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Ever had that moment where the sensible plan suddenly stops feeling big enough? That’s exactly where this conversation with Shelly Antczak from Raspberry HR begins.

We chat about growing up in Ipswich, loving the structure of school, studying business with a marketing career in mind, and then somehow falling headfirst into HR instead. What started as an unexpected detour became a 15-year career packed with challenges, opportunities, and one surprise promotion that changed everything.

Along the way, Shelly shares what people leadership really looks like behind the scenes. We talk about why the perfect CV isn’t always the most important thing, what makes a great hire, and why good HR is usually about helping people find solutions rather than policing problems.

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In this episode, we sit down with Simon Bennett, CEO of Vinttro, whose career starts far from boardrooms! Working as an Ipswich panel beater before building and scaling high-growth insurance and claims businesses, completing a successful exit, and then launching a new venture designed with acquisition in mind from day one.

Simon takes us back to the early grind: YTS schemes, long hours, saying yes to every shift, and building practical skills while others were still figuring out their direction. Those early lessons set the tone for everything that followed.

He then moves into insurance claims, learning office life from scratch and quickly rising through the ranks faster than expected. But the journey isn’t smooth.

We dive into the messy reality of growth, corporate takeovers, outsourcing pressures, and the moment Simon realised service quality was slipping and something needed to change. That turning point led to the creation of CAA, built through lean years, big risks, and eventually growing into a major local employer.

If you’re into entrepreneurship, scaling businesses, or just honest founder stories with no filter, this one’s for you.

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