From family tragedy to Dragons Den success - Kate Ball, Mini First Aid

Leeds Business Podcast

Kate Ball founder and director of Mini First Aid shares with us the family tragedy that inspired her to launch her business, tells us all about her successful appearance on Dragons Den (and how a McDonald's bribe helped seal the deal) and explains how, and why, the business is built as a franchise.

The business surgery segment answers the question; "I’m constantly battling problems in my business. Can you recommend a system or process to solve them?”

For more information on our sponsors, YFM Equity Partners, please visit www.yfmep.com (and when you contact them tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!)

INTRODUCING KATE BALL

Kate Ball is the founder and director of Mini First Aid - the UK's largest specialist paediatric first aid training company training over 1000 families each week. Kate founded Mini First Aid following the sudden death of her brother, Matthew, from cardiomyopathy. As seen on Dragons' Den, Mini First Aid train over 1000 families each week in life saving first aid. Kate has made it her mantra to teach everyone how to save a life.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[00:02.00] Kate’s background

[00:06:00] The source of the idea

[00:08:30] The death of Kate’s brother (inspiration from tragedy) positives

[00:14:00] The first training course…

[00:17:00] The launch of the business for real

[00:20:00] All about franchising

[00:27:30] Appearing on Dragon’s Den

[00:40:00] Working with Sara Davies

[00:46:00] The biggest problem so far

[00:49:00] BUSINESS SURGERY

[00:52:00] How to be the face of your business

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS

• Early CPR and a defibrillator saves people’s lives

• Lots of positive language stops people being anxious

• The key point of franchising is that it’s a business in a box’

• As you grow all of your systems and processes have to grow with you

• Sharing a problem with your team is hugely beneficial

5 BEST MOMENTS

“I put the kids to bed, swept the baked beans of the floor, spread out some cushions and taught in the kitchen”

“Franchisees are an extension of ‘brand Kate’

“The due diligence for applying to Dragons Den is ridiculous”

“Dragons Den said, “the only kids you can use are your own”

“We had a year’s worth of franchise enquiries within 24 hours of the show airing”

VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU

Phil’s PITA Patter problem-solving technique - https://philfraser.co.uk/how-to-be-your-own-sounding-board/

Kate on Dragon's Den - https://youtu.be/JpwsV1gp61A

Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/

Website: https://minifirstaid.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mini-first-aid https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-ball-28a34637/

Shout out tags: https://www.buttercrumble.com

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YOU MAY ALSO LIKE (as mentioned)

https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/laura-bartlett/

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Phil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.

As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them to be better at what they do. Phil’s mantra is It doesn’t need to be ‘lonely at the top’. He helps Business Owners to be better business owners, by helping with their clarity and focus.

As a Business Sounding Board, he gives SME Owners the time & space to regularly discuss their challenges and opportunities, with no sense of judgement or bias, and in complete confidence. This allows them to explore their options in full, culminating with a list of issues to address/clarify, a clear target in mind, a roadmap to success, and a renewed enthusiasm and confidence for the challenges ahead.

Want to work with Phil? See www.philfraser.co.uk

LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST

Dragons Den, Sara Davies, Leeds, Leeds Business, Business in Leeds, Nous of Fraser, Business Sounding Board, Business Coach, Business Mentor,

Email: [e-mail]