Confessions of an Entrepreneur

Confessions of an Entrepreneur

by Carl Swansbury

Entrepreneurship Careers

Season 2

Driven by purpose: Kevin Fasting’s story of resilience

In this episode of ‘Confessions of a…’ Carl sits down with Kevin Fasting to discover an entrepreneurial story that is weighted heavily by selflessness and influenced by a tragic family experience. Born and raised in Liverpool, serial entrepreneur Kevin has founded and invested in a large portfolio of businesses, also supporting a number of first-time founders in building their enterprises. His businesses include recruitment, technology and legal firms under the banner of the Kevin Edward Group. Kevin’s story is one of optimism and hard work, which has been motivated by his ‘why’ - to support and provide for the people around him. With a working-class upbringing in 1980s Liverpool, Kevin’s background has shaped his outlook, working hard to be able to give his family a better life. Thinking it might be football that would give him the route to success, Kevin found, when that didn’t materialise, a new way to achieve his ‘why’ to progress beyond his surroundings, leaving for university to gain new skills and experiences. However, during his first year at Leeds Beckett University, Kevin’s dad, who he held up as his hero, and had always suffered with his mental health, went missing. More than 20 years later he still hasn’t been found. A job in recruitment, which led to him becoming managing director of a 40-strong division within a year, was followed by setting up his own recruitment business. The original motivation was to generates funds from this business to advertise on bus stops to bring his dad home, and subsequently to help his mum and other family members retire. Kevin takes Carl on an intimate and fascinating journey through his life and career, revealing important lessons that he’s applied to his entrepreneurial journey and helped him through his personal challenges. This moving and highly insightful episode offers inspiration and insight for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who can benefit from hearing Kevin’s experiences and motivations. Connect with Kevin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfasting/ Website: https://kevinedwardgroup.com/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

Against the Odds: ADHD, Adversity & Ambition

In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl sits down with global recruitment specialist Steve Rawlingson. Founder of Samuel Knight, Steve overcame a challenging childhood to become a trailblazer in the recruitment industry, carving a significant niche in the international renewable energy sector. He has embraced ADHD as a ‘superpower’ to drive him to the success he is achieving and talks frankly about how the condition impacts and influences his life, and entrepreneurial spirit. Having left school with no qualifications and little idea of the direction he wanted to take, Steve opens up about the decisions he made and the opportunities that enabled him to set up, scale and grow his international business, including securing significant investment from private equity firm, Gresham House Ventures. In this fascinating episode Steve reveals his ‘why’ and what drives him, balancing business with being a dad, and, and how despite having not gained a single GCSE, his latest achievement, which is an academic one, is one of his proudest. Carl and Steve also delve into what makes an entrepreneur and how to overcome challenges to build businesses and achieve personal and professional success. This insightful and engaging episode is a must listen for anyone that is scaling up their own business and shows how self-belief, resilience and challenging yourself can drive entrepreneurs to success. Connect with Steve LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenrawlingson/ Website: https://www.samuel-knight.com/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

Paul Lancaster: The Super Connector inspiring start-up & scale-up growth

In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl sits down with the North East ‘super connector’ Paul Lancaster. The man behind the hugely successful UK Start Up and Scale Up Week, held earlier this year, Paul is a highly charged entrepreneur, driven to help others succeed in business. Focussed, creative, tenacious and brave, all of Paul’s career has been focussed on starting up, scaling and developing different businesses, across a range of sectors, whilst helping other entrepreneurs do the same. Having led a top-level early career working for corporate organisations such as Sage and British Airways, alongside privately owned firms including Nigel Wright Recruitment, Paul has also been involved in a number of start-up enterprises, including his current business, Stellar Business Events. Established in 2024, alongside North East-based investor and former ‘Confessions’ guest, Neil Stephenson, the business, organises a wide range of networking and knowledge-filled events, across the North and Scotland, all designed to support and inspire entrepreneurs. During their chat, Carl delves into what inspires Paul to inspire others and what he believes successful entrepreneurs have in common. This is a truly fascinating, thought provoking and engaging podcast, highlighting the lessons Paul’s learnt when scaling many businesses, which he now shares with other likeminded entrepreneurs, along with the importance of network and strategic business development. This is a must-listen episode for any aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, as well as those scaling their enterprise. Connect with Paul LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lordlancaster/ Website: https://ukstartupweek.com/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

Teesside Titan: Bill Scott’s blueprint for business and giving back

In this latest episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl chats with one of North East England’s best-known businesspeople, Bill Scott OBE DL. Often the ‘voice for business’ in the region, Bill has become a highly recognised ambassador in the North East and is a champion of entrepreneurialism and philanthropy. As the CEO of Wilton Engineering, which builds large, complicated structures for the offshore and defence industries, Bill talks about how he set out to be the pulse of the business, empowering others to help deliver success, emphasising the importance of establishing the right workplace culture, which can be the difference between a good business and a great business. Bill talks with Carl about his journey which started out with ambitions to be a chef, but was switched to engineering after a sliding doors moment on a basketball court. This took Bill down the apprenticeship route, which has had a resounding impact on his life and career, placing apprentice training at the very heart of his business, including the opening of an academy on his extensive 113-acre site on the banks of the River Tees in Middlesbrough. Bill and Carl also delve into the value of mentorship and why he commits lots of his time to mentoring companies, as well as his extensive charity roles. This is a fascinating and engaging episode, highlighting Bill’s inspiring story and his refreshing approach to business, which is a must listen for both aspiring and established entrepreneurs. Connect with Bill LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-scott-obe-dl-34106922/ Website: https://www.wiltonengineering.co.uk/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

Imposter Syndrome, Setbacks & Success: The Sergio Petrucci Confession

In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl sits down with enigmatic entrepreneurial charity fundraiser Sergio Petrucci MBE. Founder and CEO of North East England-based Red Sky Foundation, which each year raises millions of pounds to help people with heart defects and life threatening illnesses, Sergio also has a number of other business interests. A true life saver, who was awarded the MBE by King Charles for his significant contribution to charity, Sergio opens up about growing up in an entrepreneurial family and how that has imprinted on his life and career. Sergio gives a no-hold-barred and no-nonsense perspective on his business and life story, highlighting some of the challenges he faced, early on, when pursuing his career, how he deals with setbacks on the shadow of imposter syndrome. He talks with Carl about the importance of following your dreams rather than chasing wealth, along with his ‘why’ and his selfless drive to do great things for great people, and North East region. This thoroughly entertaining, thought provoking and sometimes emotional episode is a must listen as Carl helps listeners find out more about this inspiring, charismatic and conversational character. Connect with Sergio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-petrucci-mbe-%E2%9D%A4%EF%B8%8F-347b034a/ Website: https://redskyfoundation.com/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

From PwC to The Lakes Distillery: Entrepreneurial lessons from Nigel Mills CBE

In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl chats with Nigel Mills CBE, a champion for business and entrepreneurialism in the North of England. Like Carl, Nigel began his career as a Chartered Accountant. He qualified at PriceWaterhouseCoopers before leaving to buy an independent convenience store business, which he scaled to a portfolio of 77 stores, before selling it to Tesco PLC. After selling, Nigel set up, developed and subsequently sold highly regarded The Lakes Distillery, which was acquired by English sparkling wine producer, Nytimber in a deal, which valued The Lakes Distillery at £71 million. Nigel was one of the founders of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and is a trusted advisor, Non-Executive Director, mentor and investor. Nigel talks to Carl about how he switched from a plan to be a professional golfer to become an accountant after his grandfather passed away, before landing a place at PwC. He covers the highs and lows of his business career, the importance of sport in his life, the range of investment and mentoring opportunities he is regularly offered and how he decides which ones to pursue, and invest in. This educational and thought-provoking episode highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with the experience and expertise of others, coupled with persistency when pursuing ambitious entrepreneurial endeavours. Connect with Nigel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-john-mills-cbe-6a555042/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

From Accidental Recruiter to Global Game-Changer

In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl chats with inspiring global recruitment specialist Steve Carter. Australian entrepreneur, who has been in the UK for almost 30 years, Steve rose from recruitment industry novice to a CEO position and subsequently become a board advisor helping firms in the sector from start-ups, scale-ups and those looking to internationalise their operations. An accidental recruiter and accidental ‘Aussie export’, having only originally planned to be in the UK for two years, Steve has made Britain his home and the base for his entrepreneurial endeavours. He began his career with Hays Global, as a candidate and was offered a job as a recruiter, thus beginning a journey that took him to the other side of the world, falling in love with the UK. After climbing the ladder with a number of corporate firms, Steve became CEO of Robert Half UK, before making the move to run his own business, acquiring a London-based agency, which he, and an investor, scaled, buying a plc in a ‘take private’ deal and rebranding the collective group, Morgan McKinley Recruitment. Steve talks in this podcast about the inspiration that led him to a career in recruitment, (and how she became his wife), and how he earned the focus that gave him the financial independence and drive to take his career forward. This insightful and engaging episode highlights and the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurialism, when is it time to exit and what happens next. Connect with Steve LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevecarter2/ Website: https://www.thesatoripartnership.com/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

Grit, Graft & Game-Changing: Helen’s unfiltered journey

In this episode of ‘Confessions of a CEO’, Carl sits down with straight-talking, networking and recruitment specialist entrepreneur Helen Trueman-Howe. Helen is the co-founder of Northeast Network, a thriving networking hub in North East England, and the founder and Managing Director of Heels & Brogues Group, which specialises in recruiting talent across manufacturing, engineering, renewables, HVAC and professional services. A reunion of secondary school friends, Helen and Carl reminisce about growing up in Sunderland and how her formative years in education had no bearing on her future success. Rather than sitting her GCSEs, Helen was working in a tampon factory and from there built a ‘streetwise’ education that actually led her to securing a place at university, setting the tone for a very interesting and varied career path that has seen her succeed in entrepreneurship. Helen talks in this podcast, as she does in life, with her heart on her sleeve, covering everything from ADHD and imposter syndrome versus self-belief, to the opportunities and challenges of self-employment and business ownership. This insightful and entertaining episode highlights how the dynamism of entrepreneurship, building networks and how you can make your own fate in life and business, can transform challenges into opportunities and turn bold ideas into lasting success. Connect with Helen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-trueman-howe-528469121 Websites: https://northeastnetwork.co.uk/ & https://hbgrecruitment.com/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

From the pulpit to presenting – a unique business journey

In this episode of ‘Confessions of a…’, Carl has a unique entrepreneur in the hot-seat; broadcaster, TedTalk speaker, author, comedian, impressionist, artist and business founder, Alfie Joey. Having spent 15 years practicing as a priest in his native North East, Alfie made the decision to take a unique path that has led to him being behind a BBC microphone, becoming a successful comedian, compering large and high-profile events, a speaking coach and even the Britain’s Got Talent stage! Alfie talks about how the microphone is the tool of his trade and helps make him the #speakeasyguy to enable people from all walks of life, particularly in business, enhance their communication skills. This highly engaging, often hilarious and consistently insightful episode highlights how creative skills can be the foundation for a business but also used by those in business to be more successful. Listeners will discover why people say ‘Alfie Joey makes you appreciate being alive’ and his infectious passion for life and for helping people. Connect with Alfie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfie-speakeasyguy-joey/ Website: https://alfiejoey.com/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

A royally unique journey

In this episode of Confessions of a CEO, Carl sits down with the fascinating and sometimes controversial Gary Goldsmith. A multi-millionaire from his business career in IT recruitment, Gary is known to most people as uncle to Catherine, Princess of Wales and the first evictee from the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2024. However, his story goes much deeper than that and in this detailed and frank conversation with Carl, Gary reveals the challenges and struggles of his life, that have included a police conviction and drug issues. Gary shares his personal and professional journey through the highs and lows of his life, and talks about his current business enterprise, RDLC Pirates, which he co-founded and is CEO. The RDLC is the leading global network for recruitment CEOs, MDs, founders, shareholders and directors. For the inside track on one of business’ most colourful characters who gives a very open and honest account of his life, this episode is a must-listen! Connect with Gary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garygoldsmith/ Website: https://www.rdlcpirates.com/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

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