The Graft Podcast

• "Just Don’t Take No for an Answer" - Andy Pear on the Power of Persistence, Starting Messy and Scaling Big

  What does it really take to build a business empire - while surviving recessions, dodgy manufacturers, and your kids joining the company?This week, we sit down with Andy Pear: entrepreneur, founder of First Aid UK, and the man behind some of Congleton’s most iconic businesses. From remortgaging his home to buy a failing medical supply company, to opening a 300,000 sq ft manufacturing site in China - and later sinking millions into a heritage hospitality venue - Andy’s journey is a masterclass in what it means to graft.🎧 Listen as we discuss...(00:00) – From Selfridges to medical sales: the unexpected career beginnings(03:04) – The £15K loan that turned into a £500K buyout (thanks, Dad)(07:00) – Scaling First Aid UK and learning what wasn’t working(09:00) – Why he sold his first business and started again from scratch(12:10) – Navigating shady Chinese factories (and building his own)(19:00) – Surviving recessions, supplier stress, and managing cashflow(21:00) – Honesty, decency, generosity: the simple HR philosophy that works(27:00) – Spelling mistakes, car bumps, and letting people learn by doing(30:00) – What it’s like managing your kids in a growing business(34:00) – Why stepping back as MD gave him the freedom to step up as mentor(40:00) – Buying The Lion & Swan and turning a crumbling pub into a destination(44:00) – Would he go into hospitality again? (The answer might surprise you)(48:00) – What makes Pax, the iconic restaurant, work after 40+ years(50:00) – His biggest business lesson from a gold-medal Olympic familyKEY TAKEAWAYSPush the envelope: When the door closes, knock on the side gate. Then climb over it.Build trust with your suppliers: Honesty buys you time (and sometimes survival).Let people make mistakes: It’s how they learn—and how your company grows.Legacy isn’t just business: It’s family, community, and what you leave behind in the places that raised you.GUEST Andy Pear - Entrepreneur, Founder of First Aid UK, Owner of The Lion & Swan and Pax, Chairman of Reliance Medical

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• “People Were Throwing Money at Us… And We Couldn't Say No” - Chris Carsons on Success, Burnout, and Starting Again

  🔔❗️Want to win a £50 Sienna's voucher? Comment "SIENNA" below to be entered into the draw. The winner will be announced on The Graft Podcast's Instagram on Tuesday 1st July at 7pm! 🔔❗️What does it really take to survive the chaos of the hospitality industry, bounce back from burnout, and build a café that becomes the heart of a community?In this episode, we sit down with Chris Carson, long-time bar and restaurant owner turned café operator at Sienna’s. He's a man whose life has been shaped by hard graft, big risks, and deep reinvention.From opening the original Bubble Room in Alderley Edge and running DV8 to stepping away from 100-hour weeks and rediscovering his purpose in a slower, more intentional life -Chris tells it like it is.🎧 Listen as we discuss…(00:00) Growing up in a family of grafters and starting out as a teenage barman(04:41) Opening his first venue at 21 and building a nightlife empire with DV8(07:38) Launching the Bubble Room: vision, pressure, and learning on the job(14:30) The cost of hustle culture: burnout, breakdowns, and stepping back(18:02) Life after nightlife: slowing down, finding balance, and getting sober(23:15) Opening Sienna’s café and the difference between bar life and day trade(26:42) The challenge of letting go of identity, ego, and old ways of living(31:50) Creating calm, welcoming spaces and the psychology of hospitality(37:20) What he’d do differently—and why he doesn’t regret the graft...and more!KEY TAKEAWAYSYou don’t need to prove anything: Sometimes walking away takes more strength than sticking it out.Success looks different at every stage: Your version at 21 might destroy you at 41.Hospitality is about people, not just profit: And the right energy is everything.You’re allowed to evolve: Reinvention is a form of survival.GUESTChris Carsons - Owner of Sienna’s Café (Congleton) & former founder of DV8 Follow Sienna’s

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• "From Sweeping Hair in West London to Styling the Queen at Windsor” – Lino Carbosiero MBE on Graft, Glamour, and Getting the Call to Buckingham Palace

  What does it take to go from sweeping floors to styling The Queen, presidents, and pop icons?In this episode, we sit down with Lino Carbosiero MBE, a globally renowned hairstylist whose clients have included The Queen, the Clintons, Kylie Minogue, and members of the British royal family.But behind the glitz is a story of serious graft. From humble beginnings as a carwash kid in Hounslow to running his own London salon at 21, Lino’s journey is packed with hard-won lessons on humility, hustle, and holding the door open for the next generation.🎧 Listen as we discuss…(00:00) – How Lino “fell into” hairdressing at 15 and why he originally wanted to work for Ferrari(06:21) – Why hairstylists experience every human emotion - and how clients become family(10:23) – Opening a salon at 21, battling imposter syndrome, and earning client trust(14:06) – Losing sight of your roots, learning the hard way, and keeping loyal clients(18:32) – Working with Mandy Smith, Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan, and why the 80s changed everything(22:52) – The day Lino did The Queen’s hair - and how he accidentally flooded the royal bathroom(30:06) – What it really felt like to be awarded an MBE… and then dragged by the press(37:02) – Working with the Clintons, the Trumps, and Joe Biden - plus secrets from presidential security teams(44:14) – The lesson Lino’s father taught him that changed everything(46:40) – Why it’s every stylist’s duty to pass on their knowledgeKEY TAKEAWAYSTreat everyone the same. Whether you’re styling a princess or a pensioner, respect is non-negotiable.Start small, learn fast. Every assistant job, every floor swept, every toilet cleaned is part of the journey.Protect your client relationships. They’re sacred - and one cancelled appointment can cost you a lifetime of loyalty.Pass it on. True legacy isn’t celebrity - it’s helping the next generation do it better.GUESTLino Carbosiero MBE – Hairstylist to the Stars, Royals & Presidents | Daniel Galvin London

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• “I Had £3.50 in My Account… Then I Sold to AutoTrader” - Rob Smethurst on Rock Bottom, Self Belief, and Never Giving Up

  Want to win a Macclesfield FC season ticket?! Forward this episode onto a friend and comment "SEASON" below to be entered into the draw. First place: 1 x season ticket for the 25/26 seasonSecond place: 1 x signed ball Winners will be revealed on The Graft Podcast Instagram at 7pm on Tuesday 17th June. What does it really take to go from school struggles and having £3.50 in your bank account… to selling your company to AutoTrader and saving a football club from extinction?In this episode, we sit down with Rob Smethurst, entrepreneur, founder of Motor Trade Delivery, and owner of Macclesfield FC.Rob’s story is a masterclass in self-belief, resilience, and raw graft. From failing his GCSEs and hiding in the playground, to flipping cars in local classifieds and nearly losing everything he’d built, Rob opens up about the highs, lows, and defining moments that shaped his journey.This isn’t your usual “success story.” It’s messy, emotional, and full of lessons for anyone chasing something bigger than themselves.🎧 Listen as we discuss… (00:00) Growing up with dyslexia, failing school, and finding early drive through sport (03:04) Getting started in the car trade and the reality of a failed first dealership (11:26) The comeback: flipping houses, rebuilding cash, and reinvesting in his dream (17:06) Creating Motor Trade Delivery and nearly losing it all (24:12) The day AutoTrader bought his company (and what came after) (27:35) Buying Macclesfield FC on a whim (with a hangover and a giant bunch of keys) (31:20) Rebuilding a club, re-finding his purpose, and creating a true community asset (38:17) The reality of running a football business: egos, money, and meaning (43:00) Investing £4 million into Macclesfield and building for long-term legacy (46:08) Rob’s philosophy on failure, risk, and why he’ll always back himself ...and more!KEY TAKEAWAYSFailure isn’t fatal: Your first business tanking doesn’t define your future.Have a go: The biggest breakthroughs come from backing yourself when no one else will. Purpose > Paycheck: Real fulfillment came not from selling a business, but saving a community.Invest where it matters: In people, in legacy, in something that outlives you.GUEST Rob Smethurst - Entrepreneur, Founder of Motor Trade Delivery, and Owner of Macclesfield FCFollow Macclesfield FC: @thesilkmenLearn more: macclesfieldfc.com

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• “You’re the Videographer, the Strategist, and the Marketer (All at Once!)” - Emma Campbell on Building a Meaningful Social Media Presence

  What does it really take to grow a 66K+ following on Instagram, run community events, and stay grounded as a busy mum of two?In this episode, we sit down with Emma Campbell, content creator, community builder, and founder of The Mum Club in Cheshire East. Emma’s story is a refreshing reminder that graft isn’t always loud or glamorous it’s often found in the quiet commitment to show up, share honestly, and build something meaningful.From early days of beauty blogging to creating a safe and inclusive space for mums navigating the chaos of motherhood, Emma’s journey is one of creativity, hustle, and heart.🎧 Listen as we discuss...(00:00) Emma’s journey from beauty reviews to relatable motherhood content(05:21) The inspiration behind founding The Mum Club(10:34) Why mum-focused spaces matter (and what makes hers different)(19:07) The highs and lows of social media comparison, criticism, and connection(27:06) Real talk on mum guilt, online criticism, and staying true to yourself(34:06) B-roll tips, relatable content, and why fast-paced edits work(43:20) Weirdest brand collab offers (yes, there were diet pills involved)(45:21) Emma’s top advice for anyone looking to grow online in 2024...and more!KEY TAKEAWAYSAuthenticity over aesthetics: People follow people not perfection.Start messy: You don’t need a niche, just a voice and a story worth telling.Build what you need: If the space doesn’t exist, create it (someone else needs it too).Boundaries matter: You can share online and still protect your peace.GUESTEmma Campbell - Content Creator, Community Host & Founder of The Mum Club Cheshire EastFOLLOW EMMA

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