Driving innovation in the construction sector

FK Group, one of the UK’s leading full building envelope specialists, has launched FK Accelerate in partnership with L Marks as part of its commitment to driving innovation in the construction sector.

Creating the right company culture
Creating the right company culture

Five years ago, I made the bold decision to leave the world of corporate business behind and launch my own startup. Make no mistake about it – this was not a decision taken lightly, as I was all too aware of the success rate – or, rather, the high failure rate – of startups during their formative years.

Arthur Daley watch out, heycar is shaking up the used car industry

We’re all familiar with the stigma surrounding the process of buying a second-hand car. The perilous pitfalls associated with used cars and their salespeople were made infamous by the dodgy wheeler dealer Arthur Daley in the 1980s TV show ‘Minder’.

Four ways to empower your team

Carlene Jackson, CEO of Brighton-based tech company Cloud9 Insight, is one of the UK’s top 25 SME culture leaders for 2019, according to the recent report by Real Business magazine. Here, she shares her views on employee happiness and wellbeing.

Seedrs Alumni Awards: Celebrating startup success

Despite the vertigo-inducing surroundings of the 24th floor of the Shard Building in London, it was none the less a glamorous location for the inaugural Seedrs Alumni Awards.

Week 6: On Fast Forward

This was one of those weeks where everything seemed to be on fast forward. Not just the number of meetings but the speed of progress in the companies that I met was truly remarkable. 

Plugging the gender divide in fintech

Despite constantly evolving, women are still under-represented in the tech sector – a problem even more acute in fintech, which is typically male-dominated. But as a woman with an eye on fintech markets across Europe, here’s how we can tackle the issue.

Three startups which raised £1M in one hour
This article is part 5 of 6 in the series Funding the wonderful

For many startups, the process of fund raising can be quite daunting. What method of raising do you use? How long is it going to take? To say nothing of the fact that it’s the time when founders and entrepreneurs have to stick their necks out and ask other people to invest and commit to their vision.

Bringing together innovators at the Malvern Festival of Innovation

Innovation company business mix is the key contributor and platinum sponsor for the 2019 festival from 7th-12th October 2019. The Malvern Festival of Innovation is a week-long celebration of innovators, host to multiple symposiums, a gala event, comedy night and formal dinner.

Week 5: An Unusual Mix

This week was quite typical in that it was an unusual mix of many of the things that I get involved with as a mentor and that I have written about in the past. There was some international, some regulation, some cyber security, lots about women in business, and yet again on advisory boards and raising finance.

Bringing the wonderful to life
This article is part 6 of 6 in the series Funding the wonderful

Crowdcube was inspired by an unshakable belief in entrepreneurs challenging the status quo with big ideas and new thinking, the ones with a vision and who dream big, push at the edges and want to make a difference, big and small.

Same, but different: Scaling your PR from the UK to US

America. In some ways, it can be and has historically been a tough nut for UK technology companies to crack, while in many other ways, the PR strategies and campaigns that work in Britain will work equally as well Stateside. 

Africa: a new frontier for startups

Marta Krupinska, Head of Google for Startups UK, recently created the Google for Startups first UK Immersion cohort for African startups, to help them along their business journey.

Calmer Community nurtures mental health of entrepreneurs

Calmer launches the digital Calmer Community platform for busy professionals and joins forces with Startups Magazine as Mental Health & Wellbeing Partner.

Week 4: When 2+2=5

One thing that I have learned over the years is the importance of cooperation and working with the right partners, and this has only been reiterated during my activities as a mentor. By working with others that have skills or experience in areas that you do not, then 2+2 can, quite literally, equal 5.

Dispelling the myths of university knowledge transfer

Knowledge Transfer Partnership, or KTP, is a part-government funded programme that for the past 40 years has helped businesses – including startups – to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within universities.

5 tips to manage employee wellbeing in startups

The demands, challenges and risks that come with running a small business can bring personal pressures and impact on health and wellbeing.

Who are you Talking to? How to Engage your Target Audience in the Right Way

Sounds like a simple question, doesn’t it? And yet a fundamental lack of understanding in who your customer is, where to find them and what they think or feel is often one of the most common mistakes businesses can’t afford to make, but do.

AI within the taskforce: Worrying or enhancing?
This article is part 5 of 5 in the series Modern startup culture

Concerns about AI technology, in general terms, boil down to the quantity and areas in which it’s used to replace human tasks. Establishing the limitations of AI and unique skills innate to humans, provides insight into its future application, and alleviates some of the worry that one day AI will take over the taskforce.

Google for Startups showcases female founders

Google for Startups has announced the latest instalment in its commitment to female entrepreneurs with its first Female Founders Residency programme.