Business Matters's Posts

In the latest edition of 'In Conversation: The Business Matters podcast,' join host Richard Alvin as he delves deep into the intricacies of the UK organic farming sector with none other than Guy Singh Watson, the visionary founder of Riverford Farm. In this captivating episode, listeners will gain invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing organic farming in the UK, particularly amidst the complexities of post-Brexit landscapes and the looming spectre of margin pressures. Through a thought-provoking dialogue, Richard and Guy explore the pivotal role of clear government leadership in safeguarding the future of organic farming. With Guy's wealth of experience and expertise, listeners will uncover the nuanced dynamics shaping the agricultural sector and gain a comprehensive understanding of what lies ahead for UK farmers. Tune in to this enlightening discussion to discover the indispensable perspectives on the future trajectory of UK agriculture, and gain invaluable knowledge on

Richard Alvin sits down with Gareth Scargill from University of Leeds’, Nexus and we thank episode sponsor M&S Corporate Gifts, for more information Visit ⁠marksandspencerforbusiness.com⁠ Now innovation hubs are stepping in to help startups overcome their challenges. One of these pioneering resources is University of Leeds’, Nexus. Here, expert academics advise the surrounding region’s young, innovative businesses - including on best routes to funding and how to scale up rapidly. Members can also take advantage of state-of-the-art labs and office spaces, which further enhance their chances of success. Crucially, Nexus also helps overseas startups bring their offer to Yorkshire and UK markets and promote them there, fostering and maintaining vibrant international trading relationships. 

Richard Alvin sits down with the co-founders of new streaming platform lounges.tv Scott Green & Craig Gardner. Lounges.tv, showcases exclusive content of rising content creators and gives a new chance for their talent to be noticed and most importantly, to be more quickly financially rewarded. The content creator industry has never been bigger. With a staggering 3.7 million new videos flooding YouTube alongside an additional 34 million TikToks uploaded a day. However creators are finding it impossible to be seen and fairly compensated. The global video streaming market size expected to reach USD 416.84 billion by 2030. Yet, just under half (46%) of full-time creators make under $1,000 annual revenue. Thousands of creators have already signed up and the company recently got a YES from Simon Cowell joining the company as an investor.

Richard Alvin sits down with Ben Read, founder of Redeployable and we thank episode sponsor M&S Corporate Gifts, for more information Visit marksandspencerforbusiness.com Redeployable is a platform aimed at simplifying the challenging journey out of the military and into new, fulfilling careers.  As a former British Army Sergeant himself, Read could see that there was a problem; leaving the military can be confusing and unclear.  So after serving in the army for 12 years, Read embarked on a mission to improve the transition process for military personnel. He recognised that there was a real lack of support or clear guidance about where to go next; leading to widespread veteran underemployment. Veterans have the potential to be excellent employees; they’re highly skilled and driven. Combine this with the skills gap that lots of tech-based companies are facing, and there’s a clear soltuion. To get more vets and service leavers into these great careers.    Redeployable was born out of Read's desire to

This week we delve into the world of training and employment schemes, skills, careers and future of work opportunities as we’re joined by Daniel Brett, Vice Chair of the T Level Ambassador Network, and brothers, John and James Lack, who have both studied T Levels in different skills areas.   Our guests take us through what T Levels are, with John and James talking us through their first-hand experience of T Levels and industry placements. In addition, we learn about the T Level Ambassador Network, which all three guests are a part of, and why they’re encouraging other employers to host T Level students on industry placement and join the T Level community.   This podcast is brought to you by the Department for Education’s Skills for Life campaign. Search ‘Skills Revolution’ to find out more.

Richard Alvin is joined by, award-winning entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of cutting edge logistics company GV Group, Tevin Tobun. Tevin's company is behind a number of brands that offer logistics services to the food service sector. The firm works in both the commercial and public fields and its clients include hotel groups, restaurants, contract caterers, supermarkets, schools and healthcare facilities.

Colin Bell, business growth director of the North East Local Area Partnerships joins Managing Editor Richard Alvin to talk about the Governments Peer to Peer networking initiative. 

Founder of Laughs Last and author of Making Sales Channels Work plus Fractional Sales Officer for tech start-ups Marcus joins us to talk about how to boost your businesses sales'.

We are joined today by Phil Storey, a Leeds-based tech entrepreneur who has launched a pioneering app designed to highlight the importance of website maintenance and power digital growth. Storey, a website developer with almost a decade of experience developed multi-functional app Glow to streamline the processes involved with website maintenance and transform perceptions of how important it is to keep websites up to date, efficient and secure. Offering a full suite of website maintenance tools including backup functionality, uptime monitoring, high-level security, quick, hassle-free updates to the WordPress core, themes and plugins, as well as custom development work, Glow is beneficial to marketing agencies, web developers, and SMEs in need of website support. Since going live in the middle of a global pandemic, the innovative technology has been snapped up by some of Leeds’s most renowned agencies and website developers, as well as over 40 end user clients.

Peter Ryding, award winning CEO mentor and Founder of VIC (AI e-coaching interactive software for employees) talks to Richard Alvin about how to navigate through the current business environment.

Emma Robinson, co-founder of Huddersfield based Red Diamond Recruitment joins Managing Editor Richard Alvin to talk about how Covid-19 has changed the global recruitment process and why many employers have really embraced diversity to grow their businesses. 

Karen Emanuel, CEO of Key Production, and winner of the NatWest Everywoman Award in 2018 tells us how her business, and the music production business has fared during the Lockdown and what advice she would give to fellow entrepreneurs on how to cope. Plus as Karen started Key 30 years ago after being made redundant during a recession with £2,000 redundancy payment she gives advice to others who might find themselves in a similar position. 

Brad Burton joins Managing Editor Richard Alvin to tell us about what happened when, the face-to-face business networking company he founded, 4Networking came to a shuddering halt when the Coronavirus lock-down hit and they had to create 4online or have their 14 year old die.  As Brad is also the UK's No.1 motivational business speaker, working with the likes of Bentley, JCB and Xero Richard asked him what business owners should be doing now to ensure their business gets over this crisis. 

Gareth Smyth runs business brokerage, Hilton Smyth, which was ranked number one in the UK for volume of businesses sold in the first quarter of 2020. He talks to Richard Alvin, Managing Editor about how to value, sell or buy a small and medium sized business. Gareth also explains that businesses that have survived the Coronavirus pandemic are most probably worth more than they were before the pandemic. 

Jeff Kelisky is CEO of, leading online investment platform, Seedrs he joins Managing Editor Richard Alvin to talk about how SMEs and smaller companies can gain investment from other entrepreneurs and the investor community and trade shares as easy as trading as a public company. 

Barney Wragg, co-founder and CEO of robotics firm Karakuri talks to Business Matters managing editor Richard Alvin about how his company  is bringing the fourth industrial revolution to the food-to-go industry. Barney talks about how food retailers and restaurants are having to rethink how technology can be deployed alongside the chefs and staff to help and give reassurance to customers of minimal human contact with their meals.  At the same time, the old problems of the food industry won't have gone so things like food waste in the industry are still as prevalent as ever.  

Charlie Mullins OBE, the founder and chairman of Pimlico Plumbers and former Channel 4 secret millionaire, joins us to talk about how to survive and thrive during the COVID 19 crisis and he also gives us his thoughts on the Mayor of London Sadique Khan's increase of the congestion charge. 

Mark Wright, the 2014 winner off the Apprentice and founder of digital marketing agency Climb Online gives us his advice or boosting your business online and tells us what it's like to have Lord Sugar as a business partner during a lockdown.

The trailer for our new podcast where Richard Alvin, our managing editor, will be speaking to some of the UKs highest profile entrepreneurs. From TV Dragons’ to some of the most inspirational founders in business today.    Richard will also be speaking to specialists in every field imaginable to get you advice on: marketing, social media, HR, legal problems and how to cope with the ‘new normal’ as it unwraps itself.    This series was going to be weekly, but until things do go back to some level of normality we will be trying to get advice to you as fast as we can, so we will be aiming to do two a week.    Make sure you subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode. 

Managing Editor Richard Alvin talks to Blur Group CEO Philip Letts about jobs for the boys and s-commerce