Episode 12: More Than Grades: Leadership & Character with Simon Taylor & Andy Davis

Episode 12: More Than Grades: Leadership & Character with Simon Taylor & Andy Davis

Welcome back to The Business Besties Club Podcast – your go-to space for ambitious business owners who want real talk, practical inspiration, and a whole lot of support. In this episode, host Katie Clayton is joined by Simon Taylor and Andy Davis from Warren Farm Primary School for one of the most thought-provoking conversations of the series. Although they work in education, this episode isn't just for teachers or parents. It's for anyone interested in leadership, culture, resilience and helping people reach their potential. Simon shares how his journey from the British Army into education shaped his approach to leadership, while Andy reflects on his own experience of struggling at school and how that inspired him to become the kind of teacher he once needed himself. Together, they discuss why preparing children for life should go beyond academic success, and how focusing on confidence, communication, resilience and character can transform not only schools, but communities. We also explore what business owners can learn from education, why schools should think differently about identity and reputation, and how creating a strong culture starts with a clear purpose. In this episode, we talk about: • Leadership and culture• Character development in education• Building resilience and confidence• Preparing young people for life beyond school• School branding, identity and communication• Lessons business owners can learn from education This episode is for anyone who believes success is about more than results and wants to build stronger people, stronger teams and stronger communities. 🎧 Tune in for an inspiring conversation that proves education isn't just about what children learn — it's about who they become. Connect with Katie on Instagram: @katieclaytonmarketing Learn more about Warren Farm Primary School via their Instagram @warrenfarmprimary or on their website www.warrenfarm-primary.co.uk

Episode 11: Cocktails, Courage & Taking the Leap with Hannah Green

Welcome back to The Business Besties Club Podcast – your go-to space for ambitious business owners who want real talk, practical inspiration, and a whole lot of support. In this episode, host Katie Clayton is joined by Hannah Green, founder of Tipples & Tonics, for an honest and inspiring conversation about building a business from passion, navigating setbacks, and having the courage to take the leap. Hannah shares how a love of cocktails, discovered whilst working at a local restaurant during sixth form, eventually grew into a thriving mobile cocktail events business. What started as a hobby alongside a full-time career in accountancy became something much bigger – but not without plenty of challenges along the way. From balancing a side hustle whilst studying and working full-time, to pivoting her business during COVID with cocktail deliveries and virtual masterclasses, Hannah opens up about the reality of entrepreneurship and what it takes to keep showing up when things get tough. We also talk about the difficult decision to leave the security of a full-time job, the horsebox disaster that threatened to derail her first year of self-employment, and how one of the hardest periods of her business journey became one of her biggest learning experiences. In this episode, we talk about: • Building a business alongside a full-time job• Side hustles and knowing when to take the leap• Pivoting during COVID and finding new opportunities• Entrepreneurship, resilience and self-belief• Navigating setbacks and learning from failure• Growing a local business through events, networking and community This episode is for anyone building something on the side, navigating a difficult season in business, or wondering whether they have what it takes to turn their passion into a career. 🎧 Tune in for an inspiring reminder that courage doesn't mean having all the answers — it means taking the next step anyway. Connect with Katie on Instagram: @katieclaytonmarketingConnect with Hannah on Instagram or TikTok: @tipplesandtonics or at www.tipplesandtonics.co.uk

Episode 10: From Kids Parties to Luxury Events - Building a High-End Events Business with Jayde & Joel

Welcome back to The Business Besties Club Podcast - your go-to space for ambitious business owners who want real talk, practical inspiration, and a whole lot of support. In this episode, host Katie Clayton is joined by Jayde and Joel, founders of Jayde Elise Events, for an honest and inspiring conversation about building a business from the ground up. From organising children’s parties and touring village halls, to creating luxury events for high-profile clients, their journey is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t happen overnight. Jayde shares how the business started completely organically - with no big plan - while Joel talks about his journey into the business and the reality of building it together. Together, they open up about the early challenges, the pressure of making things work financially, and how they slowly grew the business into something they could never have imagined. In this episode, we talk about: • Starting a business from scratch• Growing through word of mouth• Building a strong supplier network• Transitioning into a high-end events business• Working as a couple in business• The realities behind building a successful brand This episode is for anyone building something from the ground up and wondering if it will all pay off. 🎧 Tune in for an honest reminder that every stage of the journey matters... and growth takes time. Connect with Katie on Instagram: @katieclaytonmarketingConnect with Jayde & Joel on Instagram: @jaydeeliseevents or on their website: www.jaydeelise.com

Episode 9: From Side Hustle to Creative Brand Studio – Building Hayley Kim Studios with Hayley Warwick

Welcome back to The Business Besties Club Podcast — your go-to space for ambitious business owners who want real talk, practical inspiration, and a whole lot of support. In this episode, host Katie Clayton is joined by Hayley Warwick, founder of Hayley Kim Studios, for an honest and inspiring conversation about building a creative business from the ground up. Hayley shares how she spent four years building her business alongside a full-time job — working evenings, weekends and lunch breaks — before finally taking the leap into full-time entrepreneurship in 2023. But this conversation is about more than just business growth. We talk about purpose, freedom, and the reality of building a life around what truly matters. Hayley also shares how losing her mum shaped her perspective on time, success, and why she chose to build a business that gives her freedom — not just income. In this episode, we talk about: • Building a side hustle into a full-time business• Knowing when to take the leap• Branding for small businesses• Creating a brand that stands out• Designing a life around freedom and purpose• Turning creativity into a business This episode is for anyone building something on the side, feeling ready for more, or wanting to create a business and brand they truly love. 🎧 Tune in for an inspiring reminder that success isn’t just about what you build — it’s about the life you build alongside it. Connect with Katie on Instagram: @katieclaytonmarketing Connect with Hayley on Instagram: @hayleykimstudios Connect with Hayley on LinkedIn @hayleywarwick

Episode 8: Choosing Calm Over Chaos - Sobriety, Identity & Building a Business with Luke Smith

Welcome back to The Business Besties Club Podcast - your go-to space for ambitious business owners who want real talk, practical inspiration, and a whole lot of support. In this episode, host Katie Clayton is joined by Luke Smith, Managing Director of Smiths Business Supplies, for a powerful and honest conversation about identity, sobriety, leadership, and building a business with purpose. Luke shares his journey from early entrepreneurial hustle to launching his company from his mum’s living room during the COVID pandemic. But beneath the business story is a deeper transformation - growing up without knowing his biological father, battling a decade of drink and drugs, navigating depression, and ultimately choosing discipline, clarity, and calm over chaos. Now approaching five years sober, Luke reflects on how doing the inner work shaped not only his life, but his leadership and business success. In this episode, we talk about: • Building resilience through adversity• Entrepreneurship during COVID• Sobriety and leadership• Discipline, mindset and identity• Choosing calm over chaos in business and life This episode is for any business owner who has ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or uncertain and is ready to build something stronger from the inside out. 🎧 Tune in for a powerful reminder that your past does not define you - but your choices do! Connect with Katie on Instagram: @katieclaytonmarketingConnect with Luke on Instagram: @llukesmith_