The FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) has been around for over fifty years. But how much do you actually know about what it does, and whether it is relevant to you?

In this episode of the South East Business Show, Sian Murphy is joined by co-host Adelle Martin and two guests from the FSB: Jane Martin, Business Connector for the South East, and Alison Turner, Regional Development Manager. Together they cover what the FSB does beyond membership, how it takes grassroots problems directly to Westminster policymakers, and why the networking events running across Kent, Sussex and Surrey are genuinely different from the ones that cost a fortune and expect you to pitch before you have had a coffee.

There is also a frank conversation about entrepreneurial thinking in schools, neurodiversity in business, cash flow, late payments legislation, and the growth hubs across the South East that most businesses are simply not using.

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Thanks to our show sponsor The Executive Resilience Coach. Visit https://www.executiveresiliencecoach.co.uk for more information.

In this episode of the South East Business Show, hosts Sian and Adelle welcomed two guests with very different businesses, and a surprisingly aligned mission.

Kathy Hayman, Mindset Coach, NLP Practitioner and Founder of Better Minds Better Business Ltd, joined the show to talk about workplace wellbeing from both a legal and a human perspective.

Nick Inge, owner of iTrust, shared the story of how nearly twenty years in policing where he was involved in recruiting and managing informants has led him to build a feedback software platform that is now being used by organisations across the globe.

Kathy opened up a conversation that many small business owners will recognise: the gap between knowing you should look after your team and actually having the tools to do it. She explained that the legal obligation to carry out a workplace stress risk assessment starts with just one employee, and that the majority of small businesses simply don't know this. Better Minds Better Business addresses this through a membership model that covers the legal requirements, practical wellbeing resources and access to a network of over 30 professional support providers — supporting not just the team, but the business owner carrying the weight of it all.

Nick's journey from policing to software is one of those stories that makes complete sense in hindsight. Starting with a mobile phone hotline for football parents in Maidstone, iTrust has evolved into a QR-code-enabled platform that allows any stakeholder — anywhere in the world — to report concerns, offer praise, make suggestions or flag issues, with reports landing directly in the client's inbox. The platform is now used by hotel groups, the English Football League, a major UK security company and organisations working in modern day slavery compliance. Nick also shared that he has given evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group on whistleblowing legislation, and has written two books on the subject - both available on Amazon.

The episode also included a South East business round-up, with news on DPD's major new distribution investment in the region, Kent's first sixth-form science park at Discovery Park in Sandwich, and upcoming events including the Medway Business and School Showcase. Adelle announced that her grassroots network Stronger Together has won the FSB South East Community Business Award, with a potential national win on the horizon.

Thanks to our show sponsor The Executive Resilience Coach. Visit https://www.executiveresiliencecoach.co.uk for more information.

What funding is actually available for small businesses right now, and how do you access it?

Sian Murphy and Adelle Martin are joined by Sean Henry from Medway Council and Susan Berdo from Kent County Council to break down real opportunities for local businesses.

They cover grants through Medway Together, the Shopfront Improvement Fund, and 0% Interest Small Business Boost loans, as well as the support available through the Kent and Medway Growth Hub.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about applying for funding, this episode explains what’s out there and how to get started.

Thanks to our show sponsor The Executive Resilience Coach. Visit https://www.executiveresiliencecoach.co.uk for more information