Welcome to Take The Plunge, a podcast for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs ready to take the plunge into the world of business! Join your host, Ciaran, as he dives into an inspiring conversation with this week’s guest, Ernesto Moreno—a powerhouse in the entrepreneurial world.

Ernesto's journey began in 2003 when he moved from Venezuela to the UK at just 23 years old with only £300 in his pocket. Fast forward two years, and he had already opened his first Subway restaurant with his business partners. This was just the beginning. Over the next few years, Ernesto expanded his Subway franchise to 15 restaurants across the South West of England, and his entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there. He went on to co-found two more franchise businesses, CeX and Miniso, and co-create Arepa & Co, a Venezuelan-inspired restaurant chain in London, now boasting four thriving locations.

Today, Ernesto's ventures employ over 450 people across 32 stores and four distinct brands. In this episode, he shares the secrets behind his success, the challenges he overcame, and his vision for Arepa & Co as he works to make it a household name.

Beyond his active role in his businesses, Ernesto is passionate about helping other entrepreneurs launch and grow their own ventures. He is a seasoned business consultant and people development specialist, with over 22 years of experience working with top consulting firms like Atos Consulting and PwC. Ernesto also delivers Leadership Development and Management Training programs in partnership with edoMidas, a renowned management consultancy.

If you dream of taking the plunge yourself, you can get a good start with help from Swoop Funding!

Learn more about Swoop here 👉 https://app.swoopfunding.com/stage

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