by Phil Fraser
On the Leeds Business podcast I chat to inspiring, fascinating and super-impressive Leeds Business Owners, lifting the lid on their own unique personal business journeys; the ups, the downs, the successes and the failures and their own secret sauce. We also get a unique ‘how to…’ from each guest, to assist you on your own business journey. In addition we speak the city’s movers and shakers, and specialists on everything business related. I’ll be speaking to Founders who have sold their business for millions, start-up Founders who have an exciting new product or service, major Business Owners with the city’s biggest companies, fascinating hidden Leeds businesses and everyone in between… just as long as they have an interesting business journey to share, I’ll be talking to them.. The ‘how to..’ segment will share essential business learnings like; * How to raise Angel Investment? * How to create a business plan? * How to sell your business? * How to create a business strategy? * How to build a marketing campaign? * How to buy a business competitor? * How to read a P&L statement … and much much more… Why Leeds? It’s a brilliant place to live, work and play and is full of brilliant businesses and inspirational business leaders. And it’s my hometown. So if you’re a Business owner, or want to be one, or are simply interested in the Leeds business scene, you’ll want to be listening. The show is free to listen to and there’s a new episode every Wednesday, released at 7.00am so you can listen on your morning commute, at the gym, in the park or at home. The Leeds Business Podcast is hosted by Phil Fraser. Phil launched, scaled and sold his own business and is now a Business Sounding Board helping SME Business Owners like you to NOT be lonely at the top. Phil loves to hear other people’s business journeys. Want to suggest a guest for the show? Email [email protected]. If you’re a Business Owner who’s feeling lonely at the top, or is strategically stuck or simply needs a supportive, confidential ear from someone who’s been there done that, email [email protected]. Leeds Business Podcast is produced by Simon Treen at Western Studios in Leeds.
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April 30, 2025
<p>Two letters are dominating business at the moment. A and I.</p><p>But what is it and more importantly, how can it help your business?</p><p>Today we speak to Jeremy Smith, Founder of Neural Voice about his AI business, how it came about, what it can do and the stresses and strains of raising the funding for it.</p><p><strong>INTRODUCING JEREMY SMITH</strong></p><p>Jeremy Smith is the founder and CEO of Neural Voice, a company redefining how businesses interact with customers through AI-driven voice technology. With a background in sales and business development, he understands the challenges of customer communication and saw an opportunity to make AI conversations feel more natural, responsive, and engaging.</p><p>He launched Neural Voice to bridge the gap between automation and human-like interaction, creating a solution that helps businesses scale support, improve customer satisfaction, and provide instant, accessible information. Under his leadership, the company continues to push the boundaries of conversational AI, making it more intuitive and effective for businesses and their customers alike.</p><p>Jeremy is passionate about technology, business strategy, and the future of AI-driven communication. When he’s not leading Neural Voice, he’s often exploring the latest trends in AI and innovation, or having real conversations over coffee.</p><p><strong>EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p><p>[00:00:00] An idiot’s guide to AI</p><p>[00:06:00] The first, failed, start up</p><p>[00:10:30] Learnings from the first business</p><p>[00:14:00] The switch to Neural Voice and the problem it solves</p><p>[00:19:30] The investment raising journey – what is SEIS and EIS?</p><p>[00:21:45] The importance of investor feedback after pitches</p><p>[00:25:00] Refining the business case usage of the product</p><p>[00:30:00] Navigating the angel investment challenges</p><p>[00:33:00] Scaling the business efficiently</p><p>[00:35:00] How to lead, through ‘extreme ownership’</p><p>[00:41:00] The benefits of Neural Voice</p><p><br></p><p><strong>4 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS</strong></p><p>• Get your recruitment process right, to avoid hiring the wrong person</p><p>• Selling a product is very different from selling a business idea to get funding</p><p>• When you are looking for investment make sure you know all about SEIS and EIS</p><p>• Make sure you learn from investors who say ‘no’</p><p><br></p><p><strong>3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR</strong></p><p>“Sales is not where you are meant to be – you should be doing what I’m doing”</p><p>“Let’s model the AI on my mum”</p><p>“02 put me through to 8 different teams”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com </a></p><p>LinkedIn - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/</a></p><p>Work with Phil - <a href="https://www.philfraser.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.philfraser.co.uk </a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.neural-voice.ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.neural-voice.ai/ </a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsmithsales/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsmithsales/</a> </p><p>Shout out: <a href="https://thewai.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://thewai.co.uk/</a> </p><p>Get the book ‘<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015TXS2Q6/ref=nosim?tag=lbp08b-21" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win’</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’</strong></p><p>My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.</p><p>Your half of the deal -...
April 23, 2025
<p>From nightclubs to huge corporate events and how a 1970s ice-cream van led to the launch of a premium ice cream brand. </p><p>Meet today’s guest, Dirk Mischendahl, MD of Northern Bloc. As well as the devastation that Covid caused on the business, there’s also loads more fascinating tales, and learnings.</p><p><strong>INTRODUCING DIRK MISCHENDAHL</strong></p><p>Dirk Mischendahl sold his Leeds events and communications agency, Logistik in 2014.</p><p>He then started Northern Bloc Ice Cream; a disruptor brand which is now sold nationally and internationally, pioneering the vegan ice cream market a product which is now universally seen as the benchmark of what great ice cream looks like. </p><p>With his wife, Pippa Hale, Dirk established the Northern Art Prize in 2006 to promote artistic talent within Yorkshire and taking this further in 2013 they both established The Tetley Art Gallery and is currently involved in Left Bank, a creative community based venue among various other roles. </p><p><strong>EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p><p>[00:00:00] From University to business owner</p><p>[00:07:00] Lessons learnt from the first business</p><p>[00:13:00] The decision to exit and the start of Northern Bloc</p><p>[00:22:00] From a Lifestyle brand to taking on Ben & Jerrys</p><p>[00:25:30] Moving from retail to B2B via wholesale</p><p>[00:30:30] External investment, Covid and a change in ownership</p><p>[00:40:00] How to fail quickly</p><p><strong>3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS</strong></p><p>• Your team can make a thousand mistakes a day, as long as it’s not the same one</p><p>• Be careful who your shareholders are </p><p>• The one thing that you can’t recreate is time. Don’t waste it on failing businesses</p><p><br></p><p><strong>3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR</strong></p><p>“I bought a little 1971 ice cream van from a lady in Keighley called Sunshine Scoops”</p><p>“Give us a flavour as to the size of the business”</p><p>“Chocolate has gone up from £3.60 a kilo to £9.16 a kilo”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com </a></p><p>LinkedIn - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/</a></p><p>Work with Phil - <a href="https://www.philfraser.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.philfraser.co.uk </a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.northern-bloc.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.northern-bloc.com/ </a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkmischendahl/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkmischendahl/ </a></p><p>Shout out: <a href="https://www.jim-fox.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.jim-fox.com/ </a></p><p><br></p><p>DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’</p><p>My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.</p><p>Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it</p><p><strong>YOU MAY ALSO LIKE</strong></p><p><a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/entrepreneur-within/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/entrepreneur-within/ </a>(as mentioned)</p><p><a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/business-problems-solved/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/business-problems-solved/</a></p><p><a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/ </a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>ABOUT YOUR HOST</strong></p><p>Phil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no...
April 16, 2025
<p>What happens after the cameras stop rolling when you win The Apprentice?</p><p>After hearing her story last year (give it a listen If you haven’t yet - link below) we caught up with 2024 Apprentice winner, Rachel Woolford, to find out what’s been happening in the business since she won, how she spent the £250,000, the ups (and downs) of being a winner and how much is Lord Sugar involved?</p><p><strong>INTRODUCING RACHEL WOOLFORD</strong></p><p>Rachel Woolford is the owner and founder of boutique gym, North Studio, which has two locations in North Leeds and one in Harrogate. </p><p>She was the winner of the BBC's The Apprentice in 2024.</p><p><strong>EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p><p>[00:00:30] Introducing Rachel Woolford</p><p>[00:03:00] Development and expansion of the business in the last 12 months</p><p>[00:08:00] Pros and cons of expanding by buying an existing business</p><p>[00:12:30] The importance of delegation</p><p>[00:18:00] Expanding the business offering</p><p>[00:23:00] The input from, and benefits of, Lord Sugar and his team</p><p>[00:28:00] Navigating personal challenges post-The Apprentice</p><p>[00:33:00] The positives and leveraging the opportunities from being on The Apprentice</p><p>[00:40:00] Watching The Apprentice from the outside, and thoughts on it</p><p>[00:45:00] How to keep value in your business</p><p><strong>3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS</strong></p><ul><li>Being a cash buyer doesn’t necessarily speed the property buying process up</li><li>If you’re comfortable in your business, you’re in the wrong place</li><li>Go on The Apprentice but only if you’re serious about your business</li></ul><br/><p><br></p><p><strong>3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR</strong></p><p>“The Apprentice is about who can handle chaos the best”</p><p>“it took 6-9 months to understand our relationship”</p><p>“I was given a really cool, horrendously loud Defender to drive for free for a year”</p><p><strong>VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="http://www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com</a> </p><p>LinkedIn - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/</a></p><p>Work with Phil - <a href="http://www.philfraser.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.philfraser.co.uk</a> </p><p>Website: <a href="https://northstudioleeds.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://northstudioleeds.co.uk/</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-woolford-948528216/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-woolford-948528216/</a></p><p> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/northstudioleeds/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/northstudioleeds/</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rachelwoolford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/rachelwoolford/</a></p><p>Shout out: <a href="https://www.studiosister.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.studiosister.co.uk/</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’</strong></p><p>My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.</p><p>Your half of the deal - Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it</p><p><br></p><p><strong>YOU MAY ALSO LIKE</strong></p><p>Rachel Woolford, first episode - <a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/rachel-woolford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/rachel-woolford/</a></p><p>Queen of Mean from The Apprentice - <a href="https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/linda-plant" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/linda-plant</a></p><p><a...
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