Each Friday, Punchline-Gloucester.com editor Mark Owen is joined by leading Gloucestershire business figures from a range of backgrounds to review Fridays national & regional newspapers, discuss what is happening in their own business sector and in their own individual businesses. The Business Breakfast Briefer show is sponsored by Hazlewoods Accountants and Business Advisors.Jeremy Hilton (LIB DEM) - Leader of Gloucester City Council and Councillor for Kingsholm & Wotton for over 30 years.

He was first elected in 1982. Throughout his time as a councillor, he has earned a reputation as being one of the most hard-working members of the council in Gloucester. Make no bones about it this is a difficult job at one of the most difficult times in the city’s history, with devolution down the tracks, the city’s finances stretched, Gloucestershire airport sale fallen through – there are positives signs of the city’s renaissance. We’ll find out more. Julie Sargent – CEO – Cheltenham Lido – 50m heated outdoor swimming pool, that combines fitness, health and wellbeing. It has 100 staff, a turnover of £1million and receives over 240,000 visitors per year. Julie joined the team in 1996 as the first employee of Lido Ltd. This is a tough business – rising energy & staff costs, customers feeling the pinch, how does she balance it all. Plus Julie gives us a breaking news story on the future of the Lido!Marc Begg - Managing director of Cirencester Fabrication Services. Marc bought the business during the height of the pandemic and increased sales in the first year by 20%. He then launched a new company called Kyeburn and brought another - Muntions Traditional Plant Support. The company has 35 staff and a turnover of £1.5million. Like the Lido he faces cost of energy, staffing, fuel all going up, we find out how he managing to balance it all.Deirdre Clarke – owner – Off the Rails Café, a delightful small café set within one of the loveliest stations in the country – Kemble Station. Its renowned for its lovely homemade food, great coffee and great service. We’ll find out all about it.And so much more, including: the war in the Middle East, rising cost of energy, possible mortgage interest going up and inflationary pressures, Meta & Facebook facing age restrictions,. NHS doctors and dentists being Uber drivers, price of steel going up 30% to 50%, Next sales results, Gloucester Quays three new restaurants to open, Joe Brown opens in Cirencester, Gloucestershire food support scheme and so much more.Its all here in the Punchline!!

March has been national B-Corp Month, but like many business people, here at Punchline-gloucester.com we just didn’t really GET what all the fuss was about.

But over a quarter of a million companies globally have started it, only just over 8,000 have completed it and only 85 in Gloucestershire.

So we invited a fantastic panel of business leader from a cross different sections of industries who are B- Corp enthusiasts to help us unpick the B-Corp movement.

Why businesses should get involved?

What's the cost implications?

How much time does it take?

Do you gain business from it?

The panel of experts are:

Greg Pilley – managing director of Stroud Brewery

Established in 2006 as a passion project by Greg, it makes great tasting, ethical and organic beer and employs over 100 people at its Stroud base. Greg is a pioneer and a true believer in profit - people - planet.

Gareth Dinnage – managing director of Seacourt Planet Positive Printing.

Gareth, completely changed the way his company does printing, reinventing their own printing press to become one of the world's most sustainable printing companies - 100 % waterless and 100% alcohol and chemical free printing - winning national and international awards along the way.

Todd Gifford – managing director of Optimising IT.

Todd is also co-chair at Devon B Local and has over 27 years in Cyber and IT, and has a wealth of experience across the Technology Landscape. He leads the team to meet high standards of social and environmental performance but still spends time with customers working out the best ways for them to leverage technology for growth.

Shaun Pegler – Partner at Randall & Payne Accountants

Shaun manages the account services team, based at Chargrove House in Shurdington, the company was founded 146 years ago and currently has 50 staff. They have just achieved their B-Corp certification, making them one of the oldest companies in the UK to become B-Corp certified!

Fran Page – founder and owner of The Good Better.

Fran is an independent B Corp consultant, who’s on a mission to support companies through the rigorous but rewarding journey of becoming a B Corp.

B Corps are for-profit companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance.

They are purpose-driven and create benefit for ALL STAKEHOLDERS, not just shareholders.

The movement envisions a global economy that uses business as a FORCE FOR GOOD.

The Punchline Talks! B Corp SHOW is hosted by Mark Owen editor and owner of Punchline-gloucester.com - if you enjoy the show please LIKE / SHARE / SUBSCRIBE

Sponsored by Randall & Payne Accountants