How To Start With No Experience, Andy Varley, Insanity Group

Andy Varley started Insanity at just 17 years old & has since grown it into a multifaceted business spanning artist management, brand partnerships, music publishing and content production.

Stay tuned to hear Andy’s journey from teenage entrepreneur to leading one of the UK’s most respected entertainment companies. We talk about how to find support when you’re starting out & the lessons he’s learned about staying relevant in an ever-changing media and cultural landscape.

Andy's advice:

• Start building networks as early as you can. Meet as many people as possible in your chosen field to make contacts
• Find your gap in the market, but most of all love what you do
• Entrepreneurship can be lonely; ideally have someone to share the decision-making process with
• Try to surround yourself with with advisors (accountants, lawyers perhaps) who can act as mentors
• There are many mentorship programmes available
• BCorp is a force for good and will be a guiding influence on your employees
• Kindness and sympathy are vital leadership qualities
• Lead in a way your team will respect
• Understand you can’t do everything yourself! Trust your employees

FF&M enables you to own your own PR & produces podcasts.

Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2026, MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.

Email us at [e-mail] or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod. Link & Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show