This is the fourth-largest number of companies reaching a $1 billion valuation, created by any country worldwide. The UK continues to produce world-leading companies from fintech, renewable energy, education, cyber security, SaaS … the list goes on.

We’re innovators, problem solvers and the landscape of the UK is stable in such a way that it’s prime for investors who need that level of law and stability to believe in over a larger period of time. Investments are never just overnight procedures. Investors want to see 100% return on their input within a time frame of usually 2-5 years. Now despite the odd global pandemic that gets thrown into the mix, it’s still a solid landscape for investors to believe in and know that their money is protected by governing bodies.

The UK Government’s ‘Business Impact Target’ and ‘Cutting Red Tape’ review programmes were established with the ambition to aggressively cut restrictions to business and support businesses of all types and sizes to maximise their success. Within this framework, Founders can very quickly formulate a business to support their idea and get it moving. In comparison, IP and the notion of trademarking takes a much longer time to come through but it’s still relatively quick to protect their ideas.

From shore to shore the selling and hiring opportunities are vast

The UK has a high average wealth per capita, the UK benefits from a pool of cash-rich customers and businesses alongside easy trade links to countries across Europe and the globe. What’s more, the UK’s education system is considered world-leading, a fact supported by a study by the World Population Review that placed it first globally. This means businesses can benefit from a pool of 30 million highly skilled workers, providing entrepreneurs with many high-quality candidates to choose between for any given role.

Skills shortage? I think perhaps this has been mis-reported and instead is an expertise shortage.

However with the pandemic and recession making a lot of highly skilled people redundant or without consistent income, these experts are in the talent pool. Unfortunately it’s often business’ own protracted processes or lack of communication that sees the best talent be quickly snapped up elsewhere leading them to think that there’s a talent shortage.

Let’s get real about the ‘B’ word and how much has opened to support scaling

Let’s talk about Brexit and what it means for UK businesses. After leaving the European Union during the infamous, Brexit, the UK is now free to establish its own tax, financial and legal regulations. As a result, Britain has been able to begin to build increasingly unified global trade networks and relationships, as well as focusing on reinvesting and maintaining relationships in Europe. The UK is now in a better position to react swiftly to global events, evidenced by the UK’s response to the COVID pandemic. Breaking the hold of the EU in favour of global vision is already allowing the UK to make leaps and bounds, improving opportunities for UK business.

An investor wants to see that a new business can scale quickly. In this age of geopolitical investing scaling worldwide whether via the internet or shipping is of vital importance. Investing in a concept that is a UK registered business post Brexit means that the business can take advantage, if it needs to, of course, of our Agreement. This means that more than 99 per cent of current UK goods exports to CPTPP countries will be eligible for zero tariffs. A huge saving for business owners and startups, which they can plough back into their R&D, marketing, key hires or whatever else is needed.

The UK is a gateway to success. The key to this success is having the right founder pioneering the business. They need to be relentlessly tenacious in their outlook to growth. If they are then our Atlas Raise platform introduces them to professional investors at the pre-seed stage. Just an idea! Years on, we’re seeing Founders flourish and win awards for their concepts because everything they need to be successful can be sourced and actioned from the UK. Long may that continue!