DBN : meet the owners of amazing small businesses

Every business owner has an origin story, but few start quite as early as Mark Sillett.

At just ten years old, Mark ran a disco for his class. That single event led to a request for a Year Six disco, prompting him to source his first set of speakers. From those modest beginnings, Mark Sillett Lighting, Sound and Entertainment has steadily evolved. Today, at twenty-eight years old, Mark's portfolio includes local highlights like the Consett Christmas Tree Festival, alongside major technical work at the Edinburgh Fringe and within the London theatre arena.

Achieving this level of growth before thirty takes dedication, yet Mark remains remarkably grounded. Recently, we sat down for a podcast episode with Mark for the Do Business Network, discussing his journey, his milestones, and the realities of running a modern enterprise.

Read more about Mark and a summery of this podcast ( including images ) on the DBN blog: https://tinyurl.com/25tkcdk2

A thirty-year corporate background teaches you a lot about how businesses run, but starting fresh on your own comes with a completely different set of rules. In this episode, I sit down with Angela Blake of Y19 Management—someone I’ve known for years—to talk about the realities of building a business from the ground up.

Angela brings a wealth of hard-earned operational experience to the table, and our conversation cuts straight through the noise. We get into the actual challenges founders face when they first start out, the operational shifts that take the immediate weight off your shoulders, and what it really means to work on your business rather than just getting swallowed up by the day-to-day tasks.

We also tackle the heavy stuff we usually sweep under the rug: setting realistic goals, carving out actual time off, and shaking off that lingering guilt when it is time to reward yourself for your hard work.

If you are trying to grow a business without running yourself into the ground, this discussion is worth your time. Hit play to listen in.

Melanie. Do Business Network

In this episode, we are joined by Pascal Fintoni, a professional advisor and author with 30 years of experience in digital marketing and business development.

Pascal’s career began in the mid-1990s, managing multi-channel campaigns for a national holiday company before transitioning into digital transformation training. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer at The Centre for eBusiness for the UK government’s Regional Development Agency, where he led national and international funded programmes.

Today, Pascal provides training and consultancy for director teams and small businesses. Since February 2023, he has integrated Artificial Intelligence into his service delivery, hosting executive briefings and AI conferences. Having reviewed over 400 online solutions and published his first book, WebProud, in December 2024, Pascal joins us to discuss the 5-step roadmap to website management and why he views AI through the lens of 'the art of the possible.'

We discuss his three decades of experience and his transition from a digital practitioner to a consultant helping businesses navigate the current AI landscape.

In this episode, we are joined by Pascal Fintoni, a professional advisor and author with 30 years of experience in digital marketing and business development.

Pascal’s career began in the mid-1990s, managing multi-channel campaigns for a national holiday company before transitioning into digital transformation training. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer at The Centre for eBusiness for the UK government’s Regional Development Agency, where he led national and international funded programmes.

Today, Pascal provides training and consultancy for director teams and small businesses. Since February 2023, he has integrated Artificial Intelligence into his service delivery, hosting executive briefings and AI conferences. Having reviewed over 400 online solutions and published his first book, WebProud, in December 2024, Pascal joins us to discuss the 5-step roadmap to website management and why he views AI through the lens of 'the art of the possible.'

We discuss his three decades of experience and his transition from a digital practitioner to a consultant helping businesses navigate the current AI landscape.

In this episode Melanie talks to Kris Kennedy, Secretary at Consett District Golf Club, who gives us a fascinating insight into his vital role at the club, its rich heritage, and the stunning grounds, which he affectionately refers to as the "beautiful fairways." We explore what makes this club a true local fixture, from its delicious food and drink offerings at the clubhouse/café, aptly named The View, to their exciting new cutting-edge facility, the Blast Furnase swing room—a clever nod to Consett's industrial steelwork history. Join us as Kris shares the drive and dedication behind this fantastic local institution.

Welcome to the Do Business Network podcast! In this podcast we are pleased to introduce an organisation making a significant difference right here in the community.

Melanie Cant from Do Business Network talks to Tori Bradison from Northern Cancer Voices. Tori will share how Northern Cancer Voices is a group dedicated to ensuring that the experiences and feedback of cancer patients and their families directly shape local cancer services. The episode will explore how their diverse team contributes to improvements, how their local support informs broader advocacy, and the important message they share for anyone affected by cancer. Tune in to understand the impact Northern Cancer Voices is making and their vision for the future of cancer care in the region.

Meet Carol Smith from Simply Support Mentoring. In this DBN podcast episode we explore the heart behind her business, her distinct philosophy of mentoring, and the real-life journeys her clients undertake. Carol also shares what she finds most rewarding about her work, and offers crucial advice for anyone looking to connect with a mentor for the very first time. Let's begin this inspiring chat!

Meet Ryan Dodd, Director at KL Accountants in Consett.

In this podcast Melanie and Ryan talk about some of the most frequent asked questions he gets asked off clients including, when should you think about changing to a Limited Company, Tax Planning, Accounting Software and how easy it it to move to a new accountant.

In this episode Melanie talks to Stephen about his career to date. At 17 yrs old Stephen joined the army, started college in his 30's to train as a joiner and set up his own business in 2010.

Stephen and Melanie also discuss the 'ups and downs' of being a business owner, building industry problems and the importance of apprenticeships in the building industry. 

In this episode Melanie talks to DBN member Stephen Clark from Johnson Clark Building Surveys and Architecture 

Launched in 2018, JohnsonClark offers a range of surveying and architectural services for residential and commercial clients. Their highly skilled team bring enthusiasm, professionalism, and over 75 years of combined industry experience to each project with a track record of delivering outstanding outcomes to their clients.