Why The Business of Cambridge is everyone's business

I've just started hosting a new show on Cambridge 105 Radio, The Business of Cambridge. Now the series is in full swing, I wanted to share some thoughts on the thinking behind it, and fill you in on the topics we've covered so far. And of course, let you know how to listen.

A bit of background

It's a year now since I joined our wonderful community radio station as a Director. My background before moving into digital was radio production, and it's been a joy to be back in that world again.

One of my initial thoughts - along with my wonder at the quality of output versus the lack of budget - was that we could do with a business show, something that ties together all the incredible life science and tech innovation going on in Cambridge with the thriving indie scene full of foodies and retailers.

It struck me that what happens here locally is of interest globally, in the same way that I'd listen to a business show from Silicon Valley to get an insight into the emerging businesses in that part of the world.

The thing is, when you live round these parts you're used to having this mix right under your nose. The other day I came out of the office, down lively old Mill Road past all the little food outlets and supermarkets selling goods from all over the globe, through a city centre filled with historic colleges envied the world over for their academic brilliance, and to a networking event where I bumped into a woman quietly working on a cure for MS and a chap who had an insane amount of knowledge about the mating habits of fruit flies.

What interests me is where this all meets - which of the challenges we face as business owners are universal? How do our solutions overlap? How does this change from sector to sector, from big business to small, from startup to those which are decades old?

So when, six months after joining, my fellow Director Trevor Dann said, "I think we should pick up on this business show idea, and I think you should host it," I thought...er, alright then. Not least because he also offered to produce it, and you don't turn down a man with a BAFTA for producing the Live Aid coverage. Maybe he felt like he was still chasing that elusive career high?

So, what's in the show?

Throughout the series I want to shine a light on the brilliant businesses you find in Cambridge. We'll be hearing how they started up, how they've grown, and how they overcame the obstacles they met on the way. Stories, experiences and insights which I hope listeners will find useful wherever they are in the world. Each episode features two guests, both of whom complement and contrast in some way, but always have some common ground - whether it's the sector or the business challenges they face.

I'm someone who has always enjoyed creating a good mix of content - from mixtapes for friends in my teens to running orders for the Radio 2 country show to the cracking mix of social media and web content we produce at Sookio. There's an art to doing it well, and I've paid a lot of attention to getting it right while building the series.

I'll add to this as things progress, but here's what's happened so far...!

Episode one: The Power of the Network, with Abhi Naha from Cambridge Wireless and Vhari Russell from Grub Club.

Episode two: A Taste for Growth, with Claire Martinsen, founder of posh pop Breckland Orchard and Oliver Thain from restaurant group Cambscuisine (pictured above).

Episode three: Location Learnings. Cambridge Assessment's Saul Nassé and James Parton, MD of tech co-working space The Bradfield Centre, tell us what makes a happy and productive working environment.

Episode four: Building a Brand, with Ian James from the newly and beautifully renovated University Arms, and Sally Webster, Head of Marketing and Brand at ARU, who recently underwent a bold, confident new rebrand.

Episode five: Tales of Retail. Harriet Kelsall founded her city centre bespoke jewellers in 1998, while John Hoyle from brand new startup Sook tells us how their adaptive retail space is going to be the saviour of the high street (pictured above).

Episode six (coming up!): Finding talent Anna Harvey from accountants Price Bailey and Kate Hilyard, Chief Operating Officer from fast-growing life science company Healx talk teams - how do you attract brilliant people to your business, how do you keep them motivated, and encourage them to stay?

Want to listen?

The show goes out at 10am, Sundays on Cambridge 105 Radio. It's a 12-part series running from January to end of March.

You can also listen again on catch up via the Radioplayer, or look for the podcast in all the usual places. Here's The Business of Cambridge on Spotify.

Want to sponsor the show?

Cambridge 105 Radio is a community radio station entirely staffed by volunteers, and with revenue coming from advertising and programme sponsorship. Although the series has already started there are still sponsorship deals available. You can also sponsor slots like traffic or travel, or run an ad for your business that goes out frequently during the day.

Take a look at our sales page for more info.

Want to know more about Cambridge 105 Radio?

Visit the website and explore - there's a lively mix of daytime shows coupled with specialist music programmes plus shows on film, books and gadgets, plus a show centred around the Polish community. There's also a handy donate button so you can support the station too!