S2 Ep5 Adnams - Karen Hester, Chief Operating Officer
Release Date: 05/12/2021
Tourism Business Chat
Recorded live on 12 June 2025 as part of the Tourism Business Survey results seminar, Chris Scargill hosted a panel conversation with Steve Magnall, MD of Two Magpies Bakery, Adam Goymour MD of Goymour Group, and Philip Turner, MD of Chestnut Group. The conversation explored the challenges and strategies faced by businesses in the tourism sector, particularly in relation to employment costs, consumer behavior, and economic pressures. The panel give personal insight into the importance of training and maintaining customer confidence while navigating pricing strategies. They also highlighting...
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“If you can’t BE the destination, be the destination WITHIN the destination” so says Philip Turner, founder and owner of Chestnut Group, and keynote speaker the 2025 Larking Gowen Tourism Business Survey results seminar, held on 12 June in Norwich. If you missed being there on the day, let this special episode of Tourism Business Chat take you into the room where it happened, and hear Philip cover everything from his backstory, to his approach to growth and investment, staying as an East Anglian business, the importance of the relationship with your bank, the power hospitality holds in...
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During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector. One of them is a familiar face on TV and in bookshops, and owner of Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, Jimmy Doherty. Jimmy chatted to Chris Scargill about the changes he has seen over the years in customer behavior and trends, the importance of investment and funding for tourism based businesses, what tourism really means to him, and of course, how you go about embarking on a rescue mission that means building...
info_outlineTourism Business Chat
During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector. Chris Scargill chaired a panel discussion on the day, and the audience heard commentary on the results of the survey and insight on other key issues impacting the sector. The panel included Park Director at , Stevie Shepperd, Director of Visit North Norfolk and Manager at , Andrew Hird, and the owner of Hidden Talents Iain Wilson, which operates an array of local businesses including in Norwich, Hotel in Holt, and...
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During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector. In this episode, Tourism & Leisure Partner Chris Scargill discusses the results of the survey in detail, with further insight from specialists Emma Hayward and Sarah Pickett. View the full survey results brochure
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The power of generative AI, and what we can learn from sustainable New Zealand tourism During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders working in tourism and hospitality. Richard Turvel from SwissCamplings, a leading laundry supplier to the sector, reflects on what he calls ‘steady boring growth’ and how he believes in the power of his people, even though a huge part of his business is based in machines, and where he sees technology and AI taking us. Tori Burns is a business advisor who also...
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How does a headteacher at the top of her career come to live and work on the Broads? We find out, as Mary takes us on a journey that ‘cruises’ through a career working with troubled teens, into a battle with cancer, and out into the warmth and wonder of Beccles, a hugely popular part of the Norfolk Broads. After being told that the stress of her job was the likely cause of her cancer returning, Mary and her husband took this as a sign to pack up their London life and pursue their dream, starting a business in boat repairing. Mary was adamant, though, that she didn’t want to work in...
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The Tourism Business Survey was relaunched for 2023, after a ‘COVID-19 break’ and the results were announced at a seminar on 25 April to an audience of sector leaders. We recorded the panel discussions hihglights for listeners to enjoy who were unable to attend on the day. You can hear reflections on the results of the survey from the team of experts at Larking Gowen, and commentary from Andy Wood, CEO of Adnams, Claudia Roberts, CEO of Zoological Society of East Anglia which operates Banham Zoo and Africa Alive, and Mary Sparrow, owner of Hippersons Boatyard in Norfolk. Valerie...
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Chris whisked away some leaders in the tourism sector after the Tourism Business Survey seminar on 25 April 2023, and hosted a very special chat. His guests were Oliver Paul, co-owner of Suffolk Food Hall, Tarnia Robertson, a Hospitality Consultant and Business Coach (and former MD of Ufford Park) and Elliott Attew, Manager of Deer’s Glade Caravan and Camping Park. In this bitesize episode, they reflect on the results of the Tourism Business Survey and how the data has reflected concerns and stories around trends and sustainability. They discuss how to make sustainability part of your...
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What does your mind conjure up when we say Great Yarmouth? Whether we’ve been there or not, we likely all have something come to mind. That’s the power of marketing and positive experiences. Asa Morrison is Chief Executive of Visit Great Yarmouth, a Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO) and tourism business improvement district, of which there are only three in the UK. Asa is passionate about where he lives and works, and his role is to increase support and visitors to Great Yarmouth, in a sustainable and responsible way. He chats to Chris about the issues with the public...
info_outlineThe series finale is a chat with Karen Hester, Chief Operating Officer of Adnams brewery in Southwold. Karen describes her story as ‘from mop to top’ – starting her career at Adnams as a cleaner, she’s now an award winning, glass ceiling breaking COO.
She chats to Chris about all things lockdown, pivoting, the digital revolution, stay-cations, the importance of wellbeing coming out of the pandemic, and much more, but this episode is really about the story of Karen’s personal journey into the world of business, and of her successes along the way.
Karen started her career, as a young woman, in the army, in part to help escape a turbulent childhood home. When she became pregnant, she was forced to leave, whilst her husband, also in the army, could stay. So, she sued the MOD, and won! Her case is still cited to this day in reports and teaching, and this experience also led to her personal pursuit of justice for all, and her current role as a magistrate.
Karen later joined Adnams as a part-time cleaner, where her potential and work ethic was spotted. She began working her way up, gaining experience in all areas of the business, including logistics, and has spent decades breaking down the barriers that society puts up around women in business, and smashing stereotypes, particularly around executive roles for working mothers.
During her trailblazing career, she has overseen multi-million pound rebuild projects with a focus on sustainability; has been voted East of England Businesswoman of the Year; and has been given an honorary doctorate from the University of Suffolk.
Despite all of the focus on her success as a woman in a male-dominated world, she does not believe that women should be given roles they don’t deserve, believing that giving a woman the role of a director BECAUSE she’s a woman is just as insulting as NOT giving it to her because she’s a woman! She speaks candidly about the challenges women need to overcome in order to reach their potential, including resisting imposter syndrome, and combating emotional bias in decision making.
This episode is a must-listen, not just for business leaders, but for anyone interested in the role gender plays in the workplace, and anyone in need of a little bit of inspiration, and motivation to succeed!
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