In this episode, Josh Sargent, CEO of UK for CLARK, the business behind the Tom and Polly life assurance brands joins Steve Henry on Swim Against The Tide.

Josh shares his remarkable journey from a working-class upbringing in Gloucestershire and choosing work before university, to joining the business as an account manager and ultimately rising through the ranks to become CEO.

They explore how Tom and Polly have used distinctive branding, clever customer segmentation and a refreshingly human approach to make life assurance feel simpler and more relevant to younger families.

Josh also talks candidly about scaling from a small team to more than 200 employees, navigating acquisitions and private-equity ownership, and developing his own leadership style along the way.

It’s a fascinating conversation about disrupting a traditional industry, using technology to build stronger customer relationships, and the challenge of continuing to think like a challenger when you’re increasingly becoming one of the established names in the market.

The SATT Team :)

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Nick Rawlings has spent his career helping ambitious challenger brands compete against some of the biggest names in technology and communications. From taking on BT and Sky during the early days of cable to helping scale Plusnet, Nick has learned what it takes to get noticed, build trust and win customers in fiercely competitive markets.

In this episode, Nick shares the thinking behind great challenger marketing: understanding exactly what customers are frustrated by, finding a distinctive position and having the confidence to communicate differently from the established players. He also discusses the importance of building a brand that delivers on its promises rather than relying on clever advertising alone.

When at Gigaclear, Nick has applied those lessons to another major challenge—bringing better broadband to rural communities and competing in a market dominated by household names.

It is a fascinating conversation about career-defining campaigns, customer insight and the mindset required to keep challenging the status quo.

The SATT Team :)

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In this episode of Swim Against The Tide, Steve Henry talks to Heather Matthews, Managing Director of Little’s Chauffeur Drive – a 60-year-old Scottish family business built on trust, service and an obsessive attention to detail.

From its humble beginnings as a three-car taxi business in Glasgow to becoming a global chauffeur network, Little’s has stayed distinctive in a crowded market by doing the simple things exceptionally well.

And then there are the cars: that unmistakable deep maroon fleet, a visual signature that makes Little’s instantly recognisable and says everything about a brand that has never wanted to blend in.

The SATT Team :)

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In this episode of Swim Against The Tide, Steve talks to Mairead Quigley, Head of Product Marketing at Phlo — the digital pharmacy scaling fast in one of healthcare’s most competitive and talked-about spaces.

Mairead shares how Phlo moved from NHS prescription delivery into private digital healthcare, why GLP-1 weight-loss treatments have become such a major growth engine, and what it takes to build trust, patient care and marketing momentum in a highly regulated market.

From white-label partnerships with brands like Morrisons and Holland & Barrett to the future of preventative healthcare, this is a fascinating look at how a digital pharmacy can grow quickly without ever losing sight of the patient.

The SATT Team :)

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Sam Venning is the co-founder of Wuffes, the dog supplement brand that turned a personal search for help with an ageing dog’s arthritis into one of America’s fast- growing pet health businesses.

In this episode, we talk about building trust in a crowded supplement market, moving from DTC growth to national retail, and what changes when a founder has to grow from ecommerce operator into science-led brand leader.

Sam’s drive and passion really come across in this episode, with his energy making a real difference for pets being an absolute focal point for future success.

The SATT Team :)

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This week we meet the driving force behind the gym revolution that is sweeping London with a new way to work out.

In a market full of big-box gyms, boutique studios and crowded workout floors, Ben Alderton spotted a gap: what if you could rent a fully equipped, high-end gym space entirely to yourself, by the hour?

That idea became Solo60 – a fast-growing chain of private gym and treatment spaces built for PTs, gym-goers and fitness creators.

Ben joined me to talk about launching during Covid, raising millions in investment, building custom tech, surviving critical business moments, and learning how to lead as the company scaled across London.

It is a candid story about timing, resilience, and turning a simple frustration – never getting on the squat rack when you need it – into a brand with international ambitions.

The SATT Team :)

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In this week’s fascinating episode, Humphrey Bodington, the co-founder of Conka, along with his business partner Harry Glover, discusses the journey of creating a unique cognitive performance product that combines plant extracts and nootropics – with a supporting app that can actually measure the success of their products.

Inspired by their history and love of rugby the conversation delves into the science behind brain health, the importance of cognitive performance in sports, and the trials conducted with professional athletes.

The discussion also highlights the transition from recovery-focused products to those aimed at enhancing overall performance, as well as the potential for expanding the product's reach beyond professional sports to everyday decision-makers in the commercial world.

Finally, Humphrey openly shares the challenges and successes faced in their entrepreneurial journey, emphasising the significance of passion, resilience, and strategic planning for future growth.

The SATT Team :)

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In this episode of Swim Against The Tide, Steve talks to Gillian Ridley Whittle, founder of Peachaus, a women’s underwear and leisurewear brand with a mission far bigger than fashion.

After a hugely successful career in corporate retail — including senior roles at Marks & Spencer, Topshop and major Australian retailers — Gillian stepped away from a world that no longer felt aligned and set out to build something rooted in care, comfort and purpose.

Peachaus is now taking bra fittings into workplaces, festivals and communities, helping women understand their bodies, feel comfortable, and step into their confidence.

This is a conversation about fear, reinvention, women’s health, purpose-led business, and why Gillian believes comfort can be the start of a movement she is passionate to deliver.

The SATT Team :)

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