Berko & Beyond

About Berko & Beyond

Berko & Beyond is a fortnightly business podcast for owners, founders and leaders building businesses in Berkhamsted and beyond. Hosted by Ben Baldwin, founder of Chuffed Productions, each episode is an honest, unscripted conversation about the real work of running a business - the decisions, the setbacks, the growth and the difference it makes locally. If you want to hear how local business owners are actually building their companies in your part of the world, this podcast is for you.

Publisher

Berko & Beyond

Category

business · business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Mar 2026

Latest episode

2 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

24 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Sept 2026

   Shift from Reactive to Proactive HR | Ep 24 w/ Peter McDonald

   Managing employees and staying compliant with rapidly changing employment laws can overwhelm any small business owner. In this episode, Peter McDonald of Selected HR shares his 35-year perspective on building proactive HR systems. We discuss the financial risks of avoiding difficult conversations, how to use the probation period to set clear expectations, and the steps to structure a phased onboarding process. Peter also explains his 'parallel lines' policy framework and why having an objective panel in your hiring process is the best way to remove unconscious bias. Episode Chapters [00:00:36] Sponsoring the podcast and introducing Peter McDonald [00:02:07] Lessons from a 35-year international HR career [00:05:44] Transitioning to consultancy during COVID-19 [00:07:32] Why small businesses must shift to proactive HR [00:09:35] The cost of avoiding difficult employee conversations [00:10:27] Why the probation period is your most critical tool [00:15:15] How to design a structured onboarding process [00:18:16] Running panel interviews to eliminate unconscious bias [00:28:29] Constructive discussions: have the chat and write it down [00:33:14] The parallel lines theory of policy flexibility [00:35:09] Busting major HR myths about employee change Key Takeaways Document your constructive discussions immediately: When you have a hard conversation with an employee, send a quick follow-up email immediately afterward to summarize what was discussed and agreed upon. This establishes a clear paper trail and prevents disputes. Implement phased onboarding, not a quick induction: Avoid a single-day orientation. Structure a phased induction that gives new hires time to settle in, align with your company culture, and understand expectations. Conduct panel interviews to prevent bias: Never recruit on a purely one-on-one basis. Form a panel of at least two managers and an objective third party (or coach) to score candidates, removing unconscious bias from your final selection. Guest Links: Peter McDonald on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-mcdonald-4486594/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-mcdonald-4486594/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-mcdonald-4486594/) Selected HR website (https://www.selectedhr.co.uk/) https://www.selectedhr.co.uk/ (https://www.selectedhr.co.uk/) Email Peter : peter.macdonald@selectedhr.co.uk (mailto:peter.macdonald@selectedhr.co.uk) Host Links: Ben Baldwin LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbaldwinchuffed/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbaldwinchuffed/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbaldwinchuffed/) Chuffed Productions LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/chuffedproductions/) | https://chuffed.video/ (https://chuffed.video/) Support Local! Don't forget to like, follow, and share Berko and Beyond wherever you get your podcasts, and hit subscribe if you're watching on www.youtube.com/@BerkoAndBeyond (http://www.youtube.com/@BerkoAndBeyond). If you'd like to be a guest on the show, drop us an email at: podcast@berkoandbeyond.com.

2. 

   19 Aug 2026

   Keep Clients Happy & Loyal For Years | Ep 23 w/ Melanie Harrison

   Scaling a B2B agency is difficult, but transitioning into physical B2C retail presents a completely new set of operational challenges. In this episode, Melanie Harrison, co-founder of marketing agency Thinking Fox and owner of The Wine Place, explains how she manages both businesses alongside her husband. We discuss how to structure leadership roles with a spouse, the practicalities of launching a physical retail bar in a historic 400-year-old building, and why removing buyer friction through low-cost customer service trials keeps clients coming back for years. Melanie also shares her perspective on why starting a side business actually makes you appreciate your primary day job more. Episode Chapters [00:00:00] The definition of hospitality and keeping clients [00:00:34] Introducing Melanie Harrison and The Wine Place [00:01:40] Turning a shared passion into a retail shop and bar [00:05:11] The value of gaining industry-recognized qualifications [00:07:50] Breaking down barriers and snobbery in sales [00:11:27] Removing buyer friction through try-before-you-buy [00:16:39] Conducting blind tastings to remove brand bias [00:19:32] Moving from a side hustle to a physical premises [00:23:05] Transitioning from B2B marketing to B2C hospitality [00:28:40] Running two businesses side-by-side with a spouse [00:34:45] Recognising burnout signals and tapping out [00:36:12] Applying unreasonable hospitality to retain clients [00:39:19] How a side business makes you appreciate your day job Key Takeaways Remove buyer friction immediately: Give customers a low-stakes way to sample your products or services before buying. Offering simple trial periods or small tastings builds buyer confidence and completely eliminates buyer's remorse. Implement a spousal boundary policy: If you run a business with a spouse, define separate operational areas based on individual strengths. Establish clear stress indicators and a "tap-in, tap-out" rule to manage workloads effectively. Use minor gestures to retain clients: Apply the concept of "unreasonable hospitality" by adding small, low-effort touches that surprise and please your customers. These simple details cost almost nothing but build immense loyalty over time. Guest Links: Melanie Harrison on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisonmelanie/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisonmelanie/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisonmelanie/) The Wine Place website (https://www.thewineplace.co.uk/) https://www.thewineplace.co.uk/ (https://www.thewineplace.co.uk/) Thinking Fox website (https://www.thinkingfox.com/) https://www.thinkingfox.com/ (https://www.thinkingfox.com/) Resources: Book: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462487/unreasonable-hospitality-by-guidara-will/9781529146837 (https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462487/unreasonable-hospitality-by-guidara-will/9781529146837) Host Links: Ben Baldwin LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbaldwinchuffed/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbaldwinchuffed/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbaldwinchuffed/) Chuffed Productions LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/chuffedproductions/) | https://chuffed.video/ (https://chuffed.video/) Support Local! Don't forget to like, follow, and share Berko and Beyond wherever you get your podcasts, and hit subscribe if you're watching on www.youtube.com/@BerkoAndBeyond (http://www.youtube.com/@BerkoAndBeyond). If you'd like to be a guest on the show, drop us an email at: podcast@berkoandbeyond.com.

3. 

   5 Aug 2026

   Flip Your Marketing Strategy | Ep22 w/ Nathan Ing

   Stepping into the role of a business owner can be an isolating experience, even if you already know the company inside out. In this episode, Nathan Ng shares his transition from General Manager to the owner of Radley Doors and Windows. We discuss the harsh realities of founder isolation, the importance of hiring a business coach, and how sharing leadership responsibilities with your staff can prevent burnout. Nathan also explains his unique community-first marketing strategy, detailing how providing free event stages for local charities and schools generated over half a million pounds in returning business. Episode Chapters [00:00:00] Teaser: Giving your team a voice [00:00:29] Introduction and sponsoring your own podcast [00:01:41] Nathan's background as a DJ and joining Radley [00:07:38] Buying the company and transitioning from GM to owner [00:10:07] The sudden reality and isolation of being the boss [00:12:14] The value of finding a good business coach [00:18:46] Sharing the emotional burden of running a company [00:21:20] Structuring team meetings to improve communication [00:26:19] Flipping traditional marketing into community events [00:31:38] Generating business ROI from free charity work [00:35:53] The realities of hiring family members [00:41:02] Hosting a massive community Halloween event [00:45:24] How to book the Radley events team Key Takeaways Restructure your team meetings: Stop relying on informal, one-on-one chats if your team is growing. Implement specific, tiered meetings for different departments (sales, admin, fitters) to ensure everyone has a voice and the company moves in one direction. Flip your marketing strategy: Instead of pouring money into dying media formats, consider investing your marketing budget directly into local community events. Providing free resources or infrastructure for charities can generate significant goodwill and tangible financial returns. Share the founder burden: Prevent burnout and isolation by bringing in support. Whether it is hiring a business coach or allowing a trusted senior employee to buy into the business, having a sounding board is critical for sustainable growth. Guest Links: Nathan Ing on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-ing-b69026339/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-ing-b69026339/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-ing-b69026339/) Radley Doors and Windows Website (https://www.radleyaylesbury.co.uk/) https://www.radleyaylesbury.co.uk (https://www.radleyaylesbury.co.uk/) Resources: Radley Events Webpage (https://radleyaylesbury.co.uk/about/community-events/) https://radleyaylesbury.co.uk/about/community-events/ (https://radleyaylesbury.co.uk/about/community-events/) Host Links: Ben Baldwin LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbaldwinchuffed/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbaldwinchuffed/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbaldwinchuffed/) Chuffed Productions LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/chuffedproductions/) | https://chuffed.video/ (https://chuffed.video/) Support Local! Don't forget to like, follow, and share Berko and Beyond wherever you get your podcasts, and hit subscribe if you're watching on www.youtube.com/@BerkoAndBeyond (http://www.youtube.com/@BerkoAndBeyond). If you'd like to be a guest on the show, drop us an email at: podcast@berkoandbeyond.com.

Contact Berko & Beyond

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.