Award-winning North East Business leader launches ‘warts and all’ podcast to help region’s entrepreneurs

With around 1 in 5 new businesses in the North East expected to close within its first year, the new podcast aims to empower and support businesses across the region.

Sam believes that the North East has the best foundations for creating successful businesses due to the networks and support available. She said, "Entrepreneurs are absolutely encouraged, empowered, and welcomed to the table—all our voices united can drive change across the region.”

“The North East is hugely an inclusive, passionate hub of successful entrepreneurs who share, promote, and provide a peer group to celebrate the highs and advise through the challenges.”

“It's tough, and there are ups and downs – that is the reality. The highs are fantastic, and the lows feel tougher than you had imagined before establishing a business. You, therefore, need more resilience than ever. It feels personal, but it's not. It's business!”

Sam started Talentheads from her kitchen table in 2020. In just over four years, the award-winning recruitment, learning and development, and coaching business has expanded across the region, saw huge growth in turnover, coupled with the opening of a second office, and the onboarding of a diverse array of growing clients across the North East, the UK, and indeed across the globe.

When asked what the most significant thing she has learned, Sam says: "You can't be everyone's cup of tea. As a previous people pleaser and someone who wanted to help everyone – it's important to find your tribe, do the best you possibly can, and let those things you can't control… go.

"Overthinking or assigning too much emotion to one thing – that is out of your circle of influence – slows you down.”

The new fortnightly podcast, The Journey of a North East Entrepreneur, will be an honest account of a week in the life of Sam Spoors. It will provide a dose of reality for those looking to establish a business and comfort to those currently growing a business.

Sam continued: "If I were establishing a business again—for the first time—I would find this podcast super useful as it shows—warts and all—how a week pans out when you are growing something you love, have the ultimate dedication to and have made sacrifices for.

"I am also hopeful the authenticity shows others they can be vulnerable and real about the journey. We can then help and learn from each other.”