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Brunel for Business podcast

Welcome to Brunel for Business' podcast series, our episode we will explore many topics realated to business.

Each series is grouped into overarching themes relating to different lessons and experiences that are key in business growth and success. 

We hope you are able to take something away for you and your business.

Series 2: Women in business

Episode 1: Simone Payne – CEO of 4myschool

In this episode of our Women in Business podcast series, Simone Payne, co-founder of 4myschools shares her highlights, challenges and advice as an entrepreneur, and how her business not only survived but also thrived through the pandemic. Tune in to discover her lessons learnt and her tips on running a successful business.

Episode 2: Anita Vasisht – Partner at Wilson Solicitors LLP

 

Wilson Solicitors LLP partner Anita Vasisht joins us in this episode of Brunel’s Women in Business series where she talks us through how she has remained successful throughout her career, especially during the pandemic. Tune in and be inspired by Anita’s journey as well as take away her self-care advice for all women in business.

Episode 3: Helen Stenhouse - Managing Director People Puzzles

Helen Stenhouse of human resource consultancy People Puzzles Ltd joins us in this episode of Brunel’s Women in Business podcast series to discuss her journey from taking a career break to running a rapidly growing business, and how she is motivated by her unshakeable belief in helping companies create better workplaces. Be inspired by Helen’s story and take away her tips on becoming a successful woman in business. 

Episode 4: Melanie Lay - Director of Marketing & Resources of Energy Solutions

In this episode of Brunel’s Women in Business podcast series, Melanie Lay discusses the challenges faced by off-grid power business Energy Solutions in the past year and what it’s like to be a woman in business in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Tune in for her takeaways on how to succeed in times of crisis. 

Episode 5: Natasha Ray - Co-founder of  &Keep

This episode of Brunel’s Women in Business podcast series features Natasha Ray, co-founder of &Keep and a UK Top 100 Inspirational Female Entrepreneur of 2020. Natasha discusses how she built her sustainable retail company, an idea that came to her and her husband while touring across Europe in a campervan. Be inspired by Natasha’s views on putting people and the planet above profits. 

Episode 6:  Hazel Symington - Director of HR of Applied Information Group UK Limited

In this episode of Brunel’s Women in Business series, Hazel Symington of Applied Information Group UK Ltd discusses how the pandemic has affected the company. Tune in to find out about how they responded to challenges faced and how the past year has changed the way we think about how we work. 

Episode 7: Christina Gray - Managing Director of Gray Agency Ltd

In the final episode of Women in Business podcast series,Christina Gray, founder and Managing Director of Gray & Associates Recruitment Services talks about how patronising company board meetings inspired her to set up her own business and how she keeps herself and her team motivated. Tune in for Christina’s inspirational lessons learnt through running her own business, from the traits of great leaders to being tenacious and never giving up. 

Series 1: Business challenges and recovery strategy

Episode 1: Joe McGrath - Found of Rhotic Media


In this episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy, Steve Parker speaks with Rhotic Media’s Joe McGrath about managing growth during a pandemic and learning to make tough decisions to sustain the business over the longer term.

Rhotic Media is a 12-person financial services content agency that’s emerging from start-up mode to enter its growth phase. With an editorial team that has written for large media groups including Dow Jones and the Financial Times, Rothic Media offers corporate content, emergency editorial and research reporting services.

Episode 2: Tulbinder Mahal - Director of Paragon AV

In this episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy, Tulbinder Mahal, Director of Paragon AV chats with Steve Parker about pivoting his business during the pandemic and how business coaching has helped him re-evaluate his own business practices. 

Launched in 1986, Paragon AV offers audio-visual and lighting services to the events industry as well as film productions and concerts.

Episode 3: Anuuj Kohli - Director of SWJ Ltd

In this episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy, Steve Parker speaks with Anuuj Kohli, Director of SWJ Ltd about Oak Furniture House’s pandemic growth success story and how that brought its own challenges. 

SWJ UK Ltd, better known by its trading name Oak Furniture House, is a family-run business offering oak furniture for home interiors and accessories for gardens and outdoor spaces.

Episode 4: Niketh Shetty - Director of PLM Central

In this episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy, PLM Central’s Director Niketh Shetty speaks to Yuliya Stancheva about how companies need to think out of the box to remain competitive, and how the SBLP provided him with some comfort in challenging times. 

PLM Central Ltd is a software company that aims to help innovators with digital product design and digital transformation. It offers next generation design and manufacturing software through new software sales, consultancy, support & training services.

Episode 5: Christina Gray - Director of Gray & Associates

This episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy features Steve Parker’s conversation with Christina Gray of Gray & Associates, in which they discuss how to handle those missing ‘water cooler’ moments now that we’re all working from home, and how to ace that Zoom job interview. 

Gray & Associates is a London-based independent recruitment agency providing temporary and permanent recruitment solutions for roles in administration, management, secretarial, finance and IT. It also has a specialist Teaching Division providing staff to schools in Greater London.

Episode 6: Imogen Morgan & Isabel Martin - Voyage Control

This episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy features Voyage Control’s Imogen Morgan and Isabel Martin in conversation with Steve Parker about how attending the SBLP benefited their business. 

Voyage Control is a logistics management solution business that started out in the events industry but over the past 10 years has expanded into the construction and ports industries as well as facilities management.

Episode 7: Naqiyah Sultan - Managing Director of KASHKA London

This episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy features KASHKA London’s Naqiyah Sultan speaking with Yuliya Stancheva about shifting from growth to survival to get through the pandemic-hit retail sector.  

KASHKA London is an online retailer of demi-fine jewellery, offering affordable, stylish jewellery for everyday wear that’s designed with purpose, handmade with care and sustainably sourced and conflict-free.

Episode 8:  Farid Gasanov - Founder of Q Accountants

This episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy features Q AccountantsFarid Gasanov speaking with Yuliya Stancheva about capitalising on unexpected business during the pandemic, and how the SBLP gave him the opportunity to network and learn from other business owners. 

Established in 2015, Q Accountants is a London-based firm that provides a comprehensive range of national accounting and tax services for SMEs with business interests in the UK, EU and beyond.

Episode 9: Sanjay Rode - Director of Pioneer Global Services Ltd

In this episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy, Yuliya Stancheva speaks with Sanjay Rode of Pioneer Global Services about the need for businesses to change its approach and focus.

Pioneer Global Services is a telecommunications firm offering hosted VoIP phone systems to UK businesses as well as business broadband and bulk SMS services.

Episode 10: Sriram Aylur -  Director of Taj International Hotels

This episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy features Sriram Aylur, Operations Director of Taj International hotels Ltd speaking with Yuliya Stancheva about businesses needing to be innovative in the face of the pandemic and how having the right attitude makes winners. 

An internationally acclaimed chef, Sriram Aylur has been associated with Quilon, the only Southern Indian restaurant in the world with a Michelin star rating. He also directs operations at Bombay Brasserie, another acclaimed restaurant offering North Indian and Bombay cuisine. Both London-based restaurants are part of the Taj International Hotels group.

Episode 11: Iman Sheel - Co-founder of Sahan Cares

In this episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy, Steve Parker speaks with Iman Sheel of Sahan Cares about running a care home during a pandemic and how the SBLP was an opportunity to retrain as a business leader to handle crisis times. 

Sahan Cares CIC is a social enterprise homecare agency that’s been running for 11 years, providing care and support to vulnerable and disabled people in the West London area.

Episode 12: Gemma Bates - Business Manager of Colour Sound Experiment

In this episode of the Brunel for Business podcast series on business challenges and recovery strategy,  Yuliya Stancheva speaks with Colour Sound Experiment’s Business Manager Gemma Bates about diversifying into new business areas and how a positive attitude helps you push your business forward in difficult times. 

Colour Sound Experiment is an event hire specialist supplying lighting, video, rigging, staging, special effects and design and production services. An owner-operator family business, it has been described by Touring Production International Magazine as the last great Independent in lighting, supplying some of the most iconic events from the Shard to the London Eye, Kensington Palace to Kew Gardens.