The Future Positive Podcast

Welcome to Accountex Day 1!

Kirsty gives you a feel for what's happening as she catches up with Karen Williams, MD at IRIS, Paul Surtees, CEO and Co-Founder at Capitalise, Aynsley Damery, CEO and Founder at Clarity and Della Hudson, Hudson Business Advice.

Tune in to hear the latest from Accountex.

As news stories this month focussed on the disparity of fuel prices from wholesale to retail, this week Kirsty is joined by Simon Williams, Fuel Spokesperson at RAC.

Tune in as they discuss the cost of fuel at the pumps and how businesses that use commercial vehicles can increase their fuel efficiency. 

This week is a group special! Kirsty is joined by Simon Chaplin, Founder of The Accountants Mastermind and Greenstones Accountants, Michael Hemme, MDH and Sarah Fenton, The Smart Business Hub.

Tune in as they discuss why they joined The Accountants Mastermind, why they remain members and what value they've had from it.

Listen to find out more!

This week Kirsty is joined by Alexis Kingsbury, an award-winning entrepreneur, with two software businesses and a consulting practice, serving over 600 organizations around the world, including well-known brands such as Sony, 3M, Swarovski, Fitness First, and Pepsi. 

Listen now to find out why Alexis is so passionate about helping business leaders create the freedom to spend time on what matters most.

This week's interview is Prof David Bailey of Birmingham Business School, lecturer, author and media commentator who discussed with Kirsty his ideas for the Chancellor in the upcoming Budget, his views on monetary policy and how he'd resolve the issue of strikes and public sector wage demands

Listen in to Kirsty McGregor on this week's podcast as she is joined by special guest James Moore, Director, Converta.

They discuss the importance of proactively marketing to new clients and building a pipeline, even when capacity is tight. 

Listen in to Kirsty McGregor on this week's podcast as she is joined by special guest Zoe Lacey-Cooper, MD/Head of Partnerships, CPD Store UK. 

They discuss how to deepen your knowledge and connect with experts with CPD Store UK.

Tune in next week for our three business stories of the week!

A round-up of all the great podcasts of 2022. 

Listen in to Kirsty McGregor and Alex Clark on this week's podcast as they are joined by special guest Darren Westlake, CEO and Co-Founder of Crowdcube.

They discuss the beginnings of Crowdcube and how the business has opened up the world of equity funding. To help entrepreneurs take control of their fundraising process and democratise investments.

And tune in next week!

Listen in to Kirsty McGregor and Alex Clark on this weeks podcast as they are joined by special guest Dan Richards, Commercial Director of Myfirmsapp.

They discuss the benefits of Myfirmsapp and why it was created, as well as what you may have missed at his Accountex North panel session with Will Farnell, Sam Mitcham and Lydia Read-Potter.

And much more…. including what 2023 may hold for firms.

Listen in 👉

In this bite-sized weekly episode of the Future Positive Breakfast Show, Kirsty McGregor is joined by our CEO and Co-founder, Paul Surtees for an Autumn Statement special! 

With a crammed statement yesterday, Paul and Kirsty sit down to discuss the announcement and three positive opportunities that accountants can focus on today. 

Tune in and listen in next week too! 

Kirsty McGregor is joined by Fhaheen Khan, Senior Economist at Make UK, which is the voice of the manufacturing sector in the UK, businesses who contribute 10% of the country's GDP.  

He shares with Kirsty the main challenges their members are facing and their wish list from Treasury for the upcoming Autumn Statement.

Tune in!

Kirsty McGregor and Alex Clark are joined by Nick Richardson, Head of Funding at Capitalise, to discuss the current lending market and the options available to small businesses in today's funding special podcast. 

Tune in for an update on the Recovery Loan Scheme and the current funding products in the market for small businesses. We also dive into what we do at Capitalise and why we use the lenders we do.

You don't want to miss it - Tune in! 

A #FuturePositiveBreakfastShow Accountex Special!

Kirsty McGregor attends Accountex North this week, and makes her way around the event to talk to industry leaders, apps, exhibitors and businesses - to give you a glimpse into the event and the trending topics. 

If you didn't manage to attend the event, or you did, but want an extra dose of the Accountex buzz, listen in! We talk to:

• Sharon Cook, 2020 Innovation
• Ian Hudginson, HMRC 
• Jim Scott, Iris
• Ollie Maitland, Capitalise
• Alex Newson, XU 
• Phil Hobden, Wolters Kluwer 
• Paul Barnes, MAP Accountants 
• Lorna Williamson, ACCA UK
• Will Farnell, Farnell & Clarke

Enjoy! And get in touch! 

In our series of interviews for the Future Positive Podcast, we recently interviewed Simon Senior, Managing Director of Autex Acoustics.

Simon gives us a little background into the business and how they import and export. He also discusses how they've managed through Brexit, Covid and the current international currency fluctuations.

Listen to find out more!

In our series of interviews for the Future Positive Podcast, we recently interviewed Sushil Patel, Director of Kroll. 

Sushil discusses the work he does with businesses by liaising with HMRC. Expect discussions into key statistics he’s been seeing as changes in the economy continue including inflationary pressures, supply chain issues and energy price rises.

Tune in to get insight into the trends Sushil has been seeing and what HMRC will be looking at when liaising with small businesses.

Listen to find out more!

In our series of interviews for the Future Positive Podcast, we recently interviewed Marco Forgione, Director General at The Institute of Export & International Trade.

Marco discusses the help they provide, by partnering with the UK government, to support businesses in growing their international markets and trades - through education and training.

Listen to find out more!

It's a podcast special this week - celebrating National Women's Day in South Africa!! Alex Clark is joined by Ella McCan Tomlin, CEO and Founder of Ardent, a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consultancy with a difference and Sophie Compton, Marketing Executive and committee member of the Capitalise Women's Network!

They talk:

• The history of Women's Month in South Africa
• Unconscious Bias in the workplace
• Invisible privilege and it's impacts
• What we're doing at Capitalise in our Women's Network 
• The power of a Women's network in morale and empowerment 

We'd love to know what you may have done to celebrate, or what you do in your firm to encourage diversity and inclusion! 

In our series of interviews for the Future Positive Podcast, we recently interviewed Alex Till, Chief Executive Director at MENTA. 

Alex talks about his passion for supporting sole traders and micro-businesses in todays world. Explaining this agenda is fundamental to the UK. 

“We’re there to make sure businesses have the right information at the right time with the right people to support them”

Listen to find out more!

In our series of interviews for the Future Positive Podcast, we interviewed Joe David, Crypto Accountant | Founder of Nephos Group & MYNA.

Joe jumps into the world of Cryptocurrency, blockchains and crypto-related topics to talk about the opportunities they're able to deliver including providing financial education to the future generation, understanding how money works and a whole new way to manage money. 

Listen to find out more!