MY DIGITAL JOURNEY

Welcome to our resource page – here you will find an array of helpful hints, tips and advice for tech owners and driven individuals. Over the coming months, we’ll be providing new podcasts, guides and checklists for business growth.

Talking Sense

We’ve started things off with a series of podcasts where Nick interviews people from the tech and business community, principally Northern-based. These are all available to download and subscribe from the links below.

These interviews cover tech entrepreneurs and how they have grown their business alongside their experiences of fundraising and M&A. Nick also talks to businesses facing serious challenges from technology and how they are rising to meet them. The increasing number of women in the tech scene share their experiences and how they are looking to deliver high growth.

There is something for everyone within these podcasts. New ones will be released every week, do come back or subscribe to continue your own digital journey.


Filter Podcasts

Matthew Elliott, Co-Founder of Nivo

Matthew Elliott, co-founder of Nivo, on spinning out his instant messaging network from Barclays, raising money from friends, family and angels, and why he doesn’t regret leaving a well paid job in banking to help people, through technology, to better access professional services.

David Levine, CEO & Founder, Digital Bridge

David Levine, chief executive at DigitalBridge left a high profile corporate job to start his own business in 2013. Six years later, backed by angel investment, he’s working at the forefront of AI and software development in kitchen and bathroom design – and raising money again..

Naomi Timperley, Co-Founder, Tech North Advocatess

Naomi Timperley, co-founder of Tech North Advocates, describes her experience of being a woman in the tech industry, why we could all develop our listening skills and how telling stories will help engage children in the fourth industrial revolution.

Stuart Carter, Founder, Pioneer Productions

Stuart Carter, the former chief executive of Pioneer Productions, explains the complexities of selling his business, how digital technology has transformed TV, and why, when the barriers to entry are lower than ever, he’s urging production companies to ‘think American.

Steve McConchie, CEO, Aptus Clinical

Dr Steve McConchie, chief executive of Aptus Clinical, left pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca after 25 years to set up a clinical trials business focussed on harnessing big data to improve patients’ lives.

Dawn Anderson, Founder & CEO Move It Marketing

Dawn Anderson, founder and chief executive of Move It Marketing, on her journey to becoming a specialist in search engine optimisation. She explains how search has changed, the mistakes people make, how bias impacts our experience on the web, and what we can do about it.

John Whittle, CEO Unshackled

John Whittle, chief executive and co-founder of mobile phone platform Unshackled.com, explains why giving people equity is vital for growth in a market where speed and agility counts; his challenges in recruiting the right tech talent, and why you should always trust your gut instincts.

Jeremy Gidlow, CEO Netacea & Intechnica

On his journey with two businesses, Jeremy Gidlow, co-founder of Intechnica and Netacea, explains how companies can transform themselves through technology – to a place where they can truly differentiate themselves against competitors – and how we can really manage and understand website traffic.

Gavin Wheeldon, CEO Purple Wifi

Gavin Wheeldon, chief executive of Purple, shares his journey from hacking computer games at the age of seven, to commercialising analytics for public places all over the world. Along the way, he compares businesses to children, and explains how meeting Sir Terry Leahy is helping amplify his global ambitions.

Howard Jackson CEO Hub4Leaders

Howard Jackson, chief executive at Hub4Leaders, on his mission to bring schools into the 21st Century and help raise the ‘tech savvy’ children of tomorrow. He explains what happened when a corporate tried to buy him out (why the relationship between buyer and seller is key), and why he’d rather recruit ‘a diamond with flaws, rather than a smooth pebble’.

Michelle Vint, Founder & Director, Regital

Michelle Vint, director at Regital, shares her story of starting a company in programmatic advertising, explains why fast growth isn’t always the answer and why we’ve all got to be willing to fail.

Jason Spencer, Business Development Director, ITV

Jason Spencer, business development director at ITV, explains how the world’s fifth biggest TV producer is taking on Netflix and Amazon, and why he’s talking to the corporate finance community about helping companies scale.

Jason Dixon, Managing Director, Docutech

Jason Dixon, managing director at Docutech on taking a print management business from his conservatory to four UK offices; why none of us should believe our own hype (too much) and opening his doors to ex-offenders.

Gemma McCall, Managing Director, Culture Shift

Gemma McCall, co-founder and managing director at Culture Shift, on combating bullying and harassment using data as part of the growing ‘tech for good’ movement.

Andrew Gething, Managing Director, Morgan Ash

Andrew Gething, managing director at MorganAsh, is helping to bridge the gap between technology and health. But he believes we need to be careful that human contact with patients and customers isn't lost in the digital revolution.

Matt Farrar - CEO of Loved By

The chief executive of Loved By shares the highs and lows of trying to create value for 25 years, before completing the sale of his third business – Great Fridays – in 2014, and how nearly losing his son last year has taken his digital skills in a new direction.

Rob Wilde - founder of Volcanic

The founder of Volcanic talks about his move from the public sector to entrepreneurship, why he put all his eggs in the recruitment industry basket, and why companies should perform high levels of due diligence on themselves to get ready for sale.

Beckie Taylor - founder Tech Returners

After the birth of her first child, Beckie Taylor felt sure she wasn’t the only person struggling to get back into the sector she loved, so she decided to use her experience to do something about it and Tech Returners was born.

Nicky Watson - founder and chief product architect at Syrenis

The founder and chief product architect at software developer Syrenis talks about the birth of the internet, pioneering in a fast-moving industry and why we should ‘say no’ to cookies.

Alastair Humphreys – adventurer and author

The adventurer and author speaks about building honest connections through storytelling, focusing on content creation over analytics, and why you don’t need thousands of followers.

Alex Connock - Digital marketing entrepreneur

Digital marketing entrepreneur, academic and the founder of Missile Digital Studios explains why it pays to create your own ‘content universe’, why he’s happy to take life more slowly with his latest startup, and if you want to sell online, ‘don’t try too hard’.

Laurence Newman - CEO of currentbody.com

The chief executive of Currentbody.com talks about developing resilience through the tough years, getting the right minds around the boardroom table, funding for growth and convincing an entire industry to go online.


Have Your Say

We’d also love to hear your feedback on any future topics you’d like to be discussed. Drop us a line at hello@x-0advisory.com or message us using the form: