North of Ordinary

He left school with almost no qualifications and no clear idea what his future would look like. Today, Ray Chapman is a specialist paramedic with more than 25 years of experience on the frontline of emergency medicine.In this episode of North of Ordinary, Ray shares the remarkable journey that took him from a working-class upbringing in Hull to a career saving lives across the region. His path was anything but straightforward. Ray talks openly about leaving school without direction, joining the Army at just 17, serving during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, struggling to find his place after leaving the military and hitting rock bottom after being failed at university on the final hurdle.What followed was years of rebuilding. Working multiple jobs, returning to education later in life and slowly finding his way into the ambulance service, first through patient transport and eventually qualifying as a paramedic. More than two decades later, he is still working on the frontline and mentoring the next generation of emergency responders.Ray has also written a book called “Becoming a Specialist Paramedic”, an honest reflection on his life, his journey into the ambulance service and the realities of working on the frontline of emergency care. The book shares the experiences, challenges and lessons that shaped him both as a paramedic and as a person.You can find the book here:https://amzn.eu/d/03mowxfGThis conversation is a powerful reminder that your starting point does not define your future. Ray’s story shows that success rarely follows a straight line and that sometimes the moments that feel like failure are the very things that push you towards the right path.If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to retrain, change direction or start again, this episode is proof that it isn’t.Subscribe to North of Ordinary for more stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things across Hull and the Humber region.#paramedic #ambulanceservice #emergencyservices #hull #lifelessons #careerchange #resilience #podcast #northofordinary

In this episode of North of Ordinary, we go behind the scenes with the team from Tigers Trust, the official charity associated with Hull City Football Club, to uncover the full scale of the life-changing work they deliver across Hull and East Yorkshire.While football is part of the story, it’s only a small piece. The Tigers Trust team works across education, health, employment, wellbeing and community outreach to build confidence, connection and opportunity for thousands of people every year.We explore how they support young people, adults and families, how businesses can partner with their work, and why sport is just the spark for something much bigger.#HullBusiness #TigersTrust #EastYorkshire #CommunityImpact #CSR #NorthOfOrdinary #HullCity #CharityWork #SocialImpact #EducationAndWellbeing #Hull #TheTigers #Football #SportImpact

This week, we sit down with Jade Wildbore, who reflects on her journey from freelance creative to Marketing Director at Mattix Design in Hull, and how the ability to connect with people, both online and offline, helped shape her path.Jade shares honest, practical advice for people who find networking daunting, and reveals what it really takes to build a personal brand that’s true to who you are. From avoiding common LinkedIn mistakes to knowing how to walk into a room full of strangers with confidence, this episode is packed with useful insights for freelancers, creatives, and early-stage business professionals.In the next 20 minutes, we cover:Learning to network as a freelancerThe link between confidence and connectionBuilding an authentic personal brand on LinkedInNavigating business events as a beginnerWhat not to do when trying to grow your visibilityWhy being yourself is the most powerful strategyNetworking and building new connections can feel daunting, but it's a necessity for people building a business. Creatives, entrepreneurs, business leaders, this episode is for you.

In this episode of North of Ordinary, Tina Swann talks to Ben McLintock, data-focused project manager and founder of Data Compass, about how businesses can better manage and use their data.They explore how many companies jump into collecting data without a clear goal, how to align data with real business problems, and how even small businesses and start-ups can use data to drive smarter decisions.Ben shares stories from his experience with global organisations and explains how data governance, trust, and communication are just as important as charts and dashboards. He also offers tips on project management, the human side of working with tech teams, and how to avoid common data traps.From SMEs to global corporates, this is an honest look at how data really works in business — and how to make it work for you.

In this first episode of North of Ordinary, host Tina Swann sits down with Rob Lewis, R&D specialist, long-time member of C4DI, and CEO and founder of FLX Health.The conversation explores the importance of musculoskeletal health and what it really means to add life to your years, not just years to your life. Rob discusses how business leaders, employees and entrepreneurs can protect their health while navigating modern work, from long hours at a desk to physically demanding jobs.Topics include:Why musculoskeletal health is the number one cause of workplace absenceHow simple physical activity can transform long-term healthThe risks of sedentary work and working from homeWhat start-ups, scale-ups and established businesses can do to support healthier working livesThe role of innovation, technology and preventive health in shaping the future of workBased in Hull, East Yorkshire and the Humber, this series shares the real stories of founders, entrepreneurs and business leaders powering growth, driving innovation and sustaining business life across the region.Subscribe now for more conversations that prove we are North of Ordinary.

North of Ordinary is here.This brand-new podcast from Hull’s Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) dives into the real stories of business across Hull, East Yorkshire and the Humber.Hosted by Tina Swann, the show will explore what it truly takes to run and grow a business, from the bold start-ups and ambitious scale-ups to the established companies powering through change. We’ll talk about the wins, the failures, and the realities of business life: navigating finance, sales, funding, product design, marketing, leadership, innovation and everything in between.This region is full of doers, risk-takers and creators who are shaping the future. Through candid conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders, North of Ordinary celebrates the people and companies that make Hull and East Yorkshire anything but ordinary.Subscribe now and join us as we share the stories of resilience, growth, and innovation that are putting our region on the map.