Duncan Johnson’s Post

"Keir Starmer's in-tray: what UK businesses need now". Thank you Richard Parris at startups.co.uk for including Northern Gritstone's Duncan Johnson among the voices of academic and business leaders in his latest piece. The North needs well-paid high-skilled jobs. We have world-class universities and their spinouts are attracting more investing. That's the right direction. So what else does the North need for its science and tech communities to thrive? Better rail services to connect the innovators, entrepreneurs and investors of Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. Right direction, but quicker. Read the full article https://bit.ly/4bzhXxg #profitwithpurpose

As The Labour Party has reached the finish line in its #GeneralElection race, it faces its next list of challenges: delivering on its promise to better support the UK’s vital #SmallBusiness and #startup sector.     Managing Partner, Daniel Jacob spoke to Richard Parris at Startups.co.uk about what the new Prime Minister will need to prioritise during his first 100 days in office if he is to create an environment where these #businesses can thrive.     For #tech startups, #AIRegulation and fiscal certainty sit at the very top of this wishlist, with hopes that Labour will strike the right balance between bolstering #innovation and maintaining the UK’s competitive edge in this field, whilst also ensuring safety and #security in the #technology’s development.     Its pledge to create a new #RegulatoryInnovationOffice signals a promising first step. Now it must deliver it.     Read the full piece via Startups.co.uk : https://lnkd.in/enjGkj5Z 

The accountancy practice sector in Sussex is experiencing a remarkable growth trajectory, reflecting the vibrant economic landscape of the region. With a rich blend of traditional firms and innovative startups, Sussex is becoming a hub for financial expertise and services. As the sector expands, it presents a wealth of opportunities for professionals and firms alike to thrive in this dynamic market. Let's embrace this growth and continue to foster a community of excellence in accountancy here in Sussex. The future looks bright! 🌟 Thomas B. #Accountancy #Growth #Sussex #FinancialServices #ProfessionalExcellence

Embracing the American Dream: A Guide for European Entrepreneurs Navigating the U.S. startup landscape as a European founder demands understanding key cultural disparities. From risk appetite disparities, where Americans embrace bold visions, to direct communication styles and an inherent impatience, the contrasts are stark. To thrive, European entrepreneurs must paint ambitious narratives, embracing individuality, clarity, and urgency. Success hinges on this pioneering spirit. How do you envision bridging these cultural gaps? Share your insights!💡🚀 #GlobalEntrepreneurship #CulturalDiversity #StartupSuccess

The agenda for the new #government is “growth, growth, growth” which inspired a focused lunch at Mosimann's last week, which we co-hosted with Weatherbys Private Bank, with some of the UKs most impressive business founders and successful entrepreneurs, alongside members of the UK private equity and venture capital community. Challenging the narrative that economic prosperity hinges on attracting foreign #investment and creating Unicorn #tech scale-ups, author and thought leader on growth, David Molian of Cranfield University, celebrated the ambitious UK business founders who make that leap from being a large small business to becoming a small big business, known as “gazelles”. He argued that we need more gazelles, and we need them now. These thousands of high-performing #independent businesses spread across the country are agile, nimble and grow at least three times as fast as non-gazelles. They create a hugely disproportionate number of new jobs, build wealth for their founders and great careers for their employees. Nick Gornall FCSI, Head of Entrepreneurs at Weatherbys said: “It’s time to talk up the positive mindset for the success of UK business and support today’s #entrepreneurs and inspire those of tomorrow with positive role models and great stories of success”. Duncan Macintosh, Senior Partner of Capital Law, said: ”Quite right Nick. And part of David’s thesis is that it is good old fashioned attributes such as competence, effort, focus, and diligence that makes gazelles happen, rather than miracles. We entirely agree with that. Get the basics, legal and otherwise, right (and we see a lot of this) and good things are so much more likely to happen.” James Butters #privateequity #banking #venturecapital #lawfirm

Our latest South West Insider is available to read online click here to view the issue - https://lnkd.in/gF2qH3zE If you are not currently a member of Insider you can subscribe by following this link – https://lnkd.in/et_JjYUn Who are the South West's fastest-growing tech firms? Find out in this February edition of the magazine, where we rank the top 50 in our flagship feature, alongside talking to those listed about their next innovations. We also look at grants and funding, and share advice on how companies can take advantage of the £109m funding opportunity that is currently available in our region. Our Business Leader of the Month is Jon Groves, executive chairman of Lanes Health, who addresses the opportunities and challenges of heading up a fourth-generation family venture. Prominent dealmakers discuss the most exciting deals of their career elsewhere in the magazine, and our regional review gets in-depth on the West's cultural and economic capital - Bristol. Here's some of what's included in our latest edition: *Finance Brain: The power of outsourcing your finance function *42 Under 42: Four founders tell us how their businesses have developed since they first featured in our 42s list *Sector Review: The region’s aerospace sector continues to fly high *Bristol: What’s next for the cultural and economic capital of the West? Also featured in this month’s issue: Hatti Whitman | Grantify UK Andrew Jordan | Haines Watts South West Toby Parkins | Headforwards George Hooton | Hootons #SouthWestInsider #TechFirms #Innovation #Grants #Funding #BusinessLeaders #Dealmakers #Finance #42Under42 #Aerospace #BristolEconomy

The increase in salary banding for High Net Worth Individual Investors, proposed by the chancellor, will negatively impact underrepresented investors and founders. It increases the risk of investing being an elite-only activity, which means it will squeeze out more women and ethnic minority angels. We know this negatively impacts the types of founders who receive investment. As a female-founded business this pains me to see. It undoes all of the hard work that has been happening to increase the diversity, creativity, and innovation within the UK economy. The change is set to take place at the end of January. Please join me, Startup Coalition, UK Business Angels Association, Alma Angel Network, Extend Ventures, TEN - The Entrepreneurs Network, EnterpriseAlumni, Angel Academe - increasing female investment, Angel Investing School and Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA) in signing this open letter to ask for the change to be reversed. https://lnkd.in/enmwfz3t

It’s #NationalSmallBusinessDay! 🇺🇸 According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, small businesses employ nearly half of the American workforce and currently represent 43.5% of our national GDP. American small biz — startups from all industries, of all shapes and relative sizes — are lean, nimble, and innovative. They remain at the core of America and often serve as a vehicle for the “pursuit of Happiness,” a catalyst of the American Dream. Today, we celebrate American small businesses, their owners, and how they make our economy go. #ShopLocal #ShopSmall #SmallBiz Here are just a few resources for small businesses in Ohio — 📁Ohio Common Sense Initiative (CSI): https://lnkd.in/gU4TK-rR 📁Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network: https://lnkd.in/gARrtEz4 📁Ohio Department of Development Business Help resource: https://lnkd.in/geakZSS2 📁Ohio TechCred: https://techcred.ohio.gov/ 📁Ohio Secretary of State Business Resource Connection & Capital Access Program (OCAP): https://lnkd.in/g6VbXTSn

🚀 Had a fantastic time in Belfast at our 4th Independent Advisory Board meeting, hosted by our friends and partners at Ormeau Baths! (Thank you, Claire Halliday) 🤔 At every session, we reflect on the three problem statements we set back in April. Do they resonate with you? 1. Talent attraction and retention for both founders and their teams is a persistent and challenging issue, hindering the growth and stability of business across various sectors 2. Access to networks for underrepresented founders in the UK presents a significant obstacle, limiting their opportunities for mentorship, funding, and crucial support, ultimately impeding their ability to succeed and thrive in the entrepreneurial landscape 3. Culturally normalising entrepreneurship for the next generation to work for or found a start up is a critical challenge that needs attention, as the lack of young entrepreneurs may hinder the emergence of innovative ventures and hinder economic growth and creativity in society. 🌟 The standout moments for me were the deep dive led by Ian, exploring the tech ecosystem on the island of Ireland - funding, cross-border collaboration, and an inspiring fireside chat with DC. Their raw and honest insights were particularly impactful. 💡 Another captivating session led by Roei delved into the world of Neurodiverse Founders. We discovered that many of our board members, their teams, and the entrepreneurs they work with are neurodiverse, as we all are in our unique ways. Roei's ideas on collective support and education have sparked a fire of enthusiasm within us. 🙏 Thank you to everyone for your unwavering support, stimulating challenges, and invaluable counsel. Your input is what keeps us moving forward! 👏👏👏👏 #Collaboration #Innovation #TechEcosystem #Neurodiversity #Partnerships Roei Samuel Ian Browne Phil Clare Julie Grieve Alisdair Gunn Andrew Elphick Chris Elphick Katie Gallagher Mark John Charles Ebubedike Steven Roberts David Hamilton Mike Jacques Jordan Gallimore Matt Corbidge Amanda Allan Abdul Qureshi Lisa Bailie

This MIT-Wharton analysis of US census data found that “Older Entrepreneurs Outperform Younger Founders—Shattering Ageism”, as the Fortune article reported, “rejects common hypotheses that youth is a key trait of successful entrepreneurs”. In fact, most of the older entrepreneurs came from corporate jobs, where they developed expertise. They are not only more likely to succeed as entrepreneurs, their experience can also be leveraged by business owners - startups and SMEs - of any age to help their businesses be more successful. Our new talent sourcing platform, Elderberry.work, matches Age 45+ Canadian businesspeople with Canadian businesses. All functions, seniorities, industries. For consultations, contracts, and employment.