What happens when one of the country's most trusted financial institutions stops living up to its name?

In this episode, Dani and Si unpack the extraordinary rise and dramatic collapse of Equitable Life, once regarded as one of the safest and most respected pension providers in the UK. Built on centuries of trust and pioneering financial thinking, it became the centre of one of Britain's biggest pension scandals.

Together, they explore how guaranteed annuity rates, changing economic conditions, and years of poor decision-making created a financial time bomb that left more than a million policyholders paying the price. As the cracks widened, bonuses continued to be paid, new policies were sold, and questions grew over whether the business had become dangerously dependent on money from new members.

The conversation follows the devastating impact on ordinary savers, many of whom saw their retirement plans shattered after doing everything they believed was financially responsible. Dani and Si also examine the failures of regulators, management, and government, alongside the remarkable determination of campaigners who spent years fighting for justice.

This isn't just a story about pensions. It's a conversation about trust, accountability, and what happens when the institutions we're told to rely on fail the people they're meant to protect.

Grab a brew and join the conversation.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

Is Britain calling last orders on one of its most iconic institutions?

In this episode, Danni and Si pull up a chair and explore the story behind the British pub crisis. From Roman taverns and medieval ale houses to Victorian gin palaces and modern locals, they trace how pubs became far more than places to grab a drink. They became the heart of communities, friendships, celebrations, and everyday life.

But why are so many disappearing?

Danni and Si unpack the complex mix of rising business rates, soaring energy costs, alcohol duty, supermarket competition, changing drinking habits, and shifting attitudes towards alcohol that have left thousands of pubs struggling to survive.

The conversation also looks at the innovative ways the industry is fighting back. From micro pubs and brewery tap rooms to community-owned venues, new models are emerging that put connection and local identity back at the centre of the experience.

Along the way, they discuss the role of chains like Wetherspoons, the balance between affordability and authenticity, and what happens to communities when their social spaces disappear.

Funny, nostalgic, and surprisingly thought-provoking, this episode asks a simple question: when a pub closes, what are we really losing?

Grab a brew and join the conversation.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

What happens when doing the right thing comes at the cost of your career?

In this episode, Dani and Si tackle the uncomfortable subject of whistleblowing and ask a question that sounds simple but rarely has a simple answer: are whistleblowers heroes, troublemakers, or something in between?

Together, they explore what really happens when someone inside an organisation raises concerns about wrongdoing. While policies and public statements promise protection, the reality is often very different. Careers can be derailed, reputations damaged, and lives turned upside down.

Drawing on major UK cases including Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, the Shrewsbury and Telford maternity scandal, and the Lucy Letby inquiry, Dani and Si examine how cultures of fear, reputation management, and institutional self-preservation can override ethics, accountability, and even patient safety.

The conversation also ventures into some of the world's most controversial whistleblowing cases, including Edward Snowden and Julian Assange, while unpacking why existing legal protections often fail the very people they are designed to protect.

Along the way, they discuss whether meaningful reform is possible, what role leadership plays in creating safe cultures, and why ordinary people continue to speak up despite the personal risks involved.

Thought-provoking, frustrating, and surprisingly hopeful, this episode explores the individuals who refuse to look the other way and asks whether organisations truly want the truth, or only when it's convenient.

Grab a brew and join the conversation.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

What does success actually mean?

Not the Instagram version. Not the LinkedIn version. Not the version that tells you success is six-figure months, luxury cars, 5:30am starts, and an endless grind.

Just success. For you.

In this episode, Dani and Si explore how our definition of success has evolved from a simple measure of outcomes into something heavily tied to money, status, and external validation. Along the way, they unpack the psychology behind happiness and fulfilment, challenge some of the biggest myths around wealth and wellbeing, and look at why people who win the lottery often end up no happier than before.

The conversation explores alternative perspectives from around the world, including Japan's concept of ikigai, Bhutan's focus on Gross National Happiness, and Māori ideas around community, contribution, and purpose.

As always, the discussion gets personal. Dani and Si share their own experiences as business owners, including the reality of chasing income goals, working with the wrong clients, and discovering that freedom and autonomy can sometimes feel more valuable than a bigger bank balance.

At the heart of this episode is a simple but powerful idea: you can't follow someone else's definition of success. You have to create your own.

Whether you're building a business, changing careers, or simply questioning what you're working towards, this episode will leave you reflecting on what success really looks like once the noise is stripped away.

Grab a brew and join the conversation.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

This one is difficult listening at times, but it’s a story that needs to be told.

Dani and Si take a closer look at the vaginal mesh scandal, one of the biggest medical controversies in recent UK history, and a stark example of what can happen when systems fail the very people they’re supposed to protect.

What began as a seemingly simple solution for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse was promoted as a quick, minimally invasive procedure for thousands of women. Instead, many were left facing chronic pain, life-changing complications, loss of mobility, damaged relationships, and years of fighting to have their experiences believed.

We explore how vaginal mesh became widely adopted despite significant concerns, why so many women found their symptoms dismissed or ignored, and the role major manufacturers played in bringing these products to market. We also unpack the findings of the Cumberlege Review, which exposed serious failings in consent, reporting, regulation, and patient care.

Along the way, we discuss accountability, product liability, the slow progress towards compensation, and the campaigners who refused to stay silent. Most importantly, we examine the wider question at the heart of this story: what happens when profit, convenience, and institutional self-protection outweigh the responsibility to put patients first?

A powerful conversation about trust, transparency, and the women whose persistence forced a system to listen.

Proudly sponsored by Tina Engelmann

When it comes to pelvic health, too many women are told that leaking when they laugh, living with prolapse, pain during intimacy, or struggling after birth is simply something they have to put up with. Tina Engelmann as a C-Section & Hysterectomy Transformation Coach is on a mission to change that. Tina is the top specialist in C-section recovery and pelvic floor health, she helps women understand what’s really happening in their bodies, busting myths and providing evidence based support for issues including incontinence, prolapse, pelvic pain, and postnatal recovery.

Through her educational content and practical guidance, Tina is helping women feel informed, empowered, and confident in seeking the support they deserve.

To learn more, visit c-sectionrecovery.co.uk and follow Tina's work on Instagram and Facebook for expert advice, myth-busting insights, and practical support for your pelvic health journey.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

Grab a brew and a custard slice, because this one is proof that sometimes the prettiest shop window hides the messiest books. ☕🍰

Dani and Si dig into the very British scandal behind Patisserie Valerie, the high street favourite that looked like the perfect success story right up until a £40 million black hole appeared in the accounts.

We start with the nostalgia. Strawberry tarts, fancy coffees, little French café vibes and queues out the door. On the surface, the business looked polished, profitable, and booming. Behind the scenes, fictional finances and serious questions about oversight were quietly building for years.

We unpack how the company grew from a single Soho patisserie into a national chain backed by entrepreneur Luke Johnson, and how everything unravelled almost overnight after a routine bank check uncovered a winding up petition no one seemed to know about. We get into the alleged role of a small group inside the finance team, why prestigious auditors Grant Thornton missed warning signs for so long, and the millions Luke Johnson poured in trying to stop the collapse.

Along the way, we talk about the human fallout too. Store closures, lost jobs, wiped out investments, and a legal case that still hasn’t reached trial despite the scandal breaking back in 2018. Because apparently corporate justice moves slower than the queue for brunch on a Sunday morning.

And somehow, despite all of it, Patisserie Valerie still survives in a handful of locations. Cakes and all.

A conversation about growth, greed, blind spots, and why sometimes the numbers behind the counter matter a lot more than the pastries in the window.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

This one starts with a tired businessman in a taxi and ends with Formula One dominance, space jumps, and one of the most powerful lifestyle brands on the planet. ☕️🥤

We crack open the surprisingly wild story behind Red Bull, from its roots as a Thai roadside tonic for truck drivers to becoming a global brand selling billions of cans worldwide. We follow Austrian marketer Dietrich Mateschitz from the moment he discovered “Krating Daeng” during a jet lagged trip, through years of experts insisting there was no market for energy drinks, to building a company that completely rewrote the rules of branding.

This isn’t just about a fizzy drink. We get into how Red Bull sold identity, adrenaline, and lifestyle instead of ingredients, sponsoring extreme sports, creating its own outrageous events, and somehow turning a Formula One team bought for $1 into a dominant force on the grid.

We also dive into some of Red Bull’s boldest moments, including the Stratos space jump, the ongoing debates around energy drinks and health, and why Mateschitz refused to take the company public in order to protect long term brand building over quick shareholder wins.

From marketing genius to modern mythology, this conversation explores how Red Bull became far bigger than a drink, and whether the brand can keep its wings without the visionary founder who built the empire.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

Is there a hidden ingredient in your pint?
In this episode of Business & a Brew, we dive into the surprising story behind glyphosate – the active ingredient in Roundup weed killer – and its journey from farm fields to your beer glass.

We unpack how a herbicide developed by Monsanto and now owned by Bayer became one of the most widely used chemicals on the planet, and why World Health Organization has classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, what that actually means in real terms, and why regulators like the US EPA and the European Food Safety Authority don’t all agree. We get into how glyphosate ends up in everyday products like barley, beer and wine, often at trace levels, and the implications of a major US Supreme Court case that could reshape how chemical companies are held accountable for harm. Along the way, there’s a personal story from Si’s allotment days, including what “I’ll nuke it” really meant, a breakdown of the multi billion dollar lawsuits facing Bayer, and an honest chat about what consumers can realistically take from all of this, including whether it would actually stop anyone ordering a pint.

We also touch on the wider context, including the fact that glyphosate has been found in many popular beer brands, typically at levels well below legal limits, and why “probable carcinogen” doesn’t mean a pint is going to give you cancer but does raise important questions about long term exposure. We explore how regulators and researchers often approach risk differently, asking whether something can cause harm versus whether it does under real world conditions, which is why conclusions can conflict. The conversation rounds out with what this means for the future, from the potential impact of ongoing legal cases to the growing importance of transparency in brewing, sourcing and farming practices as part of building trust with consumers.

If you haven't listened to our Monsanto/Bayer episodes - heres the quick link to Part 1 and Part 2

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.