https://www.the-travel-franchise.com/
https://www.notjusttravel.com/
Resources:
Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/think-and-grow-rich-vermilion-life-essentials-napoleon-hill/978298?ean=9781785042416
Entrepreneur On Fire Podcast - https://www.eofire.com/podcast/
Seth Godin Books - https://www.sethgodin.com/
Mastering the Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/mastering-the-rockerfeller-habits-what-you-must-do-to-increase-the-value-of-your-growing-firm-verne-harnish/6296518?ean=9780978774950
Evernote - https://evernote.com/