Mental health isn't something we leave at the door when we arrive at work.

In this episode of The Bearded IFA Diaries, I'm joined by Tracy Bevan from Healthy Minds Matter CIC for an open and thought-provoking conversation about mental health, pressure, resilience and the role employers can play in supporting their people.

We explore the pressures people face both inside and outside the workplace, and how those pressures can ultimately affect wellbeing, relationships and our ability to perform at our best.

We also reflect on Covid and the lasting impact it had on the way we live and work. Did it make us more willing to talk about mental health? Has the workplace changed permanently? And are employers now better equipped to recognise when someone might be struggling?

Tracy shares more about the work of Healthy Minds Matter CIC, which works with employers to reduce sickness absence, improve staff retention and build stronger, more resilient teams through resilience training, return-to-work support and tailored wellbeing coaching.

Importantly, as a Community Interest Company, their work goes further.

With support from businesses and grant-funding organisations including The National Lottery and The Bluecoat Charity, Healthy Minds Matter is able to extend support to people and groups who might otherwise struggle to access it.

We discuss:

🧠 Mental health and the pressures of modern life
💼 Mental health and wellbeing in the workplace
👥 What employers can do to genuinely support their people
🏠 How Covid changed our relationship with work and mental health
🤝 Supporting employees returning to work
💪 Building resilience within individuals and teams
📉 The connection between wellbeing, sickness absence and staff retention
❤️ Why Healthy Minds Matter operates as a CIC and the communities it supports
🌱 Creating workplaces where people can thrive, not simply cope

We also talk about how businesses and individuals can support the work Healthy Minds Matter is doing.

Healthy Minds Matter CIC is holding a fundraiser on 19 September at Sage Restaurant, The Wyldewoods, Boughton. If you'd like to attend, support the event or donate a raffle prize, please get in touch with the team.

🌐 Find out more about Healthy Minds Matter and their work:
https://healthymindsmatter.co.uk/

Mental health can sometimes be a difficult subject to talk about, but that's precisely why conversations like this matter.

Whether you're a business owner, manager, employee or simply someone juggling the pressures that life occasionally throws at us, there's plenty to take away from this episode.

🎙️ The Bearded IFA Diaries — real conversations with business owners, leaders and people making a difference in their communities.

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What does it take to build one of the UK's fastest-growing fintech businesses without compromising on service or culture?

In this extended episode of The Bearded IFA Diaries, I'm joined by Ola Abdul, Founder and CEO of Fundment, for a fascinating conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership in the financial services industry.

Ola shares his journey from spotting an opportunity in the adviser platform market to creating Fundment—a technology business designed to make life easier for financial advisers while delivering an exceptional experience for their clients.

We explore why Fundment was founded, how the industry has evolved over recent years, and what the future of financial advice might look like as technology and Artificial Intelligence continue to reshape the profession.

One of the standout themes of our conversation is culture. As Fundment has grown rapidly, Ola explains why protecting the company's values has been just as important as scaling the business itself. We discuss the importance of hiring the right people, building high-performing teams and ensuring growth never comes at the expense of the customer experience.

This isn't just a conversation about fintech—it's about building a business with purpose, leading through change and creating an environment where great people can do their best work.

Whether you're in financial services, leading a growing business, or simply interested in entrepreneurship and innovation, this extended episode is packed with valuable insights.

In this episode:

🚀 The story behind Fundment
💡 Why Ola founded the business
📈 Scaling a high-growth fintech company
🤝 Maintaining exceptional service while growing rapidly
🌱 Why culture is a business's greatest asset
👥 Hiring, developing and retaining the right people
🤖 The future of financial services and the impact of AI
🎯 Leadership lessons from a dynamic CEO

This is one of our longer conversations—but every minute is filled with thoughtful discussion, practical insights and honest reflections from a founder who is helping shape the future of financial advice.

The Bearded IFA Diaries — real conversations with business leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators, exploring the ideas and people shaping the future. 🎙️🧔🏻‍♂️🚀

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How do we prepare children for jobs that don't even exist yet?

In this episode of The Bearded IFA Diaries, I'm joined by Hayley Laidlaw-Wilson, co-founder of Sniff and Snails, a business on a mission to inspire the next generation of innovators, creators and problem-solvers.

Together with her brother, Hayley has developed hands-on kits, educational resources and engaging content that help children build essential STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) skills while challenging outdated stereotypes about who technology is for.

In a world where technology is evolving at an incredible pace, creativity, curiosity and critical thinking have never been more important. We discuss why these skills matter, how parents and educators can encourage them, and why inspiring young people to think differently could shape the future of our workforce.

Hayley also shares the story behind Sniff and Snails—from the original idea and the challenges of launching a business, to growing a brand with a clear social purpose. We talk openly about entrepreneurship, resilience and the realities of building a business that's making a genuine difference.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, business owner or simply passionate about education and innovation, this episode is full of thought-provoking ideas and practical inspiration.

In this episode:

🚀 The story behind Sniff and Snails
🧠 Why STEAM skills are more important than ever
💡 Encouraging creativity and problem-solving in children
💻 Breaking down stereotypes around technology and engineering
👩‍💼 Building a purpose-driven business with family
📈 The challenges of launching and growing a business
🌍 Preparing young people for the careers of tomorrow
✨ Hayley's vision for the future of Sniff and Snails

This conversation is about much more than education. It's about giving the next generation the confidence, curiosity and skills they'll need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

The Bearded IFA Diaries — real conversations with inspiring people, exploring business, leadership, innovation and the ideas shaping tomorrow. 🎙️🧔🏻‍♂️🚀🧩

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