Between the lines with Tim Haïdar

After five years of push-me-pull-you politics, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement  to set out a future relationship came into force on 1 January 2021.Although the deal was supposed to provide assurances for UK businesses, many have been left frustrated by the wholesale changes that have occurred, of which they had little warning. While some issues may be teething problems, others are permanent  changes in the way that business will have to be conducted henceforward.To try and cut through the noise, we invited trade expert, Victoria Boldison, to give us some practical advice on how to avoid the major pitfalls of the post-Brexit era.Useful links Duty Deferment Scheme The FoodHub The SME Brexit Support Fund Bolst Global websiteVictoria's LinkedIn page 

HGVs that join an electrified tramway above motorways?A delivery robot on every street corner? The postman conveying your mail by jetpack?We speak with Prof Richard Wilding OBE of Cranfield University about pandemic, present and future, covering the above and the below:The hurry-up of Supply Chain 4.0Procuring for resilience rather than for costOnshoring, near-shoring and multi-shoringInfrastructure in the face of Net Zero 2050ESG risksThe need for a common language for traceability dataCorporate cyber security starting in the homeUseful linkshttps://www.gs1uk.org/our-industries/powering-progress/traceability-empowering-the-informed-protected-consumer www.richardwilding.info www.linkedin.com/in/richardwilding    https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/SOM/Open-Executive-Programmes/Logistics-and-Supply-Chain-Management/Supply-Chain-Management-Programmehttps://www.youtube.com/user/SupplyChainPodcasthttps://twitter.com/SupplyChainProf 

After a bit of a hiatus, we are back on the case again with an episode about sustainable fashion and the need for a green post-pandemic recovery, no matter what walk of life you are in.We speak with Vanessa Barker of Bedstraw + Madder about her business journey, and co-founding a company that makes garments from sustainably sourced fabrics that are plant dyed without the use of chemicals.Useful linksLenzingHKRITA Green MachineRenewcellThe Sustainable Angle - Future Fabrics Expo 9.5Tersus SolutionsBolt ThreadsEllen MacArthur FoundationFixing fashion: clothing consumption and sustainabilityElephant dung paperOshadiFiber ShedThe True CostLady Garden FoundationSea Sisters Sri Lanka    

In this episode we speak with friend of the podcast, Sophia Procter, about the process she went through to get her prodcut from idea to sales success, national newspaper coverage and award recognition.Useful linksMark Sheahan, inventor in residence, The British LibraryBritish Plastic FederationAmazon Accelerator ProgrammeEnterprise NationThe Lean Startup

The onset of the coronavirus pandemic sent shockwaves through the business world, as the way we've traded for millennia ground to a sudden halt.  As doors closed, so did businesses, and small towns and small businesses were hit the worst.At a time when the company owners and conurbations felt cut adrift, online business communities began to spring up across the United Kingdom in an attempt to weather the crisis.One of the most prominent of these is Totally Locally, set up a decade ago as a grass-roots initiative to digitise towns. We talk to its founder, Chris Sands, about how important this kind of community is in pandemic Britain, and what SMEs should be doing to survive in 2021.       Useful linksTotally LocallyHebden Bridge high steet online

As we exited a detested 2020 into the fresh and undiscovered Hades of 2021, we thought it wise to go back and speak to one of our first interviewees from the sunlit uplands of March last year, when the world was a decidedly less difficult place, and interviews could be conducted in person.When we first spoke with food mentor, Karen Green, we asked her for her top tips for crafting the perfect pitch to prospective buyers. Ten months later, we went back to ask the same questions for success in the pandemic continuum, and to see how things had changed.       Useful linksMake 2021 best ever Pitch perfect – waitlist  

The coronavirus pandemic has meant that tens of thousands of business owners have gravitated to online selling in a way that could not have been foreseen at the beginning of the year. Many are combining virtual shopfronts with trading through online marketplaces, of which OnBuy is a British-made up-and-comer.In this interview we speak to OnBuy's founder, Cas Paton, about the trends he has seen emerge since the onset of the coronavirus crisis, and what he thinks the future of retail is going to look like in Brexit Britain.Useful links:OnBuy 

At one of the most uncertain times in the history of forever, what would possess you to think of launching a prodcut to market?  We ask somebody who's done just that, Sophia Procter of children's tableware company, Munchy Play. With the coronavirus pandemic only set to abate with a vaccine, and the end of the EU transition period on the horizon, Sophia tells her story and highlights the influences and expertise that she's leant on along the way. Useful linksMunchy PlayAmazon Small Business AcceleratorSmall Business SundayHolly & Co

So...Did you know that after 31 December 2020 you will have to appoint a fiscal representative to trade in 19 out of 27 EU Nations?Did you know that you might need a second EORI number to keep on trading in EU countries?Do you know what the EU VAT e-commerce package will mean for your business?Even if you did know the answers to the above, it's well worth listening to this week's edition of the podcast with Colin Stansbury, strategic alliances manager – EMEA, at Avalara, to hear a little bit more about the perfect storm of liabilities, responsibilities and changes that will affect online sellers in 2021. It really could be make-or-break info, whether it is deal or no deal. Useful linksAvalara's Brexit Survival Guide 

In episode three of this series, we spoke with the head of healthcare at GS1 UK, Glen Hodgson about the our recently released report on the Scan4Safety programme in six trust across NHS England. Off the back of that interview, we received some questions on the reports findings, so we asked Glen to come back and answer them via the wizardry of Microsoft Teams. It also transpires that Glen's is a fan of the post-punk and alternative rock movements, and that wonders will never cease.   Useful linksA scan of the benefits: the Scan4Safety evidence report GS1 UK Healthcare Conference 2021

What was going to be an interview with Chris Knight of software firm, CKX, about high-tech solutions for SMEs, actually turned out to be conversation on how we can all adapt better to the new reality of working remotely by being a bit more like those that have been doing it like that forever.Really interesting on the mental and physical health aspects of going from a commute and office space to wherever you can fit a laptop and a not-so-comfy chair, and how we can all stay sane in a world that might never be the same again. Useful linkshttps://ckx.dev/ 

A global pandemic stalking the Earth and the potential of a no-deal Brexit hanging over the UK like the sword of Damocles upgraded into a bunch of laser-sighted chainsaws – times have never been so uncertain for British business.Step forward John Stapleton, the man that took soup out of the can, put it into a carton, whacked it in the fridge, and changed the game for that part of the food market with New Covent Garden Soup Co.John takes us through some of the key things he's learnt in success (and failure) in his 35-year career, honing in on the following, with a smidgen of football chat in there to boot:  Turning uncertainty into competitive advantageHaving the courage of your convictionsLearning from failureUnderstanding the power of authenticityGetting out of the way of your own successAdditional linkshttps://www.missionventures.co.uk/https://www.johnstapleton.eu/

In a departure from our usual subject matter, we sit down with Glen Hodgson, head of healthcare at GS1 UK, to talk about one of the things we are most proud of – the Scan4Safety programme.  Glen takes us on a whistle-stop tour through the report's findings, in which we tangibly prove that point-of-care barcode scanning through the Scan4Safety programme: Provides for traceability in a clinical setting regardless of system architecture or infrastructure, which allows for speedy recall of faulty productsImproves patient safety by engineering out human errorDelivers better workforce utilisation by returning clinical time back to patient careImproves operational efficiency by reducing inventory and providing recurrent cash savingsOffers implementation support in the form of "How To…" guides written by the NHS for the NHSFor more information on the above, read the report in full here.  

Turn on the TV, radio or browse the internet at any time in the past six months and you'd be forgiven for thinking that the only thing that's been successfully exported since the end of 2019 is round, pink and red, and about 0.125μm in diameter. Not so.  We speak once again to friend of the show, Mark Stimpfig, on what companies are still doing to get their goods across borders in these troubled times. Useful linksGTM Global webinar seriesInnovate UKDepartment for International Trade

So, here we are, at the beginning of season two of Between The Lines. Stuck at home. Some of us have forgotten what it's like to wear shoes. I never knew just how annoying pigeons sounded until recently.Very little has changed since we broadcast our first episode at the beginning of March this year. Apart from basically everything. So, our second series of interviews will have the same SME focus as before, but now the added element of how to weather the global coronavirus pandemic.In our first episode, via the magic of Zoom (other video conferencing sites available), we speak to somebody who specialises in turning physical footfall into digital engagement, something that a lot of business will need to do in the new normal, Brandon Willey of Hownd.   Useful links:https://hownd.com/https://twitter.com/bwilley 

Yes, yes, we know – there is a global pandemic out there that's brought civilisation as we know it to a halt – so the last thing you want to hear about is Brexit. But sometimes "I want" just doesn't get, and today marks the last day in which the UK can request an extension to the Brexit transition period (Hint: it's not going to). In light of that, we thought we'd speak again with Sietske de Groot of TradePeers, this time about how to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. With no deal now the odds-on favourite with the bookies and the UK Government to begin its "shock and awe" PR campaign imminently, Sietske goes into three fundamental ways that UK businesses of all sizes can weather the storm of a worst-case scenario.    Useful information and links mentioned in the podcast:UK Government's advice for the end of the transition periodhttps://www.gov.uk/transition EU's advice for the end of the transition periodhttps://ec.europa.eu/info/european-union-and-united-kingdom-forging-new-partnership/future-partnership/getting-ready-end-transition-period_en London Growth Hub's preparedness factsheets and webinars https://www.growthhub.london/brexithub/ UK Governments new points-based immigration system https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-immigration-system-what-you-need-to-know SME-specific advice covering Brexit and the Covid-19 crisishttps://resiliencehelp.com/ 

As co-founder of Go To Market Global, Mark Stimpfig provides advice and guidance for tech and digital scale up brands to expand into the US and internationally. In this episode, we look at how you should go about preparing for commerce with the US on the other side of the pandemic, bearing in mind that dealing with the United States is like dealing with 50 separate countries. Useful information and links mentioned in the podcast:Mark Stimpfig LinkedIn profileGo To Market Global website

Scott manages corporate teams at Seedrs, the leading equity crowdfunding platform and the most active funder of private companies in the UK. He helps all types of investors to invest in businesses they believe in and share their success. Seedrs enable all types of growth-focused businesses to raise capital and a community in the process.

As the founder of ReWorks, Alastair's key goal was to disrupt the flow of products into the environmentally deleterious and resource-intensive fashion industry. "Recommerce" and upcycling of existing material is his idea for a realistic and progressive apparel industry within a new circular economy. Sounds ambitious? Well, it is. But maybe the fashion industry after the coronavirus pandemic will be a very different place. In the interview, Alastair talks about how to become more ethical in a business context, and it doesn't necessarily mean being just more environmentally conscious, it also means being a bit more human with other humans.Later on, we welcome back Barcode Benedict to talk about what standards actually mean, and why they are important in the world, from shoes sizes and voltage, to, yes, you guessed it, barcodes.  Alastair Harper LinkedIn profileReWorks website

If Amazon is an opportunity for you, then Chris MacNeil will make it as easy as possible for you to start generating revenue and profits. He has been helping his SME clients to launch, nurture, automate and troubleshoot on Amazon, often doubling their annual turnover.This interview was conducted before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and Chris's advice is probably more relevant now than ever before. Speaking of more relevant than ever before, we welcome back "Barcode" Ben Clarke to explain to us the importance and benefits of barcoding and standards across the healthcare sector, where simple scanning is helping to save thousands of lives and millions of pounds in the UK every year.  Useful links:Chris Macneil LinkedIn profileebooster website

The UK's exit from the EU's internal market will profoundly change the environment companies operate in and Sietske is perfectly placed to help your business understand what is happening. With two decades' experience with EU legislation and years of working with governments and businesses in the UK and on the continent she knows Brussels inside out and is also well-versed in the nitty-gritty of EU trade negotiations because of past involvement with talks on the previous EU-US Free Trade Agreement. Thanks to her expertise, she can anticipate which rules could change and which detailed topics will be on the table when the UK and the EU negotiate their future relationship.Useful links:https://www.growthhub.londonhttp://tradepeersconsulting.com

Our guest today specialises in corporate law and advises clients on the full range of transaction and commercial issues. At Joelson, she's been working with companies at all stages of their development, but loves to work with start-ups and growing companies.Philippa focuses particularly on investments and fundraisings as well as shareholder arrangements. In particular, she has acted for a number of start-up businesses in the food and beverage, FMCG and tech sectors in relation to equity and debt investments all the way from seed capital to series A, B and C fundraises. She advises on SEIS and EIS investments and has shepherded a number of businesses through crowdfunding rounds.And please don't switch off after this brilliant interview with Phillipa as our most knowledgeable barcode experts, Ben Clarke, will explain you the quiet zones to the left and right of a barcode and reveal some spooky secrets that may hide behind those familiar black and white lines.Useful links:https://joelsonlaw.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/philippa-sturt-a5b0402b

Our guest today is Karen Green – a UK grocery expert and business mentor. She helps foodpreneurs launch and grow their businesses, enabling them to get retailer listings through mentoring, coaching and PITCH PERFECT! training.And after speaking with Karen, we hear from our resident barcode historian, Ben Clarke, on the fascinating subject of barcode numerology, and the superstitions that underpin the way some countries think about the digits below those black and white lines. Wacky but real –  that's how we roll. Useful links:https://www.thekarengreen.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thekarengreen

Food entrepreneur, community builder and follower of a plant-based diet for over 40 years - Jason has built a community around mission-driven businesses that can have a positive impact on the world. Founder of the Bread & Jam food festival, The FoodHub forum on Facebook, and most recently, an impact business that makes bold, tasty plant-based foods called Unruly, Jason helps to bring start-ups, SMEs and growing food businesses together.And after speaking with Jason, we hear from the Zeus of the Mount Barcodelympus, Ben Clarke, about what colours barcodes need to be. Hint: they don't actually have to be black and white at all, and Ben explains why in his typical deadpan Brummie way.Useful links:http://breadandjamfest.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/thefoodhubforum

In the first episode of this series focusing on small businesses in the UK, Tim Haïdar, content lead at GS1 UK, speaks with Meenesh Mistry, the founder and CEO of vegan cookie company, Wholey Moly, about the five things that helped a recipe from his kitchen land on the shelves of Selfridges, Wholefoods and more than 200 independents and coffee shops.A career accountant with no prior experience in the food business, the idea for Wholey Moly came out of the frustration of working in a corporate office under the constant bombardment of calorific snacks.Meenesh and his co-founder wife, Parul, still craved that sweet treat with the their 3pm coffee, but didn't want something that contained as much sugar as a barn full of toffee. So, they just took the plunge and made one. And after Meenesh's interview, we speak with resident barcode expert, Ben Clarke, about fun barcodish things. No, seriously, stick with it.    Useful links:https://www.wholeymoly.co.ukhttps://www.instagram.com/wholey.molyhttp://breadandjamfest.com