Recorded live on location in Belfast straight after a business show at the Clayton Hotel, this conversation explores Steven’s journey into hosting and MCing, his work in networking and smart groups, the value of consistency and why showing up as yourself is still one of the most effective ways to grow.

This episode explores Steven J Innes’s perspective on networking, connection and business growth based on his own professional and personal experience. The ideas shared are intended to help listeners think more clearly about visibility, relationships and growth, but the right path will vary depending on the person, business and stage they are at.

About Steven J Innes

Steven J Innes is an MC, host, connector and business networker known for bringing energy, authenticity and connection into live business rooms. His work spans events, smart working groups, networking communities and Synergy, with a strong focus on helping people build relationships that lead to real opportunities.

In this episode

• Steven shares how he got into speechmaking, hosting and MCing.
• He reflects on confidence, bullying and finding his place.
• He explains why networking is really just conversation.
• He talks about building trust, connection and visibility in business.
• He shares his experience of community-led business growth through Hashtag and smart groups.
• He explains why being visible and consistent matters more than trying to be perfect.
• He reflects on failure, resilience and trusting the process.

Key takeaways

One of the strongest messages in this episode is that networking becomes far less intimidating when you stop treating it as performance and start treating it as conversation. Steven’s view is that growth often comes through trust, familiarity and consistency rather than forcing outcomes.

The episode also highlights that confidence, visibility and connection can all be built over time. You do not need to become someone else in order to grow a business well.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction and Belfast event context
• 01:00 – Steven’s background and finding purpose
• 02:00 – Speechmaking, MCing and confidence
• 05:00 – Synergy, setbacks and starting again
• 09:00 – Why conversation matters in business
• 14:00 – Hashtag, smart groups and networking models
• 20:00 – Helping people network naturally
• 24:00 – Purpose, impact and making a difference
• 27:00 – Failure, resilience and learning
• 31:00 – Where to connect with Steven

Links

Steven J Innes - Linkedin

Website

Final thought

This is a warm, practical conversation about connection, confidence and building business through consistency and real relationships. A strong episode for anyone who wants to grow without losing who they are.

Note:

This episode explores Steven J Innes’s perspective on networking, visibility, business growth and authentic connection based on his professional and personal experience. The ideas shared are intended to help listeners think more clearly about building relationships and business momentum, but the right approach will vary depending on the person, industry and stage of growth.

In this episode of UK Business IQ, Geoff Nicholson speaks with Gavin Belton-Rose about why sales and marketing should never operate apart, and why businesses often struggle when those two parts of the business are not aligned properly.

With around 25 years of experience across hospitality, estate agency, sales and marketing, Gavin shares practical insight on commercial growth, leadership, visibility, networking and why authenticity still matters in an increasingly AI-driven business world. The conversation also explores what many business owners misunderstand about lead generation, growth strategy and follow-up.

This episode explores Gavin Belton-Rose’s perspective on sales, marketing, growth and commercial performance based on his professional experience. The ideas shared are intended to help business owners think more clearly about alignment, visibility and results, but the right approach will vary depending on the business model, team structure and stage of growth.

About Gavin Belton-Rose

Gavin Belton-Rose is a commercially minded growth specialist with a background spanning hospitality, estate agency, sales and marketing. He helps businesses improve commercial performance by aligning sales and marketing more effectively and building clearer growth strategies.

In this episode

• Gavin shares how his background across sales, hospitality and business ownership shaped his commercial thinking.
• He explains why sales and marketing must work together.
• He discusses why leadership often becomes the bottleneck in growing businesses.
• He talks about networking, visibility and why people still buy from people.
• He shares his view on AI, authenticity and the risk of losing your real voice.
• He explains why growth needs strategy, not just activity.
• He highlights the importance of numbers, CRM discipline and consistent follow-up.

Key takeaways

One of the strongest lessons in this episode is that many businesses are active without being commercially aligned. Gavin’s message is that growth becomes more effective when sales, marketing and leadership are working together around one clear commercial strategy.

The episode also makes a strong case for staying visible and staying human. AI can improve efficiency, but it should not replace trust, authenticity or the voice of the business.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction and Gavin’s background
• 03:00 – Why sales and marketing must stick together
• 05:00 – Why marketing often gets cut first
• 07:00 – Leadership, communication and growth
• 10:00 – What happens when sales and marketing align
• 12:00 – AI, authenticity and business voice
• 15:00 – Marketing, lead generation and growth strategy
• 18:00 – Margins, KPIs and commercial performance
• 19:00 – Why networking still matters
• 27:00 – Final advice on numbers, CRM and follow-up

Links

Gavin Belton-Rose LinkedIn Profile

Website / book link

Final thought

This is a practical conversation for business owners who want stronger growth, better visibility and clearer alignment between sales and marketing. The message is simple: be visible, stay authentic, follow up properly and make sure your commercial strategy works as one joined-up system.

This episode explores Gavin Belton-Rose’s perspective on sales, marketing, business growth and commercial performance based on his experience across multiple sectors. The ideas shared are intended to help business owners think more clearly about visibility, follow-up and growth, but the right approach will vary depending on the business model, market and stage of growth.

If your interested in highlighting your UK Business on the podcast please visit our website to learn what packages we offer and the next steps.

In this archive episode of UK Business IQ, Geoff Nicholson revisits a conversation originally recorded for the Success IQ Podcast with business coach, speaker and author Robin Waite.

Robin shares his journey from running a successful creative agency into business coaching, and explains how burnout, self-development and a changing market led him to rethink how service-based businesses grow. The conversation explores the value of setting clear goals, focusing on the right activities, building resilience and moving away from time-for-money work towards more sustainable and productised offers.

This episode is part of the Success IQ Podcast archive and is being republished because its core business insights remain relevant. Some examples and references reflect the context of the original recording, but the wider lessons around focus, growth and business development still apply today.

The ideas shared in this conversation are based on personal experience and professional opinion at the time of recording. Listeners should apply their own judgement and seek specialist advice where appropriate for their own business circumstances.

About Robin Waite

Robin Waite is a business coach, speaker and author who helps service-based business owners grow more effectively by clarifying their goals, productising what they do and building businesses that are more sustainable and profitable. He previously ran a creative agency before transitioning into coaching.

In this episode

• Robin shares how his background in agency life shaped the work he does today
• he explains why many service businesses get trapped in time-for-money models
• he outlines the three elements he believes drive business success: clear goals, the right activities and strong desire
• he discusses why the internet has created more business noise and competition
• he reflects on resilience, focus and the realities of entrepreneurship
• he explains why productising a service can improve value and reduce friction
• he shares why building assets matters more than chasing quick wins
• he talks about balancing meaningful work with family life

Key takeaways

One of the strongest lessons in this episode is that many business owners are not short on effort they are short on clarity. Robin argues that without one clear goal, a realistic activity plan and a strong enough reason to keep going, it is easy to stay busy without building real momentum.

The episode also offers a broader long-term message. Sustainable growth comes from building assets, developing offers that are easier to sell and deliver, and staying focused on what genuinely moves the business forwards rather than getting distracted by noise.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and Robin’s background

02:00 – From agency owner to business coach

07:00 – Productising services and escaping design-agency “ping pong”

09:00 – The three things that drive business success

14:00 – Why the internet has made business noisier

18:00 – The reality of entrepreneurship and modern business pressure

23:00 – Work-life harmony and structuring a better business

25:00 – Advice for entrepreneurs and building assets

Links

Robin Waite Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinmwaite/

Website: www.robinwaite.com

Robins Books: https://www.robinwaite.com/books

Final thought

This is a useful conversation for any business owner who feels busy but not fully clear. The message is simple but powerful: get specific about the goal, focus on the activities that matter, and build something that is sustainable rather than reactive.

Pascal shares his journey into business, the personal experiences that shaped his passion for storytelling, and why video can be such a powerful tool for building trust, credibility and visibility. He also explains why many business owners overcomplicate content creation, and why a more practical starting point is often to begin with video curation before moving into video creation. Pascal also reflects on business focus, the risks of poorly aligned partnerships, and the importance of finding your own version rather than copying somebody else’s formula.

This episode is part of the Success IQ Podcast archive and is being republished because its core business insights remain relevant. Some examples and references reflect the context of the original recording, but the wider lessons around visibility, communication and business growth still apply today.

The ideas shared in this conversation are based on personal experience and professional opinion at the time of recording. Listeners should apply their own judgement and seek specialist advice where appropriate for their own business circumstances.

About Pascal Fintoni

Pascal Fintoni is a professional trainer, speaker and video producer with more than 22 years of practical experience in digital marketing. He helps people use storytelling, video and clear communication to build stronger online reputations and connect more effectively with their audience.

In this episode

• Pascal shares how his journey from France to the North East of England shaped his career and business path
• he explains how a deeply personal early life experience influenced his connection to film and storytelling
• he discusses why business owners should stop waiting for the perfect moment
• he explores the difference between creating content and distributing it effectively
• he outlines why video curation can be a strong first step into visibility
• he explains the value of appearing as a guest before creating your own video content
• he reflects on the business cost of the wrong partnerships
• he shares why entrepreneurs need to find their version rather than simply following someone else’s approach

Key takeaways

One of the strongest ideas in this conversation is that business owners do not need to begin with polished production or complicated systems. Pascal argues that a more realistic path is to build confidence step by step: start by curating useful video content, add your own perspective, become visible through thoughtful contribution, and then grow into creating your own material.

The episode also goes beyond marketing. It touches on resilience, business identity, focus and the importance of staying aligned with your own direction. Pascal’s reflections on “the illusion of partnership” and the need to “find your version” make this especially relevant for experienced professionals who want to grow without losing what makes them distinctive.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to this archive episode

01:00 – Pascal’s background and route into business

07:00 – Personal story, resilience and the role of film

11:00 – Why video should be done your way

13:00 – The real challenge of video marketing

15:00 – Why video curation comes before creation

17:00 – The value of being a guest on other people’s content

24:00 – Waiting for the perfect moment and the illusion of partnership

30:00 – Why entrepreneurs need to find their version

Links

Pascal Fintoni: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascalfintoni

Website: http://www.pascalfintoni.com

Final thought

If you have ever felt hesitant about showing up more visibly in your business, this episode offers a thoughtful and practical place to start. It is not about trying to look like everybody else. It is about communicating with more clarity, more confidence and more honesty, in a way that feels true to you.

Simon shares his journey from fashion and marketing into software, and explains how working with small businesses led him to build a simpler CRM designed around the real needs of growing companies. The conversation explores why spreadsheets eventually break down, why many businesses buy for future problems rather than current ones, and how the right systems can reduce overwhelm and support better sales follow-up.

This episode explores Simon Washbrook’s perspective on CRM, software adoption and small business growth based on his experience building and working in the sector. The conversation is intended to help business owners think more clearly about systems, simplicity and fit. The ideas shared are based on professional experience and opinion, and the best tools and systems will vary depending on your business model, team structure and stage of growth.

About Simon Washbrook

Simon Washbrook is the founder and Managing Director of Popcorn CRM, a platform designed to help small businesses manage leads, simplify sales processes and avoid the complexity that often comes with larger CRM systems. His background includes marketing, corporate CRM integration and software development for growing businesses.

In this episode

• Simon shares how his background in fashion, marketing and corporate CRM shaped his business journey.
• He explains why many small businesses stay with spreadsheets for too long.
• He discusses the risk of moving too early into software that is too complex for the stage of the business.
• He outlines why features are often a distraction from real business needs.
• He explains how pre-sales, finance and post-sales systems can work together without becoming one giant platform.
• He shares why habits and simple daily use matter more than complexity.
• He talks about why in-person conversations still matter in a saturated market.
• He reflects on delivery, simplicity and the importance of progress over perfection.

Key takeaways

One of the strongest lessons in this episode is that businesses do not need to solve every future systems problem today. They need tools that fit their current stage, help them follow up consistently and reduce friction rather than creating it. Simon’s advice to focus on business necessity rather than feature lists is especially useful for small business owners who feel overwhelmed by software decisions.

The episode also carries a broader entrepreneurial message. Progress matters more than perfection, systems should support behaviour rather than complicate it, and real human conversations still cut through in a crowded market.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction and Simon’s background
• 02:00 – From fashion and marketing to CRM
• 05:00 – Why Popcorn CRM was created
• 07:00 – The biggest CRM myth for small businesses
• 10:00 – Why all-in-one software can become a trap
• 15:00 – The cracks that appear as businesses grow
• 18:00 – Building better CRM habits
• 20:00 – How Simon wins business in a crowded market
• 24:00 – Neurodiversity, overwhelm and simplicity
• 27:00 – The biggest lesson Simon wishes he had known earlier

Links

Connect on Linkedin with Simon Washbrook

Popcorn CRM:

Downloadable Guide:

Final thought

This is a useful conversation for any business owner who knows their systems need to improve but does not want to create more complexity in the process. The message is simple: choose what fits now, build good habits, and let your systems grow with your business.

In this manifesto episode, host Geoff Nicholson lays out the vision for UK Business IQ—the new broadcast network for British business owners.

What to expect:

1. The Mission: Why we are building a platform to amplify the backbone of the UK economy.
2. The Format: Real strategy, no fluff. We deconstruct the journeys of successful founders to find out exactly why clients choose them.
3. The Invitation: How you can stop being a secret and start broadcasting your expertise.

Ready to share your story? We are currently scouting guests for the upcoming season. If you have a story to tell, apply for a feature spot here: https://www.geoffnicholson.co.uk/get-featured

Subscribe now to get the first episodes dropping next week.