http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

On this episode of the Bulletproof Agency Network Podcast we are visiting our last session from Prolific North Live 2018. For the final outing we join Dan Nolan (The E Word) as he interviews Sandy Lindsay (Tangerine) in front of a live audience and discuss what the process of exiting a business and handing over control can look like.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Building a business on strong principles and making it work.
• Starting a new project to fill gaps in the creative sector and effect real change in the industry.    
• Making employees stakeholders in the company and how that can affect the culture and employee engagement.
• The importance of getting involved in projects outside your business and volunteering to find new people and perspectives.
• Employing the best people you can, and their impact in your business.

Guest Bios

Dan Nolan

Daniel Nolan is managing director of theEword, one of Manchester’s leading independent digital agencies. The agency specialises in working with lifestyle and leisure brands to drive awareness, consideration and purchase intent. Daniel is the co-chair of pro.manchester’s creative committee, the chairman of the Manchester Publicity Association and has previously been recognised as the Digital, Media or Creative Professional of the Year at the Made In Manchester Awards. He is a passionate ambassador for Manchester and the North West’s creative, digital and media industries and has hosted and spoken at conferences and events for the likes of pro.manchester, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Salford Media Festival, the MPA, Manchester Metropolitan University and many more. Working with Manchester Metropolitan University, Oldham College and the UTC @ MediaCity, Daniel is also a leading figure locally in setting the agenda for training and retaining the best creative, digital and media talent in the city.

Website: https://www.theeword.co.uk/

Twitter: @iamdanielnolan

Sandy Lindsay MBE

Sandy Lindsay MBE founded Tangerine in 2002, grew it to 60+ consultants, promoting some of the world’s largest brands, and then fulfilled a 15 year old promise in 2017 by placing it into Employee Ownership. In 2012, she also launched The Juice Academy, a multi award-winning digital marketing apprenticeship, which has since created more than 250 jobs for young people and was awarded an MBE in 2015 for services to business and young people.

Website: https://www.juiceacademy.co.uk/

Twitter: @SandyLindsay  

Presenter Bio

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Website: http://www.andyjohnson.tv/

Twitter: @AndyPJo1

Thanks for coming along and we hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed putting it all together. Please subscribe to our podcast for more great insights from more great people.

Next Episode

That’s it for another year at Prolific North Live. Hope you enjoyed listening, and we’ll see you next time on the Bulletproof Network Agency Podcast! Remember, it’s only goodbye for now...

EP022 | What Big Clients Want From Agencies

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@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

Join us for another live recording from Prolific North Live 2018, as our panel looks at getting those big clients through understanding their needs. Daniel Nolan (The E Word) and Jason Byrne (Urban Splash) look at the big ticket clients that fit with your business as Steve Kuncewicz (BLM) chairs.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The importance of having a portfolio and creating a reputation.
• What a relationship that benefits you and the client looks like.   
• How to trade on reputation and chemistry.  
• Collaboration Vs taking the work away and executing it independently.  
• Finding the balance between sticking to a brief and being flexible, without moving the goalposts around too much.
• Training your client how to be a good client .  
• The importance of variety, and not letting big clients leave you overexposed.

Guest Bios

Steve Kuncewicz

Steve Kuncewicz is a Partner in the Business Advisory Team at BLM In Manchester. Specialising in Intellectual Property, Media, Social Media and Privacy Law with nationally-recognised niche expertise and experience in the creative, digital, social media and technology sectors, Steve is published author and regular media commentator on these issues to outlets including the BBC, Sky News and Russia Today.

Website: https://www.blmlaw.com/

Twitter: @SteveKuncewicz

Dan Nolan

Daniel Nolan is managing director of theEword, one of Manchester’s leading independent digital agencies. The agency specialises in working with lifestyle and leisure brands to drive awareness, consideration and purchase intent. Daniel is the co-chair of pro.manchester’s creative committee, the chairman of the Manchester Publicity Association and has previously been recognised as the Digital, Media or Creative Professional of the Year at the Made In Manchester Awards. He is a passionate ambassador for Manchester and the North West’s creative, digital and media industries and has hosted and spoken at conferences and events for the likes of pro.manchester, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Salford Media Festival, the MPA, Manchester Metropolitan University and many more. Working with Manchester Metropolitan University, Oldham College and the UTC @ MediaCity, Daniel is also a leading figure locally in setting the agenda for training and retaining the best creative, digital and media talent in the city.

Website: https://www.theeword.co.uk/

Twitter: @iamdanielnolan

Jason Byrne

Jason Byrne is Head of Digital at award winning regeneration company Urban Splash where he’s tasked with the design and infrastructure of the Group’s suite of websites including the main Urban Splash residential and commercial sales portal, something which is being completely redeveloped under Jason’s direction in Spring 2018. Formerly the company’s digital designer, a role he also held at MMP Global, he assumed the Head of Digital role last year having been with the company since 2010.

Website: http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/

Twitter: @jkbyrne

Presenter Bio

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Website: http://www.andyjohnson.tv/

Twitter: @AndyPJo1

Thanks for coming along and we hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed putting it all together. Please subscribe to our podcast for more great insights from more great people.

Next Episode

Join us next time when we’ll be back on the Finance Theatre Stage at Prolific North Live 2018 to discuss handing over the reins when you move on from your business and on to your next venture. Tune in, we’ll see you there.

EP021 | Power of Niche

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@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

We’re live again on this episode of the Bulletproof Agency Network Podcast from Prolific North Live 2018. Join us for this conversation between Bruce Thomas (Modern English) and Steve Kuncewicz (BLM) as the two discuss how to find, and drill into, your niche.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Finding, and working with, clients you love.   
• Sticking with your focus, and tapping into your speciality to further your business.   
• Being up to date and moving with new technologies and trends.  
• Creating a portfolio and using your pedigree to get the work you want, with the people you want to work with.
• Committing to spending a bit more time and money to find your way into the work you want and excel in it.
• Building a team, and using them to further your success and reputation.  
• Spreading risk and doing a little bit of everything to keep yourself fresh.  

Guest Bios

Steve Kuncewicz

Steve Kuncewicz is a Partner in the Business Advisory Team at BLM In Manchester. Specialising in Intellectual Property, Media, Social Media and Privacy Law with nationally-recognised niche expertise and experience in the creative, digital, social media and technology sectors, Steve is published author and regular media commentator on these issues to outlets including the BBC, Sky News and Russia Today.

Website: https://www.blmlaw.com/

Twitter: @SteveKuncewicz

Bruce Thomas

Bruce Thomas is the founder and director of Modern English, a social technology and adtech agency based in Manchester. He has spent over two decades developing award winning digital solutions for blue chip brands. He has worked with Led Zeppelin, the Foo Fighters, and Dua Lipa.

Website: http://www.modern-english.co.uk/

Twitter: @ModernEnglish

Presenter Bio

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Website: http://www.andyjohnson.tv/

Twitter: @AndyPJo1

Thanks for coming along and we hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed putting it all together. Please subscribe to our podcast for more great insights from more great people.

Next Episode

Next up we’re gazing up at the big clients and asking just what exactly it is they want. Join us for a live panel from Prolific North Live 2018. Think big, aim high, and tune in.

EP020 | The Value of a Mentor

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

Welcome back to the Bulletproof Agency Network Podcast, as we join a live session at Prolific North Live 2018. This time we’re taking a look at mentors, and who better to talk us through it than a mentor and mentee duo? Dan Nolan (The E Word) interviews mentor Hems De Winter (Ask Hems) and mentee James Hamilton (PixelTree Media).

Topics covered in this episode:

• Knowing when you’re in control of your business versus just thinking you are.
• Being a mentor can be just as rewarding as being a mentee.
• Hems talks about his experience of being overwhelmed and overworked,and how finding guidance helped him.
• The importance of being able to talk to someone who has been there and experienced what you are going through as an entrepreneur.
• The key qualities of a good mentor, from confidentiality to honesty.
• How long it can take to find the right mentor for you.
• Is there a shelf life to a mentor? When does the relationship end?  
• How all this can help you find your why.

Guest Bios

Dan Nolan

Daniel Nolan is managing director of theEword, one of Manchester’s leading independent digital agencies. The agency specialises in working with lifestyle and leisure brands to drive awareness, consideration and purchase intent. Daniel is the co-chair of pro.manchester’s creative committee, the chairman of the Manchester Publicity Association and has previously been recognised as the Digital, Media or Creative Professional of the Year at the Made In Manchester Awards. He is a passionate ambassador for Manchester and the North West’s creative, digital and media industries and has hosted and spoken at conferences and events for the likes of pro.manchester, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Salford Media Festival, the MPA, Manchester Metropolitan University and many more. Working with Manchester Metropolitan University, Oldham College and the UTC @ MediaCity, Daniel is also a leading figure locally in setting the agenda for training and retaining the best creative, digital and media talent in the city.

Website: https://www.theeword.co.uk/

Twitter: @iamdanielnolan

James Nolan

James Hamilton is Creative Director of PixelTree Media, an award winning creative digital agency based in Rainford, England.

Website: http://www.pixeltree.media

Hems De Winter

Rotterdam-born, Hems de Winter is a former journalist and editor who founded the award-winning de Winter PR in 1989. He is now a mentor, lecturer, business coach and speaker whose clients are spread across a range of significant SME businesses within the creative and other spheres of industry.

He has also served as a Non-Executive Director in the NHS and as an NHS Conciliator.

In his spare time he’s a mentor, school governor, lecturer, business coach, Young Enterprise board member, charity trustee and occasional keynote speaker.

Website: http://hemsdewinter.co.uk/

Twitter: @dewinter_hems  

Presenter Bio

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Website: http://www.andyjohnson.tv/

Twitter: @AndyPJo1

Thanks for coming along and we hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed putting it all together. Please subscribe to our podcast for more great insights from more great people.

Next Episode

Next up we are looking at the power of niche, with a live recording from Prolific North Live 2018. Listen in for some rock ‘n’ roll and, of course, great business advice.

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

We’re back at Prolific North Live 2018 for this episode of the Bulletproof Network Agency Podcast. This time we’re joining a debate between Richard Wood (Six+Flow) and Joe Gosling (Bearded Fellows) as the pair discuss the process of selling and pitching, in the moderator’s chair is Paul Barnes (My Accountancy Place).

Topics covered in this episode:

• The difference between sales and marketing, and where the two meet.  
• Targeting customers, and why demographics are out.
• Being more collaborative, and working with clients to sell your services.
• The decline of pitching, is it a good thing?
• Letting the quality of your portfolio draw clients in and sell your work.
• Making content for yourself, and what it can do for you.  
• Using networking to extend your reach and represent your brand.

Guest Bios

Richard Wood

Richard Wood is the managing director of the Manchester-based Six & Flow, a knowledge-led agency focusing on growth through inbound marketing and sales & marketing alignment..

Website: https://www.sixandflow.com/

Twitter: @richtwood

Joe Gosling

Joe Gosling is the Managing Director of Bearded Fellows a multi award winning creative studio based in Manchester. His companies client list includes, Bupa, Mettler Toledo Safeline, Remington, Royal Mail, The Lad Bible and Zen Internet. Joe is passionate about empowering the next generation of creative leaders by working closely with schools, colleges and at risk young people to pass on the building blocks for creative education. He has been a keynote speaker for the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Salford Council.

Website: https://beardedfellows.co.uk/

Twitter: @Bearded_Fellows

Paul Barnes

Paul Barnes - Paul is MD and founder of My Accountancy Place, the UK’s leading provider of outsourced accounting and finance services to digital creative businesses. Paul and My Accountancy Place offer advice, tools and support on how to build a profitable and healthy agency.

Website: www.myaccountancyplace.co.uk

Twitter: @myaccountancypl

Presenter Bio

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Website: http://www.andyjohnson.tv/

Twitter: @AndyPJo1

Thanks for coming along and we hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed putting it all together. Please subscribe to our podcast for more great insights from more great people.

Next Episode

Our next and final foray into Prolific North Live 2018 explores the value of having a mentor, and how you go about finding one. Join us then to talk all things master and apprentice.

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

We Join the Bulletproof Agency Network Podcast back at Prolific North Live 2018 for another episode. This time we’re exploring the journey of successful entrepreneurs, from start-up to sell-off. Adam Carolan (Xentum) is interviewed by Paul Barnes (My Accountancy Place).

Topics covered in this episode:

• Looking after yourself as the business owner.  
• Knowing what you want from owning a business in both your personal and professional life.  
• Enjoying the ride.
• How to avoid burnout and find a balance between personal and professional life.  
• The importance of looking after your finances and not falling into the trap of thinking financial planning is for the older amongst us.
• Being in touch with your why, and following it.
• Using your money to make the lifestyle you want.   

Guest Bios

Adam Carolan

Adam Carolan is Managing Director of Xentum, a forward thinking financial advisory firm.  Adam specialises in working with fast growth business owners in the digital and creative space and looks after a number of interesting clients.  Adam is also the founder of NextGen Planners, which is about helping the Next Generation of Financial Advisers be better than the previous generations. It have the fastest growing community within the financial advice space and now boasts over 265 paying members.

Website: http://xentum.co.uk/

Twitter: @Adam_Xentum

Paul Barnes

Paul Barnes - Paul is MD and founder of My Accountancy Place, the UK’s leading provider of outsourced accounting and finance services to digital creative businesses. Paul and My Accountancy Place offer advice, tools and support on how to build a profitable and healthy agency.

Website: www.myaccountancyplace.co.uk

Twitter: @myaccountancypl

Presenter Bio

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Website: http://www.andyjohnson.tv/

Twitter: @AndyPJo1

Thanks for coming along and we hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed putting it all together. Please subscribe to our podcast for more great insights from more great people.

Next Episode

You guessed it, we will return to Prolific North Live 2018. But next time it’s a debate about pitching and sales. Here’s our pitch to you: Tune in next time for another great debate! Hope we’ve sold you on that one.

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

In this episode we return to Prolific North Live 2018 for a debate on the occasionally fraught process of finding and employing staff in the creative and digital industry. Heather Grey (Business Sorority)  is in the moderators chair, as Simon Wharton (PushOn) and Matt Hackett (Canny Recruitment) go toe to toe.

Topics covered in this episode:

• How well do recruiters listen to agencies?
• Do agencies have realistic expectations when looking for staff and hiring recruiters?
• A good recruiter can offer more than just a few CVs.
• Choosing between taking on freelance or full-time staff.
• The importance of finding a good culture and skills fit in prospective employees.
• How recruiters can add value to companies and build trust between themselves and employers.
• When businesses outgrow people and vice versa.   
• What proactive recruitment means,and how it can help a business.
• Social media and its ability to make the hiring process much more transparent.

Guest Bios

Heather Gray

Heather Gray is the founder of Business Sorority UK, a networking group that helps women as they climb the career ladder - giving them the leadership skills and opportunities to develop professionally. She is also the director of Heather Grey Events, which helps companies grow through revenue focused events.

Website: https://www.businesssorority.co.uk/  

Twitter: @BizSorority

Simon Wharton

Simon Wharton is the director of business strategy at PushON, an eCommerce agency specialising in Magento, shopware, and marketing - helping businesses achieve their commercial objectives through digital strategies. He has spent two decades in the sector and is now focusing on building it up through educating and supporting others.

Website: https://www.pushon.co.uk/

Twitter: @PushONltd

Matt Hackett

Matt has extensive marketing, digital and eCommerce recruitment expertise, gained over the last 17 years. He has consulted with, planned and recruited for internal teams within businesses from SMEs to global PLC’s, across a wide range of industries, predominantly within the north of England.

Website: http://www.cannyrecruitment.co.uk

Twitter: @cannyhackett

Presenter Bio

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Website: http://www.andyjohnson.tv/

Twitter: @AndyPJo1

Thanks for coming along and we hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed putting it all together. Please subscribe to our podcast for more great insights from more great people.

Next Episode

We’re back at Prolific North Live 2018 to look at the personal journey of a successful entrepreneur. Tune in to hear about what it takes to run a business and, more importantly, have a great time doing it.

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

In this episode we’re back at Prolific North Live 2018, as our panel members discuss the trials and tribulations of seeking investment and preparing to sell your business. Adam Carolan (Xentum) is hosting the panel alongside Matt Johnson (Form), Max Perry (The Camlee Group), and Danny Varney (BLM).

Topics covered in this episode:

• Max discusses his experience of successfully exiting his business.
• Knowing when the time is right, which can be especially difficult for creative agencies.
• How and when to begin planning an exit from your business.
• What investors and buyers want from you and you business in return for their money.
• Are you really happy to hand over control of your business?
• The power of consolidation.
• Generating and maintaining repeat revenue.   
• Being clear about your reason for selling, and getting what you want out of the process.
• Stepping back and fostering autonomy, so that your business can function without you.

Guest BIOs

Adam Carolan

Adam Carolan is Managing Director of Xentum, a forward thinking financial advisory firm.  Adam specialises in working with fast growth business owners in the digital and creative space and looks after a number of interesting clients.  Adam is also the founder of NextGen Planners, which is about helping the Next Generation of Financial Advisers be better than the previous generations. It have the fastest growing community within the financial advice space and now boasts over 265 paying members.

Website: http://xentum.co.uk/

Twitter: @Adam_Xentum

Max Perry

Max joined The Camlee Group in 2016 having spent 4 years at Deloitte. In his 2 years with the Company he has advised on and completed a number of deals across a variety of sectors and now sits at the head of the Company’s execution team with overall responsibility for client management and deal-flow.

Website: http://www.camleegroup.com/

Twitter: @TheCamleeGroup

Danny Varney

Danny Varney is a Partner at BLM in Manchester, and heads the Business Advisory Team. Specialising in Corporate and Commercial Law, Danny advises businesses, entrepreneurs, owner managers and investors in growth businesses across the digital, creative and technology sectors

Website: https://www.blmlaw.com/

Twitter: @dsvarney

Matt Johnson

Matt Johnson has spent more than 18 years growing a number of businesses, including the digital agency Mando, of which he was co-founder and CEO. Mando works for leading global brands is one of The Sunday Times top 100 companies to work for. After selling his interest in Mando Group in 2013, Form was born with mission of equipping leaders to build remarkable organisations.

Website: https://www.form.studio/

Twitter: @timetoreflect

Presenter Bio

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Website: http://www.andyjohnson.tv/

Twitter: @AndyPJo1

Thanks for coming along and we hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed putting it all together. Please subscribe to our podcast for more great insights from more great people.

Next Episode

We’re back at Prolific North Live 2018 for a debate about recruitment in the creative and digital industry. Is it broken? Find out next time...

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

We're back with our second installment of the Bulletproof Agency Network podcast at Prolific North Live 2018. This time  it’s Paul Barnes (My Accountancy Place) in the host’s seat. With him to discuss the growth process in agencies is Jonathan McNamara (Retrofuzz) and Julia Mitchell (Toast PR).

Topics covered in this episode:

• The key stages in growing an agency.
• How to find your own way and get the right clients for you.
• Finding your why, and then using it to guide your growth.
• Identifying your niche and sticking to it.
• Why do you do it? What do you want to get out of all the work you put into growing your business?
• The all important hiring process, from your first employee to a teeming office.  
• Julia talks about how she defines her processes, and why she now has an employee handbook.
• How to ride the line between micromanaging and being too hands off.
• How not to say yes everything, and choose the work that’s right for you.

Guest BIOs

Paul Barnes

Paul Barnes - Paul is MD and founder of My Accountancy Place, the UK’s leading provider of outsourced accounting and finance services to digital creative businesses. Paul and My Accountancy Place offer advice, tools and support on how to build a profitable and healthy agency.

Website: www.myaccountancyplace.co.uk

Twitter: @myaccountancypl

Jonathan ‘J’ McNamara

Jonathan ‘J’ McNamara – J McNamara is CEO and Founder of RetroFuzz, a digital agency creating user experiences that connect brands with consumers. Increasing engagement, improving conversion, inspiring growth.

Website: https://retrofuzz.com/

Twitter: @MrJMcNamara

Julia Mitchell

Ex-Warwick Business School alumni, Julia established Toast PR aged 27 (thirteen years ago in Nottingham) following a successful career in marketing and PR with Boots The Chemist. Julia was listed in the Top UK PRs under 29 by PR Week magazine.  Toast PR has since gone on to establish a presence in Manchester, Leeds and London, winning awards and working with both consumer and B2B clients nationwide including household names such as Vision Express, Iceland and Paul Smith.

Website: http://toastpr.co.uk/

Twitter: @JuliaToastPR

Presenter Bio

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Website: http://www.andyjohnson.tv/

Twitter: @AndyPJo1

Thanks for coming along and we hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed putting it all together. Please subscribe to our podcast for more great insights from more great people.

Next Episode

In the next episode we return to Prolific North Live 2018 to discuss getting ready for sales and investment. Get the cheque book out and tune in!

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

In this episode Steve Kuncewicz (BLM) is joined by Heather Anson (Digital Law UK) at Prolific North Live 2018 to talk about what GDPR means for agencies, and how the regulations will impact the day to day handling of personal information.

Topics covered in this episode:

• What makes GDPR different from it predecessor, the Data Protection Act.
• What you can do to demonstrate compliance with the new rules.
• The importance of justifying individual uses and methods of collection when handling personal data.
• Your rights as a data subject.
• Your responsibilities as a data controller or processor.
• The importance of privacy by design in new digital products.   
• How and when to talk to the ICO if you are hacked or personal data is stolen.
• Who the burden of responsibility will fall on for many of the new processes and checks.
• The end of an era for pre-ticked boxes in online forms.

Guest BIOs

Steve Kuncewicz

Steve is a Partner at BLM. He specialises in intellectual property, media and social media law with a particular emphasis on the creative, digital and technology sector. Steve is listed as a “recommended lawyer” in tier 2 of the Legal 500s 2014, 2015, and 2016 North West Technology, Media & Telecoms section.

He is a regular media spokesperson, and has given interviews to the local and national press through BBC Breakfast, Sky News, ITV, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and LBC London. Steve’s first book, “Legal Issues of Web 2.0 and Social Media”, was published in June 2011 and his second book “Legal Issues of Corporate Communication in the Online World” was published in June 2012.”

Twitter: @SteveKuncewicz

Website: https://www.blmlaw.com/

Heather Anson

Heather is a US qualified Lawyer with over 15 years experience in regulatory compliance and multinational law. She spends much of her time now training and consulting around Europe and the globe to help other legal professionals and businesses to understand and navigate the world of regulatory compliance.

Twitter: @ansonevaluate

Website: https://www.digitallawuk.com/

Presenter BIO

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Find out more about Andy’s media consultancy: www.andyjohnson.tv

Thank you for attending and hope you enjoyed the show. Please subscribe to our podcast for more industry discussions with more fantastic guests.

Next Episode

Next we will be continuing our foray into Prolific North Live 2018, looking at the highs and lows of growing an agency with Jonathan McNamara and Julia Mitchell. Want to know if you can really fake it ‘till you make it? Tune in and find out.

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

In this episode we join guest speaker Robert Craven, one of the UK’s leading consultants on growing digital agencies. Robert discusses planning for the future, how to grow, and how to avoid the myriad of pitfalls along the way.  

Topics covered in this episode:

• Too big to be small and too small to be big. The difficulties of growing from a small agency to a larger one whilst sandwiched between the big players and the tiny creatives.
• Working ON the business, and not IN it. Robert discusses the difference.
• Differentiating yourself. The importance and difficulty of choosing a speciality and separating yourself from your peers.
• Investing in your staff and becoming ‘employer of choice’.
• Strategy and planning, what’s the difference between the two? Robert shares his wallpaper planning method, to make mistakes on paper and not in practice.
• What to have in your performance dashboard, and how to make board meetings shorter and sweeter.
• How to cement your personal goals and begin making progress on them immediately.

Speaker Bio

Robert has worked on designing and implementing business strategy and marketing projects with household names such as Virgin, Barclays and BlackBerry and has contributed to success stories such as Nando’s, Mitie and Dickies.

Setting up and running his first business, age 21, and now advising PLCs and multinationals, Robert has seen almost every aspect of running and growing a business.

He now specialises in working with digital agencies but also uses this expertise to spread his message (“how to design and get the results you want in your business and personal life”) to all types of business audiences.

Website: https://robert-craven.com/

Twitter: @Robert_Craven

Presenter BIO

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Find out more about Andy’s media consultancy: www.andyjohnson.tv

Thank you for attending and hope you enjoyed the show. Please subscribe to our podcast for more industry discussions with more fantastic guests.

That’s all from the BulletProof podcast until next year! We will be back with an all-new season in the new year.

www.bulletproofagencynetwork.com

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

In this episode, we are back at #BeeAuthentic for The Steve Kuncewicz panel to discuss brand authenticity in the era of fake news. Steve (Slater & Gordon) is joined by Mel Powell and David Edmundson-Bird (Manchester Metropolitan University Business School), and Anna Varley Jones (Weber Shandwick).

Topics covered in this episode:

• What is fake news?.
• Millennials: are they better equipped to identify and avoid fake news?
• Anna Varley Jones Talks about how Weber Shandwick tackles the problem.
• The level of responsibility mainstream news media bears.
• How many brands are actually authentic?
• The legal and social responsibility of platforms like Facebook or Google for hosting fake news.
• Can influencers be a trusted source of information amidst fake news? Self-regulation could be the way forward.
• Can you regain public trust once you’ve lost it and Does a brand’s bad taste really affect their bottom line?

Presenter Bio

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Panel Bios

Steve is a principal lawyer in the business advisory team at Slater and Gordon Lawyers in Manchester.He specialises in intellectual property, media and social media law with a particular emphasis on the creative, digital and technology sector. Steve is listed as a “recommended lawyer” in tier 2 of the Legal 500s 2014, 2015, and 2016 North West Technology, Media & Telecoms section.

He is a regular media spokesperson, and has given interviews to the local and national press through BBC Breakfast, Sky News, ITV, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and LBC London. Steve’s first book, “Legal Issues of Web 2.0 and Social Media”, was published in June 2011 and his second book “Legal Issues of Corporate Communication in the Online World” was published in June 2012.”

Twitter: @SteveKuncewicz

Website: http://www.blmlaw.com

Mel Powell

Mel Powell is a Senior Lecturer in Public Relations and Associate Head for Student Employability at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School. After 10 years as a local authority PR practitioner and then as a theatre marketer, she started to teach PR at university level in 1996 at Leeds Beckett University before moving to Manchester in 2002.

Mel is a member of the PRCA and is CIPR Accredited Practitioner of the CIPR, serving as a co-opted member of the CIPR North West Regional Group since 2011. As well as public relations, she specialises in personal professional development, including personal branding, values and ethics, as well as communications and media theory, which has led to a developing specialist interest in the area of ‘fake news’.

Website: http://www2.mmu.ac.uk/

Twitter: @MMUPRMel

David Edmundson-Bird

David is Principal Lecturer in Digital Marketing & Enterprise at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he runs a number of digital communications programmes, and is Course Leader for Manchester Met’s new full-time MSc Digital Marketing Communications.

David founded Manchester Met’s Agency Life programme 5 years ago to enable students experience live work skills in the workplace very early in their course. He also set up their first part-time MSc in Digital Marketing in 2007, a programme that has now graduated nearly 300 high-profile professionals into the profession.

He has enjoyed several spells in academia as well as senior management roles in the digital sector, and even helped to set up Manchester’s second web design agency back in 1995

Website: http://www2.mmu.ac.uk/

Twitter: @groovegenerator

Anna Varley Jones

Anna Varley Jones is Weber Shandwick Manchester’s consumer marketing director and leads an integrated team of marketing experts working on national and global clients in the travel, retail, FMCG and technology sectors.

Specialising in delivering smart campaigns that have real impact for a business, Anna has significant experience as a trusted advisor big brands from strategy development through to campaign delivery. Anna is passionate about insight-driven creativity and develops campaigns built on robust insights, trends and data to create compelling stories that resonate with consumers.

Anna leads integrated project teams ensuring that clients have access to the planning, creative, technology and content specialists that they need to drive impactful and disruptive work.

She has a Masters Distinction in Public Relations.

Website: http://webershandwick.co.uk/

Twitter: @annavarleyjones

Next up we have Robert Craven helping you build the best business yet!

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com

@BulletproAgency

In this episode we join Shelly Rubinstein (Impact Consulting Psychologists) in front of a live audience at #BeeAuthentic, as she discusses what authentic leadership means, how we can become more authentic, and the benefits to be found in being an open and thoughtful leader.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The core ingredients of authentic leadership, including how to discover and apply your moral code, and what you can do to foster a genuine relationship with those you work alongside.
• The benefits of being an authentic leader, and the impact it can have on your workplace.
• How do go about being more authentic, and what can we do to make sure we are being open and thoughtful when leading a team, or even a business.
• Shelly debunks some common authenticity ‘myths’ and offers some alternatives.
• You are not a perfect, finished product, and that’s OK.

Guest Bio

Shelly Rubinstein, Chartered Psychologist, founded Impact Consulting Psychologists in 1994. She has over twenty five years of high-level commercial experience and has led change programmes across many organisations. Shelly has an in-depth understanding and robust experience of organisational change, its impact on leaders and the consequences for services to customers. Experienced in working with senior executives in investment banks, financial services, legal sector, manufacturing industry, BBC, Police Forces, and most government departments for many years.

Shelly Rubinstein has made TV and Radio appearances as an expert on stress at work, workplace bullying and leadership. She has featured in the Financial Times on topics such as “Standing Up for Yourself at Work”” and “How to unite newly formed teams.” Shelly integrates both business and people focus in order to increase organisations’ staff satisfaction levels, productivity, quality and profit.

Website: http://www.workwithimpact.co.uk/  

Twitter: @workwithimpact

Presenter Bio

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Next Episode

Next time we make our last visit (for now!) to #BeeAuthentic, and join Steve Kuncewicz’ Panel to discuss brand authenticity in the era of fake news. Check your sources, be careful who you believe, and join us next time!

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com
@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

In this episode we join Bulletproof Founder Paul Barnes (My Accountancy Place) at #BeeAuthentic for his presentation on transparent pricing, in front of a live audience. Paul discusses the importance of openness in pricing, how to go about getting that all-important proposal to a potential client.

Topics covered in this episode:

• How to communicate with clients, and how not to pester them whilst doing so.
• Invoicing. Is there a set billing time? Can you make up your own?
• The importance of professionally diagnosing your client, and what that entails.
• Planning a proposal with your client, and how that works in practice.   
• Should you bill for time, or bill for outcomes?
• Price increases can be a great way to increase profits, Paul discusses how to talk to clients about it.

Guest Bio

Paul is MD and founder of My Accountancy Place, the UK’s leading provider of outsourced accounting and finance services to digital creative businesses. Paul and My Accountancy Place offer advice, tools and support on how to build a profitable and healthy agency.

Website: www.myaccountancyplace.co.uk

Twitter: @myaccountancypl
Next Episode

In the next episode we will be back at #BeeAuthentic to hear from Shelly Rubinstein from Impact Consulting Psychologists, as she explores the impact of authentic leadership on businesses.

https://bulletproofagencynetwork.com

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

This episode we are at the #BeeAuthentic conference to hear a panel chaired by Dan Nolan (TheEword and creative pro chair).  Panelists Mark Stringer (Ahoy Branding), Guy Levine (Return), Julia Mitchell (Toast PR), and James Ashford (Go Proposal) all sit down with Dan in front of an audience to discuss transparency and collaboration in the modern market.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Our panelists discuss what authenticity means to them.
• The importance of openness in partnerships and collaborations.
• How authentic can you be?
• How to be open when selling, and the benefits it can bring.
• Is it possible to be too open?
• What to do with a ‘bad’ client, and how to avoid them in the first place.
• The panelists share their experiences of when transparency, or a lack of it, has been a bad thing.

Guest BIOs

Mark Stringer

Mark Stringer is the MD and founder of branding agency AHOY Branding. He started the agency in 2008 with little more than an Apple Mac. A graphic designer by trade he has built an agency that’s as much loved by other agencies as it is by its customers. It has won numerous awards including Prolific North, RAR, Big Chip and Talk of Manchester.

Mark’s passion for helping others lead to the forming of private advice group ‘Dust It Off’ helping agency owners who fall on difficult times get back on their feet.

In his spare time his love of outdoors means he will usually be found “up a hill” with his wife, kids and two dogs

Website: http://ahoy.co.uk/

Twitter: @ahoymark

Guy Levine

Guy Levine is the CEO and Founder of Return. He started his Internet career by founding an internet business at 17 and exiting 1 year later during the .com boom. He has not looked back since. Guy has won industry accolades for campaigns he has worked on including the Big Chip’s and was named Entrepreneur of the Year. A speaker keynoting global conferences, and a regular in the press.

In his spare time, Guy can be found with his Wife and 2 daughters, flying Helicopters, riding bicycles and generally getting into mischief.

Website: https://return.co/

Twitter: @guylevine

Julia Mitchell

Following a business degree at Warwick Business School, Julia joined Boots The Chemist as a marketing graduate role; before taking up positions in buying and finally settling within their in-house PR team where she moved quickly through the ranks at a young age managing budgets of over £1m and working client-side managing global PR agencies.

In 2004, she left Boots to set up Toast PR, with the aim of designing a PR agency “from a client perspective” offering a personable and results-driven approach to each account. Toast soon expanded with outposts in London, Leeds and Manchester; eventually moving into Spinngfields in Manchester, where they are due to open a showroom and office within the new XYZ building this Autumn.

Toast have developed a strong reputation as a new breed of agency working nationally with both consumer and B2B clients across technology, property, hospitality and lifestyle accounts on PR, content management, social media and events. Clients including Boots, Iceland, Gossard, Lily O’Brien’s, Telcom, Fatsoma, Allied London and Market Gravity.

As well as running Toast and looking after a young family, Julia also guest lectures in PR at Nottingham Trent University and Manchester Metropolitan.

Website: http://toastpr.co.uk/

Twitter: @JuliaToastPR

James Ashford:

James Ashford is author of “Selling to Serve” and Founder of GoProposal.

A previous agency owner himself, James, like most agency owners, had to make the transition from “creative” to “business owner” and had to learn how to overcome many challenges.

One of the key areas where James excelled was in profitable pricing, selling and getting payments from clients.

He now shares his strategies with other agency owners and helps to make their life a lot easier with the software he has developed.

Website: https://jamesashford.com/

Twitter: @THEJamesAshford

Panel Chair Bio

Daniel Nolan is managing director of theEword, one of Manchester’s leading independent digital agencies. The agency specialises in creative content marketing.

He is also the co-chair of pro-manchester’s creative committee, the chairman of the Manchester Publicity Association and has previously been recognised as the Digital, Media or Creative Professional of the Year at the Made In Manchester Awards.

He is a passionate ambassador for Manchester and the North West’s creative, digital and media industries and has hosted and spoken at conferences and events for the likes of pro.manchester, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Salford Media Festival, the MPA, Manchester Metropolitan University and many more.

Working with Manchester Metropolitan University, Oldham College and the UTC @ MediaCity, Daniel is also a leading figure locally in setting the agenda for training and retaining the best creative, digital and media talent in the city.

Find out more about the Eword: www.theeword.co.uk/

Twitter: @iamdanielnolan

Thank you for attending and hope you enjoyed the show. Please subscribe to our podcast for more industry discussions with more fantastic guests.

Next episode

In the next episode we will be back at #BeeAuthentic for a presentation from Paul Barnes, who will be talking about the importance of transparent pricing. Tune in next time, and let your next client know exactly what they're paying for!

https://bulletproofagencynetwork.com

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

This episode, Andy Johnson is joined by Steve Kuncewicz (Slater & Gordon) and Mark Stringer (AHOY Branding) at Prolific North Live, in front of a live audience, to talk about intellectual property and their experiences with trademarks, copyrights, and the occasional legal letter.

Topics covered in this episode:

• What is intellectual property?
• Mark shares his personal experience with Barburrito.
• How important creativity is, and how the creative community should value it.
• Advice on the basics of when to get involved in protecting your property .
• How does a ™ differ from ® ?
• What happens when a big company gets your brand in its sights?
• How long is too long to wait when defending a trademark?

Guest BIOs

Steve Kuncewicz, Slater & Gordon
Steve is a principal lawyer in the business advisory team at Slater and Gordon Lawyers in Manchester.
He specialises in intellectual property, media and social media law with a particular emphasis on the creative, digital and technology sector. Steve is listed as a “recommended lawyer” in tier 2 of the Legal 500s 2014, 2015, and 2016 North West Technology, Media & Telecoms section.

He is a regular spokesperson, and has given interviews to the local and national press through BBC Breakfast, Sky News, ITV, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and LBC London.
Steve’s first book, “Legal Issues of Web 2.0 and Social Media”, was published in June 2011 and his second book “Legal Issues of Corporate Communication in the Online World” was published in June 2012.

As well as being a member of the Law Society’s Technology & Law Reference Group, Steve also sits on the boards of various membership bodies, including as Co-Chair Of Creative ProManchester and the MPA. He was also a Trustee of NOISE Festival and is an Ambassador for Forever Manchester.

Website: slatergordon.co.uk

Twiter:  @SteveKuncewicz

Mark Stringer, AHOY Branding
Mark Stringer is the MD and founder of branding agency AHOY Branding. He started the agency in 2008 with little more than an Apple Mac. A graphic designer by trade he has built an agency that’s as much loved by other agencies as it is by its customers. It has won numerous awards including Prolific North, RAR, Big Chip and Talk of Manchester.

Mark’s passion for helping others lead to the forming of private advice group ‘Dust It Off’ helping agency owners who fall on difficult times get back on their feet.

In his spare time his love of outdoors means he will usually be found “up a hill” with his wife, kids and two dogs.

Website: ahoy.co.uk

Twitter: @ahoymark

Presenter BIO

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Find out more about Andy’s media consultancy: www.andyjohnson.tv

Thank you for attending and hope you enjoyed the show. Please subscribe to our podcast for more industry discussions with more fantastic guests.

Next Episode

The next episode will come from BeeAuthentic, where Dan Nolan will be discussing transparency and the rise of collaboration. So get together, be open, and listen in next time!

https://www.bulletproofagency.com

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

In this episode Andy Johnson is joined by Stuart Brown (Magnetic North), and Erica Ingham (Media Com North) at prolific North Live, as they discuss what buyers look for in an agency and what’s involved in selling your business, in front of a live studio audience.

Topics covered in this episode:

• What are the most important considerations when looking to buy?
• Why haven’t there been as many transactions in the creative sector?
• Aligning your aims with those of your potential buyer, and the importance of cultural fit.
• Erica and Stuart discuss their approaches to openness and communication with staff, and the importance of managing expectations.
• Advice for those looking to sell or buy in the creative sector.
• The importance of financial and emotional readiness.
• What makes buying in the creative sector unique?
• Stuart discusses what he looks for as a buyer.
• When to think about selling and how to prepare to do so.
• What makes a business stand out from the crowd to potential buyers?

Guest BIOs

Stuart Brown

In a career extending over 30 years, Stuart has managed, owned, invested in and disposed of a number of businesses where the commercialisation of new and evolving technologies was key.

His last investment was as Investor Director in a marketing services agency specialising in SMS marketing and response. Over a 7 year period the business was taken from loss to profit and successfully scaled across revenue, margin and operating profit, returning in excess of £7m to investors and shareholders.

Today Stuart is an investor director in MagneticNorth, a Manchester based digital design studio specialising in User Experience and Design for clients including BBC, Hull City of Culture, Co-op and Airbnb.

Website: www.thisismN.com

Twitter: @mNwork

Erica Ingham

Erica has been CFO at Mediacom North for nearly three years, a business on a strong organic growth and acquisition trajectory. She is responsible for Mediacom North’s Finance, HR and Legal and Compliance functions. Having graduated from Reading University with a BA hons in French, Erica joined the M&S Finance graduate trainee programme. She subsequently specialised in Media working for BBC Radio, MTV Europe, Liberty Media and 20th Century Fox. Latterly, Erica ran her own business providing fundraising, acquisition and sale advice to Media companies. Erica has spent a large part of her career abroad working on the set up of the first VoD service in Europe. She holds a Diploma in Board Direction and is also a Non-Executive Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Website: http://www.mediacomnorth.co.uk/

Twitter: @ericaingham1

Presenter BIO

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Find out more about Andy’s media consultancy: www.andyjohnson.tv

Thank you for attending and hope you enjoyed the show. Please subscribe to our podcast for more industry discussions with more fantastic guests.

Next Episode

Another episode from Prolific North Live is next, with guests Steve Kuncewicz (Slater and Gordon) and Mark Stringer (Ahoy) who will be discussing the delicate art of picking your fights.

www.bulletproofagencynetwork.com

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

In this episode Steve Kuncewicz is joined by Paul Barnes (My Accountancy Place), Jonathan McNamara (RetroFuzz), Jo Leah (Little Big Agency), and Roy Wilding (PushON) in front of a live studio audience at Prolific North Live to discuss the challenges of being a company director, and lessons learned from their time in charge.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The myriad of challenges that come with being a director.
• Their first interactions with the legal side of running a company.
• Experiences with non-executive directors, when and why they come in useful, and how they fit into our panelist’s companies.
• The value of getting agreements between shareholders in writing, and managing differences in opinions.
• Failing well – the lessons learned from mistakes made when starting out as fresh-faced directors.
• Culture - what it means in a business, and how it can be developed and disseminated.  
• Promoting diversity, and the difficulties in engineering a diverse workplace.
• Giving back through charity projects.
• Who to go to when it all goes really pear shaped.

Guest BIOs

Paul Barnes

Paul Barnes - Paul is MD and founder of My Accountancy Place, the UK’s leading provider of outsourced accounting and finance services to digital creative businesses. Paul and My Accountancy Place offer advice, tools and support on how to build a profitable and healthy agency.

Website: www.myaccountancyplace.co.uk

Twitter: @myaccountancypl

Jonathan ‘J’ McNamara

Jonathan ‘J’ McNamara – J McNamara is CEO and Founder of RetroFuzz, a digital agency creating user experiences that connect brands with consumers. Increasing engagement, improving conversion, inspiring growth.

Website: https://retrofuzz.com/

Twitter: @MrJMcNamara

Jo Leah

Jo Leah - Jo is a communications specialist who has led awesome, award winning  teams at Weber Shandwick for over two decades . Famous for pulling in Aldi Supermarkets and then helping grow the account  for Weber in the USA and Australia.

Previous founder and owner of LawsonLeah Communications which grew with no outside investment, to win accounts like Domino’s Pizza and was sold to Weber in ‘97

Ranked as one of the UK’s top 100 Most Influential PR people, Jo was previously  MD of Paragon Communications and did a stint as journalist for the Guardian Media Group in the days of note pads not iPads.

She has an unwavering work ethic, is a straight talker, clear thinker and someone who lives her business life with integrity, guts and heart.

Website: https://about.me/joleah

Twitter: @joLeah1

Roy Wilding

Roy Wilding - Roy Wilding is Creative Director at PushON, one of Manchester’s leading full service eCommerce Agencies. Having been one of its founding Directors in 2005, PushON has drawn national recognition as a result of its commitment to integrity and clear results for its impressive client roster (including Nottingham Forest, Ryman and LiverpoolOne) and its commitment to the sector through engaging with local Universities and the wider sector, helping to launch SAScon, one of the UK’s most highly-regarded Search, Analytics and Social Media conferences.

Website: http://www.pushon.co.uk/

Twitter: @RoyWilding ­­

Presenter BIO

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Find out more about Andy’s media consultancy: www.andyjohnson.tv

Thank you for attending and hope you enjoyed the show. Please subscribe to our podcast for more industry discussions with more fantastic guests.

Next Episode

The next episode will be from Prolific North Live, with guests Stuart Brown and Erica Ingham who will be discussing what a buyer looks for in an agency. Want to get inside the head of your next potential client? Listen in!

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/ @BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency are pleased to share this podcast. This episode looks at Sound City, the organisation most famous for their long running music festival, held in Liverpool for ten years this May.

We get behind the scenes insights from those behind the wheel, driving the festival forward whilst creating a strong support network for local digital business to thrive, regardless of any music focus.

Topics Covered:

Dave and Becky relay their experiences in building a renowned festival, which seems to grow every year, championing the new musical talent. They both share some of their collective vision, where the festival provides the foundations for countless digital start-ups to build into exciting ventures.

From their annual conference, through to the workshops ran for digital start-ups in conjunction with Liverpool Vision and even the ad hoc spin offs such as Sound City Digital, the team has giving genuine help to the area (and a whole lot of fun)

Dave and Becky cover the following:

• The story behind Sound City – the why and the how How they intend to celebrate their 10th anniversary this year
• The rise of the mini festivals and how their links to the digital community give longevity
• The importance of strong relationships with the corporate sector, including the professionals who protect the music and digital businesses
• Collaboration with other events and entities, and how it makes for a better proposition for everyone
• How they forged strong relationships overseas without being based in London
• Plus a few war stories about the artists themselves

Guest BIO's

Dave Pichilingi Founder and CEO of Sound City

Twitter @SoundCityPich

Becky Ayres COO of Sound City

Twitter @Beckoir

Links

http://www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk

Thank you for attending and hope you enjoyed the show. Please subscribe to our podcast for more industry discussions with more fantastic guests.

Next Episode

In the next episode we will be announced shortly and released in June

@BulletproAgency

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/

Bulletproof Agency are pleased to share this podcast.

This episode takes us on a journey with an established agency as they launch a new cutting edge tech start-up, harnessing augmented reality to produce an exciting new toy product into the market

Topics Covered

Andy, Mike, Rob, Tom and Annie talk about how they have launched a side project which aims to make major waves in the toy market, taking augmented reality and putting it into the hands of the world's children (and plenty of adults too)

They are talking Swapbots - www.swapbots.co

Themes examined include:

How Swapbots was borne out of established digital agency Draw & Code

Moving from being an agency for hire, to one who are able to realise their own ideas 

How augmented and virtual reality has progressed over the last few years; from fads to genuine value

What it feels like to take a tech start up from the North West of England to Silicon Valley

Technology playing a new role in the collectibles market

The experience of going through a competitive pitch process and the impact when you win

Delivering a successful crowdfunding campaign including the importance of appropriate reward choice

Guest BIO's

Andy Cooper

Co-Founder of Swapbots

Twitter

@Swapbots

Bio

Director at Agency, Draw & Code, Co-Founder of Swapbots and 92 Degrees Coffee

Links

www.swapbots.co

www.drawandcode.com

www.kickstarter.com/projects/swapbots/swapbots-the-augmented-reality-toy-and-video-game

Presenter BIO

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Find out more about Andy’s media consultancy: www.andyjohnson.tv

Thank you for attending and hope you enjoyed the show. Please subscribe to our podcast for more industry discussions with more fantastic guests.

www.bulletproofagencynetwork.com

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast.

 This episode delves into the underdog status of a small agency’s ability to attract, win and deliver for a big high-profile contract and the struggles that come with it.

Topics Covered

True stories from two strong successful female agency owners

Jo and Kelly talk about how they won prestigious high profile contracts when in the formative years of building their agencies. How they managed to overcome small agency perceptions and upset the odds

Themes examined include:

What objections clients raise about size and ability to service a contract, and how do you overcome them?

Differences between large and small clients, and is it dangerous or good strategy to aim for those larger wins

How hard is it to turn clients away when they aren't suitable for you

Once the big contract is won how do you then begin to look at servicing them

Tips for small and agile agencies who are capable of delivering strong work, but are struggling to get over the line with that first big win

Guest BIO's

Jo Leah

Former MD of Weber Shandwick MCR and Chair of English Regions & Wales for too many years to mention.

Twitter

@JoLeah1

Bio

Communications specialist who led awesome, award winning teams at Weber Shandwick for over two decades. Famous for pulling in Aldi Supermarkets and then helping grow the account for Weber in the USA and Australia.

Previous founder and owner of Lawson Leah Communications which grew with no outside investment, to win accounts like Domino’s Pizza and was sold to Weber in ‘97

Ranked as one of the UK’s top 100 Most Influential PR people, Jo was previously MD of Paragon Communications and did a stint as journalist for the Guardian Media Group in the days of note pads not iPads.

Unwavering work ethic, straight talker, clear thinker and someone who lives her business life with integrity, guts and heart.

Currently launching the Little big agency, building big reputations little by little.

Kelly White

Managing Director of multi-award winning Manchester based search marketing agency, Red Cow Media.

Twitter

@KellyLou21

Bio

Kelly's career in digital marketing has seen her work both in the UK and USA for some of the largest companies in the world, with clients including Etsy, Twitter and eBay.

She left a position as Head of Search Marketing for US based internet performance giant Dyn in 2013, where she was the youngest manager in the company, to return to the UK and start up Red Cow Media. Red Cow continues to go from strength to strength, having picked up a range of significant key clients including Bupa, Boohoo and Boy London with no external investment, no salespeople, and within a mere 3 and half years of trading. Independent client feedback for Red Cow consistently cites honesty, integrity and credibility as the main attributes associated with the company, which are prime characteristics on which Kelly has always placed importance.

Links

www.redcowmedia.co.uk

Presenter BIO

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Find out more about Andy’s media consultancy: www.andyjohnson.tv

Thank you for attending and hope you enjoyed the show. Please subscribe to our podcast for more industry discussions with more fantastic guests.

Next Episode

In the next episode we will be broadcasting mid-flow in an exciting Kickstarter campaign for Liverpool augmented reality specialist; Draw & Code.

Hear from the team, from owners to developers about their journey through the process in making and eventually crowdfunding the excellent "Swapbots"

You can visit the Kickstarter page now, and maybe even help them reach their target a little quicker through - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swapbots/swapbots-the-augmented-reality-toy-and-video-game?ref=3vtwap

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/

Twitter: @bulletproofagency

Overview

Bulletproof Agency Network are pleased to share with you our first proper podcast with guest, Al Mackin

In this episode we are taken on a journey will Al Mackin.

Guests

Our guest for this session is Al Mackin, CEO and Founder of Formisimo, Chairman and Founder of theEword, Chairman of Forever Manchester

Your Host

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Find out more about Andy’s media consultancy: www.andyjohnson.tv

Content Covered

(1) Formation, growth and exit from leading Manchester agency The E Word

(2) The story of Formisimo, from identification of potential through to concept realisation. From tech side project to exciting business in its own right

(3) Emergence of Nudgr, pushing the boundaries provided by Formisimo with complimentary technology provision

(4) Challenges in letting go from a successful business you've nurtured to pursue new unknown paths

(5) The importance of a strong ethical culture within the businesses built, from the top down, and crucially picking the right type of individual to pass the torch onto.

(6) Getting the right people involved to advise you on your journey, and the value of experienced non-exec directors

(7) Lessons learned and mistakes made along the way, and how useful that is in future decision making

(8) Differences between running a tech start up versus establishing a digital agency?

(9) Thoughts on the best ways to obtain investment as a tech business

Episode Guest

Al Mackin is founder of analytics start-up Formisimo, a technology company focused on improving online forms and checkouts by measuring and reporting on user behaviour.

He is the chairman of the charity Forever Manchester, that has delivered over £36m of funding to grass-roots groups across Greater Manchester.

Finally he is the founder of theEword, a content-focused Digital Marketing agency that works with brands like Merlin, Atkins, MMU, Co-op bank and Jockey.

Formisimo: http://www.formisimo.com/

Thanks

We would like to give our thanks to Audio Always (www.audioalways.com) or giving us a beautiful base to record this, and again, the team at Art of Podcast (www.artofpodcast.com) for making us sound awesome

Thanks for listening

Bulletproof is produced every month for your enjoyment and we would encourage

you to subscribe, recommend us to your friends and rate us on iTunes.

Please join us again for more real life stories from those leading lights that are pushing the northern creative agency scene forward

Next Episode

Our next episode will be recorded on site at Prolific North Live, where we will cover a range of topics from validity of apps, dealing with brand theft through to tips to win large contracts when you are a small player

http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/

Twitter: @BulletproAgency

Overview

Bulletproof Agency Network proudly presents our inaugural podcast.

This episode delves inside the Bulletproof Agency Network, helping you get an understanding of with who its for, what we aim to achieve and why.

Our guests for this session are the three founding members:

• Steve Kuncewicz, Partner at legal firm Slater & Gordon
• Paul Barnes, MD at My Accountancy Place
• Michael Henderson, Founder of commercial insurance broker, Risk Box

Your Host

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Find out more about Andy’s media consultancy: www.andyjohnson.tv

Content Covered

The topics we have tackled within this episode include:

(1) Overview of the three founders, their businesses and why they are positioned to help the creative industries

(2) What exactly is the Bulletproof Agency Network and what will it offer those who engage with it?

(3) How did the Bulletproof Agency Network come to be?

(4) What passions drive the venture and what are they looking to achieve?

(5) Why Podcasts?

(6) What would constitute success?

Episode Guests

Steve Kuncewicz is a principal lawyer in the business advisory team at Slater and Gordon Lawyers in Manchester.

He specialises in intellectual property, media and social media law with a particular emphasis on the creative, digital and technology sector. Steve is listed as a "recommended lawyer" in tier 2 of the Legal 500s 2014, 2015, and 2016 North West Technology, Media & Telecoms section.

He is a regular spokesperson, and has given interviews to the local and national press through BBC Breakfast, Sky News, ITV, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and LBC London.

Steve's first book, "Legal Issues of Web 2.0 and Social Media", was published in June 2011 and his second book "Legal Issues of Corporate Communication in the Online World" was published in June 2012.

As well as being a member of the Law Society's Technology & Law Reference Group, Steve also sits on the boards of various membership bodies, including as Co-Chair Of Creative ProManchester and the MPA. He was also a Trustee of NOISE Festival and is an Ambassador for Forever Manchester.

For more information on Slater and Gordon: www.slatergordon.co.uk/

Paul Barnes is MD and founder of My Accountancy Place, the UK's leading provider of outsourced accounting and finance services to digital creative businesses. Paul and My Accountancy Place offer advice, tools and support on how to build a profitable and healthy agency. 

For more information on My Accountancy Place: https://myaccountancyplace.co.uk/

Michael Henderson is the founder of Risk Box, an independently owned insurance specialist, dedicated to helping and protecting people and businesses working within the creative sectors.

For more information on Risk Box: http://www.riskboxuk.com/

Thanks

We would like to give our thanks to Audio Always (www.audioalways.com) where we've recorded this episode, and Art of Podcast (www.artofpodcast.com) for production and editing.

If this is your first time listening, which for most people it will be, being episode zero, then thanks for listening.

Bulletproof is produced every month for your enjoyment and we would love you to subscribe, recommend us to your friends and rate us on iTunes.

We hope you will join us again for engaging tales from interesting agency folk, and useful insights into the wonderful creative world of the North of England

Next Episode

In the next episode, the first proper one of the Bulletproof Agency Network, we will be talking to serial entrepreneur Al Mackin. From his years establishing leading Manchester agency, The E Word, to launching dual tech start-ups, Formisimo and Nudgr