On the Airwaves: Our Interview with Simon Ellson on the Dorset Business Matters Podcast

In February 2026, Alison sat down with business coach Simon Ellson for his Dorset Business Matters podcast.

Simon is a friend to Rural Ranges, offering his invaluable expertise to help us grow as we reach new markets. He is a Business Coach who works closely with businesses in Dorset and across the Southwest, building the skills within the company's culture to encourage structure, direction and growth. He has written three books on business: 'Head Down Balls Up: How Not to Sabotage Your Business and Your Life,' 'Who the Hell are You Anyway: Get Clear. Stand Out. Build a Business that Reflects You,' and 'The Messy Middle: Why Growth Feels Hard and What to Do When it Does.'

Simon's podcast, Dorset Business Matters, sees him sit down with local business owners for insightful conversations, discovering how they have built their businesses and what challenges they've faced along the way.

Ali's appearance on the podcast was a fantastic opportunity to take stock. Business life can be hectic, with an ever growing mountain of jobs to get done. You climb and climb and the mountain's peak keeps looking further away, but sometimes we need to pause on our climb to marvel at just how far we've come.

We started our business with a small personal loan, a van, tools and a baby on the way. Now here we are with a whole team around us, our Bridport showroom, a growing online cookshop, partnerships with respected cooker suppliers, industry leaders in electric conversions, specialists in refurbishments, and with a growing international side to our trade. Amongst the chaos of juggling family and business life, we have built something that we are so proud of. 

The podcast was an opportunity to talk through the highs and lows, the challenges that we face, and our hopes for the future. It's a behind the scenes insight into how it is to run a business, and the specific complications that come with a specialised field such as ours. Mostly, it was a chance to pause on our climb upwards, take a deep breath, and observe the view that we have created. And truly, despite all the hardships we have faced along the way, what a beautiful view it is.