Business Stories and Interviews

Listen to or watch our interviews with small business owners and business experts from across the UK through our DRIVE and GROW podcasts, and learn skills to improve your business through our UKBF Talks webinar series.
Business Stories and Interviews
My experience as a Nigerian in the UK pushed me to empower Black women across the world

My experience as a Nigerian in the UK pushed me to empower Black women across the world

We sit down with Oyin Adebayo, CEO and founder of Niyo Enterprise, to discuss her fascinating route into entrepreneurship From winning an unsung hero award for her social campaigning at the age...

ChrisGoodfellow ChrisGoodfellow
Business Stories and Interviews
How a life-changing event led to the start of my new business

How a life-changing event led to the start of my new business

For many small businesses, 2021 was the toughest and most challenging year to be in business. Yet, despite the uncertainty the pandemic brought, it was also the year that saw thousands of new...

Ozzy Ozzy
Business Stories and Interviews
How an insolvency practitioner helps businesses liquidate neatly

How an insolvency practitioner helps businesses liquidate neatly

This week in the Business in Focus series, we talk to Lisa Thomas, a licensed Insolvency Practitioner working for Neville & Co – a southwest-based company with 30 years of experience in business...

ChrisGoodfellow ChrisGoodfellow
Business Stories and Interviews
Shalom Lloyd: Breaking down barriers led me to launch an empowering business

Shalom Lloyd: Breaking down barriers led me to launch an empowering business

In our latest instalment of the UKBF Stories series, we sit down with Shalom Lloyd, founder of Naturally Tribal Skincare and co-founder of eMQT. Do what’s necessary. Then do what’s possible. And...

Ozzy Ozzy
Business Stories and Interviews
How a gap in the market opened a door to China

How a gap in the market opened a door to China

For the next instalment of our Business in Focus series, we talk to Ron Moss, CEO of MyOfficeInChina which, as the name suggests, supports UK companies trading with China. Here’s how he built a...

ChrisGoodfellow ChrisGoodfellow
Business Stories and Interviews
Fall into your niche: How adventure games led to a tech company

Fall into your niche: How adventure games led to a tech company

An interest in adventure computer games took Graham Smith on an unexpected quest to form a niche tech company. His business has since developed pioneering website plugins for companies all over...

ChrisGoodfellow ChrisGoodfellow
Business Stories and Interviews
“Make hay when the sun shines”: How an SEO hobby became a business

“Make hay when the sun shines”: How an SEO hobby became a business

For the next instalment of our Business in Focus series, we talk to Terry Simmonds, managing director of TJS Marketing Ltd. Find out how he turned a passion for SEO into a successful business and...

ChrisGoodfellow ChrisGoodfellow
Business Stories and Interviews
Siju Rosaje: The Man Who Built MMA TV From the Ground Up

Siju Rosaje: The Man Who Built MMA TV From the Ground Up

In our latest installment of the UKBF Stories series, we sit down with Siju Roseje, founder of MMA TV. A firm believer in making a success out of what you love most in life, it’s no surprise...

Ozzy Ozzy
Business Stories and Interviews
How I started my business as an independent insurance broker

How I started my business as an independent insurance broker

For the first in our Business in Focus series, we talk to Frank Hernandez, founder of Meadow Broking Limited. Find out what he had to say about the challenges and rewards of starting his own...

ChrisGoodfellow ChrisGoodfellow
Business Stories and Interviews
From testing an idea on UKBF to a multi-million-pound enterprise

From testing an idea on UKBF to a multi-million-pound enterprise

Our next UKBF Stories interviewee may be a household name in the accounting world, but long-time UKBF members will remember him as a moderator and regular contributor to the site. In this...

Ozzy Ozzy
Business Stories and Interviews
The future of UKBF: More than just a business forum

The future of UKBF: More than just a business forum

In our UKBF Stories series so far, we’ve spoken to founder Richard Osborne about how he first got into business and what inspired him to start the forum. In the third video, we’re taking a closer...

ChrisGoodfellow ChrisGoodfellow
Business Stories and Interviews
What inspired Richard Osborne to set up UK Business Forums

What inspired Richard Osborne to set up UK Business Forums

In the second in our UKBF Stories series, we catch up with founder Richard Osborne on what inspired him to start the forum, and how his other businesses came about. This series of conversations...

ChrisGoodfellow ChrisGoodfellow
Business Stories and Interviews
From troubled teen to business founder: UKBF owner Richard Osborne tells his story

From troubled teen to business founder: UKBF owner Richard Osborne tells his story

Who are the people behind UKBF and what drives and motivates them? Our new video series, UKBF Stories, looks at the work and community of the forums and tells the stories of the people at its...

ChrisGoodfellow ChrisGoodfellow
Business Stories and Interviews
#TRADETALK with Carina Lepore

#TRADETALK with Carina Lepore

The bakery owner who doesn't bake and reigning champion of BBC's The Apprentice, Carina Lepore, talks all things business, the reason behind Dough Artisan Bakery, and of course COVID in the latest...

Ozzy Ozzy
Business Stories and Interviews
#TRADETALK with Pamela Laird

#TRADETALK with Pamela Laird

From Dragons' Den to the final three on BBC's The Apprentice, Pamela Laird, founder of beauty company MoxiLoves, discusses business and Brexit, achievements and advice in this week's #TRADETALK...

Ozzy Ozzy
Business Stories and Interviews
#TRADETALK with Lewis Ellis

#TRADETALK with Lewis Ellis

From getting the boot from Lord Sugar's boardroom when starring in BBC's The Apprentice to starting his own businesses during a global pandemic, Jasdip Sensi sits down with Lewis Ellis to discuss...

Ozzy Ozzy
Business Stories and Interviews
#TRADETALK with Carl Reader

#TRADETALK with Carl Reader

Serial entrepreneur, business adviser, and author of Boss It, Carl Reader chats all things business, the highs and lows of COVID and inspiring others to take the plunge into owning their own...

Ozzy Ozzy
Business Stories and Interviews
From £605 startup costs and an old Scrabble board to £1m turnover

From £605 startup costs and an old Scrabble board to £1m turnover

What's the minimum you would need to start a million-pound business? What about £605 and an old scrabble set? Last Christmas the Ellie Ellie team swelled to 26 people, fulfilling 12,000...

ChrisGoodfellow ChrisGoodfellow
Business Stories and Interviews
Small business blog success: Hard but not impossible

Small business blog success: Hard but not impossible

Earlier this year, Atlassian - of HipChat fame - acquired Trello for £328m. For Joel Spolsky, Trello's founder, the acquisition was a long way from his innocuous existence as an early noughties...

UKBF Editor UKBF Editor
Business Stories and Interviews
How to start up: A painting and decorating business

How to start up: A painting and decorating business

Painting and decorating - it's easy, right? Just advertise your services, turn up on time, grab a paintbrush and slap on the paint. Only that's not quite the whole story, is it? It's a...

ChrisGoodfellow ChrisGoodfellow