The Founders Blueprint

In this episode of The Founder's Blueprint Podcast, we dive into the inspiring journey of Katherine Jones, a natural entrepreneur from Liverpool's south end. From a young age, Katherine always had a keen eye for business opportunities.

Her path took a pivotal turn when she discovered her passion for hospitality while working at Marriott Hotels in Kentucky. Today, she is the visionary creator and owner of Social Network, a platform bridging the gap between influencers and brands as well as the popular Think Wine Group.

Katherine shares the innovative idea behind her drink brand, Think...

Welcome to this episode of The Founders Blueprint podcast, where Liverpool’s own 'Sid The Barber', joins James in the studio.

Sid shares his journey, from being the class clown during his school days to struggling with the deep loss of his father at a young age. Learn how these pivotal moments shaped his life and led him to discover his passion for barbering—a pursuit his friends initially thought was a joke!

But Sid's journey doesn’t end with barbering. With a keen interest in photography, he has not only competed in the field but al...

Welcome to this episode of The Founders Blueprint podcast, where Liverpool’s own Simon Bradley, aka 'Sid The Barber', joins James in the studio. Simon shares his journey, from being the class clown during his school days to struggling with the deep loss of his father at a young age. Learn how these pivotal moments shaped his life and led him to discover his passion for barbering—a pursuit his friends initially thought was a joke!

But Simon's journey doesn’t end with barbering. With a keen interest in photography, he has not only competed in the field...

Are you a shoe enthusiast? particularly fond of Nike 110's? If so, this episode is tailor-made for you. Join James as he sits down with Charlie McDonough and Sam Byrne, from Liverpool's iconic shoe store- Block P.

Charlie discovered the lucrative potential of the resale industry after profiting from a shoe sale on Depop. After becoming a Depop Community Leader in Liverpool, Charlie was fueled with inspiration for the city's admiration for Nike 110's. Taking a bold leap, Charlie founded Block P, and with the support of colleague and investor Sam, the two have forged a powerful...

In this captivating episode, James sits down with the talented independent Liverpool singer-songwriter Anthony Russell, as he gears up for the launch of his second album Street Songs on 12 April 2025. Known for his soulful voice and heartfelt performances, Anthony takes us on a journey through his life and career, sharing the pivotal moments that shaped his path.

Anthony opens up about his experience on the British talent show, X Factor, and the immense impact it had on his life. He credits the unwavering support from One Direction's Louis Tomlinson as a crucial element that helped him navigate...

What exactly is wealth management, and how can it benefit you?

In this weeks episode, James delves into the realm of wealth management with John Price, founder and owner of Modus Wealth Management in Liverpool.

John shares his insights into the wealth management industry, detailing his journey from climbing the corporate ladder to his time at the prestigious Coutts, where he became the second youngest Executive Director outside of London.

Despite his success, John realised that his Liverpudlian values and perspectives were increasingly at odds with the corporate environment. Taking the bold decision...

In this episode of The Founders Blueprint, James interviews Michael Achilleos, the founder and owner of Grael, a premier luxury footwear restoration and cleaning company located in the vibrant Baltic Triangle of Liverpool.

Mike recounts his journey from running a successful fish and chips shop to realising it was time for a change. As he neared the sale of his business, uncertainty about his next steps began to weigh on him. However, a fortunate search on Google sparked the idea of starting his luxury footwear restoration company.

Now, with a thriving team by his side...

.Have you ever been curious about how to purchase a house in the UK? Are you feeling daunted by mortgage jargon and APRs?

Join Alex Leppard, the owner of the award-winning mortgage brokerage AL Mortgages, as he discusses everything mortgage-related with James. Alex shares his journey from being an advisor at Barclays Bank to becoming the owner of one of the fastest-growing mortgage brokerage firms in the North West. The home-buying process can be quite overwhelming, particularly for first-time buyers. Alex breaks down the steps of mortgage broking to simplify the process and enhance understanding. With changing...

In this weeks episode of The Founders Blueprint podcast, James dives into the inspiring journey of Roxanne Twomey, founder and owner of School of Rox in Liverpool. Roxanne share's her transformative experience of juggling multiple part-time jobs to then ultimately realising the importance of pursuing her true passion - teaching music

From a young age, Roxanne was immersed in the arts, with early interests in boxing, singing, and piano. At just 16, she began teaching music lessons from home, turning a childhood love into a thriving side hustle while completing her studies. With a commitment to excellence and...

Welcome to episode 18 of The Founders Blueprint. In this week's episode, James engages in a conversation with Joe Campbell, the founder and creator of Culture City, one of Liverpool's fastest-growing corporate film, photography, and design companies.

Joe reflects on his college days, uncertain of where his journey would take him—whether it would lead him to join a band or venture into filmmaking. One thing he was certain of was his love for picking up a camera and capturing people living their best lives. But how could he transform this passion into a thriving business?

Wi...

In this episode of The Founders Blueprint, James is joined by Georgia and Jade Morgan, the founders and business owners of Propel PR in Liverpool.

With backgrounds in journalism and fashion, the sisters joined forces in 2019 to establish their own business and have never looked back. Their extensive understanding of building positive client relationships and delivering exactly what clients desire has allowed their business to thrive continuously. They share their insights on what it takes to run a successful PR company and discuss one of their recent events—the launch of the esteemed The Ivy Liverpool Brasserie.

Ever wondered what it's like to go from being an engineer at one of the UK's most reputable companies, earning a high salary, traveling the world, and enjoying a comfortable pension, to deciding to walk away from it all to set up your own dog food business?

Meet Ben McIntyre, the founder and CEO of Mersey Raw, based in Liverpool. Ben’s deep love for dogs and his passion for ensuring they have access to nutritious, high-quality food inspired him to leave behind a successful engineering career to start his own business.

In this episode of...

In this episode of The Founders Blueprint, James sits with Marcus Hollingsworth and Sophie Adens, the duo behind Hydro, a leading web design company based in Manchester. As co-founders and life partners, Marcus and Sophie share their unique insights into the challenges and rewards of running a successful business together while also living under the same roof.

Listeners will discover how their shared background in sales and creative flair have fueled their company’s growth and success. Marcus delves into his experience juggling multiple successful ventures and the importance of wearing different hats to effectively manage business op...

Welcome to episode 14 of The Founders Blueprint. In this episode, James sits down with Paul and Joe Murphy, the duo behind the popular menswear brand Lanka Clothing. So inspired by their cherished memories and deep admiration for Sri Lanka, they decided to name their designer label after the beautiful island nation. Paul and Joe take us on a journey through their entrepreneurial adventure, starting out in their parents' garage.

They share candid stories of investing thousands in samples, only to receive items that were far from their original designs. Through persistence and a commitment to quality, they...

In this week's episode of The Founders Blueprint podcast, James is joined in the studio by best friends Dom Talbot and Oliver Cooke, founders and CEOs of Venture Finance in Liverpool. Offering end-to-end accounting services for small to medium-sized enterprises, they discuss how their unique way of working, makes their clients feel like they’re an extended member of their team.

Dom and Ol recount their first meeting, when playing on the football fields of north Liverpool, where they discovered a shared passion for business and accounting. Fast forward a few years, Dom was working with HMRC an...

Welcome to episode 12 of The Founders Blueprint, where host James delves into the world of entrepreneurship and healthy eating with Liverpool's own Leanne Wall, the visionary behind the award-winning The Weight Loss Prep Kitchen.

Have you ever wondered how it's possible to prepare nutritious meals daily while balancing a hectic lifestyle? Leanne shares her journey that has helped her and countless others maintain healthy eating habits amidst the chaos of everyday life.

Leanne is not only an inspiration to those wanting to live healthier lifestyles, but also a community leader. Giving free Christmas dinners to...

Welcome to episode 11 of The Founder's Blueprint. In this weeks episode, James chats with Paul Webley, founder and CEO of Blaze Media, a digital marketing agency based in Liverpool.

Paul's journey began in the world of software engineering, but he soon realised that this was not his true passion. Transitioning to a career in sales at a major marketing agency, Paul achieved remarkable success, earning substantial commissions at home with his family. In 2017, Paul founded Blaze Media from his home garage. Fast forward seven years, the agency is now known as one of Liverpool's leading marketing agencies. <...

In Episode 10 of The Founders Blueprint, host James sits down with Liam Quirk, CEO and founder of Quirky Digital. Liam shares his inspiring journey from Despite leaving school without formal qualifications in math's, english, or science to leading one of the fastest-growing SEO agencies in Merseyside.

Liam's entrepreneurial spirit was evident from a young age. He began his career with an apprenticeship and began building PCs from scratch. Motivated by his uncle's success in search engine optimization (SEO), Liam taught himself everything he needed to know, to build his own business. As a teenager, he began earning...

In episode 9 of The Founders Blueprint, James is joined by the multi-award-winning and world-renowned artist, John Charles.

Born and bred in Kirkby, John opens up about his early love for art, and recalls the day he sat a small coffee table with a tiny easel where he painted Disney pictures. However, his story takes a dark turn, when during his teenage years, he struggled with alcohol and drug addictions. John bravely recounts these dark times and discusses his inspiring path to recovery.

John, supported by his wife Jen, reflects on his return to the art...

In this weeks episode, James dives into the entrepreneurial journey of Jess, the dynamic force behind Spray Tans By Jessy. After completing her apprenticeship as a barber, and working many hours in hairdressers, Jess felt she needed more from her career. Embracing her passion for beauty, she embarked on a new path in spray tanning, a decision that would soon transform her professional life.

Jess shares her experiences of stepping into the world of self-employment. After the birth of her second child, she made the courageous choice to leave her role as a barber to launch her...

In this episode of Founders Blueprint podcast, we dive into the fascinating journey of Chris Redman, founder and CEO of Ultimate Kids Ltd in Merseyside. Redman, a successful business owner has built a thriving enterprise despite his aversion with asking for payment. Chris candidly discusses the challenges he faced in overcoming his discomfort with sales and shares the innovative strategies he employed to grow his business without compromising his values. Listeners will gain insights into how to build strong client relationships and develop a mindset that balances passion with profitability. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business...

Welcome to this week's episode of The Founders Blueprint podcast, where James chats with Kosta Xenos, the co-founder and co-owner of the luxurious Liverpool menswear store, Andrea Kosta.

Kosta's journey is nothing short of remarkable. Eleven years ago, he left his home city of Athens with a dream. Armed with the skills he honed as a tailor in Greece, Kosta envisioned a menswear store that combined traditional craftsmanship with modern luxury. But like many entrepreneurial stories, his began not with a storefront, but in the stockrooms of Liverpool.

It was during his time at Flannels...

In this episode James, speaks with Holly Braithwaite and Callum Webb, the dynamic duo behind Pow8r, the revolutionary online fitness app. In this episode, Holly and Callum reveal the trials and triumphs of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic while managing two thriving personal training business', each boasting six-figure turnovers. As the world went into lockdown, they took the initiative to raise funds for the NHS and provided free online training sessions to help maintain public health and wellbeing.

Despite the uncertainty, Holly and Callum remained optimistic that life would eventually return to normal. However, the question loomed...

In this episode of The Founders Blueprint Podcast, host James sits down Jack Brewitt, the founder and CEO of 92 Degrees Coffee Shops. Listen in as Jack shares his inspiring story, from his humble beginnings in Liverpool with dreams of becoming a professional footballer to his unexpected detour working on a building site.

Jack's path took a transformative turn when he was recruited by Steven Bartlett's Social Chain, which led him to the innovative environment of Silicon Valley. Inspired and driven, Jack returned to his roots with a vision to create something extraordinary. With the support of investors...

In this episode of The Founders Blueprint podcast, host James Quinn sits down with Elle Hughes, founder and CEO of LovElle Skin Solutions, in Liverpool.

Elle offers listeners a rare glimpse into her daily routine, which begins at the crack of dawn - 4:30 AM to be precise! Despite her busy schedule filled with running a thriving skincare clinic, maintaining an engaging social media presence and being a devoted mother, Elle's energy and passion for her work remain unwavering. She shares how she manages to treat an impressive 20-30 clients a day, of all ages with unique needs...

In this inspiring episode of The Founders Blueprint podcast, host James Quinn, Founder and CEO of Liverpool Business College, sits down with Farren Williams, CEO of Social Solutions Group. Farren shares her riveting journey from her entrepreneurial beginnings at just 16, launching a spray tan business, to navigating the challenges of university life far from home. Discover how Farren's tenacity and dedication to proving her worth have shaped her career path and fueled her passion for supporting businesses with their marketing strategies. Tune in to hear how this devoted Mum of two never gave up, ultimately finding her niche in...

In this captivating episode, Farren Williams, owner of Social Solutions Group, sits down with James Quinn, the visionary Founder and CEO of Liverpool Business College. Join us as James shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings packing crumpets, to achieving the sale of his previous business, for just under £1 million. Discover the driving force behind his passion for coaching and educating the youth of Liverpool, and how he transformed his vision into creating what will be a thriving educational institution. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply love a good success story, this episode is packed with valuable insights a...

Welcome and thankyou for listening to The Founders Blueprint Podcast, brought to you by Liverpool Business College!