The Impact Sessions Podcast

The Impact Sessions Vol 2 No 3 - Being a Role Model in Engineering (Am I)?

Emily Marner is a Senior Project Engineer at Kier Group, after starting in the industry as an Apprentice Electrician in 2008.

In this episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast, Emily shares her career journey and some of the highlights and we consider what it was like being a young female Apprentice in a male-dominated workplace at the time.

How was the workplace then and how has it changed over the last 15-16 years?

We also explore how Emily has used and continues to use her successful career path to inspire the next generation of Engineers and people in Construction in general - regardless of gender.

There is still a long way to go, but at every opportunity, we will find Emily stepping up to get into the hearts and minds of her target audience.

She is very much an advocate and champion for Apprenticeships, the Construction sector and for Engineering in particular, and she does a brilliant job in promoting the breadth of opportunities available. Then there is adversity......

Emily shares her story of a major on-mountain incident that tested her to the limits and how she reacted to it in her usual positive, pro-active and selfless self.

Amazing....

If you need an inspiring speaker or panel member in the Construction or Engineering sector, Emily is brilliant.

This is an inspiring journey and an inspiring Podcast guest - one not to be missed.

Enjoy!

Feedback, as always is most welcome.

Guest Contact Details

Emily Marner

Tel - +44 (0) 7875 412553

Email – emilymarner@hotmail.com

Web – https://www.kier.co.uk/

Li - linkedin.com/in/emily-marner-897293a6 

If you want to visit the back catalogue of previous Impact Sessions Podcasts, you can click here - http://www.impactus-group.com/index.php/podcasts/ 

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Thanks for your support!

The Impact Sessions Vol 2 No 2 - Re Branding a Mature, Successful Business – The Why & The How?

What a second episode of the recently re-launched 2025 Impact Sessions Podcast...... 

Meet Larner Caleb, Creative Marketing Director at Dynamic Business Services, a very successful Leeds based Digital Learning (Elearning) business. 

Established in 1999, October 2024 saw the 25th anniversary celebrations of a business that has gone from strength to strength over a quarter of a century and still sets new standards with every client project. But there was to be a significant was a twist in 2024. 

Larner, who was appointed to the team in late 2023 to drive their on-going marketing ambitions.

These ambitions included a FULL & COMPREHENSIVE re-brand - a re-brand to position the business for even more success into a bright future. A re-brand to reflect the changing DNA of the business and the changing requirements of their clients and prospective clients going forward. 

This was a MASSIVE project and a full team effort - but why would a mature, successful business with a strong client base even consider such a move - and are there lessons for others considering something similar? 

Listen or watch as we explore the reasons behind the ambition, the process of achieving a hugely successful and impactful re-brand, how three key words created the "heart" of the new brand and how the pressure of a 25th Anniversary Dinner for hundreds of guests focused the project with a non-negotiable launch date. 

It's a great episode, based on exploring a great Insights Article written by Larner, which you can also find here:

https://dynamicbusiness.co.uk/a-new-brand-to-celebrate-25-years-of-dynamic/  

This is another episode not to be missed……. 

Enjoy! 

Feedback, as always is most welcome. 

Guest Contact Details 

Larner Caleb 
Tel - +44 (0) 113 323 0760 
Email - larner.caleb@dynamicbusiness.co.uk  
Web – https://dynamicbusiness.co.uk/  
Li - linkedin.com/in/larnercaleb  

If you want to visit the back catalogue of previous Impact Sessions Podcasts, you can click here – http://www.impactus-group.com/index.php/podcasts/

 
Also, please hit "subscribe" on your preferred Podcast Platform to ensure you never miss your regular Tuesday morning fix, and please hit "like" if you can as this really helps the numbers. 

Thanks for your support!

The Impact Sessions Vol 2 No.1 - Being Lea

To Re-Launch the Impact Sessions Podcast into Volume 2 for 2025, we could not have a better guest than our first new episode in a while - the irrepressible and always fascinating, Lea Turner…….

I have described Lea as Creator, Commentator, Community Builder, Collaborator, Chameleon & Mum, but I could easily have also added in there Charity Worker too.  In short, she is not only a Tour De Force, but she is genuinely LinkedIn “Royalty”.

I could not be more delighted to have secured time in her diary to explore all of the above with her – and she doesn’t disappoint…….

The reason we have entitled this Episode simply “Being Lea” will become apparent, but there is more than a passing reference to Madonna, the queen of reinvention in the pop world, and reinvention is a key part of the Lea Turner journey.

We explore her pre-COVID business that had her working all hours of the day to make ends meet as a single Mum, and how COVID changed the game for her when her embracing of LinkedIn (accidentally, according to Lea), went viral and created an income stream not to be ignored.

We explore how over that same period, she built a community that is now her sole focus and how this community – The HoLT delivers not only  value for her community members, but also an income stream for them (and her) that is the envy of many imitators. 

We explore everything from a lack of a plan, to neurodiversity, from understanding and finding her audience to leveraging her connections to support a crisis charity in Moldova to the tune of nearly £1m, from being a hard-working single Mum to her passion for travel (on a budget) and much more.

This is an episode not to be missed…….

Enjoy! 

Feedback, as always is most welcome. 

Guest Contact Details 
Lea Turner
Web – https://www.the-holt.com/ 
Li - linkedin.com/in/lea-turner 

 
If you want to visit the back catalogue of previous Impact Sessions Podcasts, you can click here – http://www.impactus-group.com/index.php/podcasts/   
To ensure you never miss your regular Tuesday morning fix, please hit "subscribe" and also please hit "like" if you can as this really helps the numbers. 

Thanks for your support!

The Impact Sessions 58 - Mobilising Business Leaders as Stewards of Society

Bianca Robinson is CEO of UK Charity, CEO Sleepout as well as a Lecturer at Teesside University specialising in "The Sustainable Organisation" and she is on a mission.......

In this episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast, Bianca shares her insights into how the work her Charity does (and the Teesside University MBA Programme) can help to achieve genuine change;

• A change in attitudes
• A change in focus and, 
• A change to the lives of many affected by sleeping rough and a whole host of other associated situations.       

She is passionate, she is driven and she is an inspiration.

CEO Sleepout is a Grant Giving Charity, raising £millions and then distributing the funds to local charities after organising local senior executive and senior team sleepouts to raise awareness of those sleeping rough and also raise money to allow them to grant give.  All monies raised locally are distributed in the areas where the sleepouts take place to make that local difference that matters.

We discuss how her mission to get business leaders to become "Stewards of Society" is progressing, why it is important and why there is an absolute need for this to happen.

We discuss her Keynote Speaking engagements, her recent award as a "Northern Power Women - One to Watch" and her passion for spreading the message.

We also share details of the forthcoming Big Summer Sleepout to be held overnight on Thursday 30th June 2022 and how ANYONE - Children, Students, Work Teams, Friends, Families, Social Groups, literally ANYONE can get involved, raise £100.00 and really make a difference.

Details of how to get involved are here; https://ceosleepoutuk.com/big-summer-sleepout/

This is a truly inspiring Podcast episode with a guest who has travelled around the world to be making a genuine difference in your local area.

Enjoy! Feedback, as always is most welcome.

Contact Details

Bianca Robonson

CEO

CEO Sleepout

Tel +44 (0) 7901 977259

Email - bianca@ceosleepout.co.uk

Web - www.ceosleepout.co.uk

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/birobinson/

 

The Impact Sessions 57 - Building a Brand, A Value Set & Business Momentum as a New MD

In this excellent episode of The Impact Sessions Podcast, we meet Rachel Hudson, the relatively new Managing Director of YB Fixings.

We have entitled this episode - Building a Brand, A Value Set & Business Momentum as a New Managing Director. It's another cracking listen or watch - guaranteed.

Rachel has had a very interesting and perhaps unorthodox journey into the role of MD, but her story, her passion and her vision for the business shine through as she shares her story - and perhaps some lessons for others in our relaxed discussions.

• How did Rachel get here?
• What was one of her first (perhaps surprising) priorities, and why?
• Where do her values and culture ambitions fit into her plans?
• What advantages does her disciplined financial background create?
• Why is she investing in the business right now?
• Why is learning & development important to her?
• How is being a woman in a heavily male-dominated sector working out?
• and much more.........

This is a genuinely insightful episode that we are sure you will enjoy.

Feedback as ever is most welcome, and don't forget to like and subscribe to receive your future Impact Sessions Podcasts on your favourite platforms automatically.

Contact Details

Rachel Hudson

Managing Director YB Fixings Ltd

Tel - +44 (0) 1793 838400

Email - rachelh@ybfixings.com

Web - www.ybfixings.com

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rachel-h-3a64a853

 

The Impact Sessions 56 - Changing Your Life, One Jar of Jam or Chutney at a Time.....

After taking redundancy in the early days of the pandemic and lockdown 1, what could our guest this week, Martin Bennett conceivably do to put food on his table - quite literally.

This is a REET good episode of the Impact Sessions Podcast in which we meet Martin Bennett, Managing Director of Reet Yorkshire Food, a relatively new business building a strong brand, presence and following in the jams, chutneys and pickles market.

But this is not just an episode for foodies, it has some great business lessons in here too.

Martin shares how and why he set up the business, the thinking behind the name and brand, his vision for the business, how his many years in food manufacturing operations has allowed him to grow the brand and business and how he has overcome any number of challenges to stand on the edge of significant growth as we enter Q2 2022.

He also discusses scaling up, keeping his products simple, but well packaged, building a following on various markets around the region - and much more.....

Martin might describe himself as a "typical" Yorkshireman - straight forward, direct, plain-spoken and uncomplicated. So how do these traits serve him as he goes through his product and brand development journey?

He has some reet good tales to tell and they are all in this episode. One not to be missed......

Feedback, as always is most welcome and don't forget to like, rate and importantly, subscribe, to get your weekly fix of the Impact Sessions Podcast directly to your favourite podcast platform.

Contact Details

Martin Bennett

Managing Director, Reet Yorkshire Food Ltd

Tel - +44 (0) 7545 893839

Email – martin@reetyorkshirefood.co.uk

Web – www.reetyorkshirefood.co.uk

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/martin-bennett-093b443 

 

The Impact Sessions 55 - What The Hell is PMO & Why Might I Want to Adopt It?

If you and your business have a vision, a mission or a set of values that you are trying to embed, if you need to shift the dial on developing and delivering any type of change, if you operate on a project management, operational or organisational programme basis, if you are a process led or process driven business, (basically most businesses in most sectors), then this is an Impact Sessions Podcast episode for you.

• Construction
• Financial Services
• FMCG
• Utilities
• Manufacturing
• Engineering
• Public Sector
• NHS
• Retail
• Logistics
• Supply Chain

And many more.....  and let's not forget those ambitious, growth hungry SMEs too. They have the same challenges, and they could all do with a little insight into PMO from an expert.

We have entitled this episode "What The Hell Is PMO & Why Might I Want To Adopt It" and to explore this landscape we are delighted to introduce and meet Ruth Geddes, CEO & Co-Founder of Prospect Change who is also a PMO Associate for the HiveMind Network.

• What are the principles of PMO?
• How does a PMO driven project work?
• Why would you consider adopting PMO principles on your projects?
• Where to start?
• How to embed PMO into your current and future change management ambitions?
• What are the commercial, operational and financial advantages of PMO?

Ruth shares her insights in such an upbeat, positive and engaging manner that it is impossible not to be hooked in and explore change management & PMO for you, your team and your business.

We hope that you will really enjoy this episode and as ever, we welcome your feedback.

Contact Details

Ruth Geddes

CEO & Co-Founder, Prospect Change

Tel - +44 (0) 7375 114040

Email - ruthgeddes@prospectchange.co.uk 

Web - www.prospectchange.co.uk

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-geddes-a3413183/ 

 

The Impact Sessions 54 - Okay, Throw Something Else at Me Why Don’t You.....

This is a Podcast steeped in great leadership, an unswerving focus on improving the customer experience and resilience of the highest order.  One not to be missed.

Derren Gittins is Managing Director at Verplas, a UK based business, managing all of the same challenges as many over recent years, such as supply chain, transport costs, raw materials availability, the ups and downs of the pandemic, and much more.

But that is only the half of it......

Having taken on the role in October 2020, travelling from the Midlands to the South Coast of England and staying over for 4 days a week to get things going, he quickly found that he had a big culture shift to implement if he was to be successful with his vision and ambitions for the business.

The starting point was not brilliant, but you have to start somewhere.

He was looking to build a successful, competitive business that truly put the customer at the heart of the experience, driving change through staff engagement and setting new standards across the team, all especially important in early challenging circumstances caused by the pandemic.

But culture takes time......

Then BANG, just as he is re-structuring his team, implementing improvements to IT, assessing and re-thinking the customer journey through the Investors in Customers programme, and still managing day-to-day pandemic challenges, another THUNDERBOLT hits.

We won't spoil the reveal, but it is safe to say that Derren must have felt like he had run over at least two or three black cats and broken several mirrors for him to be dealt the particular cards that came his way in 2021.

This is another inspiring podcast episode of leadership, resilience, trust in his team, focus, re-thinking EVERYTHING and getting the job done.

We challenge you not to be inspired by Derren's sheer force of nature and drive to succeed in the face of genuine adversity.

Have a listen or watch and as ever, feedback is always welcome.

Contact Details

Derren Gittins

Managing Director, Verplas Ltd

Tel - +44 (0) 1202 825898

Email - derren.g@verplas.co.uk

Web - www.verplas.co.uk

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/derren-gittins-2b5b5139

 

 

The Impact Sessions 53 - Building a Growing, Successful Business in a Pandemic

James Steptoe is Global Sales Director at Puretech Process Systems Ltd.

Sounds like a great role, plenty of travel to exotic destinations (and some not so exotic ones), developing relationships with customers and distributors across the world, attending exhibitions, networking, carrying out negotiations, and building an international sales funnel.

So, you start the job as Global Sales Manager in Q3 2019 and get ready to go.......

You have your strategy, your plan, your passport and your inoculations, and probably much more up your sleeve too.

But oh wait, we have a global pandemic to contend with less than 6 months into the role and all bets are off.......

But the role still needs you to deliver global sales growth - but now, without leaving your chair.

This is a great podcast episode, offering insights into how James adapted his approach, developed his role in new ways and new directions and still delivered on the aspirations he had for the business when he took on the job of Global Sales Manager pre-pandemic.

He must have done something right because he is now Global Sales Director and Puretech Process Systems continues to go from strength to strength, growing existing customer business, adopting new territories, with new customers and distributors and a building growing team to support them.

What's more, James has recently been back on a plane - so the world is good again.

This is a great episode covering change, resilience, adaptation, creativity, risk management, successful relationship building, global sales success and much more.....

One not to be missed. Feedback as always is most welcome.

Contact Details

James Steptoe, Global Sales Director, Puretech Process Systems Ltd

Tel - +44 (0) 7971 743484

Email - jsteptoe@puretech.uk.com

Web - www.puretech.uk.com

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/james-steptoe-41098b40 

 

 

QUICKBLOCK Podcast - Sustainability, Environmental Impact & COP26

An insightful Podcast hosted by Nick Bramley, featuring Chris Shanks, Head of Sales & Andrew Vincent, CEO of QUICKBLOCK, a Glasgow based business that helps clients to create temporary, semi-permanent and permanent structures using the QUICKBLOCK product range.

Sectors embracing this sustainable, environmentally friendly, 100% recycled and recyclable building material include;

- Landscaping

- Agriculture & Land Management

- Light Construction

- Events

- Hospitality

- Civil Engineering

- Many More.......

If you can imagine it, you can build it, and rebuild it if necessary, make a permanent structure with QUICKBLOCK.

From a temporary storage unit or shed, to a smoking shelter, from event and hospitality furniture - lecterns, registration desks, stage areas etc, to landscape features, retaining walls and the like, this really is an amazing product.

In the Podcast, we also discuss COP26, hosted in Glasgow and focusing on many of the conversations that QUICKBLOCK are having with their own fast-growing customer base.

A really interesting listen or watch.

Hope you enjoy........

Contact Details

Chris Shanks Head of Sales

Email - chris.shanks@quickblock.uk

Tel - +44 (0) 7553 911207

Andrew Vincent CEO

Email - andrew.vincent@quickblock.uk

Tel - +44 (0) 7870 840011

Web - www.quickblock.uk