Scanes Bentley

Helping Sifted, Fortune, Startups Magazine and GB News is all in a days work on budget day. Always tough to know whether to wear my Economics 101 hat from university days, Accounting hat from a former life or Founder hat from today. My view? Those with the broadest shoulders should take the load - tax hikes were inevitable under a new government and bigger businesses will pay the brunt of the increases. If we see changes to public services, it's a great thing. My fear is we'll service debt payments for years to come and see no difference at all. Prolonging the Fuel Duty Freeze? Utterly bonkers in a nation that is aiming for Net Zero. Entrepreneurs Relief / BADR changes? Far less than rumoured, not likely to change much (either in the government bank account or for the likelihood of a founder setting up a business). Anybody who is leaving or has left the country already might have used this as an excuse, but they were halfway out the door already. NI rise? It'll lead to lower job creation. Overall? Embarrassing that the government can brief (or at best not deny) wild rumours to soften the blow of reality. In the City this is called manipulating the market and leads to a lengthy prison stay. Alongside this, changing the rules so much, so quickly and so regularly does undermine business confidence and changes the risk-reward psychology for a founder. Thanks Kai Nicol-Schwarz, Prarthana Prakash, Patrick O'Donnell and Anna Wood for taking the time to listen.

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Inappropriate use of Net Promoter Score (NPS) - Number 43 Fred Reichheld himself has taken issue with many organisations who use NPS inappropriately, not least by ignoring the verbatim comment as to why the responder left a particular score......which often gets to the heart of the dissatisfaction with a customer experience. Some organisations take it further, by trying to use the NPS score for a particular aspect of their product or service as a proxy for overall satisfaction - which is clearly wrong! Step forward British Gas who have asked if I would recommend the organisation on the basis of my experience of, wait for it, a meter reading!! Yes, I received an email asking me to "Tell us how you feel about submitting a meter read with British Gas Energy".....so asking me to base my recommendation of British Gas solely on the basis of my experience submitting a meter reading. A bit like basing my recommendation of a restaurant experience just on the basis of the wine I drunk! I would love to hear of other inappropriate uses of NPS, particularly where the organisation is asking its customers to base their satisfaction of the whole service on just one small aspect of the offering. #NPS #cx #customerneeds

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Insightful and timely article on the critical role of impact evaluation! 📊 As the challenges facing organisations become more complex, measuring and understanding impact is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. Whether in the charity sector or business world, demonstrating value and fostering accountability through actionable insights can drive lasting change and build trust with stakeholders. This aligns closely with how we approach projects, ensuring that purpose, trust, and measurable outcomes remain central to everything we do. Well worth a read: https://bit.ly/3VO62GW #ImpactEvaluation #SocialImpact #PurposeDrivenBusiness”

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Excited to share my thoughts today in LondonlovesBusiness.com on how modern connectivity solutions are driving the evolution of flexible office spaces. As businesses embrace adaptability, robust and innovative connectivity is the backbone that keeps operations seamless. Read full article n the link below ↆ

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There are so many interesting discussions happening at London Tech Week. One founder, CEO, and investor discussion that has kept me thinking is "The Nuts and Bolts of Building Your Own Business" with panelists Gerard Grech, Tom Bohills, Chris Woodward-Jones and Galia Beer-Gabel. Here are some of the insights gained: 💡 The importance of engaging a coach early to help the founder “let go” of aspects of the business in preparation for scaling. 💡 The chances of success and survival are greater if you have a co-founder, and the benefits that come with having a co-pilot to digest and strategize your journey. 💡 Ensure that you are intentional and take the time to define your values as a founder. 💡 Recognise what you are and aren’t good at early on; find processes and people to fill the gaps. You can’t be everyone and everything all of the time. 💡Consider trademarking your business. 💡 It’s okay to be vulnerable - in fact, it’s really helpful, especially when leveraging the expertise of your board and advisors; it makes your product better. 💡 Recognise that you are one of many investments for your investors - use their time wisely. 💡 The growing pains of trusting the people you hire to do the building for you. 💡 Advocacy being a key marker of product-market fit. 💡 Choosing investors for your business that are compatible with you, beyond the funding that they offer. 💡 Key considerations in PMF - deciding to either swim in ‘red waters’ (i.e., bloody waters) where products are already available and your mission is to make your offering better, or go into entirely new markets. So much food for thought. Thank you, panelists. Founders and CEOs, do these points resonate with you? Any other insights to add from your experience? #people #culture #startup #scaleup #coaching #LTW2024

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Would you like to join this live discussion with Q5 and Prospect? 🎟️Q5 have a few tickets reserved exclusively for their LinkedIn network. If you would like to be there, please send an email to marketing@q5partners.com with the subject: 'What's Next'.

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Many thanks to The European Financial Review for publishing our interview and positioning empowerment / leading at all levels / distributed leadership front and centre Please take a look at the article ⏺️How Can Distributed Leadership Help You Navigate Transformation?⏺️ in which I argue for a bold new age of empowerment across our organisations. Unleashing 't'alent with a small 't', tapping into the power and potential and not just the 'T'alented few. Thanks too for the MT of my book on the topic 'Unleash The Inner CEO - Make distributed leadership a reality' FYI Ambition PR #empowerment #empoweringothers #empowringpeople

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As a business owner if you want to build a great company your priorities should be : People first Clients second Results third (which will follow) Take a look at Darren Strong video below.

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Unlock the Power of Precision in People Tracing In today’s fast-paced world, finding the right person at the right address can be a challenge. At Find UK People, we make it simple. Leveraging advanced tracing technology and an expert team, we connect you with the people you need—quickly, accurately, and with minimal hassle. Why Choose Us? ✅ Trusted by Legal Professionals: Our services are tailored for solicitors, debt recovery agents, landlords, and more. ✅ Proven Expertise: With over 20 years in the field, we’ve honed our processes to deliver unparalleled results. ✅ Speed and Accuracy: Our streamlined approach ensures you get the answers you need within 24 hours. Whether it’s reconnecting with lost family members or tracing a debtor, our commitment to precision and confidentiality sets us apart. Let’s make finding people easier, together. Findukpeople.com #lawyers #solicitors #LegalSupport #DebtorTracing #FamilyTracing #legalprofession

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More meanderings of an exited founder.... Real World Consultants part 5. TL/DR - a summary of the previous 4 posts. Exactly how do consultants help SME's and their leaders? I've tried to focus on a few of the people that helped us at Kingpin. They weren't the only ones by any means, but they stick out, at least to me, as those that delivered a lot of value. Some people have asked my why I've highlighted a number of consultants rather than push my own services? The answer is simple. No one has all the answers for all situations and by most metrics we were successful - that was partly because of the help and advice we had along the way and I think that deserves a mention. Plus I find LinkedIN too full of insincerity, superlatives and self promotion. I'd like to avoid that if I can (please let me know if I ever fall over the "cliff of insincerity"...) and this seemed a good way to demonstrate the value of "Real World Consultants" without making it about me or LJ2. It also demonstrates a great ready made network for LJ2 to use with customers. So for those that need help with their financial truth Alan Waterfield is the door we'll open. If I have clients that need M&A advice - I'd be looking at Andy Maher or Otto Stevens to help. Sarah Hyland will be my first stop for those needing HR advice that is realistic and people as well as legal focused. And Brin Bucknor will definitely be a brain and shoulder I'll lean on. Being a founder is one of the best feelings in the world when it goes well. When you're firing on all cylinders and your teams are too - there is nothing better. But don't be afraid to ask for advice or help with areas you feel you have gaps. That's not a sign of weakness it's a sign of strength. My meanderings will move away from consultants to focusing on more topics. My DM's are always open though if anyone has a burning question they'd like to ask. Until next post...... www.lj2.co.uk

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I think most of us (in the UK at least) have watched the Post Office scandal develop with a mixture of incredulity, amazement and anger. As (highly paid) Executive after Executive takes to the inquiry stand to claim they knew NOTHING about anything that was happening in their OWN Post Offices around the country, I am left with one thought. Let's assume that they are telling the truth. Just how far away were these Executives from their Customers? Given that part of the Post Office purpose reads "....our Postmasters are here for our customers – much as Post Office is here to serve and support our Postmasters. Without our postmasters, there would be no Post Office". It seems obvious that not one of these Executives were getting out from behind their desk and getting out to MEET and TALK to these (apparently very important) Postmasters. Having some of these Executives talking to a few of these Postmasters would have highlighted the Horizon issues to them within minutes.....and saving so much heartache. When was the last time you met the people in your business who are at the sharp end of your Customer Experience? "A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world" #CustomerSalience #CustomerCloseness #Insights #CustomerExperience Paul Hudson Chris Martin

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A recent report by Be The Business that compared productivity in the UK compared to other G7 countries noted that the UK fell far behind (sixth!) most other countries when it comes to undertaking employee engagement initiatives. Given the importance and clear benefits of employee engagement, the key issue is why wouldn’t leaders seek to undertake engagement initiatives and create a vibrant culture? Our blog covers 4 key barriers for employee engagement: https://lnkd.in/ghgQqm-j #employeeengagement #culture #productivity

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Next Wednesday join me and Andrew Barradell to talk about what the new UK budget will mean for employers. Following the huge success of our recent employment changes webinars, we are back to interpret this year's autumn budget for you. Just hours after the budget is announced next week, we will share our expert advice on: ✅ Navigating possible changes around pension contributions, tax relief, and National Insurance, and strategies for effectively communicating these shifts to your employees ✅ Aligning the changes with key corporate objectives, such as cost efficiency and sustainability initiatives ✅ How organisations can simplify benefits management during this period of change https://lnkd.in/eJY2r-zy

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How important is it for a leader to be visible? And who really needs to see you? It is vital for leaders to balance their visibility internally and externally. Business leaders are often seen at conferences, awards dinners, or even being interviewed on the news. A high profile often suggests that these are the movers and the shakers in the sector. But when is this visibility of benefit to organisations and when is it more about vanity and building a personal brand? The answer lies in the external trading environment and the specific stages that a leader chooses to grace. There are several external benefits that can be gained by a leader becoming more visible: 1.     Promote both the industry/sector and the specific business, increasing awareness and engagement. In this case it is crucial to understand the audience at external events and whether you are speaking to sector peers or customers as the message will be different. Remember the importance of the journey from Know to Like to Buy. 2.     Position the business as a thought leader and innovator. Again, the audience here is key both in terms of message and effective impact. And then potentially, 3.     Influence policy and legislation by becoming the “voice of the sector” A high-profile leader can be an enormous benefit to a business, opening doors and promoting it’s offer. There are also internal benefits from such external visibility which I will cover next week. However, it can become problematic when it is more about the individual than the organisation that they represent. Additionally, every business needs to see their leader within the organisation. You can’t lead and be absent. It follows that every business leader must balance the time spent within the organisation and externally. But it is not just about time. It is vital that leaders are both visible and accessible to their people. If you want to know more about how to deal with this issue either click here: https://lnkd.in/eGeXpaa2 or follow me to see my post next week. #strategy #success #achieve #clarity #ceo #ceos #ceomindset

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Here’s some of the key UK business predictions for 2025 I’ve heard recently: 1. Increased Consolidation: Expect to see a rise in (particularly in US led) mergers and acquisitions as companies identify opportunities to make UK business acquisitions at a bargain price, drive harder to gain scale, expand market share, and access new technologies. 2. Focus on Technology: M&A deals involving technology companies, particularly those focused on AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics, will be high on many agendas. 3. Accelerated Adoption: Those businesses (everything from e-commerce and remote work to AI-powered automation) not already embracing digital technologies will face increasing pressure to do so. 4. Data-Driven Decision Making: Many companies will pursue ways to effectively leverage data analytics to gain a further competitive edge. 5. Supply Chain Resilience: Businesses will continue to focus on building more resilient supply chains to mitigate risks associated with global disruptions. 6. Focus on Sustainability: Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors will become increasingly important for businesses and investors. 7. Cost Optimisation: Many companies will be investing in new ways to optimise costs and improve efficiency to maintain profitability in a challenging economic environment. 8. Premium Pricing: Businesses with strong brands and differentiated offerings will invest in capabilities to further leverage these advantages to command higher premium pricing. I share this positive view and I’m excited at the opportunities that I believe will open up. It’s shaping up to be a BIG year. Contact me on LinkedIN If you need an experienced leader who can bring over 35 years of providing top tier independent and impartial advice and leadership to your challenge or if your initiative would benefit from a high impact team of expert contract professionals. What are your thoughts on the UK's business landscape in 2025? I look forward to hearing your predictions and insights in the comments below. #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #ProjectManagement #Consulting #Resourcing #Technology 

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Join the last webinar in the Persona Series tomorrow - great opportunity to understand a bit more the priorities of the CMO and to ask a question. Catch up available for the previous webinars as part of the inspir’em community membership. #SalesExcellence #SalesLearning

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I've noticed numerous posts on LinkedIn aimed at helping professional services market themselves. However, some suggestions out there are not only misguided; they can actually harm your reputation or, even worse, render you completely forgettable—like bland vanilla ice cream. Many people seem to think that marketing is straightforward if you enroll in a particular course or leverage automation software. These tactics can certainly create an illusion of progress, but the truth is, marketing is much more complex. If it were easy, we'd all be enjoying a steady stream of leads while lounging on sunny beaches. It's essential to delve deeper than the basic questions of who, what, and where, as they can only take you so far in your marketing journey. Interesting views in this post on why 'who', 'what', 'where' are just the starting point.

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It seems British households are reluctant to spend on big ticket items for Christmas shopping due to the ongoing economic uncertainty. The tax hike by £40 bn has become a challenge for businesses. Technically companies in the UK are affected by higher National Living Wage increases, a rise in National Insurance contributions & inflation-driven business rate tax hikes. A worsening job market, higher energy bills & rising mortgage costs are weighing on sentiment. Few weeks ago the Bank of England stated that the government's tax-raising budget was expected to boost GDP by 0.75% in a year's time. But interestingly according to a survey of 2,000 people done by PwC, the average spending on gifts & celebrations is expected to rise from £416 to £433 for each person. The research suggested that spending will exceed the £21.6 bn or £426 for each person recorded in 2021. According to Statista, this year the total value of retail sales made during the holiday season is estimated to reach £97 bn in the UK from the previous year's estimated value of £93.5 bn. The CBI (Confederation of British Industry) projects the UK GDP to grow by 0.9% this year. #ukretail #ukeconomy #euroarea #inflation #taxes #gdp #economics

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Quick tips on how to tell a story (and use it to sell more) courtesy of Virginia Holden Right lets dive in 👏 ➡️ Establish - time, place and scenario About this time last year … it was just as hot as it is today in London / Paris/ New York. All stories start the same way - it was a dark and stormy night/ It was hotter than... ➡️ Establish the hero/ heroine You so remind me of x they wanted to do what you do here Connect your hero/heroine, to the story - this enables them to feel and therefore emotionally attach to your solution. For more power make sure you have found out the business emotional and logical reasons to purchase and their personal. I once sold an entire global solution (41 offices) on the emotional fact that the new person in the job hated the person who had the job before them.... emotions matter.... ➡️ Establish the context that is to change/ transform with your product or service Use visual analogies ( posting next week on how to chose the best ones) that have emotional and logical content and resonate with your audience... For more power use the words that your heroine/ hero use to describe the situation.... The top Porsche sales person I ever knew used the phrase 'Where do you see yourself driving this and who is with you?' … eliciting a huge emotional response ➡️ Establish how your business and you supported the heroine/ hero to achieve goals that are both emotional and logical. Be Samwise to their Frodo … the supporting act to the main one Stories are about colour, emotion, context and enabling people to see themselves there right there in your story. They feel … they REMEMBER 🔥 Constructing a great story is not hard. We can help you get going … and practice … drop me, Gini or Sophie a DM Virginia Holden Sophie Wilson Much love Anna x

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