Mind Your Small Business

In May 2021, AXA launched AXA Startup Angel – a competition to win £25,000 to start a business, mentoring from the AXA Startup Angels and business insurance for the first year. In episode 11 of Mind Your Small Business we spoke to the two AXA Startup Angel winners, Ben Elderkin-Shute, founder of BOLDmen, and Nadu Placca, founder of The Association of Black Event Professionals, about their new businesses, what it was like to win AXA Startup Angel and the journey so far. For more small business advice visit AXA’s Business Guardian Angel - bit.ly/305r7T7If you have a question for Ben or Nadu, or you’d like your small business to be featured on the podcast, you can email us at [email protected] This podcast is brought to you by AXA Insurance.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re self-employed or own your own business, you get to choose the hours you work and focus on something you’re passionate about. However, being your own boss comes with its own unique set of challenges. In episode 10 of Mind Your Small Business we speak to Lauren Livingstone, founder of LIV Creative, and Caroline Gowing and Vicky Matthews, founders of Pink Spaghetti, about their decision to quit their jobs and be their own boss, and why it was the best decision they ever made. For more small business advice visit AXA’s Business Guardian Angel - bit.ly/3uQfzhE If you have a question for Lauren, Caroline or Vicky, or you’d like your small business to be featured on the podcast, you can email us at [email protected] podcast is brought to you by AXA Insurance.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a small business owner, you just get used to the idea of being your own boss when you’ve got to become someone else’s. Growing your business and employing a member of staff is really exciting, but it’s not without its challenges. Business owners Mike Stevenson of Thinktastic and Sacha Woolham of Strategy Collective talk about employing someone for the first time and how to find the best person for the job. They open up about the challenges of the recruitment process and share what qualities they look for in a member of staff. For more small business advice visit AXA’s Business Guardian Angel - bit.ly/3CSQwO6If you have a question for Sacha or Mike, or you’d like your small business to be featured on the podcast, you can email us at [email protected] This podcast is brought to you by AXA Insurance.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Money, money, money. It’s a subject British people tend to shy away from, but not here. We want to understand how best to manage small business finances. In Episode 8 of Mind Your Small Business, we speak to real business owners Dominic Livingston, founder of D24, and Khawar Jamil (KJ), founder of o5 Media, about how they deal with their finances and manage their cashflow. For more small business advice visit AXA’s Business Guardian Angel - bit.ly/3nXFNOaIf you have a question for Dominic or KJ, or you’d like your small business to be featured on the podcast, you can email us at [email protected]. This podcast is brought to you by AXA Insurance.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being your own boss is a 24/7 job. But times can be tough and life can get hectic, even when you love what you do. When you’re being pulled in every possible direction, your mental health can suffer and striking the right work-life balance can feel like an impossible task. Simon Gallacher from RDAM Consultancy shares his tips for juggling family life while running a business from home. And Anne Kapoor from Festival in a Bag explains how she navigated the difficulties of the coronavirus restrictions while running a small business in the events industry.For more small business advice visit AXA's Business Guardian Angel - bit.ly/3hWpjlz If you have a question for Simon or Anne, or you’d like your small business to be featured on the podcast, you can email us at [email protected] podcast is brought to you by AXA Insurance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tax. It’s not something they teach in schools, but it’s one of the most important things you need to learn about as a small business owner. Episode 6 explains everything you need to know about tax, and there isn’t an accountant in sight! Instead, we speak to people who have real-life experience and can explain things in a way that’s easy to understand. Faris Aranki of Shiageto Consulting and Amber Craddock of Amber’s Car Care share advice to help you get your head around small business tax and explain why tax isn’t something you need to fear.  For more small business advice visit AXA's Business Guardian Angel - bit.ly/3l1dU4w If you have a question for Faris or Amber, or you’d like your small business to be featured on the podcast, you can email us at [email protected] podcast is brought to you by AXA Insurance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s all well and good having the perfect product or a stand-out service, but it means nothing unless customers can find you. Whether it’s a promoted social media post or a chocolate tea pot in your shop window, it’s important to find out what marketing and advertising methods work for your business. Two people who’ve streamlined their marketing strategies are David J Tovey from Mon Teas and Carrie Raynor-Jones from Property Value Estate Agents. The pair explain how they market their own businesses and reflect on the challenges of the coronavirus lockdowns.For more small business advice visit AXA's Business Guardian Angel - bit.ly/3hfVZpNIf you have a question for Carrie or David, or you’d like your small business to be featured on the podcast, you can email us at [email protected] This podcast is brought to you by AXA Insurance.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting your business online can be daunting – especially when everything seems to be an acronym. You’ve got to write SEO-friendly words, convert them to HTML, and upload them to your CMS. In episode 4, we speak to Helinka Carr, founder of lingerie company Unspoken Rosebud, who shares her frustration with the ever-changing social media algorithms and how she spent lockdown learning about SEO. And founder of Mendip Chocolate Chef Louise Sturmey reflects on the challenges of selling on different e-commerce platforms.For more small business advice visit AXA's Business Guardian Angel - bit.ly/3t2R0gGIf you have a question for Helinka or Louise, or you’d like your small business to be featured on the podcast, you can email us at [email protected] This podcast is brought to you by AXA Insurance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you work for yourself, it can feel like the to-do list never ends and it’s hard to stay motivated. One minute you’re working on the accounts and the next you’re writing a creative social media post. We spoke to Ian Theasby and Henry Firth from BOSH! and former member of the Royal Marines and founder of cyber security business arcX Matt Roberts. Episode 3 is packed with useful tips and advice from people who really know what they’re talking about when it comes to being organised and staying productive in business.For more small business advice visit AXA's Business Guardian Angel - bit.ly/2WgHNFOIf you have a question for the BOSH! team or Matt Roberts, or you’d like your small business to be featured on the podcast, you can email us at [email protected] podcast is brought to you by AXA Insurance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starting a side hustle is a good way to earn extra money and dip your toe into the world of business. You can turn your part-time passion project into your full-time job. We speak to Raphael Sofoluke who started the UK Black Business Show while working his regular 9-5 and Chyna Mason from That Doodle Girl who turned her lockdown fundraiser for the NHS into a part-time business. The pair reflect on their experiences and offer some interesting advice for anyone thinking of starting a side hustle.For more small business advice visit AXA's Business Guardian Angel - bit.ly/3mAxarVIf you have a question for Raphael or Chyna, or you’d like your small business to be featured on the podcast, you can email us at [email protected] podcast is brought to you by AXA Insurance.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.