In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with Kiran Fothergill, a North East entrepreneur whose work spans a seventh-generation family business, cybersecurity and public service.

Kiran reflects on the history of Pickerings Lifts and what it means to help lead a company that has been part of his family for generations. He describes the responsibility he feels towards its employees and the opportunities to develop new ideas within an established business.

The conversation also explores Kiran’s first experience of starting a company: a luxury yacht charter venture that was severely disrupted by COVID. He speaks openly about the pressure of refunding customers, the lessons he learned about cash flow and his decision to step away when he realised his enthusiasm for the business had gone.

Carl and Kiran discuss the transition into the family group and why he chose to return to Oxford for an MBA. He explains that the experience helped him build the confidence to contribute in the boardroom, while much of what he needed to know about running a business could only be learned by doing it.

Turning to Sapphire, the group’s cybersecurity business, Kiran shares a costly lesson from hiring too quickly during a period of change. The experience set the business back and altered how he approaches senior appointments and plans for growth.

Beyond business, Kiran talks about his work with The Jobs Foundation, his concern about barriers to employment and his ambition to enter Parliament. He explains why he believes practical business experience could help shape decisions that affect employers and the people seeking work.

Throughout the episode, Kiran returns to the idea of stewardship: making the most of the time he has and leaving the businesses and communities he cares about in a better position.

Asked how he would like to be remembered, his answer is simple: “I tried my best. I gave it absolutely everything.”

Connect with Kiran LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiran-fothergill-0555b4124/

Website: https://kiranfothergill.com/

Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with Lucy Batley, owner of Traction Industries & co-founder of MANKIND AI, and Tom Pickering FIET, founder and CEO of WinningThinking, for a discussion about AI and its implications for business and society.

Drawing on their experience of advising businesses, Lucy and Tom bring markedly different perspectives to the conversation. They explore how AI is being used today and the wider questions raised by the speed of its development, including whether its potential benefits can be realised while keeping its risks under control.

Lucy considers the opportunities for businesses to improve efficiency and support growth through AI. She discusses how automating repetitive tasks can change the shape of a workforce, acknowledging the prospect of redundancies while considering how reskilling could help people move into roles with greater responsibility.

Tom, an engineer, technologist and experienced turnaround specialist, takes a more cautionary view. He raises concerns about the consequences of growing dependence on AI, questioning its effect on human capabilities and whether increasingly powerful systems will remain within our control.

The conversation explores the cultural and ethical implications of these changes, including the risk that commercial gains could take precedence over their impact on people. Carl, Lucy and Tom consider what AI might mean for meaningful employment and the responsibilities of those making decisions about its use.

Carl also reflects on the importance of seeking specialist advice as business leaders navigate unfamiliar technology. Alongside that expertise, he highlights the need for a clear sense of purpose, helping entrepreneurs decide how technology fits with what they want their businesses to achieve.

This thought-provoking episode brings contrasting views into an open discussion, encouraging listeners to consider both the opportunities AI presents and the consequences of the choices being made today.

Connect with Lucy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucybatley/

Connect with Tom Website: https://winningthinking.co.uk/

Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this special live edition of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl Swansbury brings his podcast to the stage, joined by four exceptional entrepreneurs for an evening of honest conversation about business, resilience and what it really takes to build companies of lasting value.

Hosted in partnership with Ward Hadaway and attended by more than 100 business leaders from across the North East, the panel discussion brought together entrepreneur and campaigner Heather Mills, serial entrepreneur and investor Andrew Hulbert, entrepreneur and technology leader Charlie Hoult, and entrepreneur and business founder Kevin Fasting for an unfiltered discussion about the realities of entrepreneurship.

Throughout the evening, the panel shared the defining moments that shaped their entrepreneurial journeys, from overcoming personal adversity and financial uncertainty to building businesses, leading through economic downturns and achieving successful exits.

Heather Mills reflected on how an exceptionally difficult childhood, homelessness and later life-changing injury fuelled her determination to solve problems, challenge convention and use business as a vehicle for creating positive social impact. Andrew Hulbert explained how he left a successful corporate career with a clear ambition to build a business that would ultimately give him something more valuable than money - time with his family.

Kevin Fasting spoke candidly about the disappearance of his father, an event that transformed both his outlook on life and his motivation to build businesses capable of changing the lives of those around him. Charlie Hoult shared lessons from building and scaling businesses through periods of economic uncertainty, explaining how culture, leadership and empowering talented people have underpinned the growth of his ventures.

The discussion explored topics including resilience, imposter syndrome, leadership, funding growth, private equity, scaling teams, preparing for economic uncertainty and defining success on your own terms. While each entrepreneur's story was different, a common theme emerged: great businesses are built through clarity of purpose, resilience in the face of setbacks and a willingness to keep learning.

This special live episode captures the spirit of Carl Swansbury’s Confessions of an Entrepreneur podcast series, offering honest insights, practical advice and inspiring stories from four entrepreneurs who have each forged their own path to success.

Connect with the panel

Heather Mills | https://www.linkedin.com/in/msheathermills/

Professor Charlie Hoult | https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliehoult/

Andrew Hulbert | https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhulbert

Kevin Fasting | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfasting/

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk

Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.