The Small Business Sessions – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Small Business Sessions

Enterprise Nation

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/27d. Total Eps: 141

The Small Business Sessions is a weekly podcast from the Powering Local Businesses programme, created by Enterprise Nation and EDF Small Business in collaboration with Square.

This series explores the practical steps small businesses can take to grow and thrive – from improving energy efficiency and embracing sustainability to creating a lasting impact in their local communities.

The Powering Local Businesses hub supports small businesses, wherever they're based and however they sell, to grow sustainably. Access grants, pop-up shop opportunities, energy-saving guidance, expert workshops and a supportive community.

Find out more at enterprisenation.com/poweringlocalbusinesses

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http://www.enterprisenation.com/podcast
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http://www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected
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https://www.enterprisenation.com/business-connected/
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Theo Paphitis: Dragons' Den, his dyslexia, the future of the high street and top tips for success | The Small Business Sessions

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 • Duration 44:53

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business.

Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the fourth episode is Theo Paphitis, Dragons' Den investor and entrepreneur.

As one of the UK's most high profile entrepreneurs, Theo is known as being one of the investors on BBC TV show Dragons' Den. He is also famous for turning around struggling high street brands like Ryman and Robert Dyas.

Theo does much to support small business owners, including through his #SBS Small Business Sunday community.

In a wide ranging and inspiring converation, Theo discusses his extensive entrepreneurial career with loads of insights and advice. Don't miss this episode!

Topics discussed in the episode include:

His early entrepreneurial experience including running a school tuck shop.
The impact of dyslexia on his entrepreneurial career.
Transitioning from working as a tea boy to starting his own property finance company at age 23.
How he has turned around struggling retail brands like Ryman and Robert Dyas.
What is it like running high street businesses right now and what the government needs to do to support them.
Stories from TV's Dragons' Den.
Why he started his Small Business Sunday competition in 2010.
Why he still gets imposter syndrome.
What he thinks about AI.
His top advice for business success.

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This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vodafone Business, the Nation’s Network*, as part of the business.connected campaign which helps small businesses embrace digital change and grow online.

Access free training in a range of digital business areas, from online marketing to AI and smarter working at www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnected

Listen to and watch previous podcast episodes at www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

*The Nation's Network: Vodafone - nation's most valuable brand, verified by Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands Report 2024, and supporting the nation since 1984 through to 2025's major summer events. See full verification of the substantiation: www.vodafone.co.uk/TNN

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Deepak Ravindran on burnout, redefining success and finding identity beyond your business | Founder Fails

Friday, October 31, 2025 • Duration 21:42

Welcome to the Small Business Sessions: Founder Fails podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation, in collaboration with Hiscox.

In this series, we're sitting down with bold business voices to talk candidly about their biggest fails, unexpected lessons and the power of getting back up.

Expect honest conversations, tales of resilience and real talk from founders who turned mistakes into movement.

In episode two, we're joined by Deepak Ravindran, co-founder of Oddbox, the UK’s first sustainable fruit and veg box delivery service. Deepak is now an executive coach for startup founders and leaders, helping others navigate the personal and professional challenges that come with building mission-led businesses.

In this conversation, Deepak shares the personal and leadership lessons behind building a food-waste-fighting business — from early doubts and bold career moves to burnout, identity shifts, and the surprising ways failure shaped the journey.

Topics discussed in the episode:

The leap from a stable career in finance to founding Oddbox
The tough early years — self-doubt, rejection, and redefining success
How to separate your self-worth from your business identity
Burnout, therapy, and rebuilding purpose after growth and pressure
Leadership lessons learned the hard way
Why founders should reframe “failure” as an experiment, not an identity
The importance of reconnecting with your “why” and values

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Whether you're a sole trader, scaling a start-up or running a growing enterprise, Hiscox business insurance could protect you if the worst happens. Their policies are built around your business to protect you from the real risks you face every day.

Head to https://www.hiscox.co.uk/business-insurance to learn more.

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Sol Escobar on restoring dignity through clothing choices | The Small Business Retail Sessions

Season 9 · Episode 6

Wednesday, September 3, 2025 • Duration 31:20

Welcome to the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation's Powering the High Street programme, in collaboration with EDF.

This series explores the major challenges that today's retailers are facing – from declining footfall and vacant shop-fronts to the post-pandemic recovery and increasing demand for sustainability.

In episode six of the series, we're joined by Sol Escobar, founder of Give Your Best.

Give Your Best is a "tech for good" social enterprise tackling clothing poverty and fashion waste through an innovative online platform and physical store.

Launched during the 2020 lockdown, Give Your Best allows refugee women and other marginalised people to shop donated clothing for free – restoring not only their wardrobe but their dignity and agency too.

Since then, the enterprise has grown into a thriving community-led organisation, combining digital tools, peer-to-peer giving, and inclusive retail experiences.

In this episode, Sol shares her journey from humanitarian volunteer to award-winning founder, and explains how businesses of all sizes can take small, impactful steps toward more ethical and sustainable practices.

Topics discussed in the episode:

How Give Your Best was born during lockdown and grew from a bedroom project into a national platform
Why choice, dignity, and agency are central to ethical clothing donations
How the platform works – like "Vinted for good" – allowing people to donate and shop for free
The role of peer-to-peer giving in building empathy and community connection
How the Islington store operates as a pay-it-forward space, mixing sales with free access for people in need
Tackling fashion waste through upcycling, repair stations and brand partnerships
The importance of trialling and testing before launching retail concepts

Mel from This Mum Runs

Wednesday, November 2, 2016 • Duration 13:33

The 25th episode is with Enterprise Nation member and This Mum Runs founder Mel Bound. As an exhausted Mum, Mel Bound was desperate to regain a bit of time to herself and put a post on a Facebook group one evening to see if anyone else fancied joining her for a jog in the park after she'd put the kids to bed. 75 women showed up from just that one post and now her community This Mum Runs boasts over 4,000 members. This Mum Runs focuses on creating a space where time strapped mums can regain a bit of headspace by doing exercise together without feeling intimidated or under pressure to loose weight or get fit. Her success was rewarded on 21 October when she was crowned Female Start-up of the Year at our Festival of Female Entrepreneurs on 21 October. We recorded a podcast with Mel before she took to the stage to pitch. This Small Business Session oozes with Mel's infectious enthusiasm about what she's getting up to and why she's doing it. Inspiring and then some.

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Precious from Etieno Skincare

Wednesday, October 26, 2016 • Duration 14:38

The 24th session is with Enterprise Nation member and Etieno founder Precious Jason. Diagnosed in 2012 with leukemia. Precious struggled to find natural products that were safe and nourishing enough to the mend the damage that was done to her skin after treatment. That gave her the idea for Etieno, a range of skincare products that make life easier for cancer patients. Setting up a business whilst undergoing cancer treatment unsurprisingly has brought challenges but it has also provided Precious with a great testing ground, canvassing feedback from everyone that crosses her path including medical consultants and those next to her in the waiting room. This is the lady who a year ago came as an audience member to Enterprise Nation's Beauty Exchange with her early stage product, to this year's event where she joined us on stage with a stack of awards under her belt. It's stories like that as well as Precious' own personal journey that make the Small Business Sessions what they are.

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Simon from Version 22

Wednesday, October 19, 2016 • Duration 10:51

The 23rd session is with Simon Lyons, Enterprise Nation member and founder of product design studio Version 22. In this session Simon offers up some great advice about the struggles that so many start-ups face over cashflow and knowing what to prioritise when. Both of his products have been launched through crowdfunding and it was his first campaign that got him chatting to our founder Emma Jones on Twitter. That chat led to him featuring on a panel at one of our events and a piece in the Economist. Since then he has visited 10 Downing with us and secured a piece in The Sunday Times after our Meet the Journalist events in Nottingham. If we ever need a testimonial, we know who to call!

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Grace from StatueFindr

Wednesday, October 12, 2016 • Duration 09:43

The 22nd session is with Enterprise Nation member and StatueFindr founder Grace Everett. Author Grace Everett had an idea for a book about London's great statues that morphed in to an idea for an app. She has now launched StatueFindr which provides a new way to explore the diverse range of sculptures in the city of Westminster. Spot a statue, check the app and you'll get information about the statue and the artist who created it. Listen to this session for a great discussion on setting goals and Grace's brilliant answer to our regular question asking what superpower entrepreneurs would like to have.

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Robert from NRG Digital

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 • Duration 09:54

The 21st session is with Robert Edmonds, Enterprise Nation member and founder of NRG Digital. Robert is a three times BAFTA nominated director, producer and editor and spent 17 years in the TV industry working on some of Britain's most popular primetime shows including Grand Designs and Crimewatch. Rob has now moved into the commercial sector and founded NRG Digital, which creates content driven video and events for some of the biggest brands in the world. Tune into this week's session for discussion around the importance of building trust, dealing with the loneliness of going it alone and what makes great content.

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David from David Harris Magic

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 • Duration 08:50

The 20th session is with Enterprise Nation member and founder of David Harris Magic, David Harris. With a father who performed magic to entertain him for hours on end, it's perhaps not surprising that David Harris ended up being a magician for a living. Swapping a career in security services to getting paid to have fun and entertain people has required years of practice and a commitment to spending at least two hours a day on his craft. The one trick he hasn't quite mastered though is how to explain to people that doing magic really is what he actually does as a job!

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Gabriella from Annellino

Wednesday, September 21, 2016 • Duration 13:09

The 19th session is with Enteprise Nation Member and Annellino founder Gabriella Turner. Gabriella discovered an Aladdin's Cave when visiting her grandmother in Italy who wanted to buy her a graduation present. She fell in love the 150-year-old workshop operated by a third generation goldsmith which inspired her to set up fine jewellery brand, Annellino. Gabriella's 18 carat gold products are now made in the workshop using a technique followed by Renaissance sculptors. Listen to this session for an inspiring discussion about supporting artisan producers, the importance of outsourcing to experts and how to stay motivated when working on your own.

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The Small Business Sessions – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Small Business Sessions – Details, episodes & analysis

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