by Paul Limb
Business stories from the North West of England (and sometimes further afield) Hear from successful business owners with a great story to tell and from others who you can all learn from. Take action, watch, listen, learn and implement to grow yourself and your business.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
3/16/2026
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July 8, 2026
<p>Lisa Kennery on Growing Pierce: People, Acquisitions, Technology and Advisory</p><p><br /></p><p>Lisa Kennery, partner at Pierce with offices in Blackburn, Bolton and Tottington (Bury), discusses her career path from payroll and HR into an operational, people and integration role, joining Pierce 13 years ago as payroll manager and becoming a director/partner nearly seven years ago as the firm grew from about 55 to 160 staff. She explains Pierce’s acquisition approach, emphasizing cultural fit and the challenge of aligning technology, supported by a monthly tech steering group and RPA that cut an admin task from 25 minutes to seven. Kennery outlines flexible working with core hours, benefits standardization, and learning and development initiatives including apprenticeships, ILM training, and a new soft-skills platform distinguishing management from leadership. She describes Pierce as forward-thinking, proactive, advisory-focused, locally community-minded, PE-backed for 18 months, and serving SMEs with services from compliance to corporate finance and forensic work, plus advice to clients on frequent touchpoints, real-time reporting, and not choosing accountants solely on price.</p><p><br /></p><p>00:00 Welcome and agenda</p><p>01:39 Lisa’s career path</p><p>02:16 Joining Pierce and growth</p><p>04:36 Becoming partner and remit</p><p>05:56 Delegation and leadership</p><p>09:24 Acquisition integration hurdles</p><p>10:39 Tech strategy and AI automation</p><p>13:25 Culture and flexible working</p><p>15:54 Learning and development journey</p><p>21:17 Advisory focus and client education</p><p>22:54 Community First Firm</p><p>23:26 Who Pierce Helps</p><p>23:54 Services and Specialist Teams</p><p>24:30 Forensic Accounting Explained</p><p>25:36 Choosing the Right Accountant</p><p>28:08 From Payroll to Partner</p><p>29:21 Private Equity Growth Plans</p><p>31:15 What Makes Pierce Different</p><p>32:54 Career Advice and Self Awareness</p><p>36:07 Support Networks for Owners</p><p>37:36 Books and Learning Picks</p><p>40:36 How to Contact Pierce</p><p>41:48 Closing Thanks and Wrap Up<strong>LINKS</strong></p><p><strong>Website</strong>: <a href="https://www.pierce.co.uk/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.pierce.co.uk/</a></p><p><strong>Lisa’s LinkedInProfile:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-kennery-95095450/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-kennery-95095450/</a></p><p><strong>Pierce LinkedIn Page: </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/pierce-c.-a.-limited/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/pierce-c.-a.-limited/</a></p><p><strong>ActionCOACH Bolton: </strong><a href="https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton</a></p><p><strong>ActionCOACH Bolton Events: </strong><a href="https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592</a></p><p><strong>Paul’s LinkedIn Profile:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Do you want to increase the value of your business asset?<br />Take the ValueBuilder Assessment now to score the 8 key drivers of value inyour business and get a free report: <a href="https://score.valuebuildersystem.com/actioncoach-bolton/paul-limb" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://score.valuebuildersystem.com/actioncoach-bolton/paul-limb</a></p><p></p>
July 2, 2026
<p>Chris Burn on Building CSRB: From Retail and Sales to GDPR, Privacy, and Comedy Writing</p><p><br></p><p>Chris Burn discusses his career path from early jobs and retail management at Tesco and WHSmith while studying marketing at UWE Bristol, to a sports marketing research placement, phone sales, and an 18-month market research role for MGM in Las Vegas. He later spent 10–13 years in field sales, worked at Wybone (street and park bins), and then Bristol Storage Equipment, where archiving and retention needs influenced his later work. While caring for his father from 2012, he learned about depression and addiction; his father died by suicide in 2017, prompting Chris to register and later launch CSRB. CSRB began as document shredding/storage reselling before pivoting into GDPR and data privacy consulting, supported by training and certifications. He emphasizes mentoring, outsourcing, and networking, shares involvement in comedy writing/character profiling for shows like “Brassic” and “Derry Girls,” and offers practical GDPR tips on onboarding, privacy notices, ICO registration, contracts, and data mapping.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Welcome and Setup</p><p>01:05 First Jobs in Retail</p><p>02:08 WHSmith Management Lessons</p><p>04:23 Sports Marketing Sandwich Year</p><p>05:40 Call Centre Sales After Uni</p><p>06:27 MGM Vegas Market Research</p><p>09:09 Back to UK Field Sales</p><p>10:54 Storage and Archiving Insights</p><p>12:04 Caring for Dad and Turning Point</p><p>13:44 Founding CSRB</p><p>14:50 Early Struggles and Getting Support</p><p>20:10 Pivot to GDPR Expertise</p><p>21:22 Building a Support Team</p><p>24:32 Time Value and Delegation Mindset</p><p>28:42 Comedy Origins and Influences</p><p>31:45 Grimy Comedy Clubs</p><p>32:36 Variety Show Legends</p><p>34:19 First Standup Gig</p><p>35:51 Nish Kumar Encounter</p><p>36:41 Comedy Fear Factor</p><p>38:37 Writing Over Performing</p><p>41:53 TV Character Writing</p><p>44:37 GDPR Tips For SMEs</p><p>54:03 Data Mapping And Rights</p><p>57:54 Advice And Resources</p><p>01:01:42 Humor In Business</p><p>01:04:04 Contact And Wrap Up</p><p><strong>EPISODE LINKS</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.csrb.co.uk/">https://www.csrb.co.uk/</a></p><p>Chris ‘s LinkedIn Profile: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburncsrb">https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburncsrb</a></p><p>CSRB LinkedIn Page: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburncsrb">https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburncsrb</a></p><p>ActionCOACH Bolton: <a href="https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton">https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton</a></p><p>ActionCOACH Bolton Events: <a href="https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592">https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592</a></p><p>Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/</a></p><p><br></p><p></p>
June 30, 2026
<p><strong>Helen Dimmick on Building Ainsworth Jewellers into a Destination Store Through Expertise, Community and Charity</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Helen Dimmick, a jewellery specialist, gemologist, diamond grader and jewellery historian, shares her career path from volunteering and an office junior role at Phillips Auctioneers (now Bonhams) through Bentley & Skinner and Tiffany & Co. to owning four stores via a management buyout, then consulting and becoming interim CEO at the Company of Master Jewellers. During COVID she and her husband Phil Ainsworth partnered to grow Ainsworth Jewellers in Blackburn, a 156-year-old fifth-generation family business, and have more than quadrupled turnover by rebranding around family values, creating a welcoming in-store experience (museum, De Beers education exhibition, champagne bar), investing in staff qualifications, networking, events and outreach. They launched “Wendy’s Legacy” to repurpose jewellery and donate to hospice, plan a first-floor workshop hub with apprenticeships, and aim to reduce reliance on them by building the brand as a trusted legacy.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Meet Helen Dimick</p><p>00:49 Jewellery Career Origins</p><p>01:37 Auction House Apprenticeship</p><p>02:37 From Bond Street to Tiffany</p><p>03:14 Back North and First Business</p><p>03:55 What Gemologists Do</p><p>05:14 Trust and Expertise in Retail</p><p>05:58 Selling Up and Consulting Years</p><p>07:16 Covid Pivot and Charity Values</p><p>08:27 Ainsworth Jewelers Legacy</p><p>09:07 Taking Over the Family Firm</p><p>11:11 Quadrupling Turnover Strategy</p><p>11:51 Destination Store Experience</p><p>14:13 Networking and Community Support</p><p>15:47 Becoming a Destination Brand</p><p>16:02 Marketing and Events</p><p>16:27 Jewellery Stories and Meaning</p><p>17:04 Repurposing Old Gold</p><p>17:50 Industry Careers and Apprenticeships</p><p>19:28 Ten Lessons for Success</p><p>22:42 Advice for New Founders</p><p>23:40 Growth Plans and Outreach</p><p>24:53 Building a Legacy Workshop</p><p>26:42 Owner Wellbeing and Balance</p><p>28:44 Working with Phil</p><p>31:01 Learning and Recommendations</p><p>32:26 Where to Find Ainsworth</p><p></p><p><strong>LINKS</strong></p><p>Ainsworths Jewellers Website: <a href="https://ainsworthjewellers.com/">https://ainsworthjewellers.com/</a> </p><p>Inspired Couture Website: <a href="https://inspiredcouture.co.uk/">https://inspiredcouture.co.uk/</a> </p><p>Helen’s website: <a href="https://helendimmick.com/">https://helendimmick.com/</a></p><p>Helen’s LinkedIn Profile: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-dimmick-3429b45/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-dimmick-3429b45/</a></p><p>Ainsworths LinkedIn Page: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ainsworth-jewellers/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/ainsworth-jewellers/</a></p><p> </p><p>ActionCOACH Bolton: <a href="https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton">https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton</a></p><p>ActionCOACH Bolton Events: <a href="https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592">https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592</a></p><p>Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/</a></p><p></p>
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Business stories from the North West of England (and sometimes further afield)
Hear from successful business owners with a great story to tell and from others who you can all learn from.
Take action, watch, listen, learn and implement to grow yourself and your business.
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