Over the past year, we’ve been making bold predictions about how technology, work and leadership would evolve for SMEs. In this episode, we return to those forecasts with a healthy dose of honesty, humour and hindsight. We score ourselves on what landed, what partially emerged, and what, thankfully or otherwise, failed to materialise. From AI-enhanced meetings and natural language automation to digital twins and wearable tech, we reflect on Episode 98 Predictions, and how these ideas have played out in the real world of small and medium-sized businesses.
Along the way, we explore a bigger question facing business leaders today: has technology genuinely simplified working life, or has it simply made us busier in new ways? We discuss productivity, anxiety about AI and jobs, hybrid working, regulation, and the growing need for intentional digital restraint. Rather than hype, we focus on what’s actually useful right now, and what business owners should be paying attention to as we look ahead to 2026.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Why we’re revisiting our 2025 predictions
00:02:20 – Scoring ourselves: how accurate were we really?
00:04:15 – Digital twins, avatars and authenticity at work
00:06:50 – AI-enhanced meetings and smarter communication
00:08:55 – Instant translation: useful, but not quite seamless
00:11:15 – Asking questions of data instead of building reports
00:14:05 – Natural language automation and “vibe coding”
00:17:35 – Productivity gains, overload and digital detox
00:22:20 – AI, jobs and growing anxiety in the workplace
00:26:25 – What we think comes next for SMEs in 2026
Key Topics Discussed:
Who This Episode Is For:
This episode is for UK business owners, directors, senior managers and team leaders, particularly those running small and medium-sized businesses. It’s especially relevant for people in sales, marketing, operations and leadership roles who want a clear, practical view of how AI and emerging technology are actually showing up in day-to-day business.
Quotes To Remember:
“Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should”.
“We’re becoming more productive, but we’re not taking Friday afternoons off ".
“The anxiety about work being replaced by AI may be arriving faster than the reality”.
Actionable Takeaways:
1.) Use AI where it clearly saves time, such as meeting summaries, CRM insights and data interrogation, not everywhere by default.
2.) Ask questions of your data in plain English instead of relying solely on dashboards and reports.
3.) Be intentional about technology use, productivity gains disappear if boundaries don’t exist.
4.) Prepare for AI regulation, especially if you work with EU clients or data.
5.) Focus on human value in your business: judgement, relationships and creativity still matter.
6.) Don’t chase every new tool, wait for evidence of real SME value before investing.
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
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Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#SMEGrowth #UKBusiness #BusinessLeadership #SmallBusinessUK #BusinessOwners #FutureOfWork #AIInBusiness #Productivity #DigitalTransformation
In this special, seasonal episode of the SME Growth Podcast, we reflect on a year that has tested even the most resilient business leaders. Against a backdrop of rising costs, legislative pressure, economic uncertainty and rapid change, we pause to acknowledge the strain many leaders are under, and the fact that simply keeping going has been an achievement in itself. With a blend of humour, realism and optimism, we look honestly at the challenges facing UK SMEs and why losing heart is understandable, but giving up is not the answer.
We then turn our attention forward. This episode is about hope, renewal and practical leadership as we head towards 2026. We share a simple but powerful framework, our 6 Box Model, as a guide for rebuilding momentum across marketing, sales and client relationships. At its core, this is an engaging reminder that growth is not about chasing shiny tactics, but about stewarding relationships, staying disciplined, and having the courage to keep showing up when conditions are tough.
Key Topics Discussed:
Who this podcast is for:
This episode is for any and all SME business leaders, who appreciate a moment of light relief alongside meaningful reflection. It’s deliberately fun, a little silly, and highly engaging, without losing sight of the very real pressures leaders are facing. If you run a business, lead a team, or carry the responsibility of keeping things moving forward, this episode is designed to make you smile, pause, and feel reassured that you’re not alone in the challenge.
Quotes to remember:
"The night is always darkest before the dawn”.
“When it comes to relationships, never forget the three C’s: compassion, communication and kindness”.
“You may be in a slump, but your business is not dead”.
Actionable Takeaways:
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#SMEGrowth #BusinessLeadership #UKBusiness #SmallBusinessUK #BusinessOwners #LeadershipMindset #EntrepreneurLife #MarketingStrategy #SalesLeadership #BusinessResilience #GrowingABusiness #ClientRelationships #BusinessReflection #EndOfYearLeadership #WellmeadowPodcast #SMEGrowthPodcast #KingSpeech #ChristmasSpecial #ChristmasBroadcast #EndOfYearReflection #Christmas
As we reach the end of the year, we take a clear-eyed look at what 2025 has really meant for UK SMEs, the highs, the headaches, the policy shifts and the practical realities that have shaped day-to-day business life. We discuss everything from sluggish productivity and rising labour costs to the rapid shifts in AI, cybersecurity, cloud dependence and energy challenges. Rather than dwelling on doom and gloom, we explore what these trends genuinely mean for leaders running small and medium-sized organisations, and where the real opportunities lie moving into 2026. Ultimately, we ask: what should SME leaders actually prioritise next year?
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Intro & Festive Warm-Up
00:02:30 – Why SMEs Matter
00:06:05 – The UK Economy in 2025
00:10:20 – Policy, Tax & The Autumn Budget
00:15:45 – Energy Costs & Infrastructure
00:20:00 – Tech Outages & Cloud Dependence
00:24:00 – Cybersecurity Risks
00:27:30 – AI’s Evolution in 2025
00:33:00 – Priorities for SMEs in 2026
00:37:00 – Closing Thoughts & Christmas Teaser
Key Topics Discussed:
- The true state of the UK economy for SMEs with modest growth, persistent productivity challenges and rising costs.
- The impact of fiscal drag, labour-cost increases, National Insurance changes and shifting tax policy.
- Tech reliability issues: major outages across AWS, Cloudflare, Google Cloud and Microsoft 365.
- Cybersecurity risks, with 43% of UK businesses reporting incidents and the increasing financial exposure.
- How AI has evolved into a practical productivity tool, “AI team-mates” and real-world use cases.
- New regulatory requirements, including implications of the EU AI Act for UK firms selling into the EU.
- Energy costs, infrastructure challenges and the broader effect on UK competitiveness.
- What SMEs should prioritise for 2026: productivity, resilience and strategic investment.
Who This Podcast Is For:
This episode is made for UK business owners, directors, and senior managers, particularly those running SMEs who want a grounded, balanced view of the business landscape as we head toward 2026. It’s equally valuable for leaders in operations, finance, HR, technology and sales who want clarity on the trends shaping cost pressures, digital tools, regulation and growth opportunities.
Quotes to Remember:
“We can’t change the macro, but we can absolutely change our little corner of the world”.
“Don’t spend too much time looking at your competitors, focus on what you can change in your own environment”.
“AI is shifting from entertainment to real-world application, it’s becoming a genuine team-mate”.
Actionable Takeaways:
1.) Build multiple budget scenarios for 2026; don’t assume the best-case outlook.
2.) Review your productivity strategy, focusing on automation, AI assistance and smarter processes before hiring.
3.) Strengthen cybersecurity: staff training, phishing awareness, insurance options and contingency planning.
4.) Prepare for tech outages by ensuring backups, offline access and workable continuity plans.
5.) Revisit pricing models to ensure they reflect increased labour, tax and energy costs.
6.) Map where AI can support your team, from research and planning to operational efficiency.
7.) Audit your compliance position if you sell into the EU, particularly around AI use and data handling.
8.) Keep customer value central; service, experience, and reliability are competitive differentiators that don’t require huge budgets.
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here: https://anchor.fm/wellmeadow
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#SMEGrowth #UKBusiness #BusinessLeadership #EntrepreneurLife #SmallBusinessUK #BusinessStrategy #ProductivityTips #AIGrowth #DigitalTransformation #CyberSecurity #TechForBusiness #EconomicOutlook #MarketingForSMEs #UKEconomy #UKBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #SMEGrowthPodcast #Wellmeadow
In this episode, we explore the challenges many business owners face when shifting from being the chief “doer” in the business to becoming a confident and capable delegator. We discuss why so many leaders struggle to let go, what sits behind the reluctance to hand over responsibility, and how this hesitation ultimately restricts scalability, resilience, and business valuation.
We reflect on the psychological, practical and emotional elements of delegation, from the fear of things going wrong, to the comfort found in routines, to the realisation that effective leadership requires stepping back so others can step up. Drawing on anecdotes, research, and our own experiences, we look at the triggers that often push leaders to change, and the frameworks that make delegation not only possible but successful.
Chapters:
00:00:29 — Opening & Festive Warm-Up
00:03:05 — Celebrating Episode 150
00:04:02 — Introducing Today’s Topic: Delegation
00:06:07 — The Founder’s Trap: Doing vs Delegating
00:07:37 — Why Letting Go Is So Hard
00:10:53 — Triggers That Force Change
00:17:08 — Vision, Strategy & Direction
00:22:13 — Roles, Responsibilities & Structure
00:25:11 — Systems, Rhythms & Documentation
00:31:16 — Leadership Evolution & Closing Thoughts
Key Topics Discussed:
- The hidden costs of founder-centric decision making and why it caps business value.
- How overwork leads to burnout, poor decision making, and strained relationships, often prompting the realisation that “something must change”.
- The importance of establishing a clear vision, strategy and guiding principles before effective delegation can happen.
- Why talented team members disengage or leave when they aren’t empowered.
- The emotional side of letting go, moving from “doer” to “architect” as your role evolves.
- Building rhythms, structure and documentation to protect quality and consistency.
- How systemising delegation increases scalability, resilience, and long-term success.
Who This Podcast Is For:
This episode is designed for business owners, founders, senior leaders and department heads who feel overstretched, overwhelmed, or stuck at a growth plateau.
Quotes to Remember:
“It’s amazing how you can double or triple the value of a business just by the leader learning to step back”.
“Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true".
“If you don’t delegate, you won’t just limit growth, you’ll lose good people who want the chance to step up”.
Actionable Takeaways:
1.) Audit your week: Identify tasks only you should be doing versus tasks you’ve simply always done.
2.) Clarify your vision: Ensure everyone knows the destination, so they can make informed decisions without you.
3.) Define clear roles: Assign ownership of the big buckets, selling it, delivering it, counting it, to avoid “all chasing the ball”.
4.) Introduce simple rhythms: Weekly check-ins, monthly reviews and consistent one-to-ones create structure and accountability.
5.) Document as you go: Start small, capture the processes that most frequently bottleneck you.
6.) Empower with guardrails: Use guiding principles and values as “bumper rails” to help people make good decisions independently.
7.) Let go gradually: Delegation gets easier with practice, start with low-risk tasks and build confidence on both sides.
Wellmeadow Reading List:
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
- Good Strategy, Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt
- Good to Great & Built to Last, Books by Jim Collins
- Adapt as an Architect: A Mid-Career Companion by Randy Deutsch
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here: https://anchor.fm/wellmeadow
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
In this episode, we explore one of the most important, and most misunderstood, decisions for any business owner: whether to scale or deliberately stay small. Drawing on ideas from Mike Jones' Happy Business Revolution, along with our own experience of working with hundreds of SMEs, we discuss the realities behind “systemising before scaling”, the hidden costs of growth, and why many owners underestimate the personal and organisational toll of transitioning from operator to architect.
This episode offers a grounded, honest reflection on the practical, emotional, and strategic factors involved in taking a business beyond its current limits.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Opening Chat
00:04:40 – Podcast Intro
00:05:12 – Recent Episodes Recap
00:07:39 – To Scale or Not to Scale
00:10:17 – Systemisation & Decision-Making
00:13:35 – AI, Markets & Case Studies
00:17:16 – From Doing to Designing
00:20:05 – Focus, Boundaries & Saying No
00:24:13 – People, Risk & Investment
00:27:00 – Staying Small vs. Scaling
00:33:50 – Closing Thoughts
Key Topics Discussed
Who This Episode Is For:
This conversation is ideal for business owners, founders, senior leaders, and managers of SMEs who are wrestling with whether, and how, to grow their organisation. It’s particularly relevant for those feeling stuck between a comfortable status quo and the daunting prospect of scaling, as well as those considering investment, succession, or major structural change.
Quotes To Remember:
“It’s very hard to scale something when you’re not even quite sure what it is you’re scaling”.
“The owner has got to be prepared to systemise what they’re doing, even when it feels uncomfortable or counter-intuitive”.
“If you haven’t built the ability to shift and change, one big storm could be the end of you”.
Actionable Takeaways:
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
https://anchor.fm/wellmeadow
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#SMEGrowth #BusinessStrategy #ScaleUp #BusinessLeadership #UKBusiness #Entrepreneurship #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusinessUK #GrowthStrategy #ScalingBusiness #BusinessSystems #OperationalExcellence #BusinessInsights #StrategicThinking #PurposeDrivenBusiness #SMELeaders
In this episode, we revisit the fast-moving world of HubSpot and explore what its latest developments actually mean for business leaders. We reflect on how the CRM has evolved far beyond a marketing tool and is increasingly becoming a central operational platform, one that can shape data quality, streamline processes, and even act as an AI-powered “team-mate” inside your business.
We discuss the business case behind these changes rather than the technical details alone: what matters for leaders who want smoother operations, better decision-making, and a clearer, more reliable picture of what’s happening day-to-day. We also share some practical experiences from recent client work, showing how AI-driven features are already transforming reporting, customer management, and even proposal writing.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Intro & Warm-up chat
00:03:20 – Recent guests
00:07:10 – Why HubSpot updates matter for business owners
00:13:25 – Smart CRM: new visual tools, Gantt views & better systemisation
00:19:20 – AI assistants: real-world use cases, insights & proposal automation
00:26:15 – Marketing Hub changes: Marketing Studio, personalisation & AEO
00:30:45 – Sales & Service Hub updates: quoting, CPQ and AI-driven support
00:33:40 – Projects in HubSpot & what the future may hold
00:36:30 – Final thoughts & next week’s topic teaser
Key Topics Discussed:
Who This Podcast Is For:
This episode is designed for business owners, directors, sales leaders, marketing managers, and operational heads who rely on accurate data, efficient systems, and timely reporting. If you’re considering how AI and CRM platforms can reduce workload, tighten processes, or help your team collaborate more consistently, this discussion will give you clear, practical context without the jargon.
Quotes to Remember:
“Cleaner data isn’t just a technical win, it’s the foundation of faster campaigns, better service, and smarter decisions”.
“HubSpot is becoming less of a marketing platform and more of an operational team-mate”.
“If you feed HubSpot the right information, it can now act almost like another employee inside your business”.
Actionable Takeaways:
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
https://anchor.fm/wellmeadow
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#UKBusiness #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #SalesStrategy #MarketingStrategy #DigitalTransformation #HubSpotUK #AIForBusiness #DataQuality #CustomerExperience #SMEUK #BusinessLeaders #GrowthMindset #OperationalExcellence #ProductivityTools #BusinessInsights #TechForBusiness #ModernWorkplace #ScaleUp #B2B #HubSpot #SMEGrowth
In this episode, we discuss why the business sale market is fundamentally broken, and what that means for owner-managers who expect to sell one day. Joined by Neil Ackroyd, founder of Precision Corporate Finance, we explore the uncomfortable truth that for every one business sold, three are liquidated. Through Neil’s personal experience and candid insight, we examine why many companies, despite solid profits, will never sell, and what business leaders can do to change that trajectory.
We also explore the psychology of the owner-manager: the desire for freedom, the challenge of delegation, and how leadership style can shape the long-term fate of a business. Neil’s stories, from surviving the 2008 crash to building and rebuilding businesses, offer both realism and reassurance for leaders facing similar decisions.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Surfing, Perfection & Business Parallels
00:06:18 – Meet Neil Ackroyd: Founder of Precision Corporate Finance
00:10:04 – Surviving the 2008 Crash
00:14:32 – The Broken Market
00:16:00 – The £1m EBITDA Reality Check
00:22:50 – The Psychology of the Owner-Manager
00:30:55 – From Leader-Led to Quasi-Leader-Led
00:44:13 – The Protégé Model Solution
00:49:12 – Accepting Hard Truths
00:52:35 – Final Reflections
Key Topics Discussed:
Who This Episode Is For:
This episode is aimed at owner-managers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders running small to medium-sized firms — particularly those thinking about growth, succession, or eventual exit. It’s equally relevant for advisors, accountants, and anyone supporting privately owned businesses navigating the realities of scale and sale.
Quotes to Remember:
“For every one business that’s sold, three are liquidated”.
“The truth will set you free, but first, it’s going to annoy you”.
“Realise that the person standing in the way of your business’s growth is probably you”.
Actionable Takeaways:
🎓 SME Growth Podcast Homework: Further Reading & Resources
Take Neil’s Free Quiz to see where your business might be holding you back:
👉https://precisioncf.outgrow.us/BusinessRelationshipHealthCheck
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#BusinessGrowth #SMELeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #UKBusiness #BusinessOwners #ScaleUp #SmallBusinessUK #LeadershipDevelopment #OwnerManagedBusiness #BusinessStrategy #BusinessValuation #ExitPlanning #CorporateFinance #PrivateEquity #SuccessionPlanning #MergersAndAcquisitions #EBITDA #BusinessExit #FinancialStrategy #SMEGrowthPodcast #BusinessPodcastUK #Wellmeadow #UKSMEs
In this episode, we sit down with Angela Hodgson, former Bentley senior leader turned high-performance team strategist, to explore the realities of burnout in leadership and business. We discuss how success at the surface can mask deeper misalignment, and why being out of touch with your authentic self often accelerates exhaustion rather than achievement.
Angela shares her powerful personal story of navigating corporate prestige, personal pressures, and eventual burnout, culminating in her decision to leave the automotive world and redefine what success really means. Through candid conversation, we reflect on what it takes to recognise your own “red zone” before it’s too late, and how to build teams and habits that keep you firmly in the green.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Intro & welcome
00:01:20 – Angela’s career at Bentley
00:05:45 – Early signs of burnout
00:08:30 – The Barcelona crisis
00:10:50 – When work and life collide
00:14:00 – Wearing the leadership mask
00:16:00 – Hitting burnout & seeking help
00:19:30 – The Red, Amber, Green wellbeing zones
00:22:40 – Supporting leaders & teams
00:24:50 – Leaving Bentley for a new path
00:00:27:10 – Creating the Team Success System
00:30:20 – Spotting burnout in yourself & others
00:31:30 – Free tools & practical resources
00:32:30 – Final thoughts & wrap-up
Key Topics Discussed:
Who This Episode Is For:
This episode is designed for business owners, senior leaders, and ambitious professionals who find themselves questioning the cost of their success. Whether you lead a growing SME, sit on an executive team, or support others through organisational change, this conversation offers both empathy and practical insight. It’s especially relevant for those who may feel “stuck in the red zone”, outwardly thriving, but inwardly running on empty.
Quotes to Remember:
“From a burnout perspective, the more you lean away from your core self, the more you’re going to burn out.”
“We all have a red zone, amber zone, and green zone, but my green might be your red.”
“I realised I’d built a version of myself for everyone else, it took burnout to meet the real me.”
Actionable Takeaways:
🎓 SME Growth Podcast Homework: Further Reading & Resources
Check out Angela's free resource to help you understand what may be going wrong within your team and practical tips to put success into place.
👉 https://igniteimprovement.co.uk/quiz
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
In this episode, joined by guest Mike Jones, we explore the psychology of business owners; what drives us, what holds us back, and how our mindset can be both our greatest strength and our biggest obstacle. We discuss the unique pressures that come with leading a business, from managing risk and control to balancing ambition with well-being. Drawing on insights from experience and behavioural science, we reflect on why many of us find it difficult to let go, delegate effectively, or truly enjoy the process of running a company, even when it’s thriving.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introduction & The SME Growth Podcast 3rd anniversary
00:04:00 – The 6 Box Model and what comes next
00:07:00 – Guest intro: Mike Jones & The Happy Business Revolution
00:10:00 – Understanding the founder mindset and risk
00:15:00 – Control, delegation, and the fear of letting go
00:22:00 – Ego, identity, and emotional resilience
00:30:00 – Finding happiness in business and redefining success
00:35:00 – Final reflections & key takeaways
Key Topics Discussed:
- The psychology and mindset of business owners and founders
- Why many entrepreneurs struggle to delegate and let go
- Balancing risk, control, and emotional investment in the business
- The link between ego and the company’s identity
- How to find happiness and meaning in running a business
- The importance of reframing problems as part of the growth process
- Lessons from behavioural science and practical leadership experience
Who This Episode Is For:
This episode is for business owners, founders, and senior leaders in SMEs who want to understand the deeper, human side of entrepreneurship. It’s especially relevant for those who feel the strain of leadership, balancing the need for control with the desire for growth, and who want to create happier, more sustainable businesses without losing themselves in the process.
Quotes to Remember:
“There’s this paradox that as business owners, we are much more comfortable with risk than the average population”.
“What’s the point in having a business unless it’s going to make you happy?”
“The game of business isn’t to get rid of your problems, it’s to replace current problems with new ones”.
Actionable Takeaways:
1.) Acknowledge your psychology: Recognise that fear of failure or loss of control is natural, but it doesn’t have to dictate your actions.
2.) Detach your ego: Your business’s success or failure isn’t a reflection of your personal worth.
3.) Accept imperfection: Mistakes are part of growth; allow others to make them and learn.
4.) Prioritise meaning: Build a business that brings happiness and purpose, not just financial return.
5.) Reframe problems: See them as the healthy by-product of progress, not signs of failure.
6.) Celebrate wins: Begin meetings by recognising what’s gone well before tackling challenges.
🎓 SME Growth Podcast Homework: Further Reading & Resources
The Happy Business Revolution by Mike Jones:
👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Happy-Business-Revolution-business-customers/dp/1781338701
The Happiness Trap by Dr Russ Harris:
👉 https://thehappinesstrap.com/free-resources/
The Path of Least Resistance by Robert Fritz:
👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Path-Least-Resistance-Robert-Fritz/dp/0449903370
Poor Charlie’s Almanack by Charlie Munger, referenced through Munger’s timeless idea:
👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poor-Charlies-Almanack-Essential-Charles/dp/1953953239
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
https://anchor.fm/wellmeadow
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
In this episode, we round off our six-part series exploring the Wellmeadow 6 Box Model, our framework for understanding how marketing and sales work together to drive sustainable growth in SMEs. We discuss the often-overlooked final stage of the model: customer retention and satisfaction. Once a deal is done, the real work begins, ensuring your clients stay happy, engaged, and ready to buy again.
We explore how integrating your sales, operations, and customer service teams is essential to maintaining healthy client relationships and predictable revenue. From aligning KPIs across departments to leveraging CRM data effectively, we share practical ways to dissolve silos and create a seamless experience that benefits both your business and your customers.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Intro & sailing chat
00:03:14 – Episode overview
00:05:44 – Customer retention
00:07:04 – RevOps & breaking silos
00:09:13 – Retention vs new business
00:11:15 – Forecasting & churn
00:14:08 – Managing client success
00:17:33 – AI & sentiment tracking
00:22:12 – Customer service today
00:26:15 – Automation & support systems
00:31:03 – Using internal knowledge
00:33:08 – Series wrap-up
Key Topics Discussed:
- Why customer retention should be as celebrated as customer acquisition
- The critical handover between sales and operations after a deal closes
- Using CRMs and shared data to create transparency across teams
- Applying AI and sentiment analysis to measure client happiness in real time
- The role of service engineers as “undercover salespeople” for opportunity spotting
- How to balance automation, AI, and the human touch in customer service
- Lessons from traditional support systems and what SMEs can learn from SaaS models
Who This Episode Is For:
This episode is aimed at business owners, managing directors, and sales or operations leaders who want to strengthen their customer relationships and drive growth through smarter collaboration. It’s particularly relevant for those managing service delivery teams or looking to implement CRMs, RevOps models, or AI tools within their business.
Quotes to Remember:
“You don’t want to fill a leaky bucket; it’s hard to grow if you keep losing the customers you’ve already won.”
“The single biggest thing you can do to break down silos is to make sure everyone’s looking at the same data.”
“Sales and ops have got to talk together, they’re both at the core face of what the customer really wants.”
Actionable Takeaways:
1.) Integrate systems and data: Ensure marketing, sales, and operations all work from a shared CRM to improve communication and accountability.
2.) Measure client sentiment proactively: Use AI or manual methods to gauge customer satisfaction throughout the relationship, not just at the end.
3.) Recognise the power of retention: Track and report on churn and repeat business as seriously as new sales.
4.) Empower your delivery teams: Train service or technical staff to identify and report new opportunities during client interactions.
5.) Balance automation and humanity: Use AI to handle volume and speed, but make sure customers can still access genuine human support when needed.
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
https://anchor.fm/wellmeadow
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#CustomerRetention #ClientExperience #CustomerSuccess #RevenueOperations #RevOps #BusinessGrowth #SmartGrowth #6BoxModel #WellmeadowPodcast #BusinessStrategy #SME #UKBusiness #Entrepreneurship #CustomerJourney #CustomerSatisfaction #Retention
In this episode, we discuss one of the most critical boxes of our 6 Box Model: Box 5, the sales pipeline. As the bridge between lead generation and revenue, a healthy pipeline determines whether your business is poised for growth or facing a dry spell. We explore how business leaders can maintain visibility across their opportunities, ensure data integrity within their CRM, and make informed decisions that align with real-world performance rather than wishful thinking.
We also reflect on the importance of structure, process, and discipline in sales management, from setting up the right number of pipelines to defining clear entry and exit criteria for each stage. Drawing from our experience working with SMEs, we highlight how to avoid bloated or outdated pipelines, improve forecasting accuracy, and harness AI tools to analyse trends, timing, and deal performance without losing the human perspective that underpins effective selling.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Intro & Warm-Up
00:03:10 – Welcome & Series Context0
0:05:50 – Managing Your Sales Pipeline
00:06:40 – Bridge Between Leads and Revenue
00:08:00 – One Pipeline or Many?
00:10:20 – Pipeline Visibility & Forecasting
00:11:50 – Defining Stages & Criteria
00:13:10 – Opportunity Identified
00:17:00 – Qualification vs Discovery
00:19:00 – Finish-Line Fever & Deal Quality
00:20:10 – AI & Data in Sales
00:23:00 – Automating Quotes & Proposals
00:24:00 – Keeping the Pipeline Healthy
00:26:10 – Metrics That Matter
00:29:00 – Consistency Over Heroics
00:31:40 – Action for the Week
00:32:50 – What’s Next
Key Topics Discussed:
- Understanding the pipeline as the bridge between marketing leads and revenue.
- When and why you might need more than one pipeline.
- The importance of defining clear, measurable stages in the sales process.
- Balancing automation and human judgment in forecasting and qualification.
- Using data and AI to track deal health, timing, and conversion probability.
- Recognising “finish-line fever”, the tendency to chase every deal regardless of quality.
- Ensuring pipeline discipline: next steps, follow-ups, and keeping deals moving.
- How to use metrics like pipeline cover, deal velocity, and value-added tracking.
- The critical role of consistent reporting and forecasting for business stability.
Who Is This Episode For:
This episode is designed for business owners, sales leaders, and senior managers who want to bring greater structure and insight to their sales process. It’s particularly relevant for SME leaders looking to move beyond ad-hoc sales tracking and instead implement a disciplined, data-informed approach to business growth. Whether you manage your own deals or lead a team of account managers, you’ll gain clarity on how to make your pipeline a real management tool, not just a visual checklist.
Quotes to Remember:
“The pipeline is the bridge between lead generation and revenue”.
“If you can’t even have the first conversation, you’re not going to have a second".
“Consistency and discipline are far more important than chasing the big, glamorous deal”.
Actionable Takeaways:
1.) Review your pipeline structure: Identify whether your current stages reflect the real buying journey.
2.) Check for health and accuracy: Remove dormant deals and ensure each opportunity has a clear next action.
3.) Align forecasting with delivery: Distinguish between sales forecasting and revenue forecasting to improve cash flow planning.
4.) Embrace automation wisely: Use CRM insights or AI tools to highlight deal risk and timing patterns.
5.) Schedule regular reviews: Dedicate time each week to assess your pipeline and take corrective action early.
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here: https://anchor.fm/wellmeadow
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#LeadGeneration #PipelineHealth #B2Bsales #CRM #SMEGrowth #PipelineManagement
In this episode of the SME Growth Podcast, we explore the often-overlooked but critical role of nurturing within the sales and marketing process. We discuss how nurturing acts as the bridge between marketing and sales, ensuring your business stays front-of-mind for prospects who are not yet ready to buy. Far from being a one-size-fits-all approach, effective nurturing requires thoughtful planning, disciplined data hygiene, and a keen understanding of your audience.
We also examine the importance of cadence, segmentation, and content strategy in building meaningful relationships over time. Whether through newsletters, tailored outreach, or carefully designed workflows, nurturing can turn a static database into a dynamic asset that delivers long-term value.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introduction & 6 Box Model recap
00:04:00 – What “nurture” really means
00:06:00 – Frequency, cadence, and finding the sweet spot
00:09:00 – Real-world examples: B2B vs B2C approaches
00:13:40 – Newsletters, data hygiene, and segmentation
00:18:00 – Personalisation, personas, and smart content
00:22:00 – The nurture loop: staying front of mind
00:26:00 – Nurturing vs spam: ethical boundaries
00:28:00 – Referral schemes, shareable content & curation
00:30:30 – Wrap-up & what’s next in the series
Key Topics Discussed:
Who This Podcast is For:
This episode is aimed at business owners, sales leaders, and marketing professionals who want to strengthen their pipeline management and maximise the value of their contact database. If you’re looking to move beyond ad-hoc email blasts and towards a structured nurturing strategy that drives real engagement, this conversation is for you.
Quotes to Remember:
“Nurturing is almost that bridge between marketing and sales.”
“Segmentation is a massive part of nurturing.”
“To do it properly requires quite a lot of planning, and it also requires an awful lot of data hygiene.”
Actionable Takeaways:
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here: https://anchor.fm/wellmeadow
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#SMEGrowth #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy #SalesStrategy #CustomerNurturing #SMELeaders #BusinessLeadership #UKBusiness #GrowthMindset #SmallBusinessTips #B2BMarketing #SalesAndMarketing #Entrepreneurship #BusinessDevelopment #LeadershipInsights
In this episode, we explore referrals as a cornerstone of sustainable business growth, continuing our journey through the Wellmeadow 6 Box Model. Having already examined inbound and outbound approaches, we now turn to the often underappreciated but highly powerful world of referrals. We discuss why referrals carry greater weight than most other lead sources, the trust dynamics that underpin them, and how business leaders can actively cultivate a referral culture without it feeling transactional.
Rather than treating referrals as a lucky accident, we share a practical framework that categorises contacts into three tiers: those who already refer regularly, those who might with a nudge, and those who could but don’t yet. From here, we outline how leaders can nurture each group through gratitude, reminders, and education. Ultimately, referrals are about relationships, discipline, and generosity, and when approached with authenticity, they can create compounding growth effects across any sector.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Intro & Six Box Model Recap
00:06:09 – Box 3: Referrals Explained
00:09:07 – Why Referrals Matter
00:11:07 – Three Types of Referrers (Thank, Remind, Educate)
00:13:26 – Mapping Referral Networks
00:17:34 – Relationships & Authenticity
00:21:36 – Generosity and Paying It Forward
00:25:04 – Systems & Discipline in Referral Management
00:29:26 – Building Connections That Last
00:30:55 – Final Thoughts & Closing
Key Topics Discussed:
Who This Podcast Is For:
This episode is designed for business owners, directors, and senior leaders in SMEs who want to strengthen their pipeline beyond inbound marketing and cold outreach. It’s especially valuable for those in professional services and B2B sectors where trust, reputation, and relationships are critical to long-term growth.
Quotes to Remember:
“Referrals don’t happen without relationships.”
“Relationship plus rapport equals results.”
“Think, remind, educate – the three levels of referrals.”
Actionable Takeaways:
📺 Watch the full episode here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxidTz-gZZeOglpIvvpCQRQ
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#SMEGrowth #BusinessGrowth #Referrals #SalesStrategy #MarketingStrategy #UKBusiness #SMELeaders #ClientRelationships #WordOfMouth #Networking #SalesGrowth #BusinessDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #TrustInBusiness #SixBoxModel #ProfessionalServices #B2BMarketing #RelationshipBuilding #SmartBusiness #WellmeadowPodcast
Outbound Marketing often gets a bad reputation, whether through memories of cold calls, inbox spam, or intrusive interruptions. But in this episode, we explore why outbound remains a valuable part of the sales and marketing toolkit, particularly for SMEs. We discuss how to approach it thoughtfully, blending technology, creativity, and human touch to create a consistent and scalable process that actually works.
We also reflect on how outbound has evolved, from the “shoe leather” days of door knocking to today’s AI-driven outreach, and consider where the balance lies between automation and authenticity. The conversation covers multi-channel strategies, experimentation, and the importance of aligning sales and marketing efforts so that outbound becomes a meaningful way to build connections rather than a box-ticking exercise.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introduction & listener feedback
00:02:40 – Outbound marketing explained
00:08:30 – Outbound vs inbound
00:10:00 – The role of AI in outbound
00:16:30 – Sales or marketing responsibility?
00:19:00 – Multi-channel strategies
00:22:00 – Direct mail & creative outreach
00:29:00 – Scaling outbound for SMEs
00:32:00 – GDPR & deliverability
00:33:00 – Next week: referrals
Key Topics Discussed:
Who Is This Episode For:
This episode is aimed at business owners, sales leaders, and marketers within SMEs who want to build a sustainable growth strategy. If you’re looking for practical, realistic ways to reach new audiences without wasting time, money, or goodwill, this discussion is especially relevant.
Quotes to Remember:
“Outbound gets you in front of people who aren’t looking, and that’s why it still matters”.
“Don’t treat outbound as a massive overhead; find a way of doing it that you can keep consistent”.
“There is no silver bullet; you have to experiment and find what works for your market”.
Actionable Takeaways:
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#SMEGrowth #BusinessGrowth #UKBusiness #SMELeaders #Entrepreneurship #OutboundMarketing #B2BMarketing #SalesStrategy #MarketingStrategy #LeadGeneration #DigitalMarketing #AIinMarketing #BusinessDevelopment #CustomerEngagement #SmartBusiness
In this episode, we take a deep dive into inbound marketing, the first “box” in our 6 Box Model. We explore how SMEs can attract and qualify leads in a way that builds relationships rather than scares prospects off. From lead magnets and scorecards to CRM automation and lead scoring, we discuss how to make inbound a structured, disciplined process that fits with today’s buyer behaviour.
We also look at how the landscape has changed. With AI tools now answering many top-of-funnel questions instantly, we explain why inbound content needs to evolve, moving beyond e-books towards interactive tools, templates, and scorecards that deliver immediate value. We share practical examples of how we use these approaches ourselves, the pitfalls to avoid, and how to ensure inbound integrates properly with sales and outbound activities.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Intro & why SMEs can be more agile than corporates
00:04:40 – The Six Box Growth Model: focus on Inbound Marketing (Box 1)
00:06:22 – What inbound really means today & how the buyer journey has changed
00:11:15 – Leads, MQLs, and SQLs explained (and why it matters)
00:14:20 – Using lead magnets, scorecards, and automation effectively
00:26:08 – Does inbound work for everyone? Common pitfalls & SEO challenges
00:31:17 – Key rules for inbound success & what’s next in the model
Key Topics Discussed:
Who Is This Episode For:
This episode is for SME owners, directors, and marketing leaders who want to improve how they generate and qualify leads. It’s also valuable for sales professionals seeking to understand where inbound fits into the wider growth engine, and how to avoid wasted effort chasing the wrong kind of contact.
Quotes To Remember:
“The fact someone has filled in a form doesn’t mean they want you to ring them.”
“Busyness is not the same as progress, inbound needs structure and scoring.”
“You need to be honest about whether inbound is really where your market is looking.”
Actionable Takeaways:
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#InboundMarketing #LeadGeneration #MarketingStrategy #DigitalMarketing #ContentMarketing #B2BMarketing #MarketingTips #SalesAndMarketing #MarketingQualifiedLeads #SalesQualifiedLeads #CRMStrategy #HubSpotTips #MarketingAutomation #SMEGrowth #UKBusiness #BritishBusiness #SmallBusinessUK #UKSME #BusinessGrowth #TheSMEGrowthPodcast #HubSpot #6BoxModel
In this episode, we introduce "The 6 Box Model", our framework for building a growth engine that connects marketing, sales, and customer retention in a way that’s simple, structured, and practical. Too often, growth strategies are presented as complex diagrams or a maze of disconnected activities. We’ve distilled our experience into six clear boxes that help business leaders understand where their efforts should be focused, how those areas interconnect, and what “good” looks like when it comes to managing growth.
We discuss each of the six boxes: inbound, outbound, referrals, lead nurturing, pipeline management, and customer retention, and how they create a closed-loop system for sustainable growth. Along the way, we share examples from our own client work, draw on lessons learned, and highlight the importance of data integrity, prioritisation, and simplicity in decision-making.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Intro & fishing chat 🎣
00:04:00 – Episode 138 begins
00:07:45 – The Six Box Model explained
00:11:30 – Inbound, Outbound & Referrals
00:14:00 – Lead Nurturing
00:16:00 – Pipeline Management
00:18:00 – Customer Retention
00:21:00 – Inbound marketing today
00:24:00 – Outbound prospecting
00:27:30 – Power of referrals
00:30:40 – Nurturing contacts
00:33:40 – Managing the pipeline
00:35:30 – Retaining clients
00:37:00 – Wrap-up & next steps
Key Topics Discussed:
Who Is This Episode For:
This episode is aimed at business owners, directors, and senior managers of SMEs, as well as those in sales, marketing, and client success roles who are looking for a clear way to connect their day-to-day activities to long-term business growth.
Quotes to Remember:
“The genius is in the simplicity.”
“Pipeline management is an art and a science.”
“You need something to hang all these thoughts together in a framework.”
Actionable Takeaways:
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here: https://anchor.fm/wellmeadow
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#BusinessGrowth #SMELeadership #SalesStrategy #MarketingStrategy #LeadGeneration #CustomerRetention #PipelineManagement #BusinessFramework #GrowthModel #SmartGrowth #SMEGrowthPodcast #UKBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Inbound #Outbound #Prospecting #The6BoxModel #Nurturing #Referrals #SME
In this episode, we explore why September is one of the most powerful points in the business year to reset momentum. Unlike January, which often feels sluggish and weighed down by dark mornings and holiday excess, September brings with it a natural energy. People return from summer breaks refreshed, school terms start, and businesses have a clear run through to Christmas. We discuss how to harness this “back to school” feeling to sharpen focus, re-engage teams, and put plans in place for a strong year-end.
We reflect on how leaders can use September to review pipelines, refresh sales strategies, and revisit budgets or forecasts. It’s also the ideal moment to align teams, re-energise internal projects, and ensure personal and business goals are still on track. Rather than drifting into the final quarter, we explore practical ways to use this period as a launchpad for growth and momentum.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Intro & catching up after summer
00:03:50 – Why September is the best time to reset
00:09:30 – Using August downtime wisely
00:12:00 – Sales, referrals & budget planning for Q4
00:15:30 – Re-energising teams & strategy reviews
00:25:15 – Staying focused and finishing the year strong
Key Topics Discussed:
Who This Episode Is For:
This conversation is aimed at business owners, leaders, and senior managers looking to make the most of the final quarter. It’s especially relevant for those in sales, marketing, and leadership roles who want to turn September into a catalyst for renewed energy and focus across their organisations.
Quotes to Remember:
“September is the shiny new pencil case month, the perfect time to reset.”
“Don’t waste September. Treat it as a campaign period, not just a continuation.”
“Focus on the signal, not the noise, channel energy into what you can control.”
Actionable Takeaways:
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#BusinessGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessStrategy #UKBusiness #BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPlanning #SeptemberReset #QuarterFourPlanning #YearEndGoals #StrategicPlanning #SalesPipeline #TeamAlignment #BusinessRefocus #GoalSetting #SMEGrowth #SmallBusinessUK #SMELeadership #BusinessOwners #UKSMEs #GrowingBusiness #SMEGrowth #SMEGrowthPodcast
In this episode, we discuss how artificial intelligence is shaping the way small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) approach growth, efficiency, and problem-solving. Our guest, Lee Russel, a digital nomad and founder of Minimum Viable Launch, shares practical insights on helping companies adopt AI tools without falling into the trap of hype. Together, we explore the realities of using AI as an accelerant, not a replacement, to free up people to do more impactful work.
This conversation moves beyond the headlines to the lived experiences of UK business owners and leaders experimenting with AI in day-to-day operations. We highlight where companies are succeeding, where they’re overreaching, and how to strike the right balance between curiosity and caution. Above all, we make the case that AI isn’t about replacing people, it’s about equipping them to deliver more value.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introduction & Guest Background
00:04:30 – What AI Really Means for SMEs
00:09:00 – AI as an Accelerant, Not a Replacement
00:14:00 – Starting Small: First AI Experiments
00:20:00 – Real-World Case Studies & Lessons Learned
00:28:00 – Avoiding Common AI Pitfalls
00:36:00 – Future of AI in Small Business & Closing Thoughts
Key Topics Discussed:
Who This Podcast Is for:
This episode is aimed at business owners, directors, and managers of SMEs, especially those in service sectors, who want to understand how AI can drive real results without overwhelming their teams. It will also resonate with consultants, sales leaders, and operational managers interested in turning technology into a practical business advantage.
Quotes To Remember:
“AI is a tool that allows you to do what you do in a more remarkable way.”
“Unstructured data is gold, it turns your conversations into actionable insights.”
“AI should amplify your customer relationships, not automate away your authenticity.”
Actionable Takeaways:
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#SMEGrowth #SmallBusinessUK #UKBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #BusinessLeadership #AIForBusiness #AITools #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalTransformation #WorkSmarter #ProductivityTools #BusinessStrategy #InnovationInBusiness #SmartDecisions #FutureOfWork #BusinessPodcast #TechForGood #AIInnovation #LeadershipDevelopment #ScalingUp #AI #AICulture
In this episode, we sit down with entrepreneur and author Steve Brown to explore the realities of starting and growing a business. Drawing on his own experience building a recruitment firm, Steve shares lessons on resilience, decision-making, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. We also discuss his new book 'Start & Build a Successful Business', which serves as the kind of practical guide he wishes he had when starting out.
Our conversation covers both the rewarding and the challenging aspects of business ownership. From the fears that come with relying too heavily on key customers or staff, to the breakthroughs that come from structured learning and peer support, Steve’s journey highlights what it really takes to build something sustainable.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introduction & Welcome
00:02:00 – Steve Brown’s Background & Book Idea
00:06:00 – The Tipping Point: Growing Beyond £2–3m Turnover
00:09:00 – Learning Through Cranfield & Mastermind Groups
00:15:00 – Mindset, Resilience & Lessons From Failure
00:22:00 – Writing Start & Build a Successful Business
00:27:45 – Self-publishing & Reflections on the Process
00:32:20 – The Future: AI in Recruitment
00:33:45 – Closing Thoughts
Key Topics Discussed:
Who This Episode Is For:
This discussion will resonate with business owners, entrepreneurs, and SME leaders who are navigating the challenges of growth. It’s also valuable for anyone considering starting a business and wanting a realistic but encouraging perspective on what lies ahead.
Quotes to Remember:
“What got you here, won’t get you there.”
“The darkest hour is always the hour before dawn.”
“If you are driven by giving value to your customers, then you’re always going to, that’s resilience in itself.”
Actionable Takeaways:
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here:
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #SME #SmallBusiness #UKBusiness #BusinessOwners #ScaleUp #Resilience #MindsetMatters #GrowthMindset #BusinessMindset #ContinuousLearning #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessAdvice #StartupLife #RunningABusiness #SmartDecisions #BusinessStrategy #SMELeaders #Podcast #BusinessPodcast #SMEPodcast #GrowthPodcast #YouTubePodcast #BusinessCommunity
In this episode, we tackle a topic that many business leaders quietly admit they should know more about, the basics of finance. From profit and loss to balance sheets and cash flow, we strip away the complexity to show that understanding your numbers is not only manageable, but essential for making sound business decisions. Drawing on real-world examples, we discuss the warning signs to look out for, how to interpret financial statements, and the risks of leaving the numbers solely to your finance team.We share practical insights on reading between the lines of your accounts, identifying potential issues early, and asking the right questions in board meetings. Whether it’s spotting discrepancies in working capital, understanding the difference between margin and mark-up, or managing cash flow with confidence, we show how a solid grasp of financial fundamentals can protect your business from unnecessary risk and help you seize growth opportunities.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Intro & cider-making banter
00:04:15 – Why every business director must understand finance basics
00:09:15 – P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow explained for small business owners
00:15:40 – Cash flow statement vs cash flow forecast – what’s the difference?
00:21:10 – How to manage VAT and tax by ring-fencing cash
00:25:55 – The 5 key numbers to track in your business accounts
00:27:20 – Mark-up vs margin explained – avoid this common pricing mistake
00:29:30 – How to calculate your business break-even point
00:31:45 – Final advice: know your numbers to grow your business
Key Topics Discussed:
- The difference between profit & loss, balance sheets, and cash flow, and why all three matter.
- How to spot red flags in your numbers before they become critical issues.
- Why all directors, not just finance directors, are responsible for financial understanding.
- Common mistakes around mark-up vs. margin, and how to price correctly.
- Practical formulas and rules of thumb for quick financial checks.
- The role of assumptions in forecasting and the importance of realistic numbers.
- Managing VAT and cash reserves to avoid unnecessary stress.
- The value of timely, accurate management accounts for decision-making.
Who Is This Episode For:
This episode is aimed at business owners, directors, and senior managers, particularly in SMEs, who want to strengthen their financial literacy. It’s also valuable for sales leaders, operations managers, and anyone who participates in financial discussions or decision-making, but may feel less confident with the terminology and mechanics of business finance.
Quotes To Remember:
“Know your numbers, because then you can start to adjust accordingly.”“Profit doesn’t mean cash, and cash is what keeps you alive.”“Mark-up is not the same as margin, get that wrong and you’re leaving money on the table".
Actionable Takeaways:
1) Review your P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow together, not in isolation.
2) Learn and use quick-check formulas (e.g., break-even = fixed costs ÷ gross margin %).
3) Don’t wait months for management accounts; push for timely reporting.
4) Regularly check debtor and creditor days to maintain a healthy cash flow.
5) Separate VAT and other tax liabilities into a dedicated account.
6) Make sure your pricing method reflects your target margin, not just a percentage mark-up.
🎧 Listen on YouTube & Apple Music here: https://anchor.fm/wellmeadow
🤳 Like & Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, marketing, and making smart business decisions.
Got feedback or questions? Drop a comment below – we read them all! 👇
#ProfitTips #BusinessFinance #Profitability #PricingStrategy #BusinessMargins #Cashflow #DidYouKnow #BusinessHacks #SmartBusiness #WorkSmarter #MoneyMatters #UKBusiness #UKEntrepreneurs #SmallBusinessUK #BritishBusiness #UKSME #BusinessTips #Leadership #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessStrategy #SmallBusinessAdvice #BusinessGrowth #TheSMEGrowthPodcast #SMEGrowth