Alan Thompson recorded on 06/11/2024

Alan Thompson is the founder and Managing Director of Business Dad Ltd.

And is often recognised from the back of his head, usually in a photograph at an event where he can often be found hovering around the food and drink table.

Having been a Business Adviser under the EU-funded AD:Venture programme from 2018-2023, working with new start to 3 year old businesses offering advice, mentoring and being the one to hold them to account. When the EU funding finished, he set up Business Dad Ltd to continue working with small business owners on their daily challenges.

In a career spanning 50 years he’s worked in Asset Finance for 2 major banks, Business Recovery for 2 large accountancy practices, run his own retail, e-commerce and consultancy businesses and he brings all of that lived experience to the table to help his clients to succeed.

If you'd like to work with Alan you can contact him at: business-dad.co.uk

Or find him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanthompson-adv/

Colin Grist recorded on 04/09/2024

Colin Grist is the other Co-Founder and the Creative Director at Few and Far.

Few and Far help charities make the world a better place. Proud to work only with charities and do-good organisations in bringing their experience and expertise in digital to a sector in real need of support.

Colin worked for almost 15 years in digital - across design and development - creating award-winning work for organisations such as: WaterAid, The Bank of England, Blue Cross and Mind.

Colin speaks openly about his own mental health experiences both as a founder but also as a creative person and he set up a platform called 'Pressures & Perspectives' to help break the stigma around mental health in the creative industry.

Recently Colin became a Trustee at Leeds Mind and is also a qualified gym instructor & dance instructor, providing dance classes to the local community for over 3 years.

To find out more about Few and Far go to: https://www.fewandfar.co.uk/

Check out 1% For The Planet here: https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/

And if you're unfamiliar with B-Corps check their UK website here: https://bcorporation.uk/

You can buy Let My People Go Surfing here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/let-my-people-go-surfing/yvon-chouinard/naomi-klein/9780143109679

Other booksellers are available but my mate works at Waterstones.

You can also check out S04 E19 of Working Hours to hear from Colin's co founder Thomas Nadin.

Gillian Rogers recorded on 18/09/2024

Gillian Rogers is a retired GP and a member of the Royal College of General Practice. She is also the Founder and CEO of Autism Arena CIC, a non-profit community interest company set up to help families of autistic children navigate health & social care, education and leisure.

Gillian took medical retirement from the NHS after having a stroke 10 years ago. A mum of 3, a carer of autistic and neurodivergent children, she also has an acquired neurodiversity.

In Lockdown, when home-schooling, Gillian noticed her son was behaving differently and had some learning challenges. On checking the diagnostic criteria for autism, she realised that she needed to refer her son to be assessed for autism.

It was through doing that Gillian realised there was no easy way for non-doctors to access the information required to work out what to do for autistic child. Rather than every family having to go through a torturous process, she decided there had to be an easier way, and it would be very beneficial to others to share her knowledge skills and experience.

At the bottom of everything was a child who needed the right support to be able to reach their potential.

Gillian has set up a non-profit community interest company (CIC) to help families be stronger advocates for their children. She is delighted to have been awarded National Lottery Community Funding towards this work.

She’s created a website, organised online peer support sessions, educational webinars and attended events in schools to support families. Gillian also provide individual consultations for families and she says, “I have had lovely feedback, where my advice has made a difference to people's lives”.

To work with Gillian go to: www.autismarena.org.uk