Guy Westlake

"I could be the Lionel Messi of mining, but ..." Hg's Nic Humphries shares advice for young and old people about what to learn or study in the age of AI. Watch the entire conversation on Alt Goes Mainstream here: https://lnkd.in/erQGkAMK

68

2 Comments

📣 VCs! Does your deal flow funnel look a bit..... homogenous? With only 2% of UK VC funding going to all-female teams and less than 0.5% going to black founders - and nearly half of all capital going to companies based in London - we thought we would put together a few suggestions based on recommendations from reports looking at increasing diversity at the top of the funnel. If your top of funnel isn’t diverse, it’s rarely because diverse founders don’t exist. It’s because many quietly self-select out. A few practical ways to widen the funnel: 🗣️ Use inclusive, specific language (clarity beats vague “exceptionalism”) 🚪 Be accessible with clear contact routes, open applications or office hours 📜 Signal commitment (e.g. Investing in Women Code, Diversity VC certification) 👭 Diversify sourcing beyond the usual universities, networks and accelerators 👥 Build balance into teams, panels and visible moments 🧰 Offer support beyond capital at the top of the funnel 📊 Track who enters your funnel and make DEI part of how you operate You don’t need to lower standards — you need to remove unnecessary friction. You can’t invest in founders you never meet. Full piece here: https://lnkd.in/eDwsgWf7 With thanks to the Invest in Women Hub, Invest in Women Taskforce, Diversity VC, UK Private Capital, European Women in VC, Level 20, Extend Ventures, The Table, Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund, Ada Ventures, Astia, Alma Angels, Social Mobility Ventures, Bethnal Green Ventures, Unconventional Ventures, Sie Ventures, Black Seed VC, Startup Discovery School, Climate Mosaic, Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, Sophie Purdom and Ramsay Siegal for your research, support and leadership. #VC #Cleantech #Climatetech #ZeroCarbon #Diversity #Inclusion

20

2 Comments

The budget represents another set of cost pressures for social care and hospitality operators. At Sona (getsona.com), we help operators unlock high-impact levers, and intelligent scheduling is the clearest path to mitigating these pressures. "Popeyes Louisiana Chicken UK: Since implementing Sona in July, we have realised more than 0.8% point in labour savings through effective people positioning and non-emotive scheduling. With additional product advancements, we expect this number to grow to over 1% point by the end of 2025." - Neil Williamson That's a total reduction of 4% in labour costs (with no negative impact on NPS or sales) - which approximately offsets the anticipated labour impact from the budget.

131

12 Comments

I’m pleased to announce the newest member of the Founders Forum Group ecosystem: Enterprise Britain. Enterprise Britain is a movement of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors who feel compelled to act, now, to build a better future for the UK. Its launch comes at a critical moment. New polling shows that 74% of Britons believe the UK’s position in the global economy is declining, and the latest ONS data reveals that the economy expanded by only 0.1% in the final three months of last year. For startups, confidence is increasingly fragile. To change this trajectory, we need to harness the energy of Britain's most exciting start-ups and scale-ups, making it easier for them to stay and succeed here. Against this backdrop, Enterprise Britain has released “Time to Act”, a new report calling for urgent measures in three areas: Ambition, Capital, and Talent. Read the report linked in the comments to find out more and join the growing group of entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders behind this movement. Enterprise Britain is Co-Chaired by Brent Hoberman and Stephen Fitzpatrick and backed by a stellar Advisory Board including: Lionel Barber, Philip Belamant, Euan Blair, May Habib, Nick Hanauer, Sir Tom Hunter, Martha Lane Fox, Dr. Ben Maruthappu, Helena Morrissey, and Richard Reed. I am pleased to be acting as a Senior Advisor, working closely with the Advisory Board and Executive Director Eva Barboni to shape Enterprise Britain’s strategy. This builds on our work with Founders Pulse and Tech Nation, both of which support the connection between tech scaleups and government. #TimeToAct

218

9 Comments

The UK’s brightest founders and professionals are quietly packing their bags. And it’s not just because of the weather. Or politics. A growing number of UK entrepreneurs are rethinking not if they’ll leave, but when. In our 2025 Relocation Report, we surveyed 500+ UK business owners and professionals. The findings were eye-opening: ➡️ 38% are already planning to relocate within 12 months ➡️ 62% within two years ➡️ Over half are looking to Iberia - Portugal and Spain - for a new start This isn’t escapism. It’s a response to deeper shifts in how people define success: flexibility, wellbeing and belonging now rank alongside profit and growth. I break down what’s driving this exodus, and why Southern Europe has become the new frontier for British talent. Read the full report on the Touchdown blog (see link in the comments)

24

1 Comment

Spent some of my Sunday listening to a podcast with Robert Kilgour, founder of Four Seasons & Renaissance, and the lessons go way beyond care. If you’re a founder or leader trying to scale without losing your mind, this one’s worth your time. Key business lessons that everyone will want to consider: 1) Acquire/Grow in clusters. Growth isn’t just about buying one business at a time. It’s about building density in a region so you get operational leverage, stronger local reputation, and a platform that actually compounds. 2) Use technology properly (not as a bolt-on). Tech isn’t a shiny add-on for later. It’s an enabler of quality and scale now — tighter processes, better visibility, less friction for teams and customers. 3) Build the team before you scale. This might be the biggest one. If the right people and structure aren’t in place first, scaling just multiplies your problems. Get the leadership and operational backbone ready then turn up the volume. Loads more practical, experience-tested advice from someone who’s been through the full journey. What’s the one lesson you wish you’d learned earlier in your own scaling journey? #leadership #scaling #growth #acquisition #founders #businessbuilding #socialcare #healthcare #operations #entrepreneurship

23

2 Comments

Can your business save money, people and planet at the same time? We've had 30+ years of unfettered globalization of our supply chains, and our current trade war feels is one of many 'corrections' companies will face in the coming years. Paul Rice shares his perspective on how we arrived at this point and how to move forward. Listen to our full interview on The Responsible Supply Chain Show. https://lnkd.in/gFVtYK35 #trade #tariff #responsiblesourcing #supplychain #risk

11

Tactics we’ve perfected over a decade of surveys: now yours to unlock 🔓 We’re launching Potloc Academy, an exclusive series of practical, expert-led sessions for consulting and PE firms. These 30-60-minute sessions, delivered on demand in your office (or screens), are designed to help your team solve existing pain points, reveal unseen risks, and optimize speed-to-insight. Explore topics and how it all works here: https://bit.ly/453yAQv

54

1 Comment

Don't just chase grants... Some fantastic advice from Rachel Fletcher in our recent interview. Watch the full video to find out the full detail, but the short version is that the grant provider will always be looking for an outcome and that might not align with the direction you want your business to go. That being said, if the outcomes do marry up with your vision then they are a fantastic way to inject some cash and grow your business. You can find an invaluable grant finding resource on the FCS Associates Ltd website here: https://lnkd.in/e6RQ2KQ6 and Rachel sends out a regular grant bulletin that you can subscribe to here: https://lnkd.in/eMwKNfkB Don't forget, the Barnsley StartUp MeetUp will return in September so if you're missing your fix then head over to the YouTube channel and brush up on some of the awesome guests I've interviewed: https://lnkd.in/dygNzNg5 Enterprising Barnsley Barnsley Council South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority South Yorkshire Incubator and Accelerator Network Sheffield Digital TECH SY DMC

25

1 Comment

Young Minds, Big Future: Children and AI in the UK The Alan Turing Institute’s latest research with children, parents, and teachers shows how generative AI is already shaping young lives. Nearly 1,800 participants shared their views. The study investigates children’s experiences and perceptions of tools like ChatGPT, raising concerns about misinformation, environmental impact, fairness, and eagerness to be involved in shaping the future of AI. Here are 6 key takeaways: 1️⃣ Early adoption is real – 1 in 4 children aged 8–12 have used generative AI, mostly ChatGPT. 2️⃣ Digital divide is widening – 52% of private school students use AI vs only 18% in state schools. 3️⃣ Special needs support – children with additional learning needs use AI more often to communicate, learn, and express themselves. 4️⃣ Mixed teacher views – 85% of teachers say AI boosts their productivity, but 72% worry it harms critical thinking in students. 5️⃣ Bias and fairness – children of colour often feel under-represented in AI outputs, highlighting the need for inclusive design. 6️⃣ Environmental concern – children worry about the energy and water costs of AI, asking for greener technology. The report reminds us that generative AI is no longer on the sidelines, it is becoming part of children’s daily lives and classrooms. Thriving UK youth will depend on equal access, strong AI literacy, and ethical design. Now is the time to guide, educate, and empower them. #FutureSkills #AILiteracy #GenAI #AIForEducation #EdTechUK #UpskillingYouth #atomcampUK https://lnkd.in/d6CsE_Ni

12

If you're a founder navigating the highs, lows, and everything in between, this episode of People & Pioneers - The Podcast is for you. I sat down with Eleanor Ford, Chief People Officer at Zinc VC, to unpack what makes exceptional founders tick: from choosing the right co-founders and building strong teams, to navigating uncertainty and turning pain into growth. Plenty of insight on building with purpose, backing talent with ambition, and why diversity is non-negotiable in 2025. 🎙 Links on Apple and Spotify in the comments. #investment #founders #vc #growth

55

7 Comments

At ThatRound, we’ve been chatting with a range of partners, investors and founders, hearing their stories and gathering the advice they have for early-stage startups. For our latest interview, Matt spoke with investor and advisor Barak Peled, founder of DR-Ventures, to talk about why the UK’s early-stage funding system is broken at its roots. 🗣 “At pre-seed, don’t speak to VC funds. None of them invest in cold inbounds. It’s just not how the system works.” 🗣 “Stop looking up, start looking around. Your first £10k won’t come from a VC, it’ll come from someone who knows you.” Barak pulls no punches, and he’s right. I see a lot of founders waste months chasing VCs who were never going to invest. The real capital? He says it’s sitting in the invisible layer of local angels, syndicates and small funds actually backing the UK’s zero-to-one companies. That’s also the layer we’re helping to make more visible at ThatRound; connecting founders to a network of funding partners and specialists like Barak who can help you on your startup journey. 👇 This one’s worth a read for any founder starting their raise. https://lnkd.in/e5djqu3P

24

7 Comments

One of the biggest concerns I’ve heard from potential customers we speak to regarding whether or not they should opt for a solution like AEM in particular is the high total cost of ownership. For a long time, AEM has been the dominant DXP on the market and one of, if not the most expensive, when you factor in licenses, implementation, maintenance, etc. But the Fortune 100 companies using it aren’t necessarily going to be worried about costs in the same way that an SMB or mid-market enterprise might be. Still, you don’t want to have ballooning costs when that money could be redirected elsewhere. So how do you reduce that cost of ownership? By building the tech stack in the best way for your business. It starts with selecting the pieces you need. Adobe offers best-in-class products across its entire suite. Maybe you just need the CMS and Commerce with AEM Sites and Adobe Commerce. But do you need Adobe Analytics and Adobe Target on top of it? Not necessarily. You can choose an experimentation product like Optimizely Web Experimentation and use Google Analytics to handle your analytics needs. Make those decisions based on your particular use case and budget (or better yet get your implementation partner to help you). After that, lowering cost of ownership comes down to things like having the right DevOps in place to lower consumption and resource usage. This helps you make sure that your AEM environment (servers, cloud infrastructure, network resources) is sized and scaled correctly based on genuine user traffic instead of bot traffic, which could increase operational costs and negatively impact performance. High total cost of ownership is usually a multipronged problem but you can address it with the right help. If you want to tackle the performance aspect of your AEM implementation, Oshyn's guide on improving performance in AEM is a good starting point. It covers best practices for optimizing content, rendering, and caching, plus techniques for improving site speed, and managing network resources. I’m posting the link in the comments if you want to view it. Otherwise reach out for help with any other TCO concerns.

14

1 Comment