James Reed: all about business

Running a business is hard, but what is it like when your work sits at the centre of people’s most emotional moments?
In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Damian Melville, Managing Director of Melville & Daughter Funeral Directors. Together they explore leadership in one of the most emotionally demanding industries there is.
Damian shares his journey into the family business, reflecting on the responsibilities that come when helping people in their most vulnerable time, and how that shapes both leadership-style and company-culture. He shares what balancing tradition with modernisation means, the realities of running a business where empathy is as important as efficiency, and the discipline required to maintain high standards in sensitive circumstances.
The conversation explores what it means to lead with care while still making clear commercial decisions, how to build trust within communities, and why consistency and professionalism matter more than ever, in a service built on reputation. Damian also discusses the challenges of succession in a family-run business and the importance of supporting both clients and staff through emotionally complex work.
A thoughtful, grounded conversation about leadership, responsibility, and building a business where purpose and performance have to coexist every step of the way.
Timestamps
01:04 Finding a niche market
06:36 Going solo challenges
12:50 Winning trust locally
23:18 COVID shock to the system
36:27 Hiring costs and NI
43:25 A Funeral director day
01:00:26 Memorial innovations and burials
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Find out more about Melville & Daughters Funeral Directors here
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

Is an awkward conversation the only thing standing between you and the salary you deserve?
In this episode of all about business, Connor Scully, Senior Executive Consultant at Reed Specialist Recruitment, sits down with James to discuss how professionals can effectively secure a pay rise in their current role.
Connor shares practical advice on how to move beyond the discomfort of pay discussions by focusing on preparation, timing, and proving your worth. The conversation explores how to assess whether you are truly due a salary increase, emphasizing the need to align your output with business goals and quantify your impact through measurable KPIs. Connor explains why being proactive, taking on extra responsibilities during company hardships, or "saying yes" to complex projects, is key to becoming an indispensable asset.
Whether you feel underpaid or are looking to take the next step in your career, this episode offers a step-by-step guide to navigating pay conversations with confidence and a growth mindset
Timestamps
02:00 Are You Due More
04:42 Prep And Timing Mistakes
09:38 When To Job Hunt
12:19 Ask In Person
15:36 Say Yes More Often
20:22 Employer Perspective on Pay Requests
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Find out how Reed can help you advance your career here:
Find out more about Reed Specialist Recruitment here:
Find out more Number Eight restaurant here:
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

How do you know if you’re being offered what you’re worth?
In this episode of all about business, Leanne Appleton, recruitment expert at Reed, speaks with James about how professionals can increase their earning potential and achieve a higher salary.
Leanne shares practical insights into what really drives salary growth, from understanding your market value to building in-demand skills and positioning yourself effectively in the job market. She explains why working harder isn’t always enough, and how being more strategic about your career decisions can significantly impact your long-term earnings.
The conversation explores how to approach salary negotiations with confidence, including when to ask for a pay rise, how to benchmark your worth, and why timing plays a critical role. Leanne also highlights the importance of demonstrating impact through measurable results, rather than relying on tenure or job titles alone.
Timestamps
02:10 Know Your Worth
04:15 Recruiter Advantage
05:41 Benchmark Beyond Salary
08:36 Reading Job Ad Salaries
11:14 Negotiation Prep
14:20 Avoid Over Underselling
17:37 Benefits That Matter
19:36 Perks Employers Can Add
21:52 Probation Pay Reviews
24:39 Counteroffers Warning
Follow James Reed on LinkedIn
Find out how Reed can help you advance your career here:
Find out more about Reed Specialist Recruitment here:
Find out more Number Eight restaurant here:
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

How do you grow an idea into a multi-million pound business before the age of 40?
In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Andrew Hulbert, entrepreneur and founder of Pareto Facilities Management, a company he built from his bedroom into a £50 million business before successfully exiting in his thirties.
Andrew shares the journey from a difficult start in Oxford and an unconventional path into business, to scaling rapidly in a competitive industry and navigating the realities of high-growth entrepreneurship. He reflects on the mindset required to build something from nothing, the importance of winning (and keeping) customers, and why consistency and execution matter more than ideas.
The conversation explores what it really takes to scale a business, from landing pivotal contracts that accelerate growth, to building a leadership team strong enough to step back from. Andrew also speaks candidly about the personal cost of success with long hours, burnout, and the moment he realised the business he built was no longer sustainable for the life he wanted.
Now focused on family, investing, and sustainability, Andrew offers a different perspective on success that goes beyond financial outcomes.
This is a grounded and honest conversation about entrepreneurship, growth, and what success really looks like once you’ve achieved it.
Timestamps
02:17 Council estate roots
09:20 Knife lesson turning point
22:06 Bedroom startup launch
34:14 Why sell the business
42:57 Health reset and purpose
46:50 Sales tricks that work
54:47 Advice for entrepreneurs
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Find out more about Pareto Facilities
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

Could the answer to a more sustainable handbag or wallet lie at the bottom of your pint glass?
In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Dr. Edward "TJ" Mitchell, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Arda Biomaterials, a London-based startup redefining the future of leather. Using cutting-edge technology, Arda transforms waste grain from brewers and distillers into sustainable, animal-, and plastic-free leather alternatives that are poised to disrupt the fashion and materials industries.
TJ shares his remarkable journey from a PhD in radioactive waste storage to the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship. He opens up about the pivotal moments that led to founding Arda Biomaterials, meeting his co-founder, and the bold decision to pivot from food-based protein products to sustainable materials. TJ also talks about the challenges of scaling a deep tech startup, from overcoming scientific and engineering hurdles, to building a team, and navigating the complexities of fundraising.
TJ reflects on the importance of networking and immersing yourself in the right communities, the art of storytelling as an entrepreneur, and why asking for advice often leads to unexpected opportunities.
Timestamps
02:39 From PhD research to entrepreneurship
06:22 Discovering the value of waste grain
12:15 Pivoting from food-based protein to leather alternatives
14:19 Using chemistry to mimic collagen for sustainable leather
20:33 The science behind transforming waste into leather-like materials
21:20 Why communication and storytelling are key for entrepreneurs
24:47 Advice for scientists: finding co-founders and startup programs
35:00 The future of plastic-free, animal-free materials in fashion
39:49 Arda Biomaterials’ vision as a waste transformation company
42:13 Scaling globally and creating local production facilities
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Follow TJ Mitchell on LinkedIn
Find out more about Arda Biomaterials here
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk