Lancashire Business Stories

Leadership and Growth: Insights from Lisa Kennery at Pierce Group

Lisa Kennery on Growing Pierce: People, Acquisitions, Technology and Advisory Lisa Kennery, partner at Pierce with offices in Blackburn, Bolton and Tottington (Bury), discusses her career path from payroll and HR into an operational, people and integration role, joining Pierce 13 years ago as payroll manager and becoming a director/partner nearly seven years ago as the firm grew from about 55 to 160 staff. She explains Pierce’s acquisition approach, emphasizing cultural fit and the challenge of aligning technology, supported by a monthly tech steering group and RPA that cut an admin task from 25 minutes to seven. Kennery outlines flexible working with core hours, benefits standardization, and learning and development initiatives including apprenticeships, ILM training, and a new soft-skills platform distinguishing management from leadership. She describes Pierce as forward-thinking, proactive, advisory-focused, locally community-minded, PE-backed for 18 months, and serving SMEs with services from compliance to corporate finance and forensic work, plus advice to clients on frequent touchpoints, real-time reporting, and not choosing accountants solely on price. 00:00 Welcome and agenda 01:39 Lisa’s career path 02:16 Joining Pierce and growth 04:36 Becoming partner and remit 05:56 Delegation and leadership 09:24 Acquisition integration hurdles 10:39 Tech strategy and AI automation 13:25 Culture and flexible working 15:54 Learning and development journey 21:17 Advisory focus and client education 22:54 Community First Firm 23:26 Who Pierce Helps 23:54 Services and Specialist Teams 24:30 Forensic Accounting Explained 25:36 Choosing the Right Accountant 28:08 From Payroll to Partner 29:21 Private Equity Growth Plans 31:15 What Makes Pierce Different 32:54 Career Advice and Self Awareness 36:07 Support Networks for Owners 37:36 Books and Learning Picks 40:36 How to Contact Pierce 41:48 Closing Thanks and Wrap UpLINKS Website: https://www.pierce.co.uk/ [https://www.pierce.co.uk/] Lisa’s  LinkedInProfile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-kennery-95095450/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-kennery-95095450/] Pierce LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pierce-c.-a.-limited/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pierce-c.-a.-limited/] ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton [https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton] ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 [https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592] Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/] Do you want to increase the value of your business asset? Take the ValueBuilder Assessment now to score the 8 key drivers of value inyour business and get a free report: https://score.valuebuildersystem.com/actioncoach-bolton/paul-limb [https://score.valuebuildersystem.com/actioncoach-bolton/paul-limb]

Navigating Change: Chris Burn from CSRB on Careers, Comedy, and Compliance

Chris Burn on Building CSRB: From Retail and Sales to GDPR, Privacy, and Comedy Writing Chris Burn discusses his career path from early jobs and retail management at Tesco and WHSmith while studying marketing at UWE Bristol, to a sports marketing research placement, phone sales, and an 18-month market research role for MGM in Las Vegas. He later spent 10–13 years in field sales, worked at Wybone (street and park bins), and then Bristol Storage Equipment, where archiving and retention needs influenced his later work. While caring for his father from 2012, he learned about depression and addiction; his father died by suicide in 2017, prompting Chris to register and later launch CSRB. CSRB began as document shredding/storage reselling before pivoting into GDPR and data privacy consulting, supported by training and certifications. He emphasizes mentoring, outsourcing, and networking, shares involvement in comedy writing/character profiling for shows like “Brassic” and “Derry Girls,” and offers practical GDPR tips on onboarding, privacy notices, ICO registration, contracts, and data mapping. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 01:05 First Jobs in Retail 02:08 WHSmith Management Lessons 04:23 Sports Marketing Sandwich Year 05:40 Call Centre Sales After Uni 06:27 MGM Vegas Market Research 09:09 Back to UK Field Sales 10:54 Storage and Archiving Insights 12:04 Caring for Dad and Turning Point 13:44 Founding CSRB 14:50 Early Struggles and Getting Support 20:10 Pivot to GDPR Expertise 21:22 Building a Support Team 24:32 Time Value and Delegation Mindset 28:42 Comedy Origins and Influences 31:45 Grimy Comedy Clubs 32:36 Variety Show Legends 34:19 First Standup Gig 35:51 Nish Kumar Encounter 36:41 Comedy Fear Factor 38:37 Writing Over Performing 41:53 TV Character Writing 44:37 GDPR Tips For SMEs 54:03 Data Mapping And Rights 57:54 Advice And Resources 01:01:42 Humor In Business 01:04:04 Contact And Wrap Up EPISODE LINKS Website: https://www.csrb.co.uk/ [https://www.csrb.co.uk/] Chris ‘s  LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburncsrb [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburncsrb] CSRB LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburncsrb [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburncsrb] ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton [https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton] ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 [https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592] Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/]

Discover the Art of Storytelling through Jewellery with Helen Dimmick

Helen Dimmick on Building Ainsworth Jewellers into a Destination Store Through Expertise, Community and Charity Helen Dimmick, a jewellery specialist, gemologist, diamond grader and jewellery historian, shares her career path from volunteering and an office junior role at Phillips Auctioneers (now Bonhams) through Bentley & Skinner and Tiffany & Co. to owning four stores via a management buyout, then consulting and becoming interim CEO at the Company of Master Jewellers. During COVID she and her husband Phil Ainsworth partnered to grow Ainsworth Jewellers in Blackburn, a 156-year-old fifth-generation family business, and have more than quadrupled turnover by rebranding around family values, creating a welcoming in-store experience (museum, De Beers education exhibition, champagne bar), investing in staff qualifications, networking, events and outreach. They launched “Wendy’s Legacy” to repurpose jewellery and donate to hospice, plan a first-floor workshop hub with apprenticeships, and aim to reduce reliance on them by building the brand as a trusted legacy. 00:00 Meet Helen Dimick 00:49 Jewellery Career Origins 01:37 Auction House Apprenticeship 02:37 From Bond Street to Tiffany 03:14 Back North and First Business 03:55 What Gemologists Do 05:14 Trust and Expertise in Retail 05:58 Selling Up and Consulting Years 07:16 Covid Pivot and Charity Values 08:27 Ainsworth Jewelers Legacy 09:07 Taking Over the Family Firm 11:11 Quadrupling Turnover Strategy 11:51 Destination Store Experience 14:13 Networking and Community Support 15:47 Becoming a Destination Brand 16:02 Marketing and Events 16:27 Jewellery Stories and Meaning 17:04 Repurposing Old Gold 17:50 Industry Careers and Apprenticeships 19:28 Ten Lessons for Success 22:42 Advice for New Founders 23:40 Growth Plans and Outreach 24:53 Building a Legacy Workshop 26:42 Owner Wellbeing and Balance 28:44 Working with Phil 31:01 Learning and Recommendations 32:26 Where to Find Ainsworth LINKS Ainsworths Jewellers Website: https://ainsworthjewellers.com/ [https://ainsworthjewellers.com/] Inspired Couture Website: https://inspiredcouture.co.uk/ [https://inspiredcouture.co.uk/] Helen’s website: https://helendimmick.com/ [https://helendimmick.com/] Helen’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-dimmick-3429b45/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-dimmick-3429b45/] Ainsworths LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ainsworth-jewellers/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ainsworth-jewellers/]   ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton [https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton] ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 [https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592] Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/]

From Shelf Stacker to Business Owner: Dave Faulkner Cross of PW Direct

Dave Faulkner Cross on Building PW Direct: From Stock Control to Online Signage and Real-World Growth. Dave Faulkner Cross shares his career journey from struggling with exams but thriving in practical YTS training at Iceland, progressing to management roles at Tesco before redundancy funded nearly a year backpacking in Australia. Back in the UK he worked across supermarkets, then joined his uncle’s packaging business, shifting from sales into office and operations management, improving payment terms, before leaving after a buyout changed the company culture. At 24 (2002) he launched his own packaging business, later rebranding to PW Direct and acquiring a sign business 12 years ago; today signage is ~90% of revenue, driven largely by eBay/Amazon with fast turnaround as a key USP. He discusses risks of platform dependence, moving to a main-road shopfront, winning local awards, using networking and LinkedIn to build “people buy from people” trust, redeveloping the website, and supporting apprenticeships, plus advice on backing yourself, fixing mistakes quickly, and staying calm with customers. 00:00 Welcome and Format 00:32 School Struggles 01:09 YTS at Iceland 03:07 Tesco Management Leap 05:30 Redundancy and Australia 07:07 Back Home Supermarkets 07:40 Uncle Packaging Role 10:12 Buyout and Breaking Away 12:15 Starting PW Direct 13:04 Signs Business Pivot 16:35 COVID Boom and Shift 18:37 Marketplace Dependence 21:07 Awards and Networking 22:37 Networking Nerves 24:14 Simple Networking Tips 24:53 Goals And Follow Ups 27:56 Beyond Marketplaces 29:59 People Buy People 33:35 Apprenticeships Impact 37:33 Future Growth Markets 39:44 Quickfire Advice 41:41 Fixing Mistakes Fast 45:44 Partner And Contact LINKS Website: https://pwdirect.co.uk/ [https://pwdirect.co.uk/] Dave’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-faulkner-cross-2199b53a5/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-faulkner-cross-2199b53a5/] Company LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pwdirect-signs-designs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pwdirect-signs-designs/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pwdirectbacup/ [https://www.instagram.com/pwdirectbacup/]   ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton [https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton] ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 [https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592] Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/]

Legacy and Innovation: The Story of Krishan Mistry and AVM Solutions

Krishan Mistry on Building AVM Solutions: From Retail AV to Scalable Workspace Tech and Software Krishan Mistry discusses his entrepreneurial background rooted in his immigrant family’s businesses in Bolton, studying engineering/software at university, DJing and producing 35–40 published tracks for adverts, then returning home to work in the family nightclub/function venue before starting AVM Solutions. He began by hiring DJ/AV equipment and grew through a long relationship with Quiz Clothing, evolving from design consultancy into project management and turnkey delivery. From 2007–2012 he learned by doing, then formalized services, hired apprentices, and built a customer-problem-solving culture. Retail work expanded to Disney UK stores, and a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses accelerator in 2016 drove process documentation and scaling, alongside a major NEC Birmingham LED project and mentoring from David Edwards. AVM now provides workspace AV technology, has ~30 staff across the UK and India, built a software division, a custom ERP (“Hive”), integrates data and AI, and markets an IoT platform (digispace.app) to reduce building energy use. Key advice: avoid distractions, focus on customers, read more, work on the business, and stay purpose-driven; Krish also shares views on values, self-awareness, and spirituality. 00:00 Welcome and Podcast Purpose 00:49 Family Roots and Entrepreneurship 03:25 School Tech and DJ Beginnings 05:27 Music Production vs Coming Home 06:05 Family Club and Selling Up 07:42 Starting AVM Hire Hustle 08:39 Quiz Clothing Breakthrough 10:39 From One Man Band to Team 12:07 Problem Solving Business Mindset 14:37 Hiring People and Leadership Lessons 19:07 Retail Growth Disney and Beyond 21:21 Goldman Sachs Scaling Shift 22:45 Process Documentation and Systems 24:44 Big Projects Mentors and NEC 26:49 Winning the Turning Deal 27:27 Narrowing to Workspace AV 29:10 Tech as the Enabler 30:44 Podcast Purpose and Value 32:27 Vision Partners Over Profit 33:07 Core Values and Culture 36:35 Traction and Operating Systems 37:47 Building a Global Team 39:37 Breaking the Next Ceiling 41:10 Software AI and Data Strategy 45:28 Digispace and Carbon Savings 47:15 Advice Staying Focused 52:06 Purpose Spirituality and Self Awareness 57:16 Where to Find AVM LINKS Website: https://www.avmsolutionsuk.com/ [https://www.avmsolutionsuk.com/] Krish’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishanmistry/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishanmistry/] Company LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avmsolutions/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/avmsolutions/]   ActionCOACH Bolton: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton [https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/bolton] ActionCOACH Bolton Events: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592 [https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/coaches-events-listing?id=15417591592] Paul’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-limb/]