Trading Up

Tom McLaughlin built his first boat in 1965 at the age of seven. It had its maiden voyage in the family garden. By 1977 with a strong desire to avoid going back to school, Tom started his own business with his first sea-worthy vessel. That boat - a simple wooden construction called Redbay One - is now on display in the company showroom. Since that early sale (which he managed to purchase back some years later from the customer), Tom has been making making boats of varying shapes and sizes at his Cushendall base in the Glens of Antrim. Around 20-25 each year. Redbay Boats specialises in RIBs (rigid inflatable boats). They're hard-hulled vessels with an inflatable collar - "like a life jacket for the boat" says Tom. They're renowed for their safety in rough conditions. And there's nowhere better to test them than just off his Antrim Coast base in the choppy waters of Rathlin Sound or near Torr Head on the famous Causeway Coast. A top of the range Redbay Boat could set you back £1.5 million. A more modest vessel might run to £60,000. These are bespoke boats where the customer has a big input into the build process. And the connection with the customers continues long after they've got their boat as Tom, and his team, manage the ongoing relationships. "Our customers become our friends," says Tom, with absolute sincerity. Tom's son Conor is now taking a central role at the business, having learnt his trade (like his father) in the workshop. In this episode Tom and Conor tell Jim about their business journey and how they deal with customers ranging from government agencies to leisure enthusiasts and spread from across Ireland and Scotland to far flung places such as the Falklands and Svalbard in the Arctic.

Who would you rather work for: Saddam Hussein or Mickey Mouse? Mervyn McCall has worked for both. As co-founder of construction giant Mivan, he built palaces for Saddam before Gulf War One put an abrupt end to that; wiped out half his business overnight; and landed him with a hostage crisis situation as 90 ex-pat staff were held by the Iraqi dictator as "human shields". With that episode behind him, he turned his focus to getting work in the massive "Euro Disney" project underway near Paris. He got a foot in the door with one director and six staff. He sent them with a firm instruction to grow that work to 60 staff. Before long it was 600 and Mickey Mouse had replaced Saddam as his number one customer. Next, he turned his attention to Asia where a revolutionary construction system he ultimately acquired, enabled him to build cheap housing in rapid order as the economies in the East boomed. At one point in his early career as he flew back into Northern Ireland after a spell away in Iraq, he noticed two things: it was green and small. The green was good - nice place to live. But the small meant bad place to work. The world was his oyster now. In this episode Mervyn dives deep into his incredible global career, the highs and lows; the personal sacrifices made along the way; the learnings for anyone keen to grow in business.

It may be a tough business, but it seems like "wee buns" to Tim Andrew. Join Tim and Jim as they delve into Andrew Ingredients' 80-year history. Discover how the family business evolved from an agency set up by his Dad at the end of the War; how Tim took a holiday job which evolved into becoming boss; how he innovated with investments in things like the test kitchen to help customers develop new products; and how he navigated challenges like Brexit and COVID-19 by adapting and embracing digital.

Discover how this Belfast-based independent retailer is thriving against the odds. Learn about what Linzi Rooney means by her culturally relevant products; how she doubled online turnover while growing high street sales and all the while maintaining her support for local makers. Explore Linzi's unique brand, realistic growth plans, and even her surprising encounter with the PayPal CEO Alex Chriss. A must-listen for retail inspiration!

Discover the inspiring journey of Tina McKenzie, from launching a recruitment business that went from zero to 150 million in short order. From running Staffline in Northern Ireland to becoming a leading figure in UK business with the Federation of Small Businesses. Hear about her meteoric growth, strategic acquisitions like Grafton, and ill-fated foray into politics. Tina shares insights on resilience, leadership, and making a real-world impact. Proving a job is just a job while purpose matters.

The multi-millionaire and serial entrepreneur who began his business journey as an unlicensed street trader. The bank employee who quit school before her A Levels then quit the bank to set up her own. And the third generation family food business boss who’s defied the old adage about success across the generations to build a 200 million pound empire. A chance to catch up again with Pete Boyle, Judith Totten, and Andrew Lynas as we reflect on the common lessons from some very contrasting stories.

Clare Ryan cut her entrepreneurial teeth on a market stall and then a corner shop. She was the first in her family to go to university where she excelled. But she swapped biomedical sciences for the role of tech founder and this non techie now has a compelling product aimed at demystifying the complexities of cyber security for small businesses, and saving them money. Perhaps even saving their business. She's raised her first half million with a plan for two million more to follow this year as she rolls out her solution. Her kids are the driving force - "mummy, you said we'd have money by now" - and she has her eyes fixed on a successful exit by the time she hits fifty in seven years time.

Karen Maguire doesn't do the expected or routine. She wouldn't have decided to set up her own manufacturing business if she did. She wouldn't have grown it, with much personal sacrifice, through lean years and tough times if she had only been half-committed. She was all-in. Until the death of her father in 2017 shook her world and she decided her business should belong to someone else. But who? Again, she took the path less travelled and sold up to her employees under the Employee Ownership Trust scheme. As she eases herself out of the business, and into a new venture teaching pilates (just doing it was clearly not enough), she tells her remarkable story.