What’s Katie’s Stori?
What does it take to keep a food business safe and compliant? That’s what Katie Watkins-Young, founder of Beacon Compliance, explores in a recent episode of the What’s Your Stori? podcast.
What does it take to keep a food business safe and compliant? That was the question put to Katie, our founder and managing director, in the latest episode of the What’s Your Stori? podcast.
Katie talked to host James Owen about the career that led her to start Beacon Compliance in 2018. She began in environmental health, where she prosecuted businesses for food safety offences. She then moved into food manufacturing before setting up on her own. Beacon now works with clients ranging from small independent cafés to multi-million-pound food companies, helping them meet their legal obligations, achieve certifications and avoid expensive mistakes.
An honest look at running a business
The conversation goes well beyond food safety. Katie is candid about the realities of entrepreneurship, including growing a team, hiring mistakes that cost money and the pressure of managing cash flow. She also questions whether a bigger team and a higher turnover are the right measures of success.
She talks about the influence of her late father on her career, and whether Beacon could one day pass to the next generation. Her aim is to build a business that doesn’t rely entirely on its founder, and a future for Beacon that she’s confident in.
What you’ll hear in the episode
What’s Your Stori? is a podcast that champions business owners across Wales and gives them the space to tell their stories. Each episode brings together experienced business owners and those just starting out, so listeners can learn from them and feel inspired to reach their potential.
In her episode, Katie explains why she sees Beacon as the lighthouse that helps food businesses steer clear of the rocks. She also talks about:
Why she moved from environmental health into the private sector
What food safety inspections involve in practice
How Beacon was born, and why she went full-time just before the COVID pandemic
The business decision that changed her approach to growth
Family businesses, succession and her hopes for Beacon’s future
Watch the episode
If you run a food business, are building a company of your own or just want to know what goes on behind the food we buy, Katie’s story is worth the listen. You can watch it above, or on YouTube.
Taking a food product to market is a big undertaking, and we’ve guided many businesses through it. If you’d like to talk through where your own business stands, book a free, no-obligation consultation with our team.
