Episode #472 - How Embracing Change Within Your Business Makes You A Better Leader - with Simon Phillips
Release Date: 04/16/2025
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...
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Episode #489 - Empowering Women Through Craft, with Resilience and Perseverance - with Sheila Ako
ScaleUp Radio
In this inspiring episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Sheila Ako Glavee, the founder of Skilled Hands Organisation, a remarkable social enterprise dedicated to empowering women and children through craft workshops. From humble beginnings in Ghana to establishing a recognised organisation in the UK, Sheila shares her journey of resilience, innovation, and community impact. Sheila recounts how her entrepreneurial path evolved — from publishing a lifestyle magazine in Ghana to creating social enterprises that uplift vulnerable communities. Skilled Hands started with a focus on...
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Episode #488 - Scaling a Business with Stories, Strategy, and Heart - with Ben Lowndes
ScaleUp Radio
Hi, I’m Granger Forson — you can find me at or connect with me on LinkedIn. Welcome to another inspiring episode of ScaleUp Radio! In this episode, I’m joined by Ben Lowndes, founder of Distinctive Communications, a fast-growing, purpose-led PR and communications consultancy based in the South West. Ben shares his unique journey — leaving a successful career without a set plan, building a business grounded in trust, flexibility, and impact. We explore how Distinctive Communications stands out in a noisy world by telling powerful, human-cantered...
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Episode #487 - Building a Brand with Trust, Numbers and a Fractional FD Model with lessons from Tectona’s Journey - with Mark Nicholls
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 sit down with Mark Nicholls, the founder of Tectona Partnership – a business that provides part-time Finance Director services to companies navigating financial complexity. Mark’s story is one of perseverance, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of what it takes to build trust and a brand in a competitive market. Starting with just two people in 2012, Tectona has grown into a team of 17 highly qualified FDs, supporting businesses under £20m...
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Episode #486 - Balancing Growth, Culture, and Family in ISO Quality Services - with Jennifer Appleton
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent sits down with Jennifer Appleton, the dynamic Director behind ISO Quality Services, a Worcester-based business that's been helping companies achieve ISO certifications for over two decades. Jennifer shares the story of how this family business has scaled from a local consultancy to a global service provider, supporting clients in over 28 countries. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🔹 The Business Model: ISO Quality Services thrives on a hybrid revenue model combining upfront implementation fees with a recurring client maintenance...
info_outlineOn this episode of ScaleUp Radio, we’re diving deep into change management, leadership, and scaling impact with Simon Phillips—a seasoned expert in orchestrating change for both organisations and individuals.
With 25+ years of experience, including time at Accenture and over two decades running his own consultancy, Simon has developed powerful frameworks like the Delta Model for Change and the LACE Way for Human-Centric Leadership. His mission? To develop a million changemakers—people who can support others in making positive transformations.
What We Cover in This Episode:
🔹 The Psychology of Change – Why people don’t resist change itself but rather being changed, and how leaders can foster engagement.
🔹 Empathy & Leadership – The power of vulnerability, self-empathy, and active listening in building trust and high-performing teams.
🔹 Scaling a Knowledge Business – How Simon evolved his approach, from expanding teams to deepening value and leveraging AI tools.
🔹 Resilience & Growth – Simon’s personal journey, including lessons from surviving a severe car crash and overcoming imposter syndrome.
🔹 Business Development & Networks – The importance of long-term relationships and how platforms like LinkedIn have shaped Simon’s approach.
If you’re navigating change, leading a team, or looking to scale a business while maintaining impact, this episode is packed with insights and strategies you can apply right away.
Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.
For now, continue listening for the full story from Simon.
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/
Simon can be found here:
https://www.simonphillips.co.uk/
https://changemakerpledge.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonphillips/
Resources:
The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-second-book-by-steven-bartlett-keep-it-to-yourself-steven-bartlett/7257436?ean=9781529146509
What’s Your Dream? by Simon Squibb - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/what-s-your-dream-find-your-passion-love-your-work-build-a-richer-life-simon-squibb/7678552?ean=9781529935578