Bizz Buzz – Beyond the Suit podcast launches
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A new podcast that draws on Business South’s little black book of top business leaders and the technical know-how of talented staff and students at Southampton Solent University will launch on Thursday 30 January.
The first episode of Bizz Buzz – Beyond the Suit will feature Mark Perry, CEO of VIVID talking about the importance of home and the key role his organisation is taking to address the housing need in the Central South.
The partnership approach to producing the podcast combines the best of both worlds when it comes to bringing together business and academia explains Business South CEO Leigh-Sara Timberlake, who is thrilled to see the project come to fruition.
“The idea of working with the students came about as the result of a conversation with Southampton Solent University’s Vice-Chancellor James Knowles at one of our Directors Dinners.
“We have the contacts and know the business leaders who have interesting stories to tell, while the students have the technical expertise to record those conversations so we can share them with a wider audience,” said Leigh-Sara.
The podcast will focus on gaining an insight into the men and women running major businesses and organisations across the Central South. It will be a chance to find out about the person beyond the suit and hear about everything from their career route to what really makes them tick.
Vice Chancellor of Southampton Solent University, James Knowles, said working in partnership on the podcast with Business South was a great way to strengthen business relationships in the region.
“This exciting new venture with Business South is an excellent example of the innovative ways in which we are working with our local partners. As a civic university, we are committed to collaborating with a wide range of partners across the region. Creating opportunities for our students and delivering benefits for business and society. I look forward to seeing how this latest venture will be received by both our business and wider communities,” says Professor Knowles.
Senior Lecturer Kate O’Driscoll, explains how Bizz Buzz offers the perfect way for students on BA (Hons) TV Production and BA (Hons) Post Production for TV and Film to gain experience on a live project and to hone their skills.
“Working on live briefs with external clients are an invaluable component of what we offer at Solent. They give our students the opportunity to develop their professional practice and gain a real understanding of client and industry expectations,” says Kate.
Here is a link to clip from the first podcast https://youtu.be/3IZLisoDkUI and all editions will be available on all your favourite podcast platforms.
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About Business South
Business South is an independent and influential organisation operating in Central South UK as a non-partisan business engagement organisation. It connects leading employers to promote the area and champion the economy in the region.
Business South’s vision is for the region to be recognised nationally and internationally, as a preferred location of choice, able to attract and retain talent, driving increased opportunities for investment and business.
The organisation is bringing people together through its Champion Programme – there are more than 100 Business South Champions, employing 100,000 people between them and contributing an estimated £4 billion to the region.
Find out more businesssouth.org
About Southampton Solent University
With a population of around 10,000 staff and students, Southampton Solent University offers over 200 qualifications, from HNDs to PhDs, in areas including business, sport, technology, and the creative industries, and is home to one of the world’s leading maritime schools. Every year we are joined by around 10,000 additional students on short professional courses.
We work closely with businesses to develop courses, and to deliver apprenticeships, professional development and training tailored to industry needs – ensuring our graduates are precisely what employers are looking for. Highly skilled, highly motivated professionals who are ready to jump straight in.
Southampton Solent University is:
- The recipient of three Gold ratings in the new Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), recognising that our student experience and student outcomes are typically outstanding.
- A member of a new £21.3m national research partnership focussed on decarbonising the UK maritime sector.
- 11th in the sector for graduate start-ups (HESA 2022)
- Achieved Race Equality Charter Bronze Award (AdvanceHE 2022)
- A recipient of over £1m to help the Government develop new Higher Technical Education qualifications.
- Awarded £4.3m by the Office for Students to create, expand and modernise courses and facilities in healthcare and STEM subject areas.
- Partnered with former Education Secretary Rt Hon Justine Greening to deliver a new ‘levelling up framework’ – widening HE access to those from under-represented communities.
- Lead university partner for the South Coast Institute for Technology – delivering higher technical training in science, technology, engineering, and maths.
- A University of Sanctuary, fostering a welcome and inclusive culture for asylum seekers and refugees.
- Accepted onto the University Mental Health Charter Programme for 2022/23 – universities committed to making mental health a university-wide priority to share practice and create cultural change.
- Awarded the Silver Engage Watermark in recognition of our outstanding commitment to supporting public engagement.
- In the top 20% nationally across several subject areas for teaching quality in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
- Fifth for law out of 108 institutions nationally in the 2025 Guardian University Guide.
- £100m investment in our campus and state-of-the-art facilities.
