The Downtown Den Podcast

EP.11 - Downtown Den: Brummie Business (ft. Jamil Shabir, Christina Wadlow, Prof. Nassim Belbaly and Sarah Grace)

Chairman of Downton in Business Birmingham Prof. Paul Cadman invited Jamil Shabir from Bootcamp Media, Christina Wadlow from Western Union, Prof. Nassim Belbaly from BCU and Sarah Grace from Kate&Co into the Downtown Den to discuss all things Brummie Business. A riveting conversation between a mix of business leaders from the region expressing their opinions on the current business landscape and how it’s affecting their company and their wider industries, sound business advice and how to continue trading with integrity.

EP.10 - Downtown Den: Hospitality Sector, The Northern Powerhouse Pt.2 (ft. Abi Dunn and Tomas Maunier)

In our latest hospitality webinar, Head of Events Helen Bamford spoke to Abi Dunn, Founder of Sixty Eight People and Tomas Maunier, Managing Director of City District on the rapid changes they faced as the Coronavirus spread and how it affected their businesses. Staff have gone from one extreme to the other working in a fast-paced, busy environments to not working at all so we also discussed how they are currently engaging with the staff and business heroes with a special mention for Kate Nicholas, Chief Executive of UK Hospitality.

EP.9 - Downtown Den: Colin Sinclair

Downtown Director, Chris McKenna was joined in the ‘The Downtown Den’ by CEO of Knowledge Quarter and Sciontec Liverpool, Colin Sinclair to discuss what is happening at The Knowledge Quarter, the research into #COVID19 at Liverpool Science Park, the Hospitality Industry and his hopes for the football and rugby seasons to return so he can see his beloved Liverpool and Sale Sharks triumph.

EP.8 - Downtown Den: The Liverpool Visitor Economy

Leading personalities from Liverpool’s hospitality sector visited the Downtown Den to discuss the challenges, trials, tribulations and solutions in an honest discussion about the state they’re in.

EP.7 - Downtown Den: Taking Care of Business (ft. Paul Cheetham)

The Managing Director of financial firm Sedulo, Paul Cheetham, brought his big personality into the Downtown Den to give us a lively interpretation of what the many government pronouncements on financial help for business actually mean. He tells us how you can access the help you need NOW and discusses some of those more intricate issues that we still need answers to. For those who want to find out more about Paul’s journey and his approach to business, we would highly recommend his best selling book ‘Taking Care of Business’.

EP.6 - Downtown Den: The State of Play (ft. Antony Thompson and Ben Williams)

The Head of Business Support for Birmingham, Abby Goldie was joined in the Downtown Den by Ben and Antony, two ex-royal marines and co-founders of ‘Find Your Edge Coaching’. Hear Ben and Antony’s strategies of combating the virus, mental-fitness and resilience during these unprecedented times.

EP.5 - Downtown Den: Tom Higgins and Alan Robson

Two of the Northwest’s leading property personalities Tom Higgins (Laing O'Rourke) and Alan Robson (Project Four Safety Solutions) have their say in the Den and give us reasons to be cheerful; the new Everton FC Stadium, the Knowledge Quarter and Liverpool’s central role as a location of excellence for science, health and innovation.

EP.4 - Downtown Den: Birmingham is staying strong (ft. Paul Cadman)

Our Birmingham Downtown Chairman called into the Den to discuss what the business landscape looked like for the West Midlands – commenting on politics, the charitable sector and education – with some high praise for Andy Street, Andy Burnham and the Chancellor.

EP.3 - Downtown Den: The Young Ones (ft. Ross Green, Antonio Giansante, Kelly Gilmour-Grassam and Dan Moon)

Downtown Director, Chris McKenna was joined by four young entrepreneurs to look back on the week that was, implications and opportunities for their business, the transition to remote working and plans for this week. And of course, we asked them who their #BusinessHeroes have been.

Huge thanks to Ross Green, MD of Embryo Digital, Antonio Giansante, MD of BGN, Kelly Gilmour-Grassam, Director of Making You Content and Partner of accountancy firm Williamson & Croft, Dan Moon for coming into the 'Downtown Den.'

EP.2 - Downtown Den: Alison McGovern

The MP for Wirral South and Treasury Select Committee member Alison McGovern popped into the Downtown Den to talk with our CEO Frank McKenna about the Chancellor’s announcement on Friday, the government’s handling of the crisis so far, the Labour leadership saga and footy!