In the frame Barclays

What happens when a passion for history and storytelling collides with the hospitality & leisure industry? Rob Cox, CEO, talks to us about the development of the heritage sites in their collection, including the trials and rewards of transforming an 18th century derelict prison into a luxury hotel and visitor attraction. The ethos of this business is to give guests an experience which can be educational, emotional and will stay with them for life, underpinned by both luxury and sustainability. But is this all achievable? Listen in to find out.

This cultural music venue based in the north east of England is run as a charity for music lovers of all sorts, but it can’t rely on tickets sales alone. It needs to provide a diversified offering and evolve to remain relevant to audiences young and old. Sara Vening, Director of Finance and People at The Glasshouse ICM talks to us about the business strategy, product development and brand evolution that ensures The Glasshouse ICM remains a place where music lives and grows.

From economic recessions, wars and a global pandemic, to developing technology, sustainability and diversity opportunities, there are multiple challenges and changes in the wider world that businesses need to navigate. We speak to Lee Spong, Financial Director of Mala Engineering, about her experiences – not just about how Mala is evolving for the future and the strategies it adopts to protect itself financially in challenging times, but also how it feels being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated sector.

When you’re growing a company, you need the right team around you. But how do you evolve and build that team to keep pace with the company’s progression? What strategies can you put in place to ensure the team moves forward with a shared mindset that allows the business to flourish? On this episode, Steven Cartlidge, Managing Director, talks to us about his business, Lake – the growth journey, its innovative learning management system and much more besides.

The Wemyss business has been operating not just through the generations, but through the centuries too. So, what’s the family secret to success? In this episode, William Wemyss talks openly about the history of the business and their approach to risk management, growth and sustainability. Tracing back to the 16th century, the business has more recently diversified its operations, and risk, into renewable energy, superfood farming, property development, whisky distilling and even owns a vineyard – spread across several continents. The breadth of this business is extraordinary and William has a wealth of insights to share.

When his local Gaelic football team received less-than-ideal support from a gym equipment supplier, it sparked an idea in Greg Bradley. In just 11 years, he has built a business that now serves some of the biggest global sports brand names, as well as many elite sports clubs. We delve into the challenges faced along the way and explore the strategies that have strengthened and defined BLK BOX to keep clients coming back year after year.