James Reed: all about business

• 42. Silent Disco Founder: "I didn’t want to build a company; I wanted to build a feeling" | Toby Burns

  Great business ideas don’t have to be original, they just have to work. Some of the most successful startups are built by borrowing proven concepts, improving them, and executing better. That’s exactly how Toby Burns, founder and CEO of The Silent Disco Company, built a scalable business from a simple idea. In this week’s episode of All About Business, Toby shares how he turned a simple idea into a nationwide brand, built on clever systems, high-volume logistics, and relentless execution that started with a few headphones to now powering thousands of events across the UK.Toby breaks down what it takes to spot scalable business ideas, dominate a niche market, and build a company that runs without you, and also unpacks how to hire smart, stay lean, and keep innovation at the core of sustainable growth.Whether it’s starting a company, or looking for startup strategies that actually work, Toby’s journey is packed with practical insights you can borrow and scale.Links:Check out The Silent Disco Company’s website: Follow The Silent Disco Company on LinkedIn: Follow James Reed on LinkedInStart your free trial at Reed.ai NOW! All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

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• 41. The new poverty line: How working professionals are being pushed into hardship and what to do about it| Mark Game

  Just last week, a Data Analyst was forced to turn to charity to feed his family. Once secure in a stable profession, he is now among the growing number of educated, working professionals whose livelihoods have been eroded by soaring inflation, pushing them into hardship. And the crisis shows no signs of easing. In this week’s episode of All About Business, Mark Game, Co-Founder of The Bread and Butter Thing. They’ve built a business where commercial success and social impact go hand in hand, offering help by rescuing surplus food from major retailers and getting it into the hands of those who need it. Mark’s model of supermarket surplus into consistent, dignified support for thousands of working families proves that you can build a sustainable, logistics-driven business while maintaining dignity and delivering real impact. And your business can partner with them to drive meaningful change. James and Mark explore how poverty has changed, why stigma keeps people silent, and how The Bread and Butter Thing is using smart logistics and scalable systems to meet real human needs, with empathy, efficiency, and long-term impact that goes beyond just food on the table.02:27 The Bread and Butter Thing: Impact and operations07:28 Challenges and solutions in food redistribution09:06 The role of community and volunteers25:38 Mark Game's personal journey32:03 Building management teams35:16 Opening new hubs42:53 Community and confidence53:08 Sustainability and growth59:28 Future goals and reflectionsCheck out The Bread and Butter Thing’s website: Follow The Bread and Butter Thing on LinkedIn: Follow James Reed on LinkedInStart your free trial at Reed.ai NOW! All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

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• 40. Microsoft’s 6 principles for developing the best AI strategy | Jed Griffiths

  AI isn’t the future, it’s already reshaping the way we work, build, and compete. If you’re starting or looking to scale a business right now, understanding how to actually use AI, not just talk about it, could be your biggest edge.In this week’s episode of All About Business, Microsoft UK’s Chief Digital Officer Jed Griffiths shares what he’s seeing at the front lines of AI adoption. From how enterprises are deploying tools like Copilot to what’s coming next in automation and strategy, Jed offers a rare inside look at how the most powerful companies are thinking about the future of work.We break down what AI is really doing under the hood, and why it's more than just a productivity booster. Think smarter decisions, faster execution, new revenue models, and a whole new way to lead teams and run businesses. If you’re building something and want to stay ahead of the curve, or just want to stop feeling behind, this episode gives you a clear, honest view of where AI is going and how to get there first.01:37 Introduction03:20 Developing A Company AI Strategy07:54 What is Microsoft Co-Pilot?09:08 Productivity - Businesses Don't Use The Term Right12:09 2025 The Year of More AI Start Ups14:17 The Valley of Death18:26 Mentoring Startups20:59 Before Microsoft - High Tech Weapons27:37 The Four C's38:24 Will AI Humanize Work?41:07 Will AI Change Recruitment? What Happens to Reed?49:41 Microsoft's Six AI Principles01:03:39 What Gets Jed Up On Monday Mornings?01:04:45 Where Jed Will Be In Five YearsCheck out Microsoft Copilot’s website: Follow Jed Griffiths on LinkedIn: Follow James Reed on LinkedInStart your free trial at Reed.ai NOW! All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

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• 39. Smarter, fairer, faster: How AI is redefining graduate hiring | James Uffindell

  Most graduates leave university with a degree but little direction, but how do you figure out what to do with your life, and how do you actually get your foot in the door?In this week’s episode of All About Business, the founder of Bright Network James Uffindell shares the full journey. From his first venture helping students access top universities, to scaling Bright Network into one of the UK's leading platforms for connecting talent with opportunity.From a working-class upbringing in Warwickshire to founding Bright Network, a tech-driven platform used by over a million students, James has spent his career solving the problems he once faced himself.James talks about the crisis that led to their biggest innovation, how they scaled an internship program to 150,000 students, AI, data, understanding Gen Z behavior, and what employers really want when they say they’re looking for passion and resilience. If you’re building a startup, thinking about purpose, or wondering how to turn experience into impact, this episode is for you. James’s story is proof that you don’t have to come from the right family or know the right people, but you do need to listen, adapt, and keep showing up. 02:51 James Uffindell's background and inspiration04:10 Building Bright Network08:04 The importance of internships11:52 Personalisation and data utilization24:05 Impact of AI on job market36:55 The importance of office environments for young professionals39:31 The Bright Network platform and its benefits41:23 AI in recruitment and business growth51:03 Diversity and inclusion in the job market59:38 Future plans and expansionCheck out Bright Network’s website: Follow Bright Network on LinkedIn: Follow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

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• 38. The chemistry of growth: turning a mould problem into a thriving business | Byron Dixon, OBE

  Five years. Zero sales. No paycheck. Most people would’ve given up. Byron Dixon didn’t. Instead, he turned his chemistry knowledge and desire for change into Micro-Fresh. A breakthrough technology now used globally to fight mold, bacteria, and bad smells in everything from school shoes to hospital bedding.In this episode of All About Business, we meet Byron Dixon, scientist, entrepreneur, and founder of Micro-Fresh. He shares how he went from a council estate in Leicester to living in Denmark and learning from the Scandinavian way of life, to building a global brand that’s protecting lives, championing sustainability, and changing how retailers think about product longevity.Byron reveals the untold truth about bootstrapping a science business, the resilience it takes to go years without revenue, and how one unexpected call changed everything. He also shares how Micro-Fresh is tackling mold in homes, and why “Home-Fresh” might be his most important innovation yet. If you’ve ever doubted yourself, struggled to stay motivated, or wondered if your idea could really make a difference, this episode is for you.03:16 Why Did Byron Start MicroFresh?07:27 MicroFresh's Sustainability, Waste Reduction10:40 Designing A Non-Hazardous Environmentally Friendly Product18:46 Starting Without Advantages20:09 Open University25:18 Determination & No Fear of Failure26:25 The First Breakthrough28:40 Domino Effect - Competition Doesn't Want To Be Left Out31:00 Big Growth & Market Validation36:51 How Does A CEO Prioritize and Achieve Goals?39:59 Moving to the USA?47:03 Why Young People Feel They Can't Do This49:24 Switching Off The Phone51:00 Boredom as a source of creativity52:42 Putting the Phone and Social Media Away54:54 Top 3 Things We Should Import From Scandinavia59:41 Interview RoundCheck out Microfresh’s websiteFollow Microfresh on LinkedInFollow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

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