Apollo Cloud has experienced remarkable growth, tripling its turnover in two years and winning around 80 customers, including a multinational, multi-billion dollar turnover company.

The technology business provides omnichannel telephony and comms services to customers who value the power of communication, including professional services, logistics and other firms, and educational organisations.

Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Michelle Atkinson reveals the power of putting the "special" back into being a specialist as she describes Apollo's philosophy, unique selling proposition, communication and customer service approach.

Michelle and her co-founder's shared love of the NASA Apollo Space Programme informed the business' name, and she describes a memorable trip to Cape Canaveral, plus:

• their work with schools in North Yorkshire, and providing bespoke services to the education sector

• achieving quality certifications including ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certifications within Apollo's first nine months

• Apollo's sustainability and tree-planing initiatives

• their startup and growth funding: initial finance came from the founders themselves, but they also secured a six-figure sum from the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) which accelerated their growth

• when chatbots and automated systems are often "unbearable" for customers, human connection is even more valued

• Apollo's quality commitment and hiring philosophy

• plans for the future, including potential acquisitions

What next?

• More about Apollo Cloud: https://www.apollocloud.co.uk/
• More about the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF): https://www.befund.org/about

FUNDED: Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Founders is a podcast by the Business Enterprise Fund a social enterprise dedicated to breaking the "finance shackles" faced by many small and medium-sized enterprises & social enterprises.

Find BEF online at https://www.befund.org and on LInkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-enterprise-fund/

• This podcast is produced and edited by Jamie Veitch https://www.jamieveitch.co.uk/
• The music is "Aerosol of my Love" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Artwork design by Research Retold https://www.researchretold.com

"I thought, right, I'm 43 and this is the thing that I need to do. This is my thing," says Chris Withers, inventor of the board game combining sports challenges with maths, Mi-box Live.

The former teaching assistant has designed and created an innovative board game and app that transforms mathematics learning into a fun, interactive experience.

Drawing on his background in education and his own experiences at school – "I was a good sportsman, but struggled to read and write at school. So I struggled to understand maths questions, even though I could do the maths," Chris designed a game that combines sports themes with mathematics to engage children in a way traditional worksheets hadn't.

Mi-box Live addresses a crucial gap in educational resources by making mathematics enjoyable, social, and accessible to players of all abilities.

With features that allow players of different skill levels to compete fairly, the game creates a unique learning environment where children are celebrating for engaging in maths, sometimes playing for hours without realising they're practicing essential skills.

In this episode, Chris covers:

• How his experiences as a teaching assistant inspired the creation of Mi-box Live
• The evolution of the game from simple classroom materials to a professional product
• Securing £50,000 from Innovate UK and a £70,000 loan from the Business Enterprise Fund
• Why the sports theme and competitive element are crucial to the game's success
• How the app enables family members of different abilities to play together
• Working with manufacturers in China to develop and refine the physical product
• His approach to protecting intellectual property across multiple territories
• Early success stories including children playing "two hours of maths on Christmas morning"
• Research showing improved speed and accuracy in mathematics after playing the game
• Building a two-pronged market approach targeting both schools and parents

What next?

• More about Mi-box Live: https://miboxlive.com
• More about the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF): https://www.befund.org/about

FUNDED: Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Founders is a podcast by the Business Enterprise Fund a social enterprise dedicated to breaking the "finance shackles" faced by many small and medium-sized enterprises & social enterprises.

Find BEF online at https://www.befund.org and on LInkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-enterprise-fund/

• This podcast is produced and edited by Jamie Veitch https://www.jamieveitch.co.uk/
• The music is "Aerosol of my Love" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Artwork design by Research Retold https://www.researchretold.com

Today's guest Kayleigh Laverick describes how she launched Mamma Social Co and, in just a few years, built it into national brand that is changing the landscape of parenthood.

In 2021 Kayleigh found herself feeling increasingly isolated and struggling after the birth of her second child. She is frank about how this culminated in thoughts of suicide.

She reached out to friends and met up with other mums, which swiftly confirmed that new mothers need more help. This and the knowledge of an 18-month waiting list for NHS support convinced Kayleigh to leave her job to set up Mamma Social in 2022. It offers free memberships, walks, talks and play sessions:

"We are on a mission to combat isolation and loneliness, one walk at a time. Mamma Social was a way for me to combat my personal PTSD and depression, and what started as a need for me to heal, quickly turned into a community need to heal."

Determined to ensure Mamma Social is a free community, Kayleigh tested varied revenue streams. She talks through what worked and what did not. As well has the support of her husband, family and friends, Kayleigh secured valuable mentoring and tells me how she went about this.

Mamma Social has been backed by BEF through both a startup loan and a loan via our fund for entrepreneurs in the North East. She tells us why debt finance plays a vital role within a business' growth journey.

Kayleigh is hugely protective of Mamma Social’s values – many brands want to work with it and she is careful what she says yes to. It’s a flourishing business and community and helps its members to thrive.

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Help for suicidal thoughts

This episode includes Kayleigh's description of her experiences.

If you're feeling like you want to end your life or are worried about someone else, help and support is available right now from free helplines, web chat services and text lines listed here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/help-for-suicidal-thoughts and here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/suicidal-feelings/useful-contacts/

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What next?

• More about Mamma Social:
• More about the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) https://www.befund.org/about and our north east fund https://www.befund.org/north-east

FUNDED: Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Founders is a podcast by the Business Enterprise Fund a social enterprise dedicated to breaking the "finance shackles" faced by many small and medium-sized enterprises & social enterprises.

Find BEF online at https://www.befund.org and on LInkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-enterprise-fund/

• This podcast is produced and edited by Jamie Veitch https://www.jamieveitch.co.uk/
• The music is "Aerosol of my Love" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Artwork design by Research Retold https://www.researchretold.com

What can Start Up loans be used for? How do you apply for a Start Up loan? And what information do you need to provide to give yourself the best chance of a successful application?

In the last few episodes we've heard from some of the entrepreneurs supported by BEF. There are many more to come.

But today, BEF Investment Manager Habib Karimi and Associate Investment Manager Amber Kershaw give us the benefit of their experience as they spill the beans on what makes for a successful Start Up loan application.

They also talk through some of the non-financial support BEF provides alongside Start Up and other loans; a typical day or week at BEF; and what they enjoy most about being part of the team.

What next?

• More about the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) https://www.befund.org/about

FUNDED: Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Founders is a podcast by the Business Enterprise Fund a social enterprise dedicated to breaking the "finance shackles" faced by many small and medium-sized enterprises & social enterprises.

Find BEF online at https://www.befund.org and on LInkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-enterprise-fund/

• This podcast is produced and edited by Jamie Veitch https://www.jamieveitch.co.uk/
• The music is "Aerosol of my Love" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Artwork design by Research Retold https://www.researchretold.com

Ellie Barden set up Grace Forge, her blacksmithing and metal fabrication business, six years ago.

She creates unique metalwork in mild steel, beautiful copper jewellery, and runs workshops. In this inspiring conversation relevant to independent craftspeople, makers and anyone interested in the art and business of blacksmithing, Ellie:

• Describes her journey from an apprenticeship as a farrier to running her own blacksmithing business
• Gives invaluable tips about advertising on Etsy, a platform used by many independent makers
• Covers the importance of investment into a business (Ellie is a Business Enterprise Fund client, using a loan for new equipment)
• Talks through her own process combining traditional and modern tools and techniques in blacksmithing, and how she weaves her inspirations from nature and architecture into her work
• Explains how she came to feel ready to run workshops
• Covers the value of building diverse income streams

Ellie is both fascinating and informative and we hope you enjoy this episode.

What next?

• More about Ellie's business, Grace Forge: https://www.graceforge.co.uk
• Ellie's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GraceForge
• Blacksmithing workshops: https://www.graceforge.co.uk/blacksmithing-workshops
• The Dunfell Shepherd’s Hut: https://www.graceforge.co.uk/dunfell-shepherds-hut
• More about the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF), which Ellie says was "the most personable company, it was an easy process, they were just so helpful and so down to earth, flexible and accommodating" https://www.befund.org/about

FUNDED: Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Founders is a podcast by the Business Enterprise Fund a social enterprise dedicated to breaking the "finance shackles" faced by many small and medium-sized enterprises & social enterprises.

Find BEF online at https://www.befund.org and on LInkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-enterprise-fund/

• This podcast is produced and edited by Jamie Veitch https://www.jamieveitch.co.uk/
• The music is "Aerosol of my Love" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Artwork design by Research Retold https://www.researchretold.com

"Rattle a tin in someone's face and you might get a pound, but if someone's having fun you might end up getting a lot more money for a good cause," says Rob Cairns, founder of Fund A Fest CIC. His business, a social enterprise, helps charities, community groups and social enterprises create fundraising events.

Fund A Fest launched in 2019 after the "world had changed" when Rob was ill and subsequently diagnosed with Lyme disease. This pushed Rob to want to work for himself with charitable and community-focused organisations.

He draws on a team of hundreds of independent artists, musicians, re-enactors, artisans, living history specialists, street performers, mural artists, funfair rides and local businesses to deliver fantastic and memorable events that raise vital funds for his clients.

Rob has used BEF finance for both startup and business growth to support large capital expenditures, which he covers in this episode, along with great tips about running effective fundraising events, and:

• why organisations shouldn't be selfish when it comes to fundraising
• what Rob valued about the Start-Up Loan scheme and about working with BEF
• his background working in banking as a financial consultant and his concerns about "computer says no"
• the skills and experience Rob brought to his business
• why community centres, charities and other organisations use event management services
• being a member of the Armed Forces Covenant and working with Point North and Historic England
• plans to secure a depot and deliver training and apprenticeships, and to expand in other ways
• an invitation to larger businesses to partner with Fund A Fest

What next?

• More about Fund A Fest CIC https://fundafest.co.uk/about-event/
• Event videos and photos on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/fundafest1/
• More about the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF): https://www.befund.org/about

FUNDED: Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Founders is a podcast by the Business Enterprise Fund a social enterprise dedicated to breaking the "finance shackles" faced by many small and medium-sized enterprises & social enterprises.

Find BEF online at https://www.befund.org and on LInkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-enterprise-fund/

• This podcast is produced and edited by Jamie Veitch https://www.jamieveitch.co.uk/
• The music is "Aerosol of my Love" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Artwork design by Research Retold https://www.researchretold.com

Shaun's business transports around 900 children each day and currently holds around 150 contracts with local authorities and NHS Trusts.

It provides vital transport to wheelchair users, disabled people and children, and vulnerable members of the public. It has grown from a first year turnover of £325,000 to reach a million pounds in its third year, then three million, with a projection for six million this year, and operates a growing fleet of vehicles – including EVs – all of which are fully accessible so the firm can satisfy a wide range of passenger and journey requirements.

While demand and growth have been dramatic, the business has multiple large expenses and its clients' payment terms or patterns can mean it is paid on 60 or even 90 days.

When it needed to borrow, banks could not help and it resorted to invoice finance, which provide expensive and inflexible. So when a broker put Shaun in touch with the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) it proven an efficient and lower cost way to access the finance it needed. Hyde's first, £125,000 loan was followed by another and it has invested in additional vehicles and created jobs because of this finance. It now holds three times as many contracts as when it approached BEF. Shaun covers the business' history, and:

• meeting the Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds
• the importance of having the right equipment
• getting the right finance at the right time
• what to do if you want to secure contracts with local authorities and public sector authorities.

Also on this episode: BEF investment manager, Chris Conroy, on what a business can do to put itself into the best possible position to apply for finance.

What next?

• More about Hyde Accessible Transport: https://www.3939tameside.co.uk
• More about the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF): https://www.befund.org/about

FUNDED: Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Founders is a podcast by the Business Enterprise Fund a social enterprise dedicated to breaking the "finance shackles" faced by many small and medium-sized enterprises & social enterprises.

Find BEF online at https://www.befund.org and on LInkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-enterprise-fund/

• This podcast is produced and edited by Jamie Veitch https://www.jamieveitch.co.uk/
• The music is "Aerosol of my Love" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Artwork design by Research Retold https://www.researchretold.com

Ben is Chief Enchantment Officer of The Potions Cauldron Group which incorporates The Hole In Wand mini golf courses in Blackpool, Chester, Seaham and York, The Potions Cauldron – magical "emporiums and experiences" in Edinburgh and York, and a website selling drinks across the world.

He and business partner Phil Ponder turned down an amazing offer (and then an even MORE amazing one) on Dragon's Den. He tells the story, explores the pros and cons of equity and debt finance, and describes why they approached the Business Enterprise Fund.

Ben, York's Town Crier, covers:

• why he and Phil are passionate about the communities where they run their businesses
• why manufacturing is harder than expected – but gives a retail business more control
• how the pandemic led to diversification to mini golf courses
• the media, especially the power of local media
• what he'd do if he could wave a magic wand for business (which, er, he can)
• insights on getting investment
• the "secret sauce" to stand out as an immersive, experiential business

It's a spellbinding episode (sorry).

What next?

• More about The Potions Cauldron https://www.thepotionscauldron.com/
• More about The Hole In Wand https://www.theholeinwand.com
• More about the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF): https://www.befund.org/about

FUNDED: Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Founders is a podcast by the Business Enterprise Fund a social enterprise dedicated to breaking the "finance shackles" faced by many small and medium-sized enterprises & social enterprises.

Find BEF online at https://www.befund.org and on LInkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-enterprise-fund/

• This podcast is produced and edited by Jamie Veitch https://www.jamieveitch.co.uk/
• The music is "Aerosol of my Love" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Artwork design by Research Retold https://www.researchretold.com