ScaleUp Radio

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 apply to be a guest, just click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/apply Kevin's New Book Is Now 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/

Episode #574 - Neurodiversity, Franchising & Relentless Focus – with Rachael Jackson 02/16/2026

Episode #574 - Neurodiversity, Franchising & Relentless Focus – with Rachael Jackson In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent sits down with Rachael Jackson, a dynamic entrepreneur who has turned personal challenges into entrepreneurial strengths. From launching her business through a franchise model to reframing dyslexia as a leadership asset, Rachael’s story is all about strategic thinking and relentless focus. Key Highlights Franchise as a Strategic Launchpad: Rachael chose a WIBN franchise to de-risk her startup journey, gaining crucial business experience and a peer network before launching her dream venture. Relentless Focus = Results: She became Franchisee of the Year by intentionally managing her time, prioritising member value, and building financial resilience through reinvestment. Neurodiversity as Strength: Diagnosed with dyslexia at 30, she harnessed it as a leadership superpower—mastering delegation, systems, and people management. Tech for Inclusion: She uses a dyslexia-friendly CRM (POP) to boost productivity and sidestep complexity. The one key thing: A franchise can be more than a business – it can be a confidence-building launchpad for your bigger vision. Quick heads-up; we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals; in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. Get access by emailing . Don’t forget to subscribe to ScaleUp Radio wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us for new episodes every week. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Rachael. 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: You can get in touch with Kevin here: Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Rachael can be found here: /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/40085365

Episode #573 - ScaleUp Radio Shorts: The Pivot Point: Moving from Busy to Impactful 02/13/2026

Episode #573 - ScaleUp Radio Shorts: The Pivot Point: Moving from Busy to Impactful This week on ScaleUp Radio Shorts, Kevin and Louise unpack two fascinating recent conversations, one with Samantha Thurlow of In Collaboration, and one with Graeme Tennick of Tennick Accountants. Different sectors. Same pivotal moment. Both guests hit a point where “business as usual” stopped working, and had to rethink structure, mindset, and action to move forward. 🔎 What We Cover 1️⃣ The Associate Trap Samantha built her agency on a flexible associate model. It worked, until it didn’t. Growth meant more work… but not more profit. Flexibility became a ceiling. Her pivot? Moving towards an employee model to build stability, culture, and long-term asset value. Lesson: Convenience can quietly cap your growth. 2️⃣ Strategy Over Volume Samantha also shared a key observation about marketing. AI-generated content is everywhere. But engagement is dropping when there’s no strategy behind it. More posts ≠ better marketing. Clear positioning and thinking wins. 3️⃣ The Real Reason Businesses Don’t Scale When Kevin asked Graeme the biggest barrier to growth, his answer wasn’t cash flow. It was procrastination. We are drowning in knowledge but starved of action. His advice is simple: Identify the biggest challenge in front of you, then take one immediate action to move it forward. One action is progress. 4️⃣ 10x Requires Reinvention Graeme referenced 10x Is Easier Than 2x, the idea that small growth can come from working harder, but exponential growth requires fundamentally changing how you operate. You cannot 10x with yesterday’s structure. 🎯 The One Key Thing If you feel stuck, don’t just push harder. Change the structure or behaviour that’s holding you back. 🎧 Want More? To hear Samantha’s full transition story and Graeme’s Client Impact Tree framework in detail, listen to their full episodes of ScaleUp Radio. Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. This episode was created using AI /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/40086170

Episode #572 - From Virtual Assistant to Strategic Agency: Evolving for Growth - with Samantha Thurlow 02/11/2026

Episode #572 - From Virtual Assistant to Strategic Agency: Evolving for Growth - with Samantha Thurlow In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Samantha Thurlow, founder of In Collaboration, a business support agency that’s grown from offering virtual assistant services to delivering full-service strategy, admin, and marketing. As her business evolves into a two-brand model, with the launch of Creative Bean Studios, Sam shares how she’s adapting to market shifts, overcoming growing pains, and preparing for the next stage of her scaleup journey. Key Takeaways Pivoting the Business Model: Sam transitioned In Collaboration from a flexible associate model to a hybrid employed team, following clear advice from her accountant. This shift was vital to improving profitability and enabling scale. New Brand, Same Vision: The launch of Creative Bean Studios allows her to expand specialist marketing services while focusing In Collaboration on strategic support for clients. Strategy Over Service: Clients are moving away from generic VA tasks to valuing strategic insight, SEO, branding, and business positioning are now in high demand. The Power of Vulnerability: Sam’s standout message? Being open about challenges attracts support and builds trust, both in business relationships and team culture. AI Done Right: AI isn't a silver bullet, real results come when it’s used as a tool by experienced humans, not a content factory. The One Key Thing Building a scalable business model sometimes means letting go of what's worked in the past. For Sam, it was moving beyond the associate model to unlock long-term sustainability and growth. Quick heads-up, we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing . Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts – and why not give us a follow? For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Sam. 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: 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, 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 - Samantha can be found here: Resources: Blockworks - Atomic Habits by James Clear - Dear Female Founder by Lu Li - Brene Brown - Asana - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/40004040

Episode #571 - ScaleUp Club - Dr. Serge Santos on Letting Go, Building Legacy, and Leading with Purpose 02/09/2026

Episode #571 - ScaleUp Club - Dr. Serge Santos on Letting Go, Building Legacy, and Leading with Purpose This episode of ScaleUp Radio is part of our Scale-Up Club spotlight series – a special format where we welcome back a previous guest to go deeper in a live Q&A session with our Scale-Up Club members. This time, we shine the spotlight on Dr. Serge Santos, also known as The Business Physicist – and for good reason. Serge brings a rare blend of financial acumen, physics-trained problem solving, and a deep passion for business legacy. From being made redundant in 2013 to raising £700 million and running three growing businesses under his Bedrock Enterprises group, Serge speaks with refreshing honesty about the real challenges of scaling – and the mindset shifts required to succeed. This engaging Q&A covers wide-ranging questions from the audience, including: How Serge transitioned from founder to multi-business leader His approach to building empowered leadership teams Why culture is the bedrock – and how to enforce a “no dickhead policy” Letting go of control, and why founders often become their own bottleneck Balancing long-term investment with short-term performance His thought process for setting strategic direction across multiple businesses And why legacy matters more than ego Expect practical advice, candid reflections, and a healthy dose of inspiration. The standout message? “You can’t build legacy if the business is still about you. Step back, empower others, and invest in a culture that can thrive without you.” The one key thing you’ll take away? If you want to scale, you have to learn to let go – and build a team and culture that doesn't rely on you. Quick heads-up, we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing: Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts – and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full Q&A session with Serge. 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: 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, 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 - Serge can be found here: /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/40003705

Episode #570 - ScaleUp Radio Shorts – The Veteran vs The Challenger: Value, Grit & the Art of Scaling 02/06/2026

Episode #569 - Turning Procrastination Into Progress – How Graeme Tennick Is Reimagining Accountancy Through Impact, Habits and Accountability 02/04/2026

Episode #569 - Turning Procrastination Into Progress – How Graeme Tennick Is Reimagining Accountancy Through Impact, Habits and Accountability In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Graeme Tennick, the founder of Tennick Accountants – a firm that’s challenging the traditional view of accountants as compliance providers by driving real strategic impact for clients and the wider community. Graeme shares how his firm has rooted itself in a compelling mission: to make lives better – for their team, their clients, and even the world. And this isn’t just a tagline. From the way they set goals with clients to how they measure internal performance and reward behaviour, it’s clear that purpose drives everything they do. We explore how Graeme is tackling one of the biggest scaleup blockers – procrastination – by introducing frameworks for action and accountability, both for himself and his clients. There’s plenty to take away from this episode about habit formation, purpose-driven strategy, and creating a values-led team culture. Quick heads-up, we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing . Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts – and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Graeme. 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: 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, 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 - Graeme can be found here: Resources: The Flight Of The Buffalo by James Belasco - 10 X is easier than 2 X by Dan Sullivan - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39921375

Episode #568 - ScaleUp Club - How to Build a High-Performing Team Culture - with Alina Stancu 02/02/2026

Episode #568 - ScaleUp Club - How to Build a High-Performing Team Culture - with Alina Stancu In this special ScaleUp Club VIP session, we’re joined by Alina Stancu, co-founder of The Orange Notebook, for a focused and interactive discussion on what it really takes to build a high-performing team culture, even with a remote team or contractors. Through practical frameworks, lived experience, and powerful case studies, Alina guides us through how culture is either fuelling or silently stalling your business, and what you can do about it. You’ll hear: 🔸 Why most cultural breakdowns stem from missing safety and purpose – and why these two ingredients are non-negotiable. 🔸 How to lead by agreement, not expectation – making values real through clear, defined behaviours. 🔸 What “positive ownership” looks like in action – and why it frees leaders from needing to control everything. 🔸 How to build a consistent culture with contractors – through inclusion, security, and care. Quick heads-up, we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing . Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts – and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full session with Alina. 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: 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, 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 - Alina can be found here: Resources: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39921150

Episode #567 - Rocket Science vs Business Rates - Scaling Lessons from Both Worlds 01/30/2026

Episode #567 - Rocket Science vs Business Rates - Scaling Lessons from Both Worlds In this special edition of ScaleUp Radio Shorts, Kevin Brent and Granger Forson dive into two recent interviews that couldn’t be more different on the surface; but reveal some remarkably similar lessons underneath. On one side, we have Aqeel Shamsul, founder of cutting-edge space biotech startup Frontier Space, turning microgravity into a drug development advantage. On the other, Tom Perry and Ella Chapman from Holloway Bond, redefining the approach to business rates recovery through data-led outreach and customer-first practices. From rocket science to rateable values, this episode is a compelling breakdown of the shared truths behind successful scaleups. 💡 Key Highlights: ✅ Solve a Real Problem, Build the Right Team Whether in outer space or in high-street offices, the guests focused on one key thing: identifying a genuine pain point and assembling the right people to solve it. ✅ From Hustle to Systems Aqeel bootstrapped his first space mission while washing dishes during his PhD. Tom & Ella took on every business function until they hit bottlenecks—then learned to outsource and scale smart. ✅ Proactive Sales Is King Frontier Space invests heavily in Business Development, even in deep-tech. Holloway Bond flips the model by finding clients through data, rather than waiting for them to call. ✅ Culture and Hiring Matter More Than Ever In both businesses, early hires define the culture. Whether it’s recruiting for attitude in a niche field or insisting on in-person interviews to gauge culture fit—getting the right people on board is non-negotiable. ✅ Stay Focused on Your Core Tom & Ella are weighing up diversification. Granger’s advice? “Stick to the knitting” until systems and leadership layers are strong enough to expand. 🚀 Standout Message: “Whether you’re dealing with the European Space Agency or your local council’s valuation office, business always comes down to: Do you solve a real problem? Do you have a team that can deliver? And can you sell it?” 🔑 The One Key Thing: Proactive, focused execution; not the industry you’re in; is what drives scale. 🎁 Quick heads-up… We’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals; in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will help shape the final version. 📩 Just email to get access. This episode has been created utilising AI technology /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39923110

Episode #566 - Why Doing Things Differently with approaching Business Rates Helped This Young Business Scale Without Losing Control - with Tom Perry & Ella Chapman 01/28/2026

Episode #566 - Why Doing Things Differently with approaching Business Rates Helped This Young Business Scale Without Losing Control - with Tom Perry & Ella Chapman Granger Forson here from and on LinkedIn, and in this episode of ScaleUp Radio I’m joined by Tom Perry and Ella Chapman, founders of Holloway Bond. In just three years, Tom and Ella have quietly built a specialist business that champions companies who are unknowingly overpaying business rates. Rather than chasing every prospect, Holloway Bond flips the model on its head by using data to proactively identify who they can truly help, before ever picking up the phone. What stands out immediately is their integrity. Operating on a no-win-no-fee basis, they only take on cases where they are confident they can deliver meaningful results. That clarity has shaped not just their business model, but also their culture, their growth decisions, and the deep trust they’ve built with clients. We explore their journey from industry insiders to business owners, the lessons learned from early cash flow challenges, and why outsourcing marketing, HR, recruitment and IT helped unlock their next phase of growth. Along the way, Tom and Ella share honest reflections on recruitment mistakes, the importance of face-to-face conversations, and why building a happy, knowledgeable team matters more than chasing size. This episode is a powerful reminder that you don’t need to be the biggest to be brilliant, and that doing things differently, with care and conviction, can create both commercial success and genuine joy in the workplace. 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 trust, thoughtful growth and doing business differently with Tom Perry and Ella Chapman. 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: Book a call with Granger - 30 minutes value add conversation for Business owners with Staff. You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Tom & Ella can be found here: 01285 42100 Resources: Free Agent app - Time Tree app - Web X - Zoho CRM - DotSquares - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39811885

Episode #565 - Unlocking Drug Discovery in Space - with Aqeel Shamsul of Frontier Space 01/26/2026

Episode #565 - Unlocking Drug Discovery in Space - with Aqeel Shamsul of Frontier Space What if the future of drug discovery isn’t on Earth? In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Aqeel Shamsul, the visionary CEO and co-founder of Frontier Space, a UK-based space biotech company developing shoebox-sized biolabs to unlock the power of microgravity for pharmaceutical R&D. Spun out of Aqeel’s PhD at Cranfield University, Frontier Space is on a mission to make in-space research and biomanufacturing accessible, affordable, and impactful, and they’ve already achieved what few startups can: bootstrapping two space missions and securing over £1.3M in non-dilutive grant funding. 🚀 Key Takeaways: Biotech in Orbit: Frontier’s SPACELAB and XSB platforms allow pharma companies to run high-impact experiments in microgravity, accelerating research and unlocking new drug formats. Funding Smart, Growing Lean: With 80% of its £1.3M in funding coming from the UK Space Agency, Frontier Space has scaled a 12-person team across biotech, engineering, and commercial functions. Why Microgravity Matters: It accelerates biological processes like ageing, enables superior crystal growth, and creates more realistic 3D cell models, giving pharma faster, more accurate R&D. Creating a New Market: As early pioneers, Frontier must educate pharma clients while selling the value of space-based R&D, a complex, high-trust B2B sales challenge. The Long Game: While contract research funds their early growth, the real goal is building a proprietary therapeutic pipeline leveraging their own in-orbit data. 💡 The One Key Thing: When you’re creating something truly new, educating your market is as critical as building the tech. Quick heads-up, we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing . . Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts, and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Aqeel. 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: You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Aqeel can be found here: Resources: Y Combinator - ChatGPT - Google Gemini - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39810945

Episode #564 - From water tech to rewards apps - what scaling really takes 01/23/2026

Episode #563 - Turning Isolation into Growing A Collective That Transforms Local Shopping Into Shared Purpose - with Sarah O'Neill 01/21/2026

Episode #563 - Turning Isolation into Growing A Collective That Transforms Local Shopping Into Shared Purpose - with Sarah O'Neill Find me, Granger Forson, at or on LinkedIn. Sarah O’Neill’s journey began with a simple, heartfelt need: to feel part of a community again. What started as a personal response to the isolation of lockdowns grew into Cotswold Collective, a thriving rewards-based membership platform dedicated to supporting local businesses and bringing people together. Her background in marketing and events became the spark that helped transform a difficult season of life into something meaningful for thousands of others. In our conversation, Sarah shares the early days of the Collective, from persuading the first 40–50 local brands to take a chance on an unproven idea, through to today’s network of more than 450 businesses and a rapidly growing membership. Her energy is infectious, and her belief in conscious shopping, shared experiences, and celebrating the stories behind local businesses shines through every step of her journey. We also explore how the Collective has evolved into a sophisticated digital product, recently launching an app that already has hundreds of downloads. Sarah explains how she designed the offers to be completely bespoke, ensuring that brands feel valued while consumers enjoy something genuinely special each time they use their membership. What really stands out is Sarah’s deep commitment to purposeful connection. Whether through events, collaborations, or simply encouraging people to rediscover the high street, Cotswold Collective is about more than rewards. It’s about belonging, supporting independents, and creating those magical moments when people meet, collaborate, and flourish together. Finally, Sarah opens up about the realities of building the business while raising two young children, the power of saying yes, and what it means to grow something with heart. This episode is packed with inspiration for founders, community-builders, and anyone who believes small actions can create big impact. 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 community, connection and conscious shopping with Sarah. 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: Book a call with Granger - 30 minutes value add conversation for Business owners with Staff. You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Sarah can be found here: Resources: Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling - Diary of a CEO podcast - Cotswold Collective podcast - Cotswold Collective app - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39756565

Episode #562 - Making Water Behave, Saving Energy And Scaling A Mission That Matters - with Samantha Mant 01/19/2026

Episode #562 - Making Water Behave, Saving Energy And Scaling A Mission That Matters - with Samantha Mant Welcome to another inspiring episode with me, Granger Forson find me at or on as I sit down with Samantha Mant, CEO and Founder of Halcyan Water, a business transforming the way homes and companies manage hard water and energy efficiency. Samantha’s journey began in the world of beautiful bathroom design, where she repeatedly saw installations deteriorate in just months. Instead of accepting that frustration, she experimented. She searched globally, discovered a technology that could turn badly behaved hard water into nicely behaved hard water, and tested it for years before she ever went to market. That curiosity launched the business that is now helping homes and industries reduce limescale, protect equipment, and dramatically cut energy use, all without chemicals or salt In this conversation, she shares openly the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, from learning to trust her instinct when it comes to people decisions, to bootstrapping through recessions, and discovering the power of accountability and Profit First principles. Her values are clear throughout: environmental impact, transparency, education before sales, and building a team culture where collaboration beats hierarchy. Today Halcyan is celebrating 10 years, backed by a global growth vision, expanding into commercial and international markets, and building a freelance powerhouse of specialist marketers working seamlessly as one team. It’s a story full of experimentation, ownership, resilience and deep belief in making a real difference. If you care about scaling a purpose-driven business, reducing carbon footprint, or simply want your shower glass to stay clean and your bills lower, this is one to listen to. 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 energy saving, environmental impact and scaling with Samantha Mant. 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: Book a call with Granger - 30 minutes value add conversation for Business owners with Staff. You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Samantha can be found here: For the FREE resources - Resources: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz - They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan - The Richest Man In Babylon by George S Clason - Focus On The Fun Stuff podcast - Seth Godin podcast - Tony Robbins podcast - Tradeswomen Together podcast - Retrofit podcast - Brain Toss app - ChatGPT - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39741095

Episode #561 - The Power of Saying 'No' 01/16/2026

Episode #560 - How Radical Focus Transformed a Struggling Consultancy into a Global Leader - with Hugh Taylor 01/14/2026

Episode #560 - How Radical Focus Transformed a Struggling Consultancy into a Global Leader - with Hugh Taylor I’m Granger Forson and you’ll find me at or on . In this inspiring episode of ScaleUp Radio, I’m joined by Hugh Taylor, CEO of Roadnight Taylor. His story is a masterclass in transformation, determination, and the power of experimentation. Hugh shares the remarkable journey behind Roadnight Taylor’s shift from a struggling generalist consultancy to a globally respected Independent Specialist Grid Consultancy, now recognised in the top 0.1 percent worldwide for client value perception and enjoying 100 percent team retention over six years. What stands out is the extraordinary turnaround that began with a change in mindset. Hugh talks openly about the early years of intense struggle, working hand-to-mouth and facing burnout before discovering key ideas in books such as Good to Great by Jim Collins and Bounce by Matthew Syed. Those insights triggered bold decisions, including letting go of 80 percent of clients, doubling fees through an auction model, and going deeply niche to become world-leading experts. Today, Hugh leads a thriving, joyful, four-day-week, self-managing team, working with major global names such as Amazon and Octopus Energy, helping eliminate barriers to the grid connections needed to decarbonise society and support the growth of renewable energy infrastructure. If you’re scaling a business, this conversation is packed with wisdom around focus, courage, culture, generating cash, and the joy that comes from building a business that works beautifully for everyone involved. 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 focus, joy and transformation with Hugh Taylor. 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: Book a call with Granger - 30 minutes value add conversation for Business owners with Staff. You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Hugh can be found here: Resources: Good to Great by Jim Collins - Seth Godin podcasts - Rory Sutherland podcasts - Humanocracy by Gary Hamel - Bounce by Matthew Syed - Turning The Flywheel by Jim Collins - Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned by Joel Lehman - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39658500

Episode #559 - Building Trust Not Tension by Changing Construction Through Openness and Real Financial Clarity - with Michael Yorke 01/12/2026

Episode #559 - Building Trust Not Tension by Changing Construction Through Openness and Real Financial Clarity - with Michael Yorke Welcome to another episode of ScaleUp Radio with me, Granger Forson. You can connect with me at or find me on anytime. Today I’m joined by Michael Yorke, co founder of Prime DCM, a construction and development business based just outside Gloucester. Michael’s journey is a powerful example of what happens when you challenge industry norms and build a company rooted in openness, respect and genuine partnership with clients. Starting just one month before the 2020 lockdown, Michael and his business partner James shaped Prime DCM around an open book financial model, completely removing the traditional conflict between builder and client. Instead of guarding information or chasing margin, they guide clients every step of the way, giving full transparency, daily communication and real accountability over cost, time and quality. It’s the foundation that has created deep trust and consistent word of mouth referrals. From delivering a complex seven story development of 38 apartments in Gloucester Docks to high end residential projects for private clients, Prime DCM focus not on being the biggest, but on being truly efficient and consistent. They choose to run only two or three sites at a time and invest in developing the next generation, training apprentices through degree pathways and passing forward the expertise and values that shaped their own careers. If you’re interested in building a business that values trust, lean thinking, long term relationships and the courage to grow people alongside results, this one is packed full of inspiration. 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 open book transparency, efficiency over growth, and building trust through honesty with Michael. 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: Book a call with Granger - 30 minutes value add conversation for Business owners with Staff. You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Michael can be found here: Resources: ChatGPT - WhatsApp - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39657380

Episode #558 - From Unicorn Ambition to Creative Freedom – Lessons from Two ScaleUp Journeys 01/09/2026

Episode #557 - From PR Pioneer to Portfolio Career; Value-Based Growth and Lasting Legacy - with Andrew Bloch 01/07/2026

Episode #557 - From PR Pioneer to Portfolio Career; Value-Based Growth and Lasting Legacy - with Andrew Bloch In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I’m joined by Andrew Bloch – one of the UK’s most influential voices in the PR and marketing space. Best known as the co-founder of Frank PR and now the founder of a boutique consultancy, Andrew shares the story of building, scaling, exiting, and reinventing a business around his strengths and values. We explore his fascinating career arc – from growing Frank into one of the UK’s leading agencies, to selling it, buying it back, and eventually transitioning it to employee ownership. Andrew now operates a portfolio career that combines M&A advisory, pitch consultancy, high-profile PR, and mentoring. This conversation is split into three parts: 1️⃣ We start by digging into Andrew’s business journey – including Frank PR’s scaling strategy, its multiple exits, and the evolution of his current solo consultancy. 2️⃣ Then, we explore his perspective on the biggest challenges to scaling a business – and why culture and value-based pricing are non-negotiables. 3️⃣ Finally, we wrap up with some quickfire questions to get a glimpse into his mindset and daily habits. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why charging by value not time unlocks higher growth and better client outcomes ✅ How Andrew transitioned to a portfolio career that’s lean, high-impact and personally fulfilling ✅ What makes a good M&A deal – and why cultural fit matters more than financials ✅ The importance of legacy – and how culture can be your most enduring achievement ✅ Why staying curious and embracing AI is crucial for long-term relevance The one key thing: 👉 Value-based pricing can completely transform how you grow and scale – by aligning your work with the results you deliver, not the hours you put in. Quick heads-up: We’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals — in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. 🎯 Get access by emailing Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts – and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Andrew. Andrew can be found here: Resources: Chat GPT - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39492985

Episode #556 - Turning the Spam Filter on its Head: A Privacy-First Approach with Sentrya - with Claudiu Cogalniceanu 01/05/2026

Episode #556 - Turning the Spam Filter on its Head: A Privacy-First Approach with Sentrya - with Claudiu Cogalniceanu On this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I’m joined by Claudiu Cogalniceanu, the solo founder behind Sentrya, a revolutionary new approach to email protection. What makes Claudiu’s story so remarkable isn’t just the tech, though that’s impressive, but the journey. He built the first version of Sentrya in under a month while working as an Uber driver, launched it on Product Hunt, and grew to over 450 users in 25+ countries using organic Reddit marketing alone. Sentrya flips the traditional spam filter model: instead of trying to detect spam, it creates a clean list of approved senders and deletes everything else by default. This privacy-first approach has blocked over 200,000 scam emails so far, and it’s just the beginning. We break down the conversation into three core parts: The Business & Business Model: How Sentrya works, its current traction, and Claudiu’s vision to compete with Gmail and Outlook by building a fully encrypted email service. Challenges of Scaling Up: From bootstrapping to a viral setback when an influencer falsely accused the platform of being a scam, Claudiu shares how he overcame it. Quickfire Questions: Insight into Claudiu’s mindset, strategies, and how his psychology background shapes his approach to building a tech startup. 💡 The one key thing: You don’t need massive funding to build something impactful, clarity of purpose and strategic simplicity can take you far. 🚀 Quick heads-up: We’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing . Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts – and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Claudiu. 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: You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Claudiu can be found here Resources: Alex Hormuz on YouTube - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39469940

Episode #555 - What if your business could scale globally with just 25 people — and no external funding? - with Lilia Stoyanov 12/22/2025

Episode #555 - What if your business could scale globally with just 25 people — and no external funding? - with Lilia Stoyanov In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I’m joined by Lilia Stoyanov, the CEO and cofounder of TFY (Transformify Ltd), a bootstrapped, AI-powered global workforce management platform. TFY enables businesses to hire, onboard and pay contractors in 184+ countries – all from one platform. And it’s not just another HR tool — it’s a human-centred, AI-powered engine that automates compliance and payments, so finance and HR teams can focus on strategic growth. In this episode, we cover: How TFY achieved 90% profit growth in 2024 with zero external investment The three-phase scaling strategy that took them from niche to global player Why they require a full business case for every new hire – and how that drives a near-zero attrition culture The systems behind managing 350,000 contractors with just 25 people Lilia’s leadership approach – and why TFY avoids inflated job titles in favour of responsibility and results We also explore how Lilia and her team avoided the "fake stability" of VC funding, and how they built a high-trust, global network by partnering with local legal and financial experts. The one key thing? Scaling globally doesn’t require massive headcount or funding — it demands laser focus, financial discipline, and relentless clarity on ROI. Quick heads-up — we’re also looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s designed to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will help shape the final version. Interested? Just email me at . Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts — and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Lilia. 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: You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Lilia can be found here: Resources: Blitzscaling by Chris Yeh - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39452825

Episode #554 - From Neurosurgeon to $200M Founder 12/19/2025

Episode #554 - From Neurosurgeon to $200M Founder In this episode of ScaleUp Radio Shorts, Kevin Brent and Granger Forson unpack the remarkable ScaleUp journey of Dr. Mark Kotter, a neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and founder of Bit Bio, a deep-tech biotech company that’s raised over $200 million and scaled to 200+ people. It’s a story that starts with clinical frustration and leads to a cutting-edge company using AI to literally reprogram cells. But beyond the science lies a business story that any entrepreneur can learn from, full of lessons on leadership, values, team alignment, and the bumpy road of scale. 💡 Episode Highlights From Surgeon to ScaleUp CEO: Mark didn’t set out to start a company, he was driven by necessity. After realising he couldn’t cure spinal damage with surgery alone, he went searching for answers in research, ultimately spinning out Bit Bio after university support fell short. A Painful Co-Founder Conflict: Mark’s first attempt at scaling ended in near disaster. Misalignment in values and vision led to a business breakup that forced him to remortgage his house to buy back control. Hiring with Intention: After that, Mark built a recruitment process focused on alignment and values, Purposeful, Ambitious, Trustworthy, Empirical, with a “Secret Vote” used to prevent bias and protect culture. Recognising the Breaking Points: Mark shares how communication changes at 20, 50, and 100 people, and how he had the humility to step aside and hire experienced operators to build structure when it was time. Living Drugs & AI: Bit Bio is on the frontier of medicine, moving from traditional "dead molecules" to "living drugs". They use AI and machine learning to crack complex genetic programming challenges that could change the future of healthcare. 🚀 The One Key Thing “Don’t assume alignment, be explicit about your values from day one.” 💬 Standout Quote “I thought curing disease would be enough to align people, but it wasn’t. You have to say the hard stuff upfront.” – Mark Kotter 💡 Smart90 Lite – Try It Free Quick heads-up , we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals , in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. 👉 Email to get access. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Don’t miss future episodes , subscribe to ScaleUp Radio wherever you get your podcasts. And if you know a founder with an inspiring story, check the show notes to nominate them! /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39452795

Episode #553 - Flipping The Traditional Agency Model On It’s Head - with Virtyt Pula 12/17/2025

Episode #553 - Flipping The Traditional Agency Model On It’s Head - with Virtyt Pula In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I’m joined by Virtyt Pula, the founder of TOML, a talent-first creative agency that’s reimagining how creative work gets done. Instead of a traditional in-house model, TOML operates as a global creative collective, blending a tight-knit core team with a flexible international network of creative specialists. Founded in 2015, TOML was built to challenge agency norms, and when the pandemic hit, its remote-first model went from being questioned by clients to becoming its biggest asset. We cover three key areas in this conversation: The Business, how TOML operates with a hybrid model, builds bespoke teams for every brief, and maintains quality across a distributed network. Scaling Challenges, from earning client trust to navigating cash flow with global freelancers and shifting to a 50/50 service-to-R&D business model. Quickfire Insights, including Virtyt’s views on mentorship, the importance of launching early, and why his biggest influences include Steve Jobs, Bob Iger, and The Beatles. The one key thing? Your agency structure doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s to work, but you’ll need to earn trust fast. Quick heads-up — we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals — in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing . Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts, and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Virtyt. 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: You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Virtyt can be found here: Resources: Problem Solvers podcast - Diary of a CEO podcast - The Future podcast - Slack - Notion - Trello - Figma - Vimeo - Sortlist - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39357605

Episode #552 - ScaleUp Club Special: Scaling Deep Tech - with Mark Kotter 12/15/2025

Episode #552 - ScaleUp Club Special: Scaling Deep Tech - with Mark Kotter In this exclusive ScaleUp Club session, Kevin Brent sits down with Dr Mark Kotter, the visionary neurosurgeon and founder of Bit Bio, a revolutionary deep tech company transforming how we produce human cells at scale. Bit Bio has raised over £250 million, and what started as academic frustration with the limits of regenerative medicine has become a game-changing platform for industrial-scale cell production. But it hasn’t been an easy ride. From a near-collapse caused by co-founder misalignment to pioneering an intensive, values-driven hiring process, Mark shares a raw and honest look at what it takes to scale a company at the edge of biotech innovation. 🔑 Key Takeaways: Explicit Alignment Is Crucial: Co-founder misalignment nearly destroyed the company. Mark remortgaged his house to buy them out — and rebuilt with clear purpose and cultural values at the core. Fundraising Is a Full-Time Role: To scale such a novel tech, Mark handed off the science to a CSO and focused entirely on securing capital — over £250M to date. Hire People Smarter Than You: By sourcing key hires from VC due diligence teams and investing in deep expertise, Bit Bio gained the credibility and capability needed to scale. De-Risk Through Automation: Building biology, manufacturing, and QC processes from scratch is risky — automation and miniaturisation helped deliver £250M/year capacity from just 300m². 💡 The One Key Thing: If your team’s alignment isn’t crystal clear — it’s a ticking time bomb. Quick heads-up — we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals — in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing . Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts – and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Mark. 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: You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Mark can be found here: /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39354925

Episode #551 - ScaleUp Radio Shorts: The Engineer and The Artist – Balancing Structure with Spirit in Scale-Ups 12/12/2025

Episode #551 - ScaleUp Radio Shorts: The Engineer and The Artist – Balancing Structure with Spirit in Scale-Ups This week on ScaleUp Radio Shorts, Kevin and Granger reflect on two standout interviews that bring together the worlds of engineering precision and artistic expression in leadership. On one side, we have Jono Taylor, a grounded product design engineer scaling his service-based business with a flexible freelance model. On the other, Nigel Hughes, a ballet-trained serial entrepreneur helping leaders inspire from within. Despite their wildly different backgrounds, both guests shared strikingly similar insights around resilience, team dynamics, and the importance of values in scaling. 💡 In this 15-minute roundup episode, you’ll hear: How Jono built a “freelance family” to scale without the pressure of full-time headcount Why Nigel believes great leadership combines Vision, Inspiration and Purpose (“VIP”) How both founders have navigated setbacks, and what they’d tell their younger selves The power of combining structure (spreadsheets!) with spirit (vision + culture) to grow sustainably Whether you're scaling a physical product business or leading through transformation, these contrasting but complementary stories offer real, actionable lessons. 🗝️ Standout Quote: “Responsibility isn’t a heavy sack to carry – it’s the ability to respond.” – Nigel Hughes 💬 The one key thing: Scaling up successfully is about blending head and heart, managing the spreadsheet and inspiring with purpose. Quick heads-up, we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. 👉 Get access by emailing . 🎧 Listen now and subscribe to ScaleUp Radio wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to follow so you never miss an episode. /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39367715

Episode #550 - From Performer to Purpose-Driven Leader: Vision, Inspiration & Personal Discovery - with Nigel Hughes 12/10/2025

Episode #550 - From Performer to Purpose-Driven Leader: Vision, Inspiration & Personal Discovery - with Nigel Hughes 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 Nigel Hughes, a former professional performer turned leadership advisor and founder of Outstanding Global. Nigel’s journey is anything but ordinary. At just 13 years old, he chose ballet over the Marines — a decision that marked the beginning of a 20-year career on stage and eventually led him into the world of leadership development and sustainability advocacy. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, which is structured into three parts: First, we dive into Nigel’s business, the philosophy behind Outstanding Global, and where he is on his ScaleUp journey. Then, we explore Nigel’s unique approach to the challenges of scaling, including his thoughts on mindset, identity, and the ScaleUp Challenges Report. And finally, we round off with a few quickfire questions to get to know Nigel that little bit better. One of the standout messages from this episode is Nigel’s call to “stand up for who you are” — a timely reminder for leaders navigating uncertain environments. The one key thing I took away from this conversation? If you want to lead effectively, you must shift from being a reactive victim to a proactive chooser — and Nigel shares exactly how to do that with a practical framework you can use right away. 👉 Quick heads-up — we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals — in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can get access by emailing . Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts – and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Nigel. 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: You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Nigel can be found here: Resources: Becky Hemsley Poem ‘Breathe’ - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39266715

Episode #549 - Designing Products That Change Lives, Innovation, Resilience and Radical Teamwork - with Jono Taylor 12/08/2025

Episode #549 - Designing Products That Change Lives, Innovation, Resilience and Radical Teamwork - with Jono Taylor Hi, I’m Granger Forson find me at or connect on and in this episode of ScaleUp Radio we dive deep into the world of product design engineering with Jono Taylor, founder of Relay Industries. Jono has spent ten years building a business that brings breakthrough physical products to life, helping solve real-world problems in medical, industrial, scientific and connected technology sectors. From life-saving blood pumps and IoT telematics hardware to quantum physics instrumentation, Relay Industries stands out by combining creativity with deep manufacturing insight. What makes Jono’s journey special is the unwavering belief in humility, shared thinking and building long-term relationships. He openly discusses the rollercoaster of growth: winning major international contracts, expanding rapidly, then facing a six-month drought that forced difficult decisions. Through resilience and relentless networking, the company rebuilt stronger and now operates with a flexible team structure powered by freelancers treated like true teammates. At the heart of Relay Industries sits a passion that shines through every story: designing products that genuinely improve lives, avoiding landfill for landfill's sake, and creating environments where people and ideas thrive. If you want inspiration on navigating uncertainty, scaling with lean thinking, and finding joy in solving meaningful problems, this episode is a must-listen. 🎙️ 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 invention, resilience and collaboration with Jono Taylor. 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: Book a call with Granger - 30 minutes value add conversation for Business owners with Staff. You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Jono can be found here: Resources: The Designers Directory of Colour by Sean Adams - The Curious Bartender podcast - Timely app - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39265600

Episode #548 - You Can't Scale Chaos 12/05/2025

Episode #547 - Scaling Sales: The Right Way, At The Right Time - with Steve Johnson 12/03/2025

Episode #547 - Scaling Sales: The Right Way, At The Right Time - with Steve Johnson 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 Steve Johnson. Steve’s a founder who’s been in the trenches, he grew his SaaS business from £750k to over £5 million ARR in just three years. In this conversation, we break down his proven 3-stage framework for scaling sales the right way, starting with the founder doing the selling. This episode is structured in three parts: First, we explore Steve’s background, business model, and where he is on the scaleup journey. Second, we dive into the tough lessons of scaling sales, from hiring evangelists over mercenaries, to the critical role of positioning. And finally, we wrap up with a few quickfire questions to hear Steve’s take on leadership and learning. One key takeaway: “If the CEO hasn’t sold it themselves, they’ve no idea what makes a good sales process, or a good hire.” Quick heads-up, we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will help shape the final version. 👉 You can try it now at kevin@biz-smart.co.uk Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts, and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Steve. 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: You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Steve can be found here: Resources: Thinking In Systems by Donella Meadows - The Goal by Jeff Cox - The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier - Octavo by Marty Neumeier - Simplicity by Edward de Bono - ChatGPT - Gemini - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39178600

Episode #546 - From Wind Farms to Wisdom: How Neptune Infrastructure Powers Renewable Success - with Hamish Yates 12/01/2025

Episode #546 - From Wind Farms to Wisdom: How Neptune Infrastructure Powers Renewable Success - with Hamish Yates Hi, I’m Granger Forson, and you can find me at or on . In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I’m joined by Hamish Yates, founder and CEO of Neptune Infrastructure Associates, a fast-growing advisory firm dedicated to helping asset managers optimise the performance of renewable energy projects across Europe. With experience advising on over £2 billion of projects powering more than two million homes, Hamish brings a rare blend of engineering rigour and entrepreneurial purpose to the clean energy space. We explore how Neptune was built on a foundation of practical experience and values, offering something distinctly different to the consulting norm, a hands-on team of experts who’ve sat “in the hot seat” managing billion-pound wind farms. Hamish shares how his time at Orsted, where he led the world’s largest offshore wind farm, shaped his mission to “accelerate the energy transition” by helping investors deliver greater returns while doing good for the planet. Beyond business mechanics, we talk about the human side of scaling, the loneliness of the founder’s journey, the lessons from hiring missteps, and the power of creating an employee-owned culture from day one. For Hamish, it’s about aligning the team around a shared purpose and giving everyone a stake in the company’s success. We also unpack the global renewable energy landscape: the political headwinds, the opportunities in grid transformation, and why openness to change is crucial for the investment community to unlock real value. If you’re interested in leadership that blends commercial insight, culture-building, and impact, this conversation is for you. To ensure you don’t miss any inspirational future episodes, do subscribe to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts. A So, let’s now dive into the inspiring journey of renewables, resilience, and real leadership with Hamish Yates. 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: Book a call with Granger - 30 minutes value add conversation for Business owners with Staff. You can get in touch with Kevin & Granger here: Kevin's Latest Book Is Available! Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, 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 - Hamish can be found here: Free Assessment - Resources: Atomic Habits by James Clear - Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss - Diary of a CEO podcast - Cleaning Up podcast - Mile IQ app - The National Grid app - /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39178035

Episode #545 - Contrasting Paths to Growth: How Kat Wellum-Kent and Phil Harding Are Scaling Their Businesses 11/28/2025

Episode #545 - Contrasting Paths to Growth: How Kat Wellum-Kent and Phil Harding Are Scaling Their Businesses In this edition of ScaleUp Radio Shorts, Kevin Brent and Granger Forson distil powerful insights from two recent ScaleUp Radio interviews with: Kat Wellum-Kent, founder of The Fractionals Group, and Phil Harding, founder and MD of BBB Drinks. While their businesses differ in sector and style, finance/HR versus premium drinks distribution, both founders offer hard-earned lessons on how to scale smartly and sustainably. 🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ The power of specialisation – Kat’s fractional model brings strategic and operational finance/HR under one roof. Phil, meanwhile, flips the traditional distributor model by offering upfront retainers and full transparency in costs. ✅ Two very different approaches to team building – Kat’s scaling an in-house team with cultural authenticity at its core. Phil relies on a lean, outsourced model supported by dedicated Brand Ambassadors and data-led tools. ✅ Efficiency through structure and systems – From Kat’s time-blocking and letting go of perfectionism, to Phil’s game-changing consignment stock model and custom Amazon dashboards, both founders know how to manage risk and cash flow. ✅ Vision with discipline – Kat aims to build a $7.5M multi-vertical fractional group, while Phil is creating an international machine for bringing drinks brands to market, despite the ever-present funding challenges in early-stage FMCG. 🧠 The one key thing: Scaling successfully isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing the right things with structure, focus, and control. 💬 Standout quote: "Don’t wait for the website or business cards to be perfect – just go and do it." – Phil Harding 🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast app by searching for ScaleUp Radio, and catch the full interviews with both Kat and Phil. 📩 Quick heads-up, we’re looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It’s built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals, in just a few minutes a day. It’s free while we’re in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. 👉 Just email to get access. 👥 Know someone with a great ScaleUp story? Nominate them as a guest for a future episode! Details in the shownotes. This episode is created with the help of AI /episode/index/show/scaleupradio/id/39190330

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