Enterprise Nation members&nbsp;Louisa&nbsp;Parry and&nbsp;Sofia&nbsp;Simou are the co-founders of <a target="_blank" href="http://thecoffeehouseproject.co.uk">The&nbsp;Coffee House Project</a>, a new coffee festival in Bristol this Friday and Saturday.&nbsp;Louisa tells the story behind how they got started.&nbsp;

Member stories

The Enterprise Nation members brewing up a storm with Bristol's first coffee festival

 Louisa Parry and Sofia Simou are the co-founders of 

, a new coffee festival in Bristol this Friday and Saturday (7-8 September).

Louisa tells the story behind how they got started.

How did you come up with your idea and turn it into an actual business?

Sofia and myself met back in November and we discussed events that were missing from Bristol and we realised no one was putting on a coffee festival and with such a strong coffee scene, with great local roasters, we saw this as a great opportunity to give the industry a platform for everyone to come together under one roof.

What start-up challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?

The biggest challenge for us is resource as we are only two people, spinning lots of plates.

For events there are lot of different elements involved including marketing, sales, operations, finance etc and we have to do all of these, plus doing other freelance events and projects on the side.

What has been your biggest achievement with your business so far?

Our biggest achievement has been getting a whole range of businesses involved in our first year, from small start-ups to global brands.

The support we have received from the industry has been incredible and we are really proud to be having them altogether under one roof.

Our next goal is to deliver another year of The Coffee House Project after we have had a moment to breath and a period of analysis, seeing what worked and what didn't and bringing our learnings from this year into the mix.

What do you think will be your biggest challenge getting there?

A lot depends on the success of this year's event, both from the perspective of our exhibitors and visitors. We need to deliver a successful event to gain their respect and support for next year.

How has Enterprise Nation helped your business?

Enterprise Nation has helped us with all the skills and online resources that are available.

Having only recently joined we are looking forward to to the events and meet-ups where there will be a chance to skill share and make contacts with local open minded companies.

Which other entrepreneur inspires you and why?

Jo Malone has always inspired me. She started from nothing, took risks but stayed true to her identify and seems like an incredibly honest and down to earth person. She had massive challenges along the way but never gave up.

What are your three tips for business success based on your experiences so far?

Book your tickets to the Coffee House Project on 7-8 September 

We're proud to have people like Louisa and Sofia as members of Enterprise Nation. 

 and become part of an amazing community of small business owners.

I am a highly accomplished C-suite and Senior Leadership Team member, recognised for exceptional leadership and strategic expertise in sales, marketing and business development. Demonstrated success in international leadership positions, including successful start-ups (UK and USA), Private Equity and IPOs, MBOs and orchestrating three seamless acquisitions. Trusted professional known for managing very complex working environments with a dependable reputation built on trust and honesty. A focused leader experienced in driving companies through high growth, strategic transformations, business integration and fostering high-performing, thriving people-first cultures. Leadership style centred on compassion, motivation and inspiration, setting clear team goals, targets, and incentives to cultivate a culture of continuous communication, interaction and engagement for sustainable performance improvement. Proudly committed to nurturing and developing talent, serving as a hands-on people manager, dedicated coach and compassionate leader who has empowered countless individuals to unlock their true potential and achieve remarkable success.
During my career I:-
<ul>
<li>At the age of 27, I created the strategy and led the growth for Mosaic Information Technologies, that resulted in the business being acquired by NASDAQ listed company, Intelect Inc., for $15m after 18-months of a $200k angel investment.</li>
<li>Personally responsible for a $2m trade investment into my start-up, International Multimedia Corporation</li>
<li>Played a pivotal role in starting the Roc Technologies revenue scale-up from £3m to £35m over a 4-year period and part of the senior leadership team that secured BGF’s largest investment for an MBO and acquisition.</li>
<li>Successfully led the Nimbus Partners people integration of 150 people into TIBCO post their acquisition and ran the business unit globally resulting in being promoted to the TIBCO global senior leadership team.</li>
<li>Managed and scaled-up the AvePoint UK business during the pandemic and transformed the territory by implementing a compassionate operating model that became the global standard.</li>
</ul>
My core competencies are:
<ul>
<li>Organisational Leadership</li>
<li>People Management</li>
<li>Leadership Development</li>
<li>Board &amp; Stakeholder Engagement</li>
<li>Strategic Vision</li>
<li>Global Business Development</li>
<li>Crisis Management</li>
<li>Data-Driven Decision Making</li>
<li>Negotiating &amp; Influence</li>
<li>Financial Planning &amp; Forecasting</li>
<li>Process Transformation</li>
<li>Innovation &amp; Critical Thinking</li>
</ul>
<ins>Industry Highlights</ins>
<ul>
<li>£40m + Merger and Acquisition activity.</li>
<li>10+ industry awards.</li>
<li>8 Start-ups.</li>
<li>30+ years of corporate experience including sitting on Boards and SLTs of global public companies.</li>
</ul>

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Natalie is a performance marketing consultant, with extensive experience in the D2C &amp; subscription space. Most recently she worked as Head of Performance Marketing for Tails.com, joining the start up at an early stage and being part of the team that drove 5x revenue growth. Her experience includes launching and scaling across a range of marketing channels (digital &amp; offline) &amp; countries, leading on site conversion projects and using CRM to increase customer retention.
In addition to her in house experience she has a search agency grounding, and an entrepreneurial spirit which saw her launch an award nominated blog and led to her writing for Timeout &amp; GroupOn.
Natalie is also a mum of 2 mum and yoga teacher, so she understands the small business owner’s challenge of having to wear many hats.
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&lt;p&gt;I moved to the UK a very long time ago (so called friends tell me I am now more British than Canadian!) and now very much see England as home. My life is a mixture of spending time with friends, borrowing the most beautiful dog (be warned - I may be a tad smitten with him!), working with business buddies as we try to grow our businesses and endeavouring to get back into horse back riding which I miss immensely.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Like many, I am a huge tennis fan for the 2 weeks of the year that Wimbledon is on!&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;I have a &lt;a href="http://itunes.bridginggaps.uk"&gt;podcast &lt;/a&gt;which is partially business and partially pleasure as I really love speaking to so many different inspiring business owners.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;In spare time, I experiment with my creative side by creating new patterns and designs and enjoy photography as well.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;I now combine my experience of planning, love of technology and talking by working with people and businesses to launch their own podcasts.&lt;/p&gt;


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I specialise in helping businesses and start-ups understand the complexities of UK immigration. By offering <a href=&apos;https://www.immtell.com/business-immigration/immigration-consultancy/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>bespoke solutions</a>, I help companies navigate <a href=&apos;https://www.immtell.com/business-immigration/home-office-sponsorship-licence/ukvi-sponsorship-licence-application/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Home Office sponsor licence</a> intricacies and compliance while creating immigration and mobility strategies that help businesses leverage the global talent pool to fill resourcing gaps and support growth. My approach is all about simplifying the process and providing clear, straightforward, practical guidance.
How I Do It: I aim to make immigration work for you and your business. Whether it&apos;s streamlining the sponsor licence process for your business, training you and your team, or guiding you through individual <a href=&apos;https://www.immtell.com/personal-immigration/uk-work-visas/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>visa applications</a> and <a href=&apos;https://www.immtell.com/business-immigration/immigration-consultancy/right-to-work-checks/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Right to Work checks</a>, I blend over two decades of industry knowledge with a compassionate approach. My expertise lies in simplifying the intricate, making the immigration journey understandable and manageable for your business and your international mobile employees. By utilising the best of technology and a personal approach, I strive to provide your employees with the best experience possible, alleviating anxiety and worry as they navigate the visa process.&nbsp;
 Who I Work With: I partner with start-ups, SMEs, corporates, and companies looking to expand globally and facing immigration challenges. My commitment is to offer you clear, actionable advice tailored to address your specific immigration challenges while working as an extension of your team. Together, we&apos;ll overcome the obstacles and uncertainties of immigration, turning complexities into successful outcomes. My Background: With a diverse 20-year immigration career spanning the private sector and UK government, including my role at my consultancy <a href=&apos;https://www.immtell.com/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Immtell</a> and experiences at Vialto Partners/PwC and the Home Office, I bring a unique blend of perspectives to your immigration needs. My background equips me with the insights and skills to offer unparalleled guidance, ensuring your immigration process is smooth and compliant. Contact Me: If you&apos;re looking for an immigration partner who genuinely understands, cares for, and prioritises your needs, I&apos;m here to help. Contact me at <a href=&apos;mailto:gavin@immtell.com&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>gavin@immtell.com</a> or +44(0) 7764 789036 for expert advice tailored to your unique situation.&nbsp;

Director

Gavin Webster

I specialise in helping businesses and start-ups understand the complexities of UK immigration. By offering <a href=&apos;https://www.immtell.com/business-immigration/immigration-consultancy/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>bespoke solutions</a>, I help companies navigate <a href=&apos;https://www.immtell.com/business-immigration/home-office-sponsorship-licence/ukvi-sponsorship-licence-application/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Home Office sponsor licence</a> intricacies and compliance while

The Enterprise Nation members brewing up a storm with Bristol's first coffee festival

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