Ben and Frazer kick off 2024 by looking ahead to the coming year, discussing their goals and aspirations for the podcast, All Things Business and for their charitable work.
Frazer is proud that the podcast has reached 25,000 listens, with the latest episode featuring renowned marketeer Rory Sutherland doing exceptionally well. We have some great guests lined up for the coming months, so stay tuned for more insightful episodes into all aspects of business, along with a new look for the studio. Ben asks how many listeners Frazer wants by the end of 2024, and Frazer thinks they can double their money and hit 50,000 by year end. An ambitious goal, but one Frazer thinks is easily within reach.
Personal Goals
Moving onto more personal goals, Frazer is almost a month alcohol and tobacco free. He’s vaping to help quit smoking, but thinks he’ll be off that too by the end of February. His initial motivation was training for a half marathon he was doing for Milton Keynes-based charity Harry’s Rainbow, but he’s hit a snag in his training. His ankle is giving out on longer run attempts, so he’s unfortunately had to withdraw from the half-marathon.
However, that’s not the end for his charitable efforts. Harry’s Rainbow are currently looking for a vest sponsor, so he’ll be helping them with that, as well as proposing a car valeting service to raise money for the charity. He was inspired by Dave Williams, who raised money by doing a barbecue in the car park of his business. Ben proposes they combine the ideas, with himself as waiter, so people can have some food while Frazer cleans their cars.
Award Launch Events
Looking forward, the Milton Keynes Education Awards, Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards and Northamptonshire Education Awards launch events are coming up fast. With 260 people in attendance for the inaugural ceremony, both Ben and Frazer anticipate the MKEAs will continue to grow. Frazer would like 400 people at this year’s event. There are new headline sponsors for the MKEAs in Brioche Pasquier and Facilities Management Solutions, and both businesses are very engaged with the local community. Both MD’s did last year’s CEO Sleepout to raise money for homeless charities and Brioche Pasquier support Milton Keynes’ basketball team, the MK Breakers.
Future Podcast Guests
The conversation turns to future podcast guests. Ben would like to get Genevieve Kitchen, the Labour candidate for the Wellingborough by-election, on the podcast as he’s been intrigued by her recent outreach through social. While politics isn’t usually something the podcast likes to engage in, the polls predict a new Government in the coming election, and this will of course have a major impact on the environment for businesses.
Ben asks what role Frazer would like if he was a minister. Frazer thinks transport would be an interesting portfolio, especially with the forthcoming transfer to electric vehicles. Ben finds education interesting, especially with all the work that ATB does with educational institutions, but both would agree that government does not appeal to them for a potential career switch.
Tech Together
Staying on education, Ben hints at an initiative to be announced in the coming months. Tech Together will aim to eradicate digital poverty across Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes by 2027. More details will be revealed soon so stay tuned to ATB socials and the podcast for more information on how you can help with this ambitious charitable project.
To finish up, Frazer outlines his goals for the year: 50,000 podcast listeners, the expansion of ATB into a new area, and to stay happy, healthy and sane.
Watch and listen to the full episode here:
