Business Without BS

EP 412 - How far should UK employers go when it comes to looking after staff?
In this episode we break down the real cost of being a “nice” employer - from UK statutory sick pay (SSP) and full sick pay policies to employee benefits, pensions, flexible working, and permanent health insurance (PHI).
With major UK employment law changes coming, SMEs face difficult trade-offs:
Is full sick pay worth the payroll cost?
Does unlimited holiday actually work?
Can generous benefits create legal risk?
Are employers responsible for employees’ long-term wellbeing?
Featuring insights from Oury Clark's employment lawyer Jessica Bass and financial adviser Freddie Pattenden, this episode is a practical guide for SME founders, directors, and HR leaders navigating sick leave, compliance, retention, and post-COVID workplace expectations.
If you run a UK business and want to balance competitiveness, fairness, and sustainability - this one’s for you.
*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*
Spotify Video Chapters:
00:00 Caring Without Going Broke
00:57 Meet the Experts
01:27 What Staff Really Want
03:38 Compliance Value Competition
05:28 PHI Income Protection Debate
11:22 Post Covid Flex and Mental Health
15:36 Legal Minimums Sick Pay Changes
21:54 Morality Consistency and Flex
26:15 Being Nice Can Backfire
29:10 Structuring Benefits and Contracts
32:09 Unlimited Holiday Pitfalls
32:51 Unlimited holiday pitfalls
34:50 Perks arms race
37:07 SMEs vs big firms
38:35 Pension basics explained
39:43 Qualifying earnings trap
42:41 Pensions and retention
47:17 Salary sacrifice demystified
54:43 Self employed pension gap
55:06 Death in service cover
57:15 Private healthcare reality
59:19 Tailoring PMI benefits
01:03:00 Managing premium increases
01:04:43 Virtual GP and AI support
01:06:16 Avoiding Benefit Red Herrings
01:08:14 Flexible Benefits Allowance
01:11:20 Renewals and Underwriting Traps
01:13:47 Flexible Working Rights
01:15:33 Office Returns and Discrimination
01:19:49 Mental Health Boundaries
01:21:46 Best Benefits and Compliance
01:27:10 Business or BS Quiz
01:27:55 Maternity and Paternity Debate
01:34:28 Wellbeing Apps and Final Wrap
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EP 411 - Most families don’t just feel grief when someone dies - they feel anger.
Anger about the mess, the debt, the confusion, and the things nobody sorted out.
In this episode of Business Without BS, we have the conversation most people avoid - but absolutely shouldn’t.
We talk about what actually happens if you die without a plan, why love isn’t flowers and chocolates, and how a few uncomfortable decisions can completely change your family’s future.
This isn’t about being wealthy. It’s about being responsible.
We cover:
What happens if you die without a will (and why modern families are hit hardest)
Why unmarried partners are often left with nothing
Life insurance: what it really does, how cheap it can be, and when it matters most
Powers of attorney and the nightmare families face without them
Business owners, shares, and the chaos nobody plans for
Why “I didn’t get round to it” is one of the worst legacies you can leave
This conversation is uncomfortable, but it might be the most loving thing you ever do for the people you care about.
*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*
Spotify Video Chapters:
00:00 The Importance of Wills and Life Insurance
01:14 The Consequences of Not Planning Ahead
02:05 Meet the Experts: Financial and Legal Advisors
02:37 Understanding Wills and Intestacy Rules
09:49 The Importance of Communication and Regular Updates
12:34 Life Insurance: Protecting Your Loved Ones
22:29 Power of Attorney: Ensuring Your Wishes Are Honored
37:47 Understanding Income Protection
39:16 The Importance of Life Insurance
39:53 Building Financial Security
41:17 Starting the Conversation on Wills
44:21 Choosing the Right Executor
47:01 Navigating Probate and Inheritance Tax
51:47 Managing Digital Assets
01:06:08 Final Thoughts on Financial Planning
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EP 410 - Tax Without BS returns with a fiery but surprisingly hopeful breakdown of the November 2025 UK Budget.
Andy, Jemma and Emma from Oury Clark sift the good, the bad, and the “are-you-kidding-me?” of Britain’s latest fiscal plan
From scale-up salvation and EIS boosts, to SME heartbreak, Mansion Tax grumbles, pension puzzles, and the four-year foreign-income free-for-all.
It’s the only budget reaction that’ll make you laugh and rethink your life insurance.
*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*
Spotify Video Chapters:
00:00 Andy's Episode Synposis
02:29 Business Tax Positives
05:37 Funding Gaps and EIS
14:18 Business Rates and SME Challenges
18:16 Inheritance Tax and Business Property Relief
23:58 Impact on SMEs and Entrepreneurs
33:12 Understanding Business Rates
34:04 Personal Taxes Overview
34:16 Employee Ownership Trusts Explained
37:54 Income Tax Threshold Freeze
38:55 Salary Sacrifice and ISA Changes
40:08 Financial Literacy and Investment Advice
43:44 Mansion Tax and Property Levies
48:42 Tax Avoidance vs. Tax Evasion
55:48 Foreign Income and Gains Regime
01:00:32 Final Thoughts and Budget Reflections
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EP 410 - From selling t-shirts on market stalls to founding the world-famous Bournemouth 7s Festival, entrepreneur Dodge Woodall has lived the highs and lows of business.
This week, Dodge shares his raw story of hustle, risk, failure and resilience behind building an empire.
Today Dodge is not just the founder of Bournemouth 7s - often called “the Glastonbury of sport” - but also the host of the hit Eventful Lives Podcast where he interviews extraordinary people with extraordinary stories. His journey proves that success doesn’t come from luck - it comes from grit, creativity, and relentless drive.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How Dodge Woodall went from market stalls to multimillion-pound festivals
The reality of building Bournemouth 7s into a global brand
Why failure and setbacks are essential for entrepreneurs
The secrets behind running world-class events and businesses
What Dodge learned from interviewing top athletes, entrepreneurs and entertainers
If you want unfiltered insights into entrepreneurship, festivals, and building businesses against the odds, this episode is packed with lessons you won’t find in textbooks.
*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*
Spotify Video Chapters:
00:00 BWB with Dodge Woodall
01:21 Growing Up in a Pub: Early Business Lessons
05:04 The Nightclub Business: From University to Major Cities
18:36 Creating Bournemouth 7s: The Festival Gamble
40:48 The Essentials of Entrepreneurship
41:23 Sponsor Message and Social Media Reminder
41:57 New Book and Podcast Announcement
42:55 Exploring the Criminal Underworld
46:16 The Impact of Trauma on Success
49:50 Challenges of Entrepreneurship
51:46 Taxation and Employment Issues
01:05:36 Scaling and Selling Businesses
01:11:15 The Festival Business and Pandemic Challenges
01:14:39 !Business or Bullshit Quiz!
01:21:06 Wrap Up
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EP 409 - What happens when you strip away phones, comfort and pretence?
Therapist Jerry Hyde - often called “the most dangerous therapist in the world” - and filmmaker Mai Hua explore the raw truths of mental health, vulnerability and masculinity.
Released for World Mental Health Day, the conversation dives into why modern life keeps us disconnected, how radical retreats (no phones, no showers, no distractions) transform people, and why real healing means breaking the rules.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why Jerry Hyde is called “the most dangerous therapist”
How radical retreats challenge comfort, technology and ego
The link between phones, distraction and mental health decline
Why vulnerability is strength in therapy and relationships
How group therapy transforms masculinity and human connection
If you’re interested in mental health awareness, therapy, and breaking free from modern distractions, this episode offers unfiltered insights and challenges conventional thinking.
*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*
Spotify Video Chapters:
00:00 BWB with Jerry Hyde and Mai Hua
00:40 Introducing Jerry and Mai
01:52 Exploring Masculinity and Vulnerability
04:03 The Power of Retreats
05:44 The Impact of Technology on Mental Health
06:27 The Importance of Human Connection
08:50 Challenges of Modern Parenting
18:53 Understanding ADHD and Trauma
32:24 Gender Dynamics and Therapy
45:25 Therapy as a Lifestyle Choice
45:52 Challenges of Couples Therapy
47:02 The Art of Self-Inquiry
47:41 Collaborative Conflicts
48:09 Gender Differences in Therapy
57:44 Cultural Perspectives on Therapy
01:03:02 Making a Man: The Documentary
01:05:42 The Importance of Vulnerability
01:23:12 Therapy and Group Dynamics
01:25:17 Wrap Up
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If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - [email protected]