The Stirling Business Podcast

Craig Mitchell: Craig Mitchell: Why Buying a Home Is Harder Than It Should Be

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Walking away from a senior construction career is one thing. Doing it to build a fresh, community-first estate agency in Falkirk is another. We sit down with Craig Mitchell, founder of Pop Homes, to talk about what he learned during 13 years at Persimmon Homes and why the home buying and home selling journey so often feels confusing, stressful, and harder than it needs to be.

We get into Craig’s path from trainee sales adviser to Sales Director for the North Scotland region, including how the pandemic disrupted transactions and raised expectations around communication and certainty. Craig breaks down the real-world difference between buying a new build and purchasing an existing home: the structure, the pace, and why the legal process can feel similar even when the experience is not. If you are a first-time buyer, a first-time seller, or simply trying to make sense of the Scottish property market, you will take away practical ways to stay informed and reduce overwhelm.

Craig also shares what comes next: launching a local business podcast designed to spotlight Falkirk entrepreneurs, start-ups, and well-known brands, helping them build brand awareness through stories people actually want to hear. We talk guests, marketing, networking through groups like the Chamber of Commerce, the role of social media, and why he is choosing steady, scalable growth instead of chasing constant content. If you enjoy the chat, subscribe, share it with a local business owner, and leave us a review so more people can find the Stirling Business Podcast.

A Podcast Studio In Stirling

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Building Skills For A Changing Economy

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

AI in the 1980s. The early days of OCR and intelligent character recognition. A stint with the people who helped build the internet as we know it. Then, in mid-life, a decision that many would call reckless but Tina Covielllo calls necessary: stepping off the corporate treadmill and going to art school. That pivot becomes the foundation for two very different but closely linked ventures, both rooted in one idea: people can grow, and industries can change, if we train for what’s coming next.

We talk through Progressive Pathways in Stirling and its focus on human growth through training, coaching, mentoring and organisational development. Tina shares how employability programmes work in practice across the Forth Valley, why personal development is not a “nice to have”, and how strengths-led learning can help people who are unemployed or stuck find a route into work. We also explore what it takes to scale training with technology, moving from face-to-face delivery into hybrid and on-demand learning without losing the support that makes it real.

Then we shift into the Green Skills Training Academy and the fast-moving world of renewable energy training and retrofit skills. From internal wall insulation, heat pumps and solar panels to Global Wind Organisation-aligned health and safety for onshore and offshore wind, Tina explains what’s required, why credibility matters, and how to avoid greenwashing by measuring impact. We get into EPC pressures, the shortage of domestic energy assessors, and the careful balance needed when retrofitting traditional and listed buildings, where cost, performance and planning rules collide.

If you’re building a business, changing careers, or hiring for the green transition, you’ll take away practical insight and a sharper mindset. Subscribe to the Sterling Business Podcast, share this with someone planning a pivot, and leave a review with your biggest question about green skills or entrepreneurship.

Stirling’s Boutique Apart Hotel

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Too many people treat Stirling like a quick photo stop: Castle, a coffee, then straight back on the road. We wanted to challenge that with a simple idea, build the kind of boutique accommodation that makes you want to stay the night and use the city as your base. Mark Wallace sits down with us at Studio King Street to unpack how King Street Apart Hotel came to life inside our 45 King Street development, and why we built something closer to big-city standards without pretending to be a full-service luxury hotel.

We get specific about what an apart hotel actually is, where it sits between serviced apartments and traditional hotels, and how we deliver comfort with practical details like kitchenette areas, fridges, and in-room coffee, while partnering with brilliant local businesses for breakfast, dinner, and extras. We also share what we’ve learned from VisitScotland, tour operators, and the travel trade about international tourism demand, especially from the US, and why heritage features matter so much to the guest experience.

From themed tours and the FIT traveller market to the Stirling Stay proposition and our digital concierge, we talk about turning overnight stays into longer, richer trips across Stirling and the Forth Valley. We also explore the bigger picture: how the hotel complements our co-working space, events offering, and recording studio, plus why corporate travel and the MICE market can help fill the quieter months. If you care about hospitality, destination marketing, or building a locally connected business, there’s plenty to take away.

If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe to the Sterling Business Podcast, share it with someone planning a Scotland trip, and leave us a review with your favourite thing to do in Stirling.

Flexible Workspaces That Actually Work

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

A city-centre workspace can be more than desks and Wi‑Fi. Mark Wallace joins us for a role reversal and puts the questions to us about how we’re building two connected brands at 45 King Street: Working Flexi Spaces and King Street Events, right in the heart of Stirling.

We get specific about what people actually want from flexible office space after Covid: private offices on a licensing model rather than long leases, coworking membership that works day-to-day, and an “all-in” approach that includes furniture, utilities, business-grade internet, 24/7 access, a business lounge, and even an on-site gym. If you’re searching for coworking in Stirling, serviced offices, or a hybrid working setup that doesn’t slow you down, you’ll hear the practical details that make the difference.

Then we talk about the pivot that sparked King Street Events. When larger office suites weren’t in demand, we repurposed the space into meeting rooms and an event venue for everything from client meetings and networking groups to exhibitions, culture-night talks, and comedy nights. We also share how collaboration extends beyond our own walls through partnerships with other King Street venues, giving us the ability to scale events up to larger capacities and build corporate packages aimed at the MICE market (meetings, incentives, conferences and events).

If you enjoy honest business building, local entrepreneurship, and smart use of space, subscribe, share the episode, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

How Stirling Builds Organisational Learning For The World

Mon, 25 May 2026 18:00:00 -0400

Stirling is not just a beautiful place to visit, it is a place that can teach businesses how to learn. I’m joined by Alaa Gerad from the Stirling Centre for Strategic Learning and Innovation, a Scotland-based think tank and act tank working with organisations across more than 20 countries to build real capability in organisational learning, innovation, and futures foresight.

We talk through Alaa’s practitioner-academic path, from quality management in industry to consultancy and assessment work with major organisations, and why that experience convinced him that learning has to be designed as a system. He explains the centre’s LIFE model: Learning, Innovation, Futures Foresight, and Excellence, and why excellence should be the outcome of consistent learning practices rather than a separate initiative. If you lead a team, run an SME, or support performance in HR and L&D, you’ll hear how different roles need different learning interventions, not one-size-fits-all training.

A highlight is the centre’s work with the British Standards Institution (BSI), including a newly launched organisational learning standard and the practical support around it: certificated programmes, capstone projects tied to real business needs, and six months of mentoring to help people actually implement. We also get into partnerships with universities and colleges, immersive learning through visits and retreats, and what it takes to connect academia to industry problems at pace.

To finish, Alaa offers a direct challenge to the local business community on customer service and responsiveness, and a practical way for listeners to get involved through the centre’s membership and events. Subscribe, share the episode with a founder or manager who cares about culture, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

Portable Gardens That Grow Fresh Meals Anywhere

Fri, 08 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Fresh food is easy to take for granted until you’re deployed, cut off, or travelling for months with no resupply. We’re joined by Stuart Preston, founder of Okal Astronautics, to talk about a bold idea with real engineering behind it: ag tech that can grow nutritious food anywhere from frontline conditions to future space missions.

Stuart shares how 16 years as an Air Force aircraft engineer shaped his approach to building hardware that has to work first time, under constraints, and under regulation. We unpack Okal Astronautics’ plug-and-play plant pods, their Rugged Garden portable grow chamber, and the longer-term vision for Botanic Sky, a space agriculture system aimed at long-duration travel and planetary surface missions. Along the way, we dig into why controlled environment agriculture matters for morale as much as calories, and what storage and refrigeration challenges appear when you start thinking beyond pre-packaged astronaut food.

We also get practical on the startup journey: how networking opens doors in the space ecosystem, how early “spray and pray” VC outreach turns into a focused investment strategy, and why rapid prototyping and fast iteration are non-negotiable as commercial space stations and Moon and Mars timelines accelerate. Stuart explains how AI tools help him move faster on software and firmware, plus what it really takes to scale manufacturing through suppliers, PCBs, and more robust power options like batteries and future solar.

If you care about space tech, resilient food systems, hardware startups, or the future of sustainable agriculture, this is one to share. Subscribe, leave a review, and send this to someone who loves building things that matter.

Lights Camera Stirling

Fri, 08 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Stirling keeps turning up on screen, often when you least expect it. One day it’s a medieval stronghold or a gothic graveyard, the next it’s doubling for another city entirely and selling the illusion perfectly. We sit down with author and academic Tom Christie to unpack why filmmakers return to Stirling again and again, and what his new book Lights Camera Stirling reveals about the city’s hidden life as a film and TV location.

Tom takes us behind the scenes of independent publishing with Extremis Publishing, the arts and culture press he runs with his sister Julie. We talk about how a small publisher balances editing, design, marketing and events, and why helping writers find their voice matters just as much as selling books. From there we get into the heart of the project: Stirling’s heritage, landscapes and cultural organisations, and how all of that combines to create a place directors can shoot across genres, decades and styles.

Along the way we touch on 60 productions featured in the book, including titles like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Greyfriars Bobby, Good Omens and multiple versions of The 39 Steps. We also explore Stirling’s film education pedigree at Forth Valley College and the University of Stirling, plus the potential impact of the planned Stirling Studios on jobs, training and homegrown talent. If you care about Scottish filmmaking, film tourism, screen culture or the creative economy, this conversation is a smart, local lens on a fast-moving industry.

Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, share the episode with a friend who loves film locations, and leave us a review so more people can find the Sterling Business Podcast.

How A Scottish Inventor Cuts Heating Bills By Up To 50%

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:00:00 -0400

Your heating system might be wasting money on something you cannot even see: dissolved gases in the water. We sit down with Stirling inventor Jim Bissett, founder of Biscuit Controls, to explain Hydrogenie, a retrofit device designed to remove dissolved oxygen, capture sludge, and improve how central heating systems behave in the real world. Jim breaks down the core physics in plain language, from vortex flow and negative pressure to why getting air out of the system can reduce corrosion, stabilise circulation, and support better boiler efficiency.

We also dig into the numbers and the practicalities. Jim shares reported results from testing and field installs, including domestic savings claims up to 50% depending on building heat loss, plus commercial examples that show how energy efficiency retrofits can stack. We talk about the broader “Genie” portfolio too: Kerrogenie for heating oil performance, VoltoGenie for voltage optimisation, and CircleGenie for controlling secondary hot water loop pumps that often run 24/7. A standout case study comes from our own hotel setting, where combining voltage optimisation and hot water control helped reduce annual electricity costs from roughly £44,000 to around £30,000 to £32,000.

The conversation goes beyond today’s products into what comes next, including Jim’s early work on capturing dissolved methane from slurry and digestate streams to turn waste gas into usable energy. If you care about reducing energy bills, improving boiler performance, lowering carbon emissions, and finding practical building services solutions that do not require ripping everything out, you will want to hear this one. Subscribe, share it with a facilities manager or property developer, and leave us a review with your biggest question about cutting energy waste.

The Stirling Visitor Levy Explained

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

A new visitor levy is on the way for Stirling, and if you run accommodation or work in tourism, the details are worth getting straight now. We’re joined by Jillian Schofield, Service Manager for Culture, Events and Tourism at Stirling Council, to explain what the Stirling Visitor Levy is, why it’s being introduced, and how it will work in practice for guests and providers.

We talk through the headline numbers in plain English: a 3% levy added on top of the accommodation rate only (not food or other extras), collected by accommodation providers and remitted through a collection platform. Jillian also sets Stirling’s plan in the wider visitor levy Scotland picture, with Edinburgh going first, Glasgow following, and other councils preparing their own schemes. Most importantly, we clarify the timeline: Stirling launches on 14 June 2027, applying to bookings made after 1 January 2027 for stays on or after that June date.

From there, we dig into what the levy is meant to fund. The proposed investment priorities include infrastructure (the biggest share), destination marketing and product development, events and culture, a Community Tourism Fund, and practical business support. We also discuss why representation matters, and how a Visitor Levy Advisory Forum is being formed to reflect Stirling city and the wider rural area, from hospitality and accommodation to heritage, attractions, and events.

If you want more updates, keep an eye on Stirling Council’s visitor levy information online, and send questions to visitorlevy@stirling.gov.uk. Subscribe, share, and leave a review, then tell us what should be the top priority for visitor levy spending in Stirling?

Stirling Culture Night 2026: Carnival Of The Wolf

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Music-Led Tours In Scotland

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

A tour bus full of strangers can feel awkward, until everyone realises they already share the same songs. We sit down with Fiona Boland, director at Scotland Folk Tours, to unpack a fresh kind of Scottish tourism where live folk music is not an add-on but the thread that ties the whole journey together. Fiona shares her own path from guiding in Paris to building tours across Scotland, and why she still thinks of herself first as a tour guide even while running a company.

We get into how Scotland Folk Tours actually works: a small team of directors, a strong operations backbone, and a distinctive B2B model where working musicians from the US and Canada bring groups of fans to Scotland. That shared connection changes everything, from group dynamics to the pace of travel. Fiona explains the “triple meaning” of folk: the people you meet, the stories you collect, and the music that sets the tone. We also talk through what makes their itineraries different, including private concerts with respected Scottish traditional artists in unforgettable venues.

The conversation turns local, too. We explore why Stirling deserves more than a quick castle visit, how it works brilliantly as a base for the Central Belt, and what destination marketing needs to do to shift mindsets. Finally, we look at film and TV tourism, from Outlander to castle-based reality shows, and how a single screen moment can nudge someone to book a trip. If you care about Scottish travel, cultural tourism, folk music, or building experience-led businesses, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Scotland, and leave us a review with the one place you think visitors should stop rushing past.

How A Nurse Built ATrusted Aesthetics Clinic And A Community Of Care

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What happens when a lifelong nurse builds an aesthetics clinic on the values she learned at the bedside? We sit down with Victoria MacDonald of VMA to trace a path from surgical wards and cancer care to a thriving, medically led practice that puts patient safety first and marketing hype last. It’s a candid look at growing a business without losing your why, and the surprising power of family culture to create loyal clients who feel genuinely cared for.

Victoria explains why regulation in aesthetics matters, how cheap treatments and glossy social posts can hide real risks, and the role of nurse-led expertise in safe injectables, complication management, and ethical consultations. She opens up about running VMA alongside an NHS post while raising two boys, the moment she chose health over burnout, and the systems that helped her scale: clear standards, honest advice, and a team that treats people like family. We also talk expansion into beauty, semi-permanent makeup, and piercing, and what’s next with makeup artists and wedding packages.

The conversation turns deeply personal as Victoria shares her fundraising work for Strathcarron Hospice, a charity close to her heart after losing her best friend, Linda. From abseiling the Forth Road Bridge to trekking the Great Wall of China and an upcoming self-funded challenge in Kenya, she shows how local businesses, musicians, and everyday donors can keep hospice care going at home and in the community. We highlight the Christmas giving tree that supports Women’s Aid and Stirling Young Carers, reminding us that small gifts can deliver big dignity.

If you care about safe aesthetics, compassionate business, and grassroots impact, this one will stay with you. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who believes care and commerce can lift each other.

A Founder’s Journey From Coffee Shop To Social Enterprise

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400

A shuttered coffee shop, a health scare, and a city centre in flux—Sarah Macmillan threads these turns into a single, generous idea: food as a tool for dignity and connection. We sit down with the founder of Kitchen at 44 to unpack how a home baking hustle became a community interest company shaping Stirling’s social fabric, one shared plate at a time. From Glasgow roots to King Street, Sarah’s path shows what happens when a kitchen is designed not just to cook, but to welcome.

We explore the practical engine behind that welcome. Kitchen at 44 reinvests profits to address the social impacts of food: access, affordability, food waste, and the confidence to cook. During the pandemic, Sarah’s ties to local surplus channels turned vanloads of excellent M&S food away from bins and into fridges, reframing “charity” as a collective save. That momentum evolved into Stirling Community Food, proving how grassroots logistics and neighbour networks can scale. Today, the focus is cohesion in a hard-to-measure city centre where a transient student population often masks need. The Monday community dinners—simple, regular, and open—bring people back to the table, swapping isolation for conversation, and data points for names and faces.

Looking ahead, sustainability means selling accessible “leisure and pleasure” cook classes—think Victoria sponge, scones, roasts—priced for a lovely afternoon out rather than luxury. Those profits circle back to fund community meals and skills sessions, keeping the mission independent and rooted in dignity. Sarah isn’t chasing headlines; she’s building a place people love enough to return to, week after week. If stories of food access, surplus rescue, social enterprise, and grassroots community-building speak to you, this conversation will stay with you long after the last course.

Enjoy the episode? Follow the show, share it with a friend in Stirling or beyond, and leave a quick review so more people can find these community-driven stories.

Why Independent Businesses And Smarter Policy Can Save Our High Streets

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:00:00 -0400

Start with a simple truth: you never say you’re from a retail park. We dig into what makes a place feel alive with Professor Lee Sparks, whose four decades in retail studies and university leadership reveal how business models, planning choices, and community action shape the heart of a city. From the early lessons of a Queensland shopping centre to chairing Scotland’s Towns Partnership, Lee maps the real story behind “the death of the high street” and shows where the renewal is already taking root.

We talk data and decisions: online sales now hover around 28–30%, decentralised shopping has thinned footfall, and employers wrestle with rising costs. Yet beneath the headlines, independents and smaller chains are moving into spaces vacated by overbuilt nationals, offering authentic products and richer service. Lee explains why local spend sticks—accountants, suppliers, trades—and how tools like Scotland Loves Local kept money in communities during Covid and continue to strengthen loyalty. We explore Stirling’s emerging ecosystem of makers, cook schools, and galleries, and why experiential retail beats functional errands for drawing people back to town.

Then we get practical about unlocking empty buildings. Upper floors matter for housing, safety and vibrancy; heritage sites can shift from dust to destination with the right finance, sequencing, and flexible planning. We connect the dots between direct rail links, a growing film studio presence, and the National Aquaculture Technology Innovation Hub—and how each can pull visitors and students into the city centre. Lee calls for universities to regain an entrepreneurial edge, valuing impact and live business projects as much as papers, and for policy to price the true costs of car-centric sprawl while making adaptive reuse easier.

If you care about thriving main streets, stronger local economies, and giving people a reason to linger, this conversation is a playbook. Subscribe, share with a fellow town-centre champion, and leave a review with one idea your city should try next.

How A Wolf-Themed Festival Aims To Ignite Stirling’s Nightlife

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:00:00 -0400

A city after dark tells a different story—and Stirling is ready to write it. We sit down with Kevin Harrison, director of Artlink Central and partner with Scene Stirling, to unveil Culture Night: a citywide celebration designed to spark the night-time economy and turn heritage into living theatre. Built on the energy of Stirling 900, the event blends headline performances with free pop-ups so anyone can step into the action, from castle ramparts to hidden ballrooms and buzzing hotel lobbies.

The heartbeat this year is Carnival of the Wolf, a playful theme rooted in local folklore that invites masks, transformation, and rewilding. Kevin shares how the wolf legend threads through architecture, stories, and community identity—and why that symbolism opens doors for dance, comedy, street performance, digital art, and family-friendly spectacle. We map the shape of the night: a late afternoon start at Stirling Castle, a surge of activity across the city from 6pm, and a spread into the wider area, drawing visitors to explore, stay out later, and discover culture in unexpected places.

Businesses get a clear path to join the party. Learn how venues can host funded acts, create wolf-themed menus or DJ sets, extend opening hours, and feature on a city map that guides audiences through ticketed highlights and free experiences. Kevin outlines the rollout timeline, with announcements and headliners landing at the Tolbooth and the Albert Halls, plus how sponsorship, press, and social channels will amplify visibility. Most of all, hear why the festival’s grassroots core—community commissions, diverse art forms, and local talent—makes this night distinctly Stirling.

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves a good city adventure, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Ready to run with the wolves? Follow updates via council and Scene Stirling channels, reach out at hello@scenesterling.com, and plan your route at yoursterling.com.

Building Confidence: A Woman Leading Construction

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

What if complex builds felt calm, honest and human from day one? We sit with Pam Wilson—co-founder of Kevin Wilson Master Builders and Scotland’s female president of the Federation of Master Builders—to unpack two decades of lessons that turn disruption into trust and craft into confidence.

Pam’s path wasn’t straight. She moved from communications and hospitality into construction, splitting roles with her joiner husband: he owns the tools, she owns the client journey. Together they built a business that survived 2008’s shock, graduated to limited status, and learned to scale without losing touch. The secret is simple and rare: remove client anxiety so trades can excel. Pam maps the messy phases, sets expectations early, and reframes choices—tiles, floors, finishes—so every decision feels like progress, not pressure.

We dig into the projects that test real skill: conservation-area renovations, quirky extensions, and turnkey design-and-build, including work for international clients who need a safe pair of hands. Pam shares the “three-card” approach to service levels, proving that tailored communication can be a tool as effective as any saw. She opens up about boundaries and burnout, the lure of late-night emails, and the practical steps that gave her evenings back.

Beyond the site, Pam leads. At the Federation of Master Builders she champions CPD, contract support, and helplines, and helps shape policy at Holyrood—pushing for a dedicated construction minister and running member meetups that keep SMEs connected. Partnerships with architects, interior designers and suppliers turn bold ideas into clean finishes, while her next chapter points toward owning premises and small developments to build long-term resilience.

Mentoring ties it all together. Through Career Ready, Pam mentors teenagers across 18 months with paid internships, and she’s qualifying to mentor adults too. Her message is clear: failure is data, not destiny; confidence is a practice; and progress rarely runs in a straight line. If you care about better builds, stronger teams, and pathways for women in construction, this conversation is your blueprint.

Enjoyed the show? Follow, rate and review, then share it with someone planning a renovation or starting a trade business. Your feedback helps more listeners find these stories.

From War To Enterprise: Building A UK Network For Ukrainian Businesswomen

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0500

We trace Anna’s path from arriving in Scotland to founding a fast-growing club for Ukrainian businesswomen, turning fear and isolation into practical support and shared strength. From first meetups to national chapters, we explore education, partnerships, and the shift from support to voice.

• founding purpose to support displaced Ukrainian businesswomen
• growth from local meetups to UK-wide membership
• online and offline events for access and inclusion
• practical help on taxes, legal setup, and grants
• coaching, informal days, and company visits
• collaborations with Business Gateway and Chambers of Commerce
• cross-community networking with Scottish entrepreneurs
• next steps: Cambridge chapter, YouTube, and podcasts

From Blown Glass To Global Whisky: Karen Somerville On Craft, Festivals, And Mentoring

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0500

Karen Somerville shares how a sealed glass angel turned a whisky legend into a global brand, then charts her pivot into mentoring, festivals, and hands-on consulting. We explore practical networking, women-led business support, and why calm problem solving beats panic.

• origin of Angel Share and the whisky myth
• scaling craft glassware into global export
• limited editions and collector demand
• transition of the workshop and legacy
• shift into consulting and mentoring founders
• practical fixes for cash flow, exports, and ops
• value of local networking and agency support
• women’s peer groups and joining criteria
• festivals, distilleries, and future whisky projects
• resilient mindset and advice to new founders

How A Teacher Became A Team Captain To Ride 800 Miles For My Name’ Is Doddy

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0500

A fresh start can change a life, but turning that energy into a movement can change many. We sit down with Pauline Elizabeth—teacher, endurance athlete, and team captain of the Dawn Patrol Riders—to unpack the Doddy800: an 800-mile effort from Melrose to Dublin raising funds for My Name’ Is Doddy and motor neurone disease research. What begins as a story about a name change becomes a blueprint for how community, sport, and purpose fuse into real impact.

Pauline traces her route from business director back to the classroom, and from casual runs in Dollar to Ironman finishes with the Dollar Tri Twits. Along the way, we explore the practical magic of group momentum: 5 a.m. city roll-outs, relay pacing to hold 14 mph, and the unsung heroes in the sweeper van keeping bikes rolling over four demanding days. The itinerary is ambitious—Melrose to Leeds to Cheltenham, a night freight ferry from Pembroke to Rosslare, then a final push to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium—and every mile is tied to a clear target: £27,000 for this new team, with youth-led crews aiming even higher.

Beyond the ride, the heart of this episode is community. We shine a light on grassroots fundraising tactics, from turbo sessions outside the local deli to pub quizzes led by 22-year-old rider Struan Yearsley. We also share the team’s school outreach, delivering a Doddy Cape education pack focused on kindness, generosity, and civic action—small steps that form future fundraisers and leaders. And if you’re in Leeds, there’s an open call for accommodation to help seven riders and their support crew rest between stages.

If you care about endurance sport, charity rides, or the fight against MND, this conversation brings tangible details and real emotion—tears at finish lines, laughter on the road, and a throughline of relentless hope. Tap to listen, donate via the Dawn Patrol Riders JustGiving page, and share this story with someone who inspires you to go the extra mile. If the episode moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and help us keep the momentum rolling.

Networking That Actually Works; Inside Revitalised Business Club

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0500

We sit down with Lee Foster, founder of Revitalised Business Club, to map how a coffee meetup grew into a hybrid network built on structure, trust and practical sales mentoring. From table talks to peer cohorts and a Stirling co‑working perk, this is networking that delivers.

• Lee’s corporate sales roots and move to Scotland
• Why Revitalised Connected People was created and named
• Coffee chat to 129 attendees in months
• Format: table talks, 30‑second intros, member spotlights
• Branches in Stirling, Glasgow, East Kilbride and Ayrshire
• Hybrid model with global online events and mentors
• Seven Step Sales Moment and take‑home worksheets
• Relationship‑led referrals and cross‑industry best practice
• Peer membership cohort with 12‑month roadmap
• Annual summit, exhibitor expo and community events
• Stirling perk: free co‑working after branch meetings
• Goals: grow branches, expand online reach, speak on sales

Do come along to one of the events. They're really, really good value.

From Legal Startups To Social Impact: Maggie Gorman Shares How Ceteris Lifts Entrepreneurs

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500

We sit down with Maggie Gorman, Director of Business Support and Development at Ceteris, to explore how a unique landlord-with-purpose model drives growth for founders across Forth Valley. From startup advice to accelerators, women’s networks, and Skillshare, we map the path from space to scale.

• Ceteris origins in 1984 industrial decline and mission for economic growth
• 21 properties across 10 sites spanning offices, co-working, industrial and virtual
• Social purpose delivered through Business Gateway and Emerge programmes
• Partnerships with CodeBase and TechScaler including a MedTech expo
• Emerge Women community and practical learning for female founders
• Skillshare tokens model making expert help affordable for micro businesses
• Funding wins and strong ties with Clackmannanshire Council
• Forth Valley Business Week plans and potential awards
• New five-year strategy with seven pillars for support
• Next 12 months: business club launch, scaling Skillshare, ongoing advisory
• Collaboration with the Chamber and BIDs to complement not compete
• Emphasis on CPD, community and relationship-based growth

Visit www.ceteris.co.uk to get in touch

Cybersecurity Made Practical For Every Business

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500

We share why every business has a digital footprint worth defending and how simple layers turn chaotic risks into manageable routines. Ray maps recent UK breaches to practical fixes and explains the path from corporate engineer to founder building end‑to‑end protection.

• value of defence in depth across devices, networks, cloud and people
• why social engineering and phishing still drive most breaches
• practical steps for strong passwords and multi‑factor authentication
• staff as the human firewall and how to build healthy pause‑and‑verify habits
• synergy from community, chambers and office neighbours in the tech ecosystem
• growth story of Secure Nexus and what scales in a fast‑changing threat landscape
• services that matter for SMEs, from SOC to penetration testing
• short planning horizons and rehearsed incident response for resilience

Contact: support@securenexus.co.uk or securenexis.co.uk

Martin’s Law For Real-World Businesses

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0500

A law can change behaviour, but practice saves lives. We bring on former Police Scotland chief firearms instructor Scott Williamson to make Martin’s Law real for everyday operators, from boutique hotels and co-working hubs to universities, shopping centres, and major venues. Scott shares how to turn policy into clear actions your team can learn fast and repeat under pressure.

We start with why the law exists and what the Royal Assent and two-year implementation window mean for leaders making plans today. Scott breaks down the standard and enhanced tiers, then explains why sub-200 sites should still act: attackers target people, not paperwork. You’ll hear simple, high-impact steps to raise awareness, tighten basic security, and map invacuation and evacuation routes that actually work. We also talk about reputational risk and how early preparation protects trust with guests, staff, and neighbours.

From there, we dig into command training for executives. Paper plans fail without rehearsal, so Scott shows how tabletop drills and realistic exercises expose weak links and build confident decision-making. He outlines practical packages that fit different needs: Safety Shield for staff awareness, Venue Shield for complex sites, Edu Shield for schools and universities, Refresh Shield to keep knowledge current, and Recover Shield to support media handling and counselling after a shock. Throughout, the focus stays human: clear roles, calm communication, and no-blame learning that helps people perform when seconds matter.

If you manage a building, run events, or lead a team, this is your blueprint to prepare, protect, respond, and recover with purpose. Subscribe, share with a colleague who owns a venue or workspace, and leave a review telling us the first drill you’ll run this quarter.

How A SSAS Pension Funded A Boutique Apart-Hotel And Flexible Workspace In Stirling

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:00:00 -0500

A derelict department store, a bold pension strategy, and a belief that buildings should trade like living ecosystems. We sit down with Neil to share how we transformed 45 King Street into a boutique apart-hotel and flexible workspace that runs on smart tech, focused design, and community energy.

We trace the leap from three decades in corporate sales to a SaaS pension-backed acquisition, breaking down how an OpCo/PropCo structure and VAT registration funded a full fit-out without bank finance. On the workspace floor, licences replace leases, soundproofing and climate control lift the bar, and co-working acts as an incubator rather than a crutch. When bigger suites proved slow to move, we pivoted them into a thriving events business, adding steady weekday demand and opening the doors to local organisations, exhibitions, and workshops.

Upstairs, fifteen boutique rooms and suites anchor a tech-enabled apart-hotel experience. There’s no front desk and no restaurant; instead, guests get quality essentials, tight partnerships with local food and laundry, and a QR “cube” that connects everything from breakfast to support in seconds. A six–six–six–six comms cadence keeps service personal and consistent. Summer occupancy climbed past 70 percent, and a growing pipeline of pre-booked coach tours stabilises seasonality while B2C channels fill nightly gaps. We also get candid about the tough parts: late-stage compliance changes, nine months of delays, and the real cost of lost trading days. The lesson lands hard—add contingency for both money and months, and build early alignment with building control and fire safety.

If you’re curious about SaaS pensions, flexible workspace operations, boutique hospitality, or how to monetise a multi-use asset with one empowered team member and the right tech stack, this conversation maps the playbook and the pitfalls. Subscribe, share with a fellow operator or investor, and leave a review—what strategy would you try first?

From Data Foundations To Real-World AI Wins

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:00:00 -0500

Most teams don’t need more AI hype; they need better decisions. We sit down with data expert and founder of Head for Data, Colin Parry, to strip AI back to what actually moves the needle: clean inputs, clear processes, and tools that match the job. Colin’s path from renewables and wind turbine analytics to leading data science teams gives him a rare field‑to‑boardroom perspective on how to build systems that work in the real world.

We start with the foundations: why data only exists to improve decisions, and how a centralised platform plus solid governance turns scattered spreadsheets into a reliable source of truth. Colin breaks down the difference between deterministic tasks that deserve automation and ambiguous work where AI’s probabilistic strengths shine. He explains why ChatGPT is just one tool in a larger AI family, and how to pick the lightest‑weight solution that solves the real problem instead of forcing everything through a language model.

The episode’s centrepiece is a practical case study with a major property factoring firm. By defining a true unit of work, cleaning their data, and building an optimisation algorithm that accounts for geography, travel time, and seniority, Colin’s team rebalanced workloads across 40,000 properties. Then they layered fees over effort to expose profitability by development, empowering leaders to adjust pricing, retain the right clients, and drop the wrong ones. The result: fairer teams, sharper unit economics, and faster, more confident decisions.

If you’re wondering where to start, we share a simple path: run a focused gap analysis, centralise your data, automate the deterministic steps, and apply AI where intent or inputs are genuinely messy. Want a partner for that first step? Colin offers a free half‑day Intelligent Futures workshop to identify quick wins. Subscribe, share with a colleague who’s drowning in spreadsheets, and leave a review to tell us which process you’d automate first.

Handmade Fudge, Big Vision: Building A People-First Brand

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:00:00 -0500

A career can pivot on a single moment. For Graeme Clark, watching his father’s late-career redundancy lit a fire to build on his own terms—first as a self-employed joiner, then as a sales professional, later as the owner of a 50-year-old wholesale brand management agency, and finally as the founder of Oakal Fudge, a handmade confectionery brand supplying iconic distilleries, luxury hotels, and farm shops across Scotland.

We explore how Oakal Fudge balances craft and growth without losing its soul. Graeme walks us through making butter fudge by hand, batch after batch, and why the team refuses to industrialise the core process. Instead of chasing supermarket volume, they choose partners who value provenance, flavour, and story—think Glen Eagles, St Andrews, and malt whisky distilleries where spirit is added to the fudge for a distinct, place-based product. With fifteen Great Taste Awards, SALSA accreditation, and capacity to scale production fivefold through packaging automation, the business proves that artisan and ambition can coexist.

The conversation ranges from culture and leadership to finance and resilience. Graeme shares how accelerators, mentors, and winning Scottish EDGE reshaped his approach, sharpening unit economics, planning, and accountability. He explains the traction system his teams use across both companies, why culture beats strategy for long-term execution, and the lessons he’d give his younger self: know your numbers, start with the end, and take time to celebrate progress. If you care about scaling a product the right way, building teams that take pride in their craft, and turning values into daily operations, this story will stick.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow and share the show, leave a review to help others find it, and connect with us to continue the discussion.

How A Film Studio, Better Transport, And Smarter Spending Can Supercharge A City

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 17:00:00 -0500

We map how Stirling plans to turn momentum into durable local wealth through new sectors, smarter procurement and a stronger startup culture. Alan Connery shares what the council’s economic development team is building, from a film studio to an events‑ready City Park.

• remit and scope of economic development in Stirling
• sector focus across manufacturing, life sciences, digital health and tourism
• leveraging external funding to unlock property and infrastructure
• inward investment aligned to local value add
• demographics, talent pipeline and connectivity advantages
• partner coordination across STEP, Chamber, FSB, CodeBase, BID
• definition and pillars of community wealth building
• plural ownership models and fair work principles
• land use for social value and productive assets
• anchor procurement to retain local spend
• film studio impact on supply chains and hospitality
• City Park enabling major, lower‑friction events
• next‑12‑month priorities and business support routes

Check out the council website. Contact Business Gateway Stirling or your local BID, CodeBase, Chamber or university—whoever you reach first will connect you back to us

How Business Gateway Helps Stirling Firms Grow

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 17:00:00 -0500

Starting a business shouldn’t feel like walking into a maze. We sat down with Business Gateway at STEP in Stirling to unpack a simpler path: begin with one advisor who learns your goals, pinpoints what’s next, and connects you to the exact support you need. From the earliest spark of an idea to the first hires and beyond, we talk through how hands-on guidance, practical workshops, and targeted funding can turn momentum into measurable growth.

You’ll hear how the advisor model creates continuity, saving founders weeks by directing them to the right expert on day one. We dig into Meet the Expert sessions for fast answers on accounting, HR, branding, IT, and legal questions, plus funded and subsidised projects through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund that bring specialists into your business to solve real problems. When a company is ready to scale, we explore how warm introductions to Scottish Enterprise open doors to innovation support and capital grants, with account managers focused on growth and productivity.

Because this is Stirling, the support is rooted in the local economy. We discuss sector-themed programmes for tourism and hospitality, community breakfasts that spark partnerships, and collaboration with the BID, Chambers, CodeBase, Techscaler, Supplier Development Programme, and Scottish EDGE. The thread running through it all is objectivity and encouragement: no gatekeeping, no jargon, just clear steps and honest feedback that help you test ideas, refine plans, and execute with confidence.

If you’re ready to move from thinking to doing, tap into your local network. Subscribe for more founder stories and practical playbooks, share this with someone who needs a nudge to start, and leave a review with the one question you want us to tackle next.

A Regiment’s Legacy Can Fuel Local Business Growth

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0500

We explore how a regiment’s legacy, a five-star museum at Stirling Castle, and a bold 2050 vision connect with business growth, education, and community. The links between archives, schools, tourism, and the high street show why heritage can power a modern city.

• origins of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and ties to the castle
• why the museum remains central to Stirling’s visitor economy
• 2050 strategy alongside near-term financial stability
• three registered charities and ring-fenced veteran welfare
• digitising archives for research and risk management
• Learning Never Forgetting programme at the national curriculum level five
• reaching remote schools with hybrid delivery and handling boxes
• practical synergies with local firms, events and chambers
• the Kruakin mascot story as cultural connector
• mutual value in hotel partnerships and referrals
• a personal legacy focused on education and community links
• where to find the museum online and on social

Visit argylls.museum.co.uk to enquire or call us via the website. Follow us on Facebook and main social channels.

How An Open Access Rail Brand Plans A Direct London–Stirling Link And Why It Matters

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0500

We map how Lumo uses open access rail to compete with airlines on price and service, and why a direct London–Stirling link can reshape trips for leisure, students and business. We also unpack the plan for battery‑electric trains and the role of local suppliers onboard.

• What open access rail means and how risk drives value
• Lumo’s one‑class model with at‑seat service
• Competing with airlines on price and simplicity
• Recruiting ambassadors from aviation and hospitality
• Measuring satisfaction through constant feedback
• Why Stirling and the intermediate stops matter
• Leisure, business and university travel demand
• Local producers featured in the onboard offer
• Year‑round frequency to smooth visitor peaks
• Transition from diesel to battery‑electric trains
• Success metrics and potential extensions beyond Stirling

How A Boutique Hotel Turns Stays Into Community Support

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0500

What if a hotel room could keep a cancer support centre open for a few more hours, help preserve a coronation church, and fund a school workshop on the First World War? We share how our Giving Back programme at King Street Apart Hotel turns every occupied room into steady support for local charities across the Forth Valley.

We sit down with three partners to explore the real-world impact. Lorna from Maggie’s explains the power of a calm, welcoming space where people facing cancer can ask the questions they missed in the clinic and find practical and emotional support that lifts the weight. David from Stirling Heritage Alliance opens the doors to the Church of the Holy Rude, a living landmark where King James was crowned, and lays out a simple truth: heritage survives when visitors show up, listen, and help keep the roof sound. Ayla from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum brings the regiment’s story to life inside Stirling Castle, from the mascot Cruachan to a hands-on education programme that reaches children who have never heard of trenches or the home front.

Across the hour, we chart how a named-room model and a £5-per-stay donation create predictable funding for classes, conversations, and conservation. We also share practical moves that knit the city together: guiding guests along a scenic route that passes Holy Rude and Cowane’s, encouraging meals in independent cafés, and designing events that bring tenants, tourists, and locals into the same room. It is a simple, scalable way to blend travel, culture, and care—so a night away leaves a mark that lasts.

If you believe hospitality can power community, give this a listen, book a charity room, and tell a friend. Subscribe for more stories from Stirling’s people and places, and leave a review to help others find us.

How A Corporate Manager Became A Multi‑Company Owner And Mentor

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0500

We chart Steve Cornwallis’s path from quarry worker to multi‑company owner, exploring how values, networking and disciplined bets built a renewables‑led portfolio and a new Green Skills Training Academy. Along the way we unpack painful lessons, practical wins and simple rules that compound.

• early drive shaped by family change and urgency to work
• 27 years of corporate growth and people leadership
• first taste of ownership through property investment
• building and later buying Limpet Technology
• entering renewables and selling to global clients
• failed rigging venture and three rules for future deals
• recruitment business model and fast profitability
• networking as a system grounded in values
• 12‑company portfolio with wind and heat renewables
• sector outlook and jobs growth in Scotland
• mentoring founders and balanced paid vs pro bono advising
• Green Skills Training Academy: wind, heat, construction streams
• training-to-employment pipeline for Forth Valley

Find Steve on LinkedIn: Stephen Cornwallis

Inside Forth Valley Chamber: Network, Lobbying, Growth

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0500

Want a real‑world look at how a regional business community turns conversations into jobs, contracts, and momentum? We sit down with Lynn Harris, CEO and President of Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce and head of Stirling University Innovation Park, to unpack the systems and habits that make local networks work. From frequent events to national lobbying, Lynn shows how a focused chamber can be both a frontline connector and a clear voice to government.

We explore the scale and impact of the Scottish Chambers network—28 chambers representing thousands of businesses—and how that reach filters down to practical support for local members. Lynn explains why engagement beats vanity numbers, how she designs events that people actually attend, and why the new “Let’s Network After Dark” opens doors for founders who can’t make early starts. She also shares a powerful talent pipeline: bringing students into real roles so they gain experience while helping the chamber sharpen its digital and operational edge.

As head of the Innovation Park, Lynn outlines how flexible lab and office space, strong customer service, and a collaborative campus support high‑growth firms like Symbiosis and Peacock Technology. We hear how one company scaled from a tiny room to a 140‑person operation, and how trust built through repeated touchpoints led five members to form a collective that now wins projects together. It’s a grounded playbook for local economic development: targeted events, consistent communication, cross‑agency partnerships, and a culture where people know each other well enough to act.

If you’re considering membership, curious about better networking, or looking to grow in Forth Valley and beyond, this conversation offers ideas you can use right away. Subscribe, share with a colleague who values community over cold outreach, and tell us: which event format helps you build the strongest ties?

How Business Improvement Districts Power Stirling’s High Street

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0500

We dig into how Business Improvement Districts turn collective business funding into real services that change a city centre, from festive lights and free Wi‑Fi to safety radios and secure crime intelligence. Danielle shares her path from hospitality to national leadership and how Stirling is preparing for its next five-year plan.

• what a BID is and how ballots mandate five-year plans
• how Stirling partners with council, chamber and STEP
• festive lighting as a footfall driver and city signal
• free city Wi‑Fi and member advertising on the network
• nighttime safety via PubWatch, radios, CCTV and police link
• secure retail crime reporting and cross‑city intelligence
• training platform delivering 10,000+ certificates
• Independent Stirling as a consumer brand and directory
• consultation ahead of renewal and possible zone changes

From Tax Manager To Lord Provost: Building Community Wealth In Stirling

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0500

Neil Munday from The Stirling Business Podcast talks with the Lord Provost to explore how Stirling’s people, SMEs, and creative industries are shaping a confident, fast‑growing local economy. From community wealth building to a major film studio, we unpack how civic vision translates into jobs, skills, and pride.

• career path from senior tax manager to Lord Provost
• Why SMEs are the backbone of local growth
• practical community wealth building pillars and impacts
• Stirling’s rising profile for liveability and investment
• film studio plans and skills pipeline with the university and college
• screen tourism and supplier opportunities for local firms
• rural business hubs reducing isolation and sharing support
• success stories from food, cooperage, and cottage industries
• the role of Chambers, Business Gateway, and STEP in advice
• closing reflections and charity room naming initiative

Stirling Business Podcast, Studio King Street, BID, CodeBase, Forthvalley Chamber of Commerce, Stirling University

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Studio-King-Street/61581099163683/

Email: enquiries@studiokingstreet.com

Website: https://studiokingstreet.com

Host: Neil Munday - Studio King Street

Producer: Iain Johnston - Johnston Media Podcasts

#StirlingBusiness #BusinessGateway #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSupport #Podcast