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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Diary of an Engineering CEO</title><link>https://www.my-act.co.uk/</link><description><![CDATA[A series of conversations with ACT Group CEO Michael Richardson.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/5283569/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Entrepreneurship</category><copyright>Copyright ACT Group</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/f9a99af078a886bb415faacec75ca517.jpg</url><title>Diary of an Engineering CEO</title><link>https://www.my-act.co.uk/</link></image><lastBuildDate>Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:20:22 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>ACT Group</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>ACT Group</itunes:name><itunes:email>act@angelfysh.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/f9a99af078a886bb415faacec75ca517.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>A series of conversations with ACT Group CEO Michael Richardson.</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[A series of conversations with ACT Group CEO Michael Richardson.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Business"><itunes:category text="Entrepreneurship"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Episode 004: Reach</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-004-reach--53117352</link><description><![CDATA[ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.<br /><br />In this new ACT Group Podcast episode, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael Richardson in the 4th episode - 'Reach' - of a Diary of an Engineering CEO.<br /><br />Recorded: January 2023.<br />Length: 18:43.<br /><br />Watch the episodes on:<br /><br />ACT Group Website: https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/ <br />ACT Group YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg<br /><br />Follow us on LinkedIn to keep updated: https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/<br /><br />Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53117352</guid><pubDate>Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:11:17 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/53117352/episode_4_reach_january_2023_v2.mp3" length="44932746" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>ACT Group</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.

In this new ACT Group Podcast episode, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.<br /><br />In this new ACT Group Podcast episode, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael Richardson in the 4th episode - 'Reach' - of a Diary of an Engineering CEO.<br /><br />Recorded: January 2023.<br />Length: 18:43.<br /><br />Watch the episodes on:<br /><br />ACT Group Website: https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/ <br />ACT Group YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg<br /><br />Follow us on LinkedIn to keep updated: https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/<br /><br />Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1124</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>engineering,entrepreneurship</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/682703fb2e2ed8a2fd16f1ede35ff51f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Episode 003: Pillars and Principles</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-003-pillars-and-principles--51565156</link><description><![CDATA[ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.<br /><br />In this new ACT Group Podcast episode, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael Richardson in the 3rd episode - 'Pillars and Principles' - of a Diary of an Engineering CEO.<br /><br />Recorded: September 2022.<br />Length: 34:03.<br /><br />TOPICS.<br /><br />9 Principles and 5 Pillars.<br /><br />...<br /><br />1. PLAN<br /><br />Have a plan. If you haven't got a plan it is not a good starting point.<br /><br />...<br /><br />2. PURPOSE<br /><br />This is the reason we do what we do.<br /><br />The 5 Pillars of ACT Group are:<br />1. Generations<br />2. Shrinkage<br />3. Capacity<br />4. Profit<br />5. Legacy<br /><br />...<br /><br />3. CANDLE<br /><br />How to keep going when you don't do 8-hour days and 5-day weeks.<br /><br />...<br /><br />4. SERVICE<br /><br />When it comes to service levels, okay isn't okay.<br /><br />...<br /><br />5. CUSTOMERS<br /><br />It's important for ACT Group to have quality relationships with every single customer.<br /><br />...<br /><br />6. SUPPLIERS<br /><br />How to manage a temptation to overpromise with suppliers.<br /><br />...<br /><br />7. DYNAMIC<br /><br />Always be open to change - daily, weekly, monthly.<br /><br />...<br /><br />8. AGILE<br /><br />We live in a world of 'It was needed yesterday'.<br /><br />...<br /><br />9. BUMPS<br /><br />When things don't quite go to plan.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Watch the episodes on:<br /><br />ACT Group Website: <a href="https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/" rel="noopener">https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/</a><br />ACT Group YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg</a><br /><br />Follow us on LinkedIn to keep updated: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/</a><br /><br />Spreaker: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo" rel="noopener">https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo</a>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51565156</guid><pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2022 15:05:17 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/51565156/episode_3_pillars_and_principles_september_2022.mp3" length="81748680" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>ACT Group</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.&#13;
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In this new ACT Group Podcast episode, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.<br /><br />In this new ACT Group Podcast episode, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael Richardson in the 3rd episode - 'Pillars and Principles' - of a Diary of an Engineering CEO.<br /><br />Recorded: September 2022.<br />Length: 34:03.<br /><br />TOPICS.<br /><br />9 Principles and 5 Pillars.<br /><br />...<br /><br />1. PLAN<br /><br />Have a plan. If you haven't got a plan it is not a good starting point.<br /><br />...<br /><br />2. PURPOSE<br /><br />This is the reason we do what we do.<br /><br />The 5 Pillars of ACT Group are:<br />1. Generations<br />2. Shrinkage<br />3. Capacity<br />4. Profit<br />5. Legacy<br /><br />...<br /><br />3. CANDLE<br /><br />How to keep going when you don't do 8-hour days and 5-day weeks.<br /><br />...<br /><br />4. SERVICE<br /><br />When it comes to service levels, okay isn't okay.<br /><br />...<br /><br />5. CUSTOMERS<br /><br />It's important for ACT Group to have quality relationships with every single customer.<br /><br />...<br /><br />6. SUPPLIERS<br /><br />How to manage a temptation to overpromise with suppliers.<br /><br />...<br /><br />7. DYNAMIC<br /><br />Always be open to change - daily, weekly, monthly.<br /><br />...<br /><br />8. AGILE<br /><br />We live in a world of 'It was needed yesterday'.<br /><br />...<br /><br />9. BUMPS<br /><br />When things don't quite go to plan.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Watch the episodes on:<br /><br />ACT Group Website: <a href="https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/" rel="noopener">https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/</a><br />ACT Group YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg</a><br /><br />Follow us on LinkedIn to keep updated: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/</a><br /><br />Spreaker: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo" rel="noopener">https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo</a>]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2044</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>engineering,entrepreneurship</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/682703fb2e2ed8a2fd16f1ede35ff51f.jpg"/><itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Episode 002: Moments and Milestones</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-002-moments-and-milestones--50506439</link><description><![CDATA[ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.<br /><br />In this new ACT Group Podcast episode, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael Richardson in the 2nd episode - 'Moments and Milestones' - of a Diary of an Engineering CEO.<br /><br />Recorded: June 2022.<br />Length: 34:22.<br /><br />TOPICS.<br /><br />About Michael Richardson and ACT Group.<br /><br />Moments and milestones during the 16 years of ACT Group:<br /><br />When did you first try running your own business?<br />Why did you want to do it?<br />Financially, how did you start ACT Group?<br />Family support and personal sacrifices.<br />Where was your first office?<br />Moving to a bigger office.<br />How do you learn to be an MD?<br />It's all about the people.<br />Creating a good place to work.<br />How long do customers tend to stay with ACT Group?<br />Investing in infrastructure.<br />What was the first indulgent thing you bought yourself?<br />Do you have any regrets or wish you'd done things different or better?<br />Do you get enough time off?<br />Coping during the tricky times.<br />Looking forward to the future for ACT Group.<br />What drives you now?<br /><br />Watch the episodes on:<br /><br />ACT Group Website: <a href="https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/" rel="noopener">https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/</a><br />ACT Group YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg</a><br /><br />Follow us on LinkedIn to keep updated: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/</a><br /><br />Spreaker: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo" rel="noopener">https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo</a>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50506439</guid><pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2022 05:28:37 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/50506439/episode_2_moments_and_milestones_june_2022.mp3" length="82497872" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>ACT Group</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.&#13;
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In this new ACT Group Podcast episode, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.<br /><br />In this new ACT Group Podcast episode, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael Richardson in the 2nd episode - 'Moments and Milestones' - of a Diary of an Engineering CEO.<br /><br />Recorded: June 2022.<br />Length: 34:22.<br /><br />TOPICS.<br /><br />About Michael Richardson and ACT Group.<br /><br />Moments and milestones during the 16 years of ACT Group:<br /><br />When did you first try running your own business?<br />Why did you want to do it?<br />Financially, how did you start ACT Group?<br />Family support and personal sacrifices.<br />Where was your first office?<br />Moving to a bigger office.<br />How do you learn to be an MD?<br />It's all about the people.<br />Creating a good place to work.<br />How long do customers tend to stay with ACT Group?<br />Investing in infrastructure.<br />What was the first indulgent thing you bought yourself?<br />Do you have any regrets or wish you'd done things different or better?<br />Do you get enough time off?<br />Coping during the tricky times.<br />Looking forward to the future for ACT Group.<br />What drives you now?<br /><br />Watch the episodes on:<br /><br />ACT Group Website: <a href="https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/" rel="noopener">https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/</a><br />ACT Group YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg</a><br /><br />Follow us on LinkedIn to keep updated: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/</a><br /><br />Spreaker: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo" rel="noopener">https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo</a>]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2063</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>diaryofaceo,engineering,entrepreneurship</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/682703fb2e2ed8a2fd16f1ede35ff51f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Episode 001: People</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-001-people--47735327</link><description><![CDATA[ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.<br /><br />In this new ACT Group Podcast, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael Richardson in the first episode - 'People' - of a Diary of an Engineering CEO.<br /><br />Recorded: March 2022.<br />Length: 31:50.<br /><br />TOPICS.<br /><br />About Michael Richardson and ACT Group:<br />Tell us a little bit about you and the company.<br />Where, geographically are your customers?<br />How did ACT Group grow to have the biggest market share in that territory?<br /><br />Managing People:<br />Are you any good at managing people?<br />Being a good boss<br />Does your Dad's involvement in the business influence how you work?<br />The open door policy - can your team talk to you?<br />What do you look for when recruiting?<br />Employing people from competitor companies<br />Communication and involvement<br />Quiz. How well do you know your people?<br /><br />Watch the episodes on:<br /><br />ACT Group Website: <a href="https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/" rel="noopener">https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/</a><br />ACT Group YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg</a><br /><br />Follow us on LinkedIn to keep updated: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/</a><br /><br />Spreaker: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo" rel="noopener">https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo</a>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47735327</guid><pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2022 12:54:05 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/47735327/episode_1_people_march_2022_v2.mp3" length="76431195" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>ACT Group</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.&#13;
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In this new ACT Group Podcast, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael Richardson in...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[ACT Group pride itself on the 'accurate prescription of engineering solutions since 2006'. The best solutions for the job – on time, every time.<br /><br />In this new ACT Group Podcast, brand builder Mychael Owen chats to ACT Group MD Michael Richardson in the first episode - 'People' - of a Diary of an Engineering CEO.<br /><br />Recorded: March 2022.<br />Length: 31:50.<br /><br />TOPICS.<br /><br />About Michael Richardson and ACT Group:<br />Tell us a little bit about you and the company.<br />Where, geographically are your customers?<br />How did ACT Group grow to have the biggest market share in that territory?<br /><br />Managing People:<br />Are you any good at managing people?<br />Being a good boss<br />Does your Dad's involvement in the business influence how you work?<br />The open door policy - can your team talk to you?<br />What do you look for when recruiting?<br />Employing people from competitor companies<br />Communication and involvement<br />Quiz. How well do you know your people?<br /><br />Watch the episodes on:<br /><br />ACT Group Website: <a href="https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/" rel="noopener">https://www.my-act.co.uk/category/podcasts/</a><br />ACT Group YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDBq-T4TmVfaJ95fPxUPg</a><br /><br />Follow us on LinkedIn to keep updated: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-cutting-tools-ltd/</a><br /><br />Spreaker: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo" rel="noopener">https://www.spreaker.com/show/diary-of-an-engineering-ceo</a>]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1911</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>engineering,entrepreneurship,people,ukeng,ukmfg</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/682703fb2e2ed8a2fd16f1ede35ff51f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
