Finding your North Star

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Jade Farthing, Managing Director of family-owned Haskins Furniture, based in Shepton Mallet.

Taking over her family’s business after the pandemic, Jade is aware that her role is as much a...

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Sakina Buoy, Founder and Chairman of The Somerset Toiletry Company. 

Returning from Canada in her ‘20s, Sakina joined a toiletry company called Applewoods, where she met her future h...

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Becky Flower.

Born and raised in Somerset, Becky went to London to study sociology and social policy but came back after graduating to train in social work. She did some placements and eventual...

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have built businesses and their careers in the county. 

In this episode, Sarah Chilcott speaks to Jonathan Lawson, who took over as CEO of Butcombe Group in 2019.  Butcombe Group includes Butcombe Pubs and Inns based in North Somerset and the Channel Islands’ Liberation Bre...

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Karl Tucker. 

Karl joined Yeo Valley in 1996 as they were expanding and developing the organic and quirky brand that we see today, rising to become their Chair in 2021. In 2017 he joined t...

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Mark Bolton. 

Born in the North-East, Mark started out as a freelance graphic designer supplementing his income with part-time lecturing. He must have good at it, because soon he was lectu...

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Harry Singer. 

Leading a company founded by his Grandfather that has just celebrated it’s 90th birthday, Harry talks with passion about the work he and his team are doing for biologi...

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Sarah Chilcott speaks to Sandy Luck, Managing Director at Aldwick Estate. 

Born and bred on Aldwick Estate, Sandy’s family has been farming the 300 acres of land now for five generations. When tragic circums...

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Sam Harper. 

Born in Somerset, Sam describes himself as a proud Somerset person, ‘privileged to live and work in this wonderful place’. He travelled as far north as Bristol (!)...

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Emma Warren. 

Wearing multiple hats - Chair of Somerset Chamber, Co-Chair of the Economic Growth Board, and now involved with the Skills Health partnership for Somerset – Emma is inv...

I invited Roger Proctor, former Chairman of Proctor and Stevenson to join me on the live-talk stage at the Gloucester Business Show, where I asked him about how he felt when preparing to exit from P&S after 40 years, what he thought hgkc could offer, and how he was finding semi-retirement 18 months on. It's a fascinating insight into how a business owner who really cares about his business, and the people he has worked with for...

In this episode of the HGKC podcast, Finding your North Star, host Kim Jones of hgkc welcomes Stacey Mead, HR Department Bristol, to discuss significant proposed changes in UK employment legislation following the election of a Labour government. They explore key topics such as the transformation of unfair dismissal rights to a day one entitlement, the clarity sought for employment statuses, and potential regulations on 'fire and re...

Kim Jones from hgkc talks to Stacey Mead, Director of The HR Dept about the recent changes to employment law.  Stacey’s career began in the recruitment industry before moving into HR. Having joined The HR Dept in 2007 Stacey is now a trustee and member of The HR Dept Group board as well as The HR Dept Bristol and North Somerset. Stacey’s role involves developing and growing the business as well as The HR Dept's int...

People are the Key is a collaboration between hgkc, Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace and DISCsimple, experts who work with businesses and other organisations that have issues with conflict and employee engagement. 

In this prerecorded conversation, Kim Jones and Jeremy Marchant explore why conflict can sometimes be perpetuated within the organisation when the cause of it is outside; what is meant by trust and tru...

Peter Quintana talks to David Macdonald, founder of Path Financial, a wealth management firm that only invests client money in funds committed to positive impact. In a wide-ranging and inspirational conversation, David talks about the moment he realised he could no longer continue what he was doing and remain true to his values, how the Path is firmly focused on doing good for the planet and earthlings, his thoughts about the futur...

Peter Quintana from hgkc talks to brothers Andy and Tim Fussell about their farming heritage, their pioneering move into producing cold-pressed, virgin rape seed oil and earning a place for it alongside olive oil in the culinary world, how buying steel is like buying a coffee, and why there is only one ‘l’ in fussels fine foods. The way that they have developed the fussels brand, to the point that is has become associat...

Kim Jones from hgkc in conversation with Paul Netto, hgkc Associate, Accountant, Business Advisor and owner of Equifino. 

Paul has a long track record helping independent business owners achieve their goals, and in this podcast shares his strategic and practical advice to help independent business owners realise better exits from their businesses by starting early, focusing on their goals and getting a good understandin...

Kim Jones of hgkc in conversation with Sam Talby of undebt, a turnaround specialist, qualified mediator and insolvency practitioner, Sam shares his practical and thoughtful advice to help directors and owners get the best possible outcome when they hit their lowest point. We delve into the essential tests of viability, why transparency matters and options open to businesses facing failure. His compassionate approach is refreshing a...