For Bangor Business School’s final English language episode of its Penny for your Thoughts podcast series, host Darren Morely (Business Link Manager) is joined by Dr Martin Hanks (City Director, Bangor City Council), and Bangor Business School academic Dr Sonya Hanna (Lecturer in Marketing) to celebrate the 1500 years of the City of Bangor. Guests discuss the sad decline of the City Centre, an important part of Bangor’s story, but show that through the hard work of champions and ambassadors, there is a new horizon dawning, through green shoots of hope, redevelopment and regeneration. Martin and Sonya discuss the complexities and multi-layers of place branding and marketing, but how the coming together of many different public and private sector partners is crucial for the success of city regeneration, its cultural heritage, and its community.

Hear to hear how key organisations are collaborating to plan, organise and deliver a wide range of exciting activities and events to celebrate Bangor’s 1500 years; an important milestone. Listen in to learn of some of the exciting activities that planned.

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.