OC10: Building a Business to Benefit the Community with Heather Garlick

My guest today, Heather Garlick, is a notable entrepreneur and original thinker who builds businesses in the heart of her community of Stretford in Manchester. Heather founded Stretford Sip Club, a community bar located in an old office above an estate agents and this year she is in the process of opening an outdoor cinema and ‘curiosity garden' on the top floor of a multi-storey car park which will run for the second half of the summer season. In the Autumn Heather will push ahead with her passion project; sourcing an ethical and sustainable tonic water for the on-trade. It was a special joy to speak to Heather and in our wide-ranging conversation we talk about community; how people rarely say no when asked to do something; having ideas and the art of exploring which ones are likely to work by being dispassionate and objective. Hard work and perseverance; and how not being daunted by the enormity of a task can have surprising results; as can emailing the United Nations!Finally, never underestimate the importance of a notebook and the ability to see beauty and wonder where others do not.