Episode #435 - From Pop-Ups to Multi-City Restaurants: Scaling Restaurants with Passion and Precision - with Dorian Kirk
Release Date: 12/02/2024
Episode #457 - From Bedroom Startup to £9M Travel Empire - How Holiday Architects Rebuilt Built a Thriving Travel Brand post COVID - with Andrew Hunt
ScaleUp Radio
Hi there, I’m Granger Forson, and welcome to another episode of ScaleUp Radio! You can find me at or connect with me on LinkedIn. On today’s episode, I’m speaking with Andrew Hunt, the founder and CEO of Holiday Architects, a travel company that has gone from a bedroom startup to a £9 million turnover business, specializing in long-haul, tailor-made holidays. But this is not just a story of success—it’s a story of resilience, reinvention, and smart scaling. Andrew shares how he built a business where deep customer relationships, an experienced team, and a strategic...
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Episode #456 - How Persistence & Strong Focus Will Set You Apart In The Energy Industry - with Dan Tennakoon
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, we’re joined by Dan Tennakoon, CEO of RE24, a pioneering enterprise platform that helps large energy users, particularly data centres, manage renewable energy. Dan shares his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of scaling a business in the renewable energy sector, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Key Points: 🔹 How RE24 is revolutionising the renewable energy market with long-term contracts and a customer-first approach 🔹 The biggest challenges Dan faced in scaling RE24, including building credibility, managing cash flow, and navigating...
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Episode #455 - Developing An Innovative Business In The Hospitality Industry - with Raluca Epureanu
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, we sit down with Raluca Epureanu, the founder of Flairmakers—a pioneering talent-on-demand platform designed specifically for the hospitality industry. Raluca shares her inspiring journey from concept to creation, revealing how Flairmakers is revolutionising the freelance talent landscape by integrating skills training directly into their platform. Key Highlights: Innovative Business Model: Flairmakers connects hospitality businesses with freelance talent for short-term assignments, while also providing integrated training to expand the freelance talent...
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Episode #454 - Brewing with Purpose: The Inspiring Story of Cotswold Lakes Brewery - with Nick Hunt
ScaleUp Radio
Hi, I’m Granger Forson, and you can find me at or on LinkedIn. On this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I chat with Nick Hunt, the Chief Beer Officer and co-founder of Cotswold Lakes Brewery, a microbrewery redefining what it means to run a purpose-driven business. Nick takes us through the journey of founding Cotswold Lakes Brewery in 2021 with a clear mission: creating “Beer with Purpose.” He shares how the business has grown from homebrewing experiments to an award-winning brewery that integrates sustainability, community, and quality into every pint. You’ll hear how Cotswold Lakes...
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Episode #453 - ScaleUp Club - Building a Legacy with Sarah Simons of British Baby Box
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent speaks with Sarah Simons, co-founder of British Baby Box, a company dedicated to providing safe sleeping spaces for newborns while addressing social inequalities. Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, British Baby Box is on the brink of delivering their millionth baby box. Sarah’s journey began with a tough upbringing that instilled in her the resilience and drive to succeed. She shares how these qualities shaped her entrepreneurial path, culminating in the establishment of British Baby Box with her business partner. Inspired by...
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Episode #452 - Insights on Scaling Businesses With Purpose - with Dr Serge Santos
ScaleUp Radio
In this engaging episode of ScaleUp Radio, host Kevin Brent sits down with Dr. Serge Santos, a self-described "business physicist" and seasoned entrepreneur, to uncover his unique journey in business acquisition, scaling, and team building. Serge, with his multicultural roots spanning Switzerland, Portugal, and Britain, shares invaluable insights from his transformation from a management consultant to an independent business owner and investor. Key Highlights from the Episode: Business Acquisition Philosophy: Serge delves into why he transitioned from consulting to business ownership,...
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Episode #451 - Scale Up Club Presentation - with Charlotte Melia from D & F Creative
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, host Kevin Brent is joined by Charlotte Melia, the inspiring founder of D&F Creative, to explore how she scaled her international events business across London, New York, and Riyadh. Charlotte shares her entrepreneurial journey, including her evolution from organising children's parties to delivering high-profile corporate events globally. She opens up about the challenges of scaling internationally, from managing cash flow to hiring senior leadership and balancing the demands of running a business as a single mother. This episode is a must-listen for...
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Episode #450 - Transitioning Leadership & Empowering Teams - with Doug Betts of Sure Betts HR Solutions
ScaleUp Radio
In this insightful episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent sits down with Doug Betts, the founder of Sure Betts HR Solutions. Doug shares his journey of creating a proactive HR consultancy tailored for charities and non-profits with up to 60 employees. Through his expertise and practical advice, Doug sheds light on the leadership challenges that growing businesses face and provides actionable strategies to overcome them. Key Points In This Episode Building a Proactive HR Framework: How Doug’s business improves workplace culture and leadership for smaller organisations in the non-profit...
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Episode #449 - Empowering Adult Learners Through Innovation - with Rafmary Baker
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, we sit down with Rafmary Baker, founder of the Cambridge Business Online Centre. This award-winning educational enterprise is transforming the way adult learners, particularly those from hard-to-reach groups, access skills training and education. Rafmary shares her journey of building a business that not only helps individuals gain employment, start businesses, or pursue further education but also emphasizes the critical role of soft skills, digital literacy, and continuous learning in today's fast-paced world. We delve into: The innovative approaches...
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Episode #448 - It’s About Collaboration, Transparency & Passion - with Fiona Wylie
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent speaks with Fiona Wylie, the CEO and founder of Brand Champions, a dynamic marketing consultancy with a unique team of ex-clients. Brand Champions positions itself as an extension of its clients’ marketing teams, providing bespoke marketing solutions across industries ranging from healthcare to restaurants, including big names like Pizza Express. Fiona shares the inspiring story of building a consultancy that not only delivers exceptional results but also maintains a laser focus on client satisfaction and team happiness – both exceeding 90%....
info_outlineHi, I’m Granger Forson, business coach and host of ScaleUp Radio. You can find me at [BizSmart Gloucestershire](www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk) or connect with me on LinkedIn. In this episode, I’m joined by Dorian Kirk, founder of Art Hospitality, whose restaurant group journey has transformed from humble pop-up beginnings to a powerhouse of chef-led concepts across multiple cities. Dorian’s experience in the industry—starting at the age of 14 as a dishwasher—has nurtured a deep-rooted passion for culinary innovation and authentic leadership.
Dorian shares how he and his brother began Art Hospitality with just £500 and a single concept, expanding into a multi-brand group with six thriving restaurants. He emphasizes the importance of empowering talented chefs by offering ownership stakes, creating what he calls “Chef-preneurs.” This innovative approach has become the heartbeat of Art Hospitality, blending creativity with entrepreneurship to drive each new concept's unique flair.
One of the highlights of Dorian's journey is his ability to adapt under pressure. Faced with the pandemic’s challenges, Dorian quickly pivoted, investing in outdoor spaces and launching fresh concepts to not only survive but thrive. His dedication to his team and his relentless pursuit of excellence have helped Art Hospitality come out stronger, with plans for significant growth in the coming years, including expanding their Maneki Ramen brand and new ventures into pub and fine dining sectors.
Leadership has been a transformative aspect of Dorian’s journey. Transitioning from a hands-on chef to a strategic leader, he has implemented a culture where “the best ideas win” and empowered his team to take charge. With a keen focus on operational excellence and team growth, Dorian continues to drive Art Hospitality forward while remaining true to his values of quality, resilience, and creativity.
Join us for an inspiring episode filled with lessons on navigating growth, adapting to adversity, and fostering an innovative workplace culture. Dorian’s story of growth and empowerment is a powerful example of what it means to build not just a successful business, but a legacy.
To ensure you don’t miss any inspirational future episodes, do subscribe to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.
So, let’s now dive into the inspiring journey of resilience, creativity, and empowerment with Dorian Kirk.
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 Granger 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/
Dorian can be found here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorian-kirk-9516b53b/
Resources:
The E-Myth by Michael E Gerber - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-e-myth-revisited-why-most-small-businesses-don-t-work-and-what-to-do-about-it-michael-e-gerber/82114?ean=9780887307287
The Surrender Experiment by Michael A Singer - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-surrender-experiment-my-journey-into-life-s-perfection-michael-a-singer/3695367?ean=9781473621503
The Diary of a CEO podcast - https://stevenbartlett.com/doac/
Monday - https://monday.com/