Working Hours Western Studios, Leeds Ltd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE WORKING HOURS PODCAST YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@workinghourspodcast4618
Recorded on 17/01/2024
Bryan Walters works in an office in Leeds 4 days a week doing admin. On Wednesdays he works on Geography Juice, his YouTube channel about Leeds History and Geography.
Bryan went to Christ Church Upper Armley Primary, Armley Middle School and City of Leeds High School. He left school at 16 to be an apprentice at Systime Computers (The "Glass Palace" next to the White Rose, now Capita). Agreeing with his parents that he could stay on at school if he got 5 A to C's. In the meantime, Bryan went for many interviews. This was 1982. He really wanted the Systime job and was pleased when he got it, in spite of big competition. (He got his 5 A to C's.)
Having finished the apprenticeship in 1985 Bryan was employed by Systime as a systems engineer. In 1987 he became a field engineer and had a company car with fuel card, aged 21.
In 1993 Bryan started studying a degree course in Geography (his favourite subject) with the Open University in his spare time, whilst continuing on as a field engineer. In 1998 he graduated with a 2:1. At the same time his career in IT was developing fast. By 2001 he was General Manager of Services at SphinxCST (An offshoot of Systime which by then was defunct). Unfortunately, in 2003, the division was moved to another business in the south.
Bryan could have moved with it, but decided to take the plunge and do a PGCE at University of Leeds to become a Geography teacher. Bryan joined Kettlethorpe High School in 2004 (one of his training placement schools). In 2006 Bryan became Head of Geography. In 2021, suffering a period of ill health Bryan took the decision to leave teaching.
However, he still loves the subject and continues to make videos and engage with it. He also loves his home city and loves exploring it and sharing his discoveries. Bryan says, “I guess my 4 day a week job funds my 1 day a week job, although, TBH, I spend much of my spare time on Geography Juice.”
All Bryan’s social media channels are all @geogjuice
If you’re interested in Leeds then check out his YouTube work, it’s really well made, informative and entertaining.
And if you fancy spending some time on YouTube then check out Working Hours channel at https://www.youtube.com/@workinghourspodcast4618 were you can find audiogram versions of all the podcasts, and in the next episode, you’ll be able to see me and my guest so hit subscribe and ring the notification bell.
If you’re someone in Leeds or from Leeds, if you are Leeds, then please be the guest on Working Hours. Yes, I do mean you.
If you’re a Loiner who is interested in where you live, where you work or where you’re from then obviously listen to and support Working Hours but, also check out and support Bryan’s excellent Leeds content.
You can find Bryan's work for Geog Juice at:
https://www.facebook.com/geogjuice
https://youtube.com/@geogjuice
https://instagram.com/geogjuice
https://twitter.com/geogjuice

Clare Clifford recorded on 16/01/2024
Clare Clifford, Mum, Yorkshire lass, Leeds dweller, business owner, expert speaker, lover of shoes, wild swimmer and expert in digital content and founder of Sunshine Digital.
Clare is a Mum to three children and a Border Terrier. She loves coffee, Percy Pigs, gin, cheese and is obsessed with true crime books, podcasts, documentaries. She believes passionately in supporting local businesses and tries to shop small as much as she can. Clare created Find it in Farsley to help put her local community on the map.
Clare says there’s LOADS of digital content experts out there, it’s a really crowded market – so why choose her? In a nutshell – she really does know her s**t and she get s**t done.
Having spent almost two decades honing her skills, Clare is a true content expert who can get any business shining online.
You can find out more about her business Sunshine Media at https://www.sunshine digital.co.uk/
If you’re in Farsley, then check out https://www.facebook.com/FindItInFarsley/

Farakh Masood recorded on 10/01/2024
Farakh Masood is the founder of True Green Energy. Farakh’s vision is to assist SMEs and corporates, including the oil & gas, mining, and renewables sectors, in achieving a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable transition to a circular economy.
In today’s dynamic business landscape, Farakh firmly believes that business objectives are fluid and subject to change. It is imperative that they remain adaptable to our evolving environment, assess available resources, and strategically determine the most suitable courses of action.
Farakh has a track record of delivering success. He has effectively collaborated with organisations and individuals across all continents, navigating diverse cultural and linguistic contexts.
Check out True Green Energy https://truegreenenergy.co.uk/
Helix at Leeds University https://digitaleducation.leeds.ac.uk/helix/
Quadruple Helix https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadruple_and_quintuple_innovation_helix_framework

Tracey Earl recorded on 30/01/2024
Tracey Earl along with her husband Ian, runs We Are In Business a business networking group. We Are In Business helps solopreneurs and small and start-up business owners to grow their networks, gain new skills and build confidence in themselves and their business.
After running their own businesses for many years, Ian and Tracey knew being a business owner can be a lonely place a lot of the time. People often start their business because they are good at what they do, but running a business requires skills you might not have, might not want or might not be able to acquire. So, they co-created We Are In Business, a networking and business support community for SMEs and start-ups in Leeds.
We Are In Business give Leeds business owners a vital support network around themselves early on where they can exchange knowledge and experiences around the different aspects of running a business. We Are In Business is a community that supports, collaborates and advocates for each other, both in their online and face to face networking events.
Tracey say that surrounding yourself with a supportive network of business owners is the best way to grow and develop your business.
https://www.weareinbusiness.co.uk/

Andrew Firth recorded on 05/01/2024
Andrew Firth has been involved with and working in digital since 2001, formerly as the MD of a design agency before setting up Ascensor in 2007. Over the past 16 years Ascensor has grown to become an award winning integrated digital agency, specialising in delivering sales and lead conversions for clients across many sectors, serving both B2B and B2C audiences. As well as running the business, Andrew heads up the sales function, speaking to clients about new software development projects and digital marketing activities, all focussed on driving growth for his clients.
https://www.ascensor.com/

Marketa Dolezalova recorded on 25/09/2023
Marketa Dolezalova is an academic researcher who studies migration, work and inequality. She is herself a migrant and worked in minimum wage jobs after moving to the UK, before returning to higher education and eventually doing a PhD and moving to Leeds.