A career can pivot on a single moment. For Graeme Clark, watching his father’s late-career redundancy lit a fire to build on his own terms—first as a self-employed joiner, then as a sales professional, later as the owner of a 50-year-old wholesale brand management agency, and finally as the founder of Oakal Fudge, a handmade confectionery brand supplying iconic distilleries, luxury hotels, and farm shops across Scotland.

We explore how Oakal Fudge balances craft and growth without losing its soul. Graeme walks us through making butter fudge by hand, batch after batch, and why the team refuses to industrialise the core process. Instead of chasing supermarket volume, they choose partners who value provenance, flavour, and story—think Glen Eagles, St Andrews, and malt whisky distilleries where spirit is added to the fudge for a distinct, place-based product. With fifteen Great Taste Awards, SALSA accreditation, and capacity to scale production fivefold through packaging automation, the business proves that artisan and ambition can coexist.

The conversation ranges from culture and leadership to finance and resilience. Graeme shares how accelerators, mentors, and winning Scottish EDGE reshaped his approach, sharpening unit economics, planning, and accountability. He explains the traction system his teams use across both companies, why culture beats strategy for long-term execution, and the lessons he’d give his younger self: know your numbers, start with the end, and take time to celebrate progress. If you care about scaling a product the right way, building teams that take pride in their craft, and turning values into daily operations, this story will stick.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow and share the show, leave a review to help others find it, and connect with us to continue the discussion.

We map out a clear, honest guide to menopause with an NHS specialist, from definitions and ages to impacts on work, relationships, and long-term health. We compare lifestyle strategies, HRT and alternatives, and share how community spaces like Menopause Cafe change the journey.

• defining menopause, perimenopause, and surgical or medical menopause
• average age ranges and premature menopause realities
• symptom patterns across the body and brain
• diagnosis via history, checklists, and targeted FSH use
• work, sleep, libido, and relationship impacts
• vaginal oestrogen access and why it matters
• long-term bone and heart health risks
• lifestyle foundations for strength, sleep, and stress
• HRT forms, risks, dosing, and reviews
• testosterone for libido and the research gap
• non-hormonal and complementary options
• Menopause Cafe purpose, ribbons, and global reach

Attend a Menopause Cafe or start one: www.menopausecafe.net
Wear a menopause awareness ribbon to show support: menopausecafe.net

#menopausecafe #HRT #Hotflushes #coldflushes #perimenopause

This Podcast was brought to you by Johnston Media Podcast & Premier Properties Perth as part of our commitment to the community.

We map how Stirling plans to turn momentum into durable local wealth through new sectors, smarter procurement and a stronger startup culture. Alan Connery shares what the council’s economic development team is building, from a film studio to an events‑ready City Park.

• remit and scope of economic development in Stirling
• sector focus across manufacturing, life sciences, digital health and tourism
• leveraging external funding to unlock property and infrastructure
• inward investment aligned to local value add
• demographics, talent pipeline and connectivity advantages
• partner coordination across STEP, Chamber, FSB, CodeBase, BID
• definition and pillars of community wealth building
• plural ownership models and fair work principles
• land use for social value and productive assets
• anchor procurement to retain local spend
• film studio impact on supply chains and hospitality
• City Park enabling major, lower‑friction events
• next‑12‑month priorities and business support routes

Check out the council website. Contact Business Gateway Stirling or your local BID, CodeBase, Chamber or university—whoever you reach first will connect you back to us

Stirling Business Podcast, Studio King Street, BID, CodeBase, Forthvalley Chamber of Commerce, ApartHotel, Giving Back Program, 45 King Street, Lumo Trains.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Studio-King-Street/61581099163683/

Email: enquiries@studiokingstreet.com

Website: https://studiokingstreet.com/

Host: Paul Murray - ApartHotel & Studio King Street

Producer: Iain Johnston - Johnston Media Podcasts

#StirlingBusiness #BusinessGateway #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSupport #Podcast #Lumo #StirlingtoLondon

Starting a business shouldn’t feel like walking into a maze. We sat down with Business Gateway at STEP in Stirling to unpack a simpler path: begin with one advisor who learns your goals, pinpoints what’s next, and connects you to the exact support you need. From the earliest spark of an idea to the first hires and beyond, we talk through how hands-on guidance, practical workshops, and targeted funding can turn momentum into measurable growth.

You’ll hear how the advisor model creates continuity, saving founders weeks by directing them to the right expert on day one. We dig into Meet the Expert sessions for fast answers on accounting, HR, branding, IT, and legal questions, plus funded and subsidised projects through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund that bring specialists into your business to solve real problems. When a company is ready to scale, we explore how warm introductions to Scottish Enterprise open doors to innovation support and capital grants, with account managers focused on growth and productivity.

Because this is Stirling, the support is rooted in the local economy. We discuss sector-themed programmes for tourism and hospitality, community breakfasts that spark partnerships, and collaboration with the BID, Chambers, CodeBase, Techscaler, Supplier Development Programme, and Scottish EDGE. The thread running through it all is objectivity and encouragement: no gatekeeping, no jargon, just clear steps and honest feedback that help you test ideas, refine plans, and execute with confidence.

If you’re ready to move from thinking to doing, tap into your local network. Subscribe for more founder stories and practical playbooks, share this with someone who needs a nudge to start, and leave a review with the one question you want us to tackle next.

Stirling Business Podcast, Studio King Street, BID, CodeBase, Forthvalley Chamber of Commerce, ApartHotel, Giving Back Program, 45 King Street, Lumo Trains.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Studio-King-Street/61581099163683/

Email: enquiries@studiokingstreet.com

Website: https://studiokingstreet.com/

Host: Paul Murray - ApartHotel & Studio King Street

Producer: Iain Johnston - Johnston Media Podcasts

#StirlingBusiness #BusinessGateway #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSupport #Podcast #Lumo #StirlingtoLondon

We explore how a regiment’s legacy, a five-star museum at Stirling Castle, and a bold 2050 vision connect with business growth, education, and community. The links between archives, schools, tourism, and the high street show why heritage can power a modern city.

• origins of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and ties to the castle
• why the museum remains central to Stirling’s visitor economy
• 2050 strategy alongside near-term financial stability
• three registered charities and ring-fenced veteran welfare
• digitising archives for research and risk management
• Learning Never Forgetting programme at the national curriculum level five
• reaching remote schools with hybrid delivery and handling boxes
• practical synergies with local firms, events and chambers
• the Kruakin mascot story as cultural connector
• mutual value in hotel partnerships and referrals
• a personal legacy focused on education and community links
• where to find the museum online and on social

Visit argylls.museum.co.uk to enquire or call us via the website. Follow us on Facebook and main social channels.

Stirling Business Podcast, Studio King Street, BID, CodeBase, Forthvalley Chamber of Commerce, ApartHotel, Giving Back Program, 45 King Street, Lumo Trains.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Studio-King-Street/61581099163683/

Email: enquiries@studiokingstreet.com

Website: https://studiokingstreet.com/

Host: Paul Murray - ApartHotel & Studio King Street

Producer: Iain Johnston - Johnston Media Podcasts

#StirlingBusiness #BusinessGateway #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSupport #Podcast #Lumo #StirlingtoLondon

We map how Lumo uses open access rail to compete with airlines on price and service, and why a direct London–Stirling link can reshape trips for leisure, students and business. We also unpack the plan for battery‑electric trains and the role of local suppliers onboard.

• What open access rail means and how risk drives value
• Lumo’s one‑class model with at‑seat service
• Competing with airlines on price and simplicity
• Recruiting ambassadors from aviation and hospitality
• Measuring satisfaction through constant feedback
• Why Stirling and the intermediate stops matter
• Leisure, business and university travel demand
• Local producers featured in the onboard offer
• Year‑round frequency to smooth visitor peaks
• Transition from diesel to battery‑electric trains
• Success metrics and potential extensions beyond Stirling

Stirling Business Podcast, Studio King Street, BID, CodeBase, Forthvalley Chamber of Commerce, ApartHotel, Giving Back Program, 45 King Street, Lumo Trains.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Studio-King-Street/61581099163683/

Email: enquiries@studiokingstreet.com

Website: https://studiokingstreet.com/

Host: Paul Murray - ApartHotel & Studio King Street

Producer: Iain Johnston - Johnston Media Podcasts

#StirlingBusiness #BusinessGateway #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSupport #Podcast #Lumo #StirlingtoLondon

What if a hotel room could keep a cancer support centre open for a few more hours, help preserve a coronation church, and fund a school workshop on the First World War? We share how our Giving Back programme at King Street Apart Hotel turns every occupied room into steady support for local charities across the Forth Valley.

We sit down with three partners to explore the real-world impact. Lorna from Maggie’s explains the power of a calm, welcoming space where people facing cancer can ask the questions they missed in the clinic and find practical and emotional support that lifts the weight. David from Stirling Heritage Alliance opens the doors to the Church of the Holy Rude, a living landmark where King James was crowned, and lays out a simple truth: heritage survives when visitors show up, listen, and help keep the roof sound. Ayla from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum brings the regiment’s story to life inside Stirling Castle, from the mascot Cruachan to a hands-on education programme that reaches children who have never heard of trenches or the home front.

Across the hour, we chart how a named-room model and a £5-per-stay donation create predictable funding for classes, conversations, and conservation. We also share practical moves that knit the city together: guiding guests along a scenic route that passes Holy Rude and Cowane’s, encouraging meals in independent cafés, and designing events that bring tenants, tourists, and locals into the same room. It is a simple, scalable way to blend travel, culture, and care—so a night away leaves a mark that lasts.

If you believe hospitality can power community, give this a listen, book a charity room, and tell a friend. Subscribe for more stories from Stirling’s people and places, and leave a review to help others find us.

Stirling Business Podcast, Studio King Street, BID, CodeBase, Forthvalley Chamber of Commerce, ApartHotel, Giving Back Program, 45 King Street, Lumo Trains.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Studio-King-Street/61581099163683/

Email: enquiries@studiokingstreet.com

Website: https://studiokingstreet.com/

Host: Paul Murray - ApartHotel & Studio King Street

Producer: Iain Johnston - Johnston Media Podcasts

#StirlingBusiness #BusinessGateway #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSupport #Podcast #Lumo #StirlingtoLondon

We chart Steve Cornwallis’s path from quarry worker to multi‑company owner, exploring how values, networking and disciplined bets built a renewables‑led portfolio and a new Green Skills Training Academy. Along the way we unpack painful lessons, practical wins and simple rules that compound.

• early drive shaped by family change and urgency to work
• 27 years of corporate growth and people leadership
• first taste of ownership through property investment
• building and later buying Limpet Technology
• entering renewables and selling to global clients
• failed rigging venture and three rules for future deals
• recruitment business model and fast profitability
• networking as a system grounded in values
• 12‑company portfolio with wind and heat renewables
• sector outlook and jobs growth in Scotland
• mentoring founders and balanced paid vs pro bono advising
• Green Skills Training Academy: wind, heat, construction streams
• training-to-employment pipeline for Forth Valley

Find Steve on LinkedIn: Stephen Cornwallis

Stirling Business Podcast, Studio King Street, BID, CodeBase, Forthvalley Chamber of Commerce, ApartHotel, Giving Back Program, 45 King Street, Lumo Trains.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Studio-King-Street/61581099163683/

Email: enquiries@studiokingstreet.com

Website: https://studiokingstreet.com/

Host: Paul Murray - ApartHotel & Studio King Street

Producer: Iain Johnston - Johnston Media Podcasts

#StirlingBusiness #BusinessGateway #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSupport #Podcast #Lumo #StirlingtoLondon