Lancashire Business Stories

Business stories from the North West of England (and sometimes further afield)Hear from successful business owners with a great story to tell and from others who you can all learn from.Take action, watch, listen, learn and implement to grow yourself and your business.

Lancashire Business Stories is a business podcast hosted by Paul Limb, with 26 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Paul Limb hosts Lancashire Business Stories, a business show with 26 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #28

  From Pot Washer to Hotelier Extraordinaire: Michael Huckerby’s Inspiring Story

  Aug 18, 202653 minS1

  Michael Huckerby on Building Huckerby Hotels: From Hospitality Roots to Award-Winning Weddings, Distilling, and Wellness Michael Huckerby shares his journey from leaving catering college and working in hospitality from age 13 to owning Huckerby Hotels: The Lawrence, a multi-award-winning townhouse boutique hotel in Padiham (bought 2017, opened 2018, now sleeping 52 and hosting weddings, conferences, and themed events), and Springbank Manor (formerly The Whitehall Hotel) in Darwen, acquired August 2024 and extensively renovated with larger wedding capacity, restaurant spaces, and an on-site gin and vodka distillery. He describes moving through restaurants, magazines, property, and a design agency, using property gains—including a Florida house appreciation—to fund hotel investment, and explains how COVID nearly felt like “losing it all” but the hotel stayed open for essential workers and community support. He emphasizes listening and adapting, values and culture, creating “raving fans,” dog-friendly service, and building management structure before considering a third hotel, with a new wellness area (The Woods Wellness) opening Oct 31. 00:00 Meet Michael Huckerby 01:12 Two Hotels Overview 02:00 Early Career Setbacks 03:47 Hotel Industry Realities 05:11 From Hospitality to Media 06:18 Magazines Restaurants Property 08:33 Agency Success Misery 10:15 Leaving Property Behind 11:14 Accidental Padiham Find 14:46 Growing The Lawrence 16:34 COVID Survival Pivot 22:51 Values Culture Giving 24:16 Buying Second Hotel 26:18 Springbank Manor Renovation 27:28 Private Events Spaces 27:58 Wellness Contrast Therapy 29:08 Hands On Leadership 30:26 Listen And Adapt 31:55 Experiences Drive Loyalty 37:42 Make Raving Fans 41:07 Future Growth Plans 44:08 Advice And Inspirations 50:11 Unreasonable Hospitality 52:43 Wrap Up And Contact PODCAST LINKS Huckerby Hotels Website: https://www.huckerbyhotels.co.uk/ Michael’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-huckerby-2518b514/ ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/ Do you want to increase the value of your business asset? Take the ValueBuilder Assessment now to score the 8 key drivers of value in your business and get your free report: ⁠⁠ https://score.valuebuildersystem.com/actioncoach-bolton/paul-limb

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  Episode #25

  From Employee to Entrepreneur: Ben Griffiths' Inspiring Journey

  Aug 16, 20261h 5mS1

  Ben Griffiths on Building Clever IT: From Early IT Passion to Scaling a Modern MSP Ben Griffiths discusses Clever IT, a managed service provider delivering IT support, proactive monitoring, projects, and fractional IT leadership for clients ranging from solo consultants to 250+ computer, multi-office firms. A major focus is cybersecurity—staff training, phishing awareness, and the limits of multi-factor authentication—alongside Microsoft 365/Azure migrations, with some support for Google Workspace. Ben shares his path from paper rounds and early tech/acting interests to leaving sixth form for an IT role, studying an HNC while working, joining BNI, and progressing at Boss Office to director and MD before founding Clever in 2011 after a failed shareholder venture. An investor quickly backed him; intense early work led to rapid growth to 22 staff and ~£3m sales, targeting £5m via a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses plan. Key challenges include hiring for values and communication, delegation, resilience, and financial prudence. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:56 What Clever IT Does 01:54 Cybersecurity and Training 04:39 Cloud and Infrastructure Choices 06:04 Microsoft vs Google Workspace 09:08 Ben’s Early Work Ethic 12:17 IT Passion and Acting Years 14:23 Dropping Out for Real IT Work 19:24 Networking Breakthrough with BNI 21:33 Boss Office Career and Growth 24:52 Launching Clever IT 27:16 Administration Shock and Investor 31:01 Grinding Through the First Year 33:44 Scaling Up to Today 34:25 Back on Tech Tools 35:36 Delegation Mindset Shift 38:00 Scaling Plans and Service 41:32 Acquisitions and Succession 45:39 Hiring for Attitude 50:19 Careers and Finding Purpose 56:41 Developing People and Retention 59:30 Advice for New Founders 01:04:07 Books and Getting in Touch PODCAST LINKS Clever I.T. Website: https://www.clever-it.com/ Ben’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengriffithsbolton/ Clever I.T. LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-clever-ltd-/ ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/ Do you want to increase the value of your business asset? Take the ValueBuilder Assessment now to score the 8 key drivers of value in your business and get your free report: ⁠⁠ https://score.valuebuildersystem.com/actioncoach-bolton/paul-limb

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  Episode #24

  From Race Cars to Construction Sites: Mark Allen Taylor's Unique Career Path

  Aug 12, 202629 minS1

  Mark Allen Taylor on Slate Developments North West: Commercial Construction, Fit-Outs, and Growing Through a Downturn Mark Allen Taylor discusses founding Slate Developments North West in 2023, a construction company focused mainly on commercial and industrial work, delivering everything from groundworks and steelwork to electrical, decoration, shop fitting, refurbishments, and full fit-outs. He highlights key projects including a multimillion-pound manufacturing silo/production plant build in Hull early in his career and a recent conversion of a disused building into a mixed breakout, quiet reflection, and learning space for a client. Taylor describes moving from a first-class motorsport engineering degree into construction via his grandad’s long-running Slate Developments Limited, then being thrust into ownership after his grandad’s illness and death, with support from his wife Ruby (AV Collective). He covers challenges of business ownership, the current economic downturn’s impact on construction, advice to keep learning and seek support, future goals to build a medium-sized firm, and contact details via website, LinkedIn, and email. 00:00 Welcome and Intro 00:51 What Slate Does 02:10 Favorite Projects 04:48 From Motorsport to Construction 08:00 Taking Over After Loss 10:23 Early Ownership Challenges 13:58 Surviving the Downturn 18:26 Future Goals and Growth 19:51 What Sets Them Apart 21:51 Advice and Mindset 25:19 Support Systems and Inspiration 28:19 How to Contact Slate 29:05 Closing Thanks PODCAST LINKS Slate Developments Website : https://www.slatedevelopments.co.uk/ Mark’s LinkedIn Profile : https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-allen-taylor-8759bb106/ Slate Developments LinkedIn Page : https://www.linkedin.com/company/slate-developments-nw-limited/ ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton ActionCOACH Bolton Events : https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 Paul’s LinkedIn Profile : https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/ Do you want to increase the value of your business asset? Take the ValueBuilder Assessment now to score the 8 key drivers of value in your business and get your free report: ⁠⁠ https://score.valuebuildersystem.com/actioncoach-bolton/paul-limb ⁠

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  Episode #23

  Breaking Barriers in Business: Jo Dyke's Journey

  Aug 10, 202633 minS1

  Jo Dyke on Building Lostock Skip Hire: Service, Acquisition Growth, and Surviving Rising Costs Jo Dyke discusses her path from sixth-form business studies and early jobs in a pub and a Bolton call centre to joining her family skip business, learning every role, and taking over in her 20s in a male-dominated industry. After failed family buyouts, she left in 2015, then partnered with a customer in 2016 to buy the business, combining her operational knowledge with his financial expertise. She explains differentiating through service, community support, accreditations (including DVSA Earned Recognition), major fleet investment, and growth through acquisitions (Bolton Skip Hire, A1 Skips, Able Skips, Preston Skip Hire). She covers compliance, a near-fatal surgery complication that changed her mindset and delegation, buying out her partner to become 100% owner, current pressures from fuel and wage increases, and launching a new man-and-van waste collection service, plus advice on research, cash reserves, and monitoring management accounts. 00:00 Welcome and Format 01:14 Early Jobs and Studies 02:00 Joining the Family Skip Firm 02:20 Leading Young in a Tough Industry 02:44 Walking Away and New Partner 05:29 Growing in a Competitive Market 07:02 Investing in Fleet and Compliance 07:43 Acquisitions and Price Wars 09:49 Safety Audits and New Offices 10:39 Health Scare and Stepping Back 12:39 Buying Out the Partner 14:19 100 Percent Ownership Mindset 15:17 Adam Joins the Business 15:57 Building the Management Team 16:54 Acquisitions and Team Culture 17:22 Fuel Costs and Survival Mode 18:33 Growth Plans and New Services 19:27 Succession and Legacy Questions 20:04 Women in a Male Industry 22:45 Advice for New Entrepreneurs 24:36 Tracking Numbers and KPIs 25:59 Waste Handling and Fire Safety 27:30 Learning Resources and Mindset 28:43 How to Contact Lostock Skips 29:42 Final Thanks and Wrap Up PODCAST LINKS Lostock Skip Hire Website: http://www.lostockskips.co.uk/ Jo’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-dyke-183aaa95/ Lostock Skip Hire LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lostock-skip-hire-ltd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lostockskiphire ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/ Do you want to increase the value of your business asset? Take the ValueBuilder Assessment now to score the 8 key drivers of value in your business and get your free report: ⁠⁠ https://score.valuebuildersystem.com/actioncoach-bolton/paul-limb

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  Episode #22

  A Caring Touch: Suzanne Waring's Path to Business Success

  Aug 7, 202648 minS1

  Suzanne Waring on Growing Helping Hands: Cleaning, Property Maintenance, and Private Home Care Suzanne Waring explains that the Helping Hands Group, founded in 1999, provides domestic and commercial cleaning, laundry, and property maintenance across the Ribble Valley and wider Lancashire, and more recently employs nurses and healthcare assistants to support elderly and vulnerable clients at home. She describes her career path from secretarial study and a long stint with Lancashire Constabulary (progressing to admin manager) to starting her own cleaning business for flexibility after having twin boys, then expanding organically as clients requested ironing, commercial work, gardening, and maintenance. Suzanne emphasizes always employing staff (now around 40), prioritizing values and attitude over skills, promoting supervisors from within, and being “system obsessed.” She discusses VAT threshold turbulence, the loneliness of leadership, outsourcing weak areas like IT and HR/legal, and launching private home care driven by poor care-system experiences and family dementia, tailoring support to client needs with consistency and communication. 00:00 Meet Helping Hands 01:28 Where They Operate 02:02 From School to Constabulary 04:02 Twins and a Career Pivot 04:53 Starting the Cleaning Business 05:32 Hiring and Building a Team 06:45 Why Employ Not Contract 08:01 Hiring for Attitude 15:55 Systems Trust and Support 18:12 Weaknesses and Outsourcing 22:15 Adding Services Organically 23:52 Launching Home Care Services 26:47 Tailored Care Approach 27:16 Dad’s Care Struggles 28:40 Values Over Scale 29:38 Care Sector Cash Cow 31:15 Behind the Scenes Ops 31:58 Founder’s Daily Role 33:14 Stepping Back Confidently 34:21 Polishing and Hiring 36:35 Choices Not Retirement 39:16 Succession and Exit Plans 40:38 Life Outside Work 41:33 Advice and Leadership Style 46:48 Contact and Wrap Up PODCAST LINKS Helping Hands Website: https://thehelpinghandsgroup.co.uk/ Suzanne’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-waring-8651b135/ Helping Hands LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-helping-hands-group-lancashire/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelpingHandsGroupLTD/ ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/ Do you want to increase the value of your business asset? Take the ValueBuilder Assessment now to score the 8 key drivers of value in your business and get your free report: ⁠⁠ https://score.valuebuildersystem.com/actioncoach-bolton/paul-limb ⁠

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