In this episode, Janet and Matt speak to the founder and creative director of Pretty Clever Studios, John Burton.

John explains how the team at Pretty Clever are passionate about maintaining an ethical stance towards business, local communities and the planet. 

During the podcast, John discusses how his journey through education was always backed by a passion for creativity, laying the foundations for his future career in graphic design.

Having discovered the corporate world was not something he saw himself being a part of, John taught himself the basics of graphic design software and began his business journey. 

Since their foundation in 2019, John and the Pretty Clever team have maintained their focus on doing good for local communities.

From working with like-minded individuals who share his passion for ethical business decisions to becoming a B-Corp certified business earlier this year, John discusses his plans of continuing to enjoy business while sustaining a morally focused team.

In this episode, Janet and Matt are joined by Antoinette Daniel, the Founder of cleaning agency, Just Helpers.

Launched in 2012, Just Helpers provide professional cleaning services whilst fighting social inequality by ensuring each Helper is paid at least the London living wage.

Antoinette shares her journey into the cleaning world, and the ambitions that led her there.

Discussion turns to the challenges that they faced as a result of Covid 19 and what they learnt in response.

Antoinette highlights the importance of wellbeing and equal pay throughout her business and details how she supported her colleagues through the pandemic.

As the episode comes to a close, Antoinette discusses her plans for the future of Just Helpers including the opportunity for expansion and achieving her personal goal of taking a two-week holiday, which is now non-negotiable.

Everyone agreed that we should all set ourselves a similar goal.

In this episode, Janet and Matt continue their exploration of sabbaticals, discussing the benefits for leaders and employees alike.

They speak to Mark Granger, the operations director for Centric Talent, who took time away from the office to sail from mainland Spain to Eastern Greece.

Mark tells us how this transformative experience improved his mental health by changing his perspective on work. He discusses how he now feels more relaxed even after returning to his role. He has managed to maintain this calmness by reminiscing on memories of “the sun rising in the morning” and even “a little turtle swimming in the water”.

By exploring the anxieties and fears many people face when looking into the prospect of taking time out, Matt, Janet and Mark find that they are often self-imposed. It is in fact possible for anyone to challenge the expectation of working five days a week until retirement, and to instead take a break to explore new challenges, regardless of your role.

Ultimately “no man is an island”.

Focusing on the importance of mental health and resilience both in and outside of work, Janet and Matt host the largest group of guests we have seen so far on The Ethical Business Podcast!

We hear from business owners Kate Hutchinson, Phill Green, Adam Moody, Zach Greaves and Alan McGlaughlin.

Discussing everything from imposter syndrome to creating a healthy business culture, the conversation allows for each of our guests to share their personal experiences of mental well-being and resilience since beginning their business ventures.

The group talk about the impact of modern working practices and the importance of communication in maintaining a positive team dynamic.

This episode also explores the importance of taking time to disconnect from work, and the impact of today’s news on our mental health.

Additionally, Janet and Matt chat to their guests about the importance of taking time to reflect on success within business – something that’s not always easy to do as a busy and ambitious business owner!

In this episode, Janet and Matt explore the opportunity for leaders in business to take time away from their roles for their physical and mental wellbeing.

Speaking to Matthew Pickthall, a senior manager at Tesco, they explore the different lessons and experiences which he encountered during his sabbatical. With less time being spent at work, Matthew was able to invest more time and energy on his family and mental health (as well as gaining a diploma in wine!).

Touching upon the different ways he prepared for his year out, Matthew talks through the planning stages of taking a sabbatical. He recounts the different conversations he had with his managers and finding a new member of staff to take on his role within the company.

Whilst taking a sabbatical can have positive effects on your own personal growth, Janet and Matt also explore how it paves the way for succession within your business. Whilst taking leave may seem daunting, it can also give your employees the opportunity to develop through taking on new responsibilities.

Also, special guest, Dave, speaks about sailing around the world, the importance of taking time off to prevent burnout and investing in yourself outside of work.

In this episode of The Ethical Business Podcast, Janet takes the opportunity to interview her co-host Matt, who has recently been promoted onto the executive board of Marmion after being with the company for five years.

Since Matt’s introduction to the company in 2017, Janet has been beside Matt supporting him throughout his growth within the Marmion team. Through studying business at school and well into his professional career, Matt explains how he has adapted towards his new role as Executive Director.

Janet and Matt take us through their journey of developing ethical business morals and their fight to grow their company post-Brexit and post-pandemic. With a focus on finding rewards through attributes other than monetary gains, Matt explains how the ethics of running a business can alter your priorities.

They also offer advice to younger generations who are hoping to enter the world of University and work, highlighting the realities of entering the world of employment. Janet and Matt reflect on the importance of mental well-being within the workplace, accentuating the reality of taking time to work on both your personal and professional self.

The different methods of leadership which Janet and Matt speak of within this episode are the main attributes towards the success story of Marmion. These are the lessons which Matt will be taking with him into his future on the executive board, helping to grow and expand Marmion further.

In this episode, Janet and Matt welcome Helen Lord to the show. As the founder and managing director of Used Kitchen Exchange, Helen explains the origins of the business and how it has since developed into a leading B Corp company.

Launched in November 2015 and based in Cheshire, Used Kitchen Exchange was created to provide an ethical kitchen replacement service. Helen tells us about balancing the challenge of meeting eco criteria without sacrificing customer needs, with their success having earned many accolades including the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development.

Like many great success stories, the idea behind Used Kitchen Exchange came from a personal situation, which Helen tells us all about. Thanks to an innovative approach and the support of like minded colleagues, the business has gone from strength to strength.

As Helen describes her professional journey, the final topic of discussion concerns how we can all become more ethically aware and our hopes for B Corp businesses in the future.

In this episode, Janet and Matt talk with Adam Moody, the Founder and Managing Director of the Design, Print & Digital Marketing Agency, Far‘n’Beyond.

They discuss how to make ethical business decisions whilst also being sustainably conscious.

With over 20 years of professional experience, Adam reveals his journey into the Digital Marketing industry, explaining how his core company values are entwined with all avenues of his business - whether that be through recruitment, managing client needs or building a positive team dynamic.

Adam then talks about the secrets of building and maintaining strong relationships with business stakeholders at all levels, and how this allows Far’n’Beyond to meet the needs of its customers in an ethical and service-focussed manner.

The episode concludes by exploring how the growth in sustainable consumerism has impacted the Digital Marketing Media landscape, and the values that shape Far’n’Beyond.