You may have read the title of this podcast and wondered whether it was the pod for you, or even groaned.  Let’s face it none of us really enjoy pouring over the book-keeping but trust us, by the end of this episode you will look at financials in a completely different light and you will actually enjoy it.  You will also learn about how one business turned 100k into 9.9 million.Today Aisling meets Sir Steven Wilkinson, founder and CEO of Good & Prosper.  Steven has been involved in business finance and investment for the best part of 30 years having started working for Merrill Lynch Investment Bank in Munich, Germany in 1987 at the tender age of 24. Good & Prosper is an advisory and investment company through which Steven acts as a thinking partner for business leaders and owners, supporting them as a generalist business expert across the fields of finance, leadership and culture.   Good & Prosper is also a knowledge platform, teaching finance to entrepreneurs with a focus on Small & Medium sized businesses.  You can learn more about Steven at  https://www.goodandprosper.com/ or email him on [email protected].  You can follow him on Twitter @SKNWilkinsonYou can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @LEOTipperary. You can reach the TBF podcasting production team, at thebusinessfairy.ie, or on Facebook (The Business Fairy Digital Marketing Agency), Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast. Production Team:Presenter;  Aisling  Hurley Research:  Jane FarrellSound Engineer:  Derry Luttrell

In this episode Aisling talks to gaeilgeoir Grainne Moore.  The Irish government has been actively trying to promote the Irish language.  The objective of Government policy in relation to theIrish language is to increase, on an incremental basis, the use and knowledge of Irish as a community language.   Grainne and Aisling discuss ways that you can bring Irish into everyday use in your business.   Go raibh maith againn as éisteacht (thank you for listening), and if you enjoy the podcast please share it, give it a 5 star review and subscribe, that will really help us.Grainne Moore is at https://gaeilgelegra.com/You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, via Twitter or Instagram @LEOTipperary. You can reach the TBF podcasting production team, at thebusinessfairy.ie, or on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast. 

Learn how to start with ensuring your business processes are run as efficiently as possible.  Find out what the 4 steps are to look at before automating any process, no matter what type of business you have.  Lear how Japanese businesses have influenced our way of working, how to eliminate waste from your business and how the new Digital Start programme can help. In this episode Aisling talks to Dermot Freeman who has worked in the area of business process streamlining for over 3 decades.  He is a Master Blackbelt practitioner of LEAN, a certified Scrum Master and certified ISO Lead Auditor.  He works with UCC and the University of Ontario developing graduate programmes in the area.You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, @TipperaryLEO. You can learn more about the Digital Start grant or apply for it on; localenterprise/digital.Dermot Freeman is at www.dermotfreeman.comYou can talk to the TBF Digital Agency production team on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast.

Did you know you could be sitting on a goldmine within your business in the form of unregistered Intellectual Property?  It’s not as hard as you think to register IP (yes, really).  In this episode Aisling talks to the IP and brand master that is Liam Birkett.  Liam has had a vast career in  Intellectual Property, design, marketing, sales and P R.  His company was responsible for the corporate identities, product and brand creation plus marketing initiatives for both blue chip companies and SMEs in Ireland and internationally.  Liam is a consultant expert to the European Commission Framework Programme and a past president and Fellow of the Institute of Designers in Ireland.  Learn about the different mechanisms for IP registration, what sort of ideas qualify and how to turn the whole thing into a brand story and PR exercise. If you have an idea you’d like to talk about you can reach Liam Birkett via LEO Tipperary or  via his email (mentioned in the podcast).  You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, via Twitter or Instagram @LEOTipperary. You can talk to the podcasting team at The Business Fairy Digital Marketing Agency on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast. 

Are you  looking at your business wondering how you can increase efficiencies, productivity  or cut costs?   Then this is the podcast for you.  There is a programme that can help you identify where any time savings - and as a result -possibly financial savings - can be made and it’s called Lean for Micro.In this episode Aisling meets Audrey McDonnell from sola.ie.  Sola are a Tipperary based Energy Efficiency Supplier to the Retrofit and New Build Market and have been featured on RTE’s Room to Improve with Dermot Bannon.  An incredibly progressive business Sola have undertaken the LEAN programme twice to help make their processes more efficient and grow their business.  Aisling  is also joined by Allyson English of Jigsaw Better Business Solutions who delivers the LEAN programme for LEO Tipperary who shares tips on how you can drive growth by digitising your business and what to consider when going LEAN with your business. You can find out more about the LEAN for Micro programme on https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/Training-Events/LEAN%20FOR%20MICRO/If you have any questions you can get in touch with the LEO Tipperary office in Clonmel or talk to them via Twitter or Instagram @LEOTipperary using the hashtag #SMECommunityPodcastYou can visit Audrey at https://sola.ie/Allyson English is on https://jigsawbetterbusiness.ie/You can talk to us on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral or visit us at https://thebusinessfairy.ie

There is a growing awareness and demand driven by consumers globally to engage with businesses who are climate conscious and stand for more than just their product or service.  But if you are a small business how do you make a change and where do you start to make your business greener? In this episode Aisling discusses how to take your business green and learns about the Green for Micro Programme.  John Butler of The Bookworm in Thurles, Co. Tipperary shares his experience and insight from doing the programme and Stuart Nelson of Jigsaw Better Business Solutions advises how to apply, what can be gained, how to avoid ‘greenwashing’ and gives tips for those serious about becoming a green machine.The Bookworm is an independent bookseller and has been trading in Thurles for an amazing 30 years.  The business has  grown and had to relocate twice and now have a 2000 sq foot premises which is at the corner of Liberty Square and Parnell Street.  Jigsaw Business Solutions run a range of Process innovation Programmes such as Lean for Micro, Green Start and Green for Micro.  The business also offers a range of services including consultancy and mentoring. *Funding is available only for Irish based businesses.  Contact your local LEO to find out more and see if your business is eligible.  You can find out more about the Green for Micro programme via the website;  https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/Financial-Supports/Green-for-Micro/You can get your books from John via his website https://bookworm.ie/You can find out more about Stuart and Jigsaw on https://jigsawbetterbusiness.ie/You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, via Twitter or Instagram @LEOTipperary. You can talk to the team at The Business Fairy Digital Marketing Agency on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast. 

If you are wondering whether innovation is relevant to your business remember that plenty of companies running the world today started as small enterprises. The visionaries behind these companies were innovators. They hit on a winning formula and the rest, as they say, is history. So what is innovation, where do you start and how do you get help?In this episode Aisling meets Richard Whyte  of Design Plus who manages the Innovation Voucher process for the Institute of Technology Carlow.  He explains how to get a voucher, how to use a combination of them worth €25,000 for larger projects, the type of projects and businesses that are suitable and where to start.Aisling also talks to Lynne Whelan who is a  Senior Design Strategist in Design Plus Technology, IT Carlow.    Lynne has worked with several Tipperary based businesses including Kylie Magner of Magners Farm  through a series of design workshops to develop strategies for growth and innovation.  Lynne explains how Innovation Vouchers can be used for many things including developing a roadmap when succession planning for family businesses (from one generation to the next) as well as building out a strategic roadmap towards growth. *Funding is available only for Irish based businesses.  Contact your local LEO to find out more and see if your business is eligible.  You can find out more about the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher programme via the website;  https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/research-innovation/companies/collaborate-with-companies-research-institutes/innovation-voucher.shortcut.htmlYou can reach Lynne or Richard via Design Plus at http://www.designplus.ie/You can find out more about Kyle’s farm on https://www.magnersfarm.com/You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, via Twitter or Instagram @LEOTipperary. You can talk to the team at The Business Fairy Digital Marketing Agency on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast. 

In this episode Aisling discusses the Trading Online Voucher (TOV) with Alan O’Meara of Al Media.  With €2500 funding available to jumpstart your business online, what’s the best use of the voucher, how do you get it and the questions you should be asking of your web developer.Alan launched his own business 14 years ago having worked previously as a consultant/trainer with IACT (Irish Academy of Computer Training), Web Intellect and Interactive Avenue.  He has extensive knowledge on training and advising businesses with their Digital Marketing needs.  Alan currently delivers the TOV workshop for LEO Tipperary.*Funding is available only for Irish based businesses.  Contact your local LEO to find out more and see if your business is eligible.  https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/Training-Events/https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/Financial-Supports/Trading%20Online%20Voucher%20Scheme%20for%20Small%20Irish%20Businesses/  You can get in touch with Alan at almedia.ie.  You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, @LEOTipperary.  You can talk to us using on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast 

There has been an explosion in quality food production in the Tipperary region in recent years.  This is due to the availability of excellent raw materials that thrive across the rolling hills and greenery of the premier County.  In this episode Aisling talks to Veronica Molloy of Crossogue Preserves, Shannon Forrest from Rivesci and Kylie Magner from Magners Organic Farm and Mobile Hen.  The food producers talk about growing their business through LEO supports, being nurtured by the Tipperary Food Producers organisation and the Supervalu Food Producers Programme.   Learn how Veronica grew to have a range of 250 products, how Shannon ended up on Facebook’s European small business campaign and how self confessed soil nerd Kylie is determined to produce nutritionally dense food with high welfare that has a positive impact environmentally and socially.Veronica Molloy - https://crossoguepreserves.com/Shannon Forrest - https://rivesci.ie/Kylie Magner - https://www.magnersfarm.com/Tipperary Food Producers Network - https://www.tipperaryfoodproducers.ie/Supervalu Food Academy - https://supervalu.ie/real-people/food-academy-programme.You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel or follow them on Twitter @LEOTipperary.  You can talk to The Business Fairy on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast 

In this episode Aisling talks to Conall O’Morain about the PR game, his work at the Media Group and his journey to becoming an Irish national broadcasting legend and advocate for small businesses.  Conall was RTE’s first ever Business Correspondent.   He then took a hiatius - spending 8 years as a stockbroker before returning to broadcasting The Sunday Business Show on Today FM for thirteen years.   Since September 2020 he has co-hosted That Great Business Show podcast with Ireland rugby legend and entrepreneur, Jamie Heaslip.  Along the way he has sat at boardroom tables with Goldman Sachs and had a ring side seat for the incredible business battle between titans Tony O’Reilly and Denis O’Brien.   An initiative of Tipperary Local Enterprise Office.#TheSMECommunityPodcastYou can find Tipperary Local Enterprise Office on Twitter at @TipperaryLEOPresented by Aisling HurleyProduced by The Business Fairy Digital Marketing Agency Ltd. (https://thebusinessfairy.ie)Twitter:  @tbfcentralContact That Great Business Show podcast on Twitter @TeamGBS1You can get in touch with Conall via Twitter  on @ConallOM or via his website at mediagroup.ie.