Local Business Transcript

1. “I think it's been exhilarating actually, and it's made me change the way I'd work.” [Peter Wareing, Stephen Rimmer and Co.]
2. “Lot's of opportunity to mix with other people in similar sort of scenarios as yourself in small business, trying to expand and just trying to find different ways of doing things that might not be obvious to yourself.” [Justin Hudd, CDBA Ltd]
3. “Very rewarding actually, I've got action points which I can take away, and implement straight away.” [Colin Bickers, Graham Edwards Ltd]
4. “Yeh. Robert's a really good speaker, he makes it fun.” [Carl Joy, Loop Kite Clothing]
5. “He's clearly spoken without all the business mumbo jumbo. It's in laymen's terms and that's a breath of fresh air!” [Judi Vidler, Judi Vidler MAAT Accounting and Business Services]
6. “Very good, very relaxed, makes the audience want to listen and er, makes you smile.” [Paul Lane, ABC Emergency Aid Training]
7. “I would recommend it for on the one hand getting the inspiration, on the other hand meeting other really nice businesses and do a bit of networking, so yeh.” [Susanne Barthelmes, all Sorted Consultancy]
8. “It's definitely worth it; it gives you a wider view of the issues facing small businesses.” [Ray Griffiths, Jasmine House Associates Ltd]
9. “Some great ideas. It really makes you think about where your business can actually go.” [Gemma Abrahams, Blackbelt Leaders]
10. “Highly recommend it.” [Ken Webb, TUV Product Service]
11. “Come; it'll make your day, it may make your life. Come!” [Peter Wareing, Stephen Rimmer and Co.]
12. “It's good that the bank's appreciating that small businesses need advice from other areas than just the bank itself.” [Ray Griffiths, Jasmine House Associates Ltd]
13. “It's just been really useful and I don't know any other bank that does anything like this - so it's erm, very ... sounds a bit cheesy but it really makes you feel like Barclays is there for you!” [Leanne Bowen-Thomas, On Line Media Group]
14. “Yes, thank you very much! Thank you very much indeed! It's really worth while and er, I'm chuffed to bits actually.” [Colin Bickers, Graham Edwards Ltd]
15. “This just open my eyes and just told me that this is what I have to do [Carlos Fernandes, Unique Accounting Solutions]
16. “Staff and performance and things like that. Not just staff performance, customer performance and things like that. A real eye-opener about customer performance, that was like really interesting.” [Charlotte Ashton-Rickardt, EMARK Ltd]
17. “I think it's a great opportunity to step back form your business and think about it. The operation of it and what you are doing to then take that back and improve your business.” [Ben Vines, Distinctive Kitchens and Bathrooms]
18. “I will not go through the same mistakes I have done before. I will just go forward from what I learn now, so that's it!” [Lilliana Fernandes, Unique Accounting Solutions]

Robert Craven Transcript

“What I would like to do is seed in your mind right away the idea that by the end of this morning you'll be able to write down 1,2,3 things that you're going to do as a consequence of today.”

“I don’t want the bland answers to this, I want the real answers, what are you going to do to increase the profit in your business? What are you going to do to what, when and how?”

“It’s a bet between me and you that I can go through this whole morning without using a single business/non-sense phrase. So if I go TARGET MARKET SEGMENTATION or BUSSINESS PROCESS REORIENTATION or any of that absolute nonsense, stick up your hand.”

“Marketing is a battle for the mind of the customer. Marketing is not a battle of the product; people buy your product because they think your product is better.”

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Please note, the views expressed in these interviews are the views of the delegates alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of any of their associated companies or organisations. In particular, the views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Barclays Bank PLC Group and should not be taken as statements of policy or intent of the Barclays Bank PLC Group. The Barclays Bank PLC Group has no responsibility for the veracity of information contained in the interviews.