Penny For Your Thoughts by Bangor Business School

In this episode of Penny for Your Thoughts, host Darren Morely (Business Link Manager) explores digital marketing with two expert guests: Jess Finnegan (Community Fundraising & Partnerships Manager for NSPCC North Wales), and Dr Stephan Thomas (Senior Lecturer in Business Marketing, Bangor Business School). The discussion focuses on the powerful opportunities digital marketing brings to the third sector and beyond. Jess provides insights into the NSPCC’s varied initiatives and how digital marketing drives its campaigns. Guests touch on the benefits offered through the personalisation of digital space, where marketing efforts can build communities that not only engage with, but also actively support businesses and causes. Tune in to hear how the NSPCC approaches digital marketing as a lifelong journey, supporting and engaging with individuals from childhood and beyond.

Darren Morely is joined this month by former Bangor University Graduate Brandon Ristow-Wilson (BIC Innovation Ltd) and Dr Junyu Zhou (Lecturer in Management, Bangor Business School). This episode is all about business innovation and the scaffolding that can support growth. Brandon shares his expert insights through his wide-ranging experiences with BIC Innovation; an Employee-Owned & B-Corp Certified Wales-based business. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to scale, or an established business aiming to innovate, having the right support system is key. Join us to explore how technology, investment, and filling critical skills gaps are crucial to driving business success. Plus, we bring in some contemporary theories on innovation—from the ambidextrous, to incremental, and radical—and share how businesses can consider these different approaches to stay competitive and thrive in today's dynamic marketplace. So join us to see how you can understand innovation and get support systems and infrastructures aligned and working for your business.

This month Darren is joined by Pryderi Ap Rhisiart (Managing Director of M-Sparc, North Wales) and Dr Fariba Darabi (Senior Lecturer in Management, Bangor Business School) to learn about the importance of collaboration between those doing research (universities), and those needing research (businesses, SMEs and start-ups).  Listen in to hear how collaborating is hugely important for both Universities and SMEs, and how making connections and building trust are key for making them work. Our experts advise that businesses benefit more from immersive and meaningful collaborations; researchers embedded within businesses - problem solving, innovating and making a difference together as part of a collaborative team.

For our August episode presenter Darren Morely brings together Rhys Edwards (EOG Accounting) and Dr Linda Osti (Senior Lecturer in Tourism at Bangor Business School) where they explore issues relating to Hospitality and Tourism focussing on the region of North Wales. Listen to hear how technology is transforming how EOG is supporting and educating its SME tourism and hospitality customers. Understand how not all forms of tourism are equal; and some of the tensions and innovations that have emerged. The podcast reveals that, due to climate change, Wales is being seen as ‘the future ideal seaside destination’.

Bangor Business School Penny for your Thoughts podcast have released their July episode. This month we turn to focus on the Not-for-Profit sector, most specifically Community Interest Companies, with British Nordic Walking. Join host Darren Morely with guests Catherine Hughes (CEO British Nordic Walking) and Dr Elizabeth Heyworth-Thomas (Senior Lecturer in Management at Bangor Business School) to learn about this trending form of low-impact outdoor activity, and how one company is setting-out to champion ‘taking poles for a spin’ for improved mental health, employee wellbeing and developing a sense of community across the UK.

June’s podcast explores strategy, sustainability and change in the construction sector and how one North Wales SME grows from strength to strength. Our podcast host, Darren Morely, is joined by Strategy Manager, Lisa Kelly Roberts (John Kelly Construction Services Ltd) and Bangor Business School’s Professor of Strategy Michael Butler and discuss issues such as rising interest rates, economic uncertainty, and decrease in major infrastructure projects in North Wales. Tune in to this episode to learn how the adoption of sustainable practices and maintaining high quality standards is supporting business growth and success in a highly competitive industry.

In a world inundated with viral news and mass misinformation, the well-known phrase ‘there is no such thing as bad publicity?’ has arguably never been as polarising. Join Darren Morely for our second episode of Series Two ‘Penny for your Thoughts’ podcast to hear the views of Claire Quinton Tulloch (Public Relations Manager, First Bus) and Rosalind Jones (Professor of Marketing at Bangor Business School). This episode unpacks marketing and Public Relations (PR) and discusses some of its successes and controversies.  We take a look at how PR isn’t a one size fits all; can vary significantly between B2B and B2C, and how Marketing Analytics and Generative AI is reshaping marketing and PR for the future.  Don’t forget to follow, like and share.

Have you ever considered how has the pandemic has changed workplace culture? Or even, what Artificial Intelligence and people analytics means for managing people better? Join us on our first episode of series two ‘Penny for your Thoughts’ podcast, to hear the views of leading experts; Siobhan Johnson (Wales based HR consultant) and Dr Clair Doloriert (Senior Lecturer at Bangor Business School). This episode unpacks some of today’s challenges for HR managers and managing people in organisations. With presented Darren Morely, we take a look at the changing nature of HR and look forwards to the future of HRM and how Artificial Intelligence can support the HR manager. Don’t forget to follow, like and share.

It is October and this month we examine an important societal movement and its impact on ‘doing business’ with Dr Ayan Orujov; Lecturer in Finance at Bangor Business School.  Black Lives Matter (BLM) is part of Socio Political Activism and how such movements inform and are informed by business comes under what is referred to as ‘Corporate Socio Political Activism’. Ayan joins us, during Black Lives Matter month, to discuss his and his colleagues research into corporate socio-political activism within retail investment. BLM is a decentralized political and social movement that seeks to highlight racism, discrimination, and racial inequality experienced by black people. So, how do investors react to companies expressing support for BLM and what factors make a company more likely to support the movement? Join us to listen to Ayan and here his evidence informed views and findings from his research.    Dr Ayan Orujov is a Lecturer in Finance at Bangor Business School with keen academic interest in retail investor behaviour particularly with respect to sustainability and ethics. He is an internationally published author with recent papers in Journal of Corporate Finance and International Journal of the Economics of Business.

Multi-Level Marketing can take many forms including beauty products, diet and health supplements and even holiday companies, and there has been a recent surge on newer companies becoming established in the market. So, what is Multi-level marketing and is their seemingly negative perception warranted? Joining our Penny for your Thoughts podcast this month here at Bangor Business School, is Lecturer in Marketing Dr Charlotte Rimmer who discusses her recent research into this very area. Dr Charlotte Rimmer is a lecturer in Business and Marketing at Bangor Business School. Her research interests include ethical business practices, including Multi-Level Marketing, and consumer behaviour with particular focus on detrimental behaviour effects and issues.

In this episode, we are talking about Responsible Banking. Responsible Banking might be a concept that raises an eyebrow to those of us who vividly remember the Banking and Financial Crisis of 2008, however, a new dawn is emerging thanks to institutes such as Bangor Business School’s Institute of European Finance. According to the Chartered Banker institute “responsible banking” refers to the practice of considering the social and environmental impact of banking decisions. Responsible banking promotes ethical and sustainable banking solutions to global challenges such as climate change and financial inequality”. This month’s Penny for your Thoughts podcast joins Ian Roberts, a Lecturer in Sustainable and Ethical Banking at Bangor Business School, to learn about this seeming oxymoron and how he and his colleagues are incorporating the United Nation’s Principles for Responsible Banking into Higher Education training and development of our future leaders in the banking industry.

Summer is often an opportunity for employees to wind down a little as they take their annual leave. But what if winding down, or ‘Quiet Quitting’ as it has recently been referred to as, becomes their new normal?  Quiet Quitting has been popularised through various social media channels such as linked in, ticktok, facebook and instagram. On face value, Quiet Quitting sounds rather negative, possibly suggesting employees winding down and disengaging from their daily tasks, and potentially even their colleagues and employers. But is Quiet Quitting even a ‘new phenomenon’ or just a new name for something we’ve been talking about already; old wine in new bottles as they say? Joining our Penny for your Thoughts podcast this month is Dr Clair Doloriert, Senior Lecturer in HRM at Bangor Business School to shed light on what this is and whether it is as negative and harmful as it sounds. Dr Clair Doloriert is a Senior Lecturer at Bangor Business School specialising in Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management. She is Head of Year 1 Undergraduates and also on the Wales board for the Chartered Management Institute: a key Business School partner. Her research interests include employee engagement, autoethnography and knowledge sharing.

Small and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs, make up 99.9% of all businesses in the UK. However, despite their vital role in driving economic growth, SMEs also face a high risk of failure, with around 60% failing within their first five years of operation. So why is this the case, and what can be done to help SMEs succeed in the long term? Joining Bangor Business School’s Penny for your Thoughts podcast this month to unpack this hugely important issue is Dr Mahshid Bagheri, Lecturer in Management at Bangor Business School. Dr Mahshid Bagheri is a lecturer in Management at Bangor Business School and is also a researcher with a broad interest in internationalisation, entrepreneurship, innovation, business growth and strategy and SMEs’ performance.

The UK is due to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday 13th of May on behalf of Ukraine. In the weeks leading up to the main event up to a quarter of a million visitors from throughout Europe and the UK are expected to descend upon Liverpool, where the competition will be hosted.  In the lead up to the event the distinctive branding for the event; bright yellows, blues, and magenta can be seen throughout the city whilst city businesses and community groups offer a wide variety of Eurovision themed activities and workshops for tourists and the local community.  This month Bangor Business School Penny for your Thoughts podcast series is joined by Dr Sonya Hana (Lecturer in Marketing) and Dr Linda Osti (Senior Lecturer in Tourism) to discuss how the Eurovision Song Contest is more than just a song competition; it is an increasingly important tourism and place marketing strategy.

The Covid-19 pandemic placed unprecedented pressure on the social security system in Wales and across the UK and as a result, the past two years have seen unprecedented challenges. In this month’s Penny for your Thoughts podcast we explore one of the impact on (‘one of the factors impacting’ or ‘one of the impacts of Covid-19 on’?) the UK welfare system with Bangor Business School lecturer in accounting and taxation, Dr Sara Closs-Davies. We discuss the welfare and ‘work-fare’ systems and how accounting impacts the financial hardship of welfare recipients. Dr Closs-Davies puts forwards her expert views on whether the UK system is broken beyond repair. Is the current system working, or do we have to break a few more eggs to improve it? And if so which eggs do we break? Learn more about this complex issue by listening to the podcast here.

This month we are celebrating The Institute of Leadership and Management’s International Leadership Awareness Week which takes place on the 20th to 24th March. Dr Siwan Mitchelmore, Senior Lecturer at Bangor Business School takes a novel look at leadership focussing on ambidexterity. Ambidextrous leadership is useful for leaders' efficacy and improves workplace well-being. It is said to help leaders become better, more explorative and exploitative in their approach to leading. Let’s listen to Siwan to find out more about how leaders can generate confidence in their knowledge, skills and abilities to lead their employees through ambidexterity.

This month we are focussing our topic around World Cancer Day which is held every 4 February. World Cancer Day has grown into a positive movement for everyone, everywhere to unite. Each year, hundreds of activities and events take place around the world acting as a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in reducing the global impact of cancer. As part of World Cancer Day, Bangor Business School’s Penny for your Thoughts podcast series is talking a look into understanding the role of risky consumption of well known carcinogens; including smoking and of course the concerning trend of vaping. Through a better understanding of consumer risky behaviours and the role that social marketing plays in communicating such risks to consumers, academics; such as our very own Dr Sara Parry, A Senior Lecturer in Marketing here at Bangor Business School,  are contributing a role in reducing the global impact of cancer. Sara Parry is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Bangor Business School.  Her research work has been published in many internationally recognised journals such as Journal of Business Research, Journal of Consumer Behaviour and British Journal of Management. Sara is the Chair of Athena and the Equality and Diversity Representative for the School. She is also Head of Year 2 for all Bangor Business School undergraduates.

Dr Rhys ap Gwilym is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Bangor Business School and has been involved with a research project that has advised the Wales Assembly Government’s consultation into Wales’ Tourism Tax plans. We all know that tax can be complex and multi-layered! So how does a researcher go about unpacking a such complex issue? Let’s hear about Rhys’ research process, what he did and what he learned along the way to make understanding tourism tax less taxing! Rhys has a strong interest in regional development policy and its role in Wales in particular. He has been a principal investigator on two grant-funded research projects for the Welsh Government relating to land value tax and tourism taxes. He is a member of the Institute of Welsh Affairs’ Economic Policy Group, where he has been involved in the development of discussion papers on the Welsh economy. He recently contributed to the “expert roundtable on the Welsh tax base & implications for public policy”.

In our very first Penny for Your Thoughts podcast Dr Steffan Thomas interviews Dr Heather He, Lecturer in Data Science/ Data Analytics at Bangor Business School. Dr Heather will be bringing some festive cheer, and rational thinking into what is known as ‘The Santa Claus Rally’. What is this phenomenon and how do we understand it through Behavioural Finance? Dr He has extensive research experience of individual trading behaviour and performance analysis in equity, forex exchange and cryptocurrency markets, as well as expertise in behavioural risk-taking and decision-making - prospect theory, individual behavioural biases, and decision theories.