Most UK startups and scale-ups are not short of marketing activity. They are short of marketing that connects to revenue. Campaigns run, content gets published, and budgets get spent, but without senior strategic oversight, it is difficult to know what is actually working and why.
TL;DR: Practical insights on marketing strategy, AI search, leadership, and growth for UK startups and scale-ups that need more than generic advice.
The ground beneath you can shift fast. I took this photo in Cornwall. A simple warning sign beside an old mine shaft, a reminder of an industry that once powered the region. At its peak, mining shaped Cornwallās entire economy and communities. But when global prices fell and resources dried up, everything changed. Those who […]
The ground beneath you can shift fast Read More Ā»
Not everything is about AI. But right now, almost everything is being shaped by it. Whether itās how agencies partner, how governments plan, or how teams build. The ripple effects of AI are forcing every industry to think differently about creativity, trust, and progress. Over the past few weeks, Iāve shared a series of posts
Building Smarter: People, Policy, and Progress in the Age of AI Read More Ā»
Another great conversation yesterday, this time with Clare Dobson from The Policy Key. Iāve been catching up with Clare over the past year and have been genuinely impressed by the pace and focus sheās built around net zero and cyber security. Recently she joined a panel at the The Labour Party Conference fringe, bringing real-world
Building Progress Through Policy Read More Ā»
Last week, I sat by the Thames in Teddington with Robert Webster, founder of TAU Marketing Solutions, to talk about one of the biggest challenges in marketing right now, how to make AI deliver real, measurable value. Robertās background is in mathematics and marketing effectiveness, and for years heās helped brands cut through the noise
Modular AI, measurable Impact Read More Ā»
Free or generic AI tools often appear to be a small business ownerās dream: powerful automation without any upfront cost. Itās no wonder many SMEs, operating on tight budgets, jump at these free solutions. But as the old saying goes, āif itās free, youāre the productā ā and in the case of AI, free can
The Hidden Costs of āFREEā AI Tools for SMEs Read More Ā»
Most teams hit the same wall with AI pilots. The demo dazzles, but when you roll it out, things stall: the model takes seconds to reply, adoption drops, and soon everyoneās wondering if AI was just hype. Hereās the mistake: reaching straight for the biggest model you can buy. Bigger isnāt always better. In fact,
Not Every Job Needs a Giant: How to Pick the Right-Sized AI Read More Ā»
In 2024, over 1.3 billion blog posts were published worldwide (Worldometer). Yet the Content Marketing Institute reports only 23% of B2B marketers feel their content is āvery effective.ā That gap tells the story: more output, less impact. The culprit is shovelware ā content created to hit a schedule, not change a mind. It looks polished,
From Shovelware to Signal: How to Use AI to Write Content People Actually Want to Read Read More Ā»
The shift without a playbook A founder told me recently:āWeāve got a strong brand and a capable teamāso why is pipeline so unpredictable?ā The problem isnāt execution. Itās the ground moving under our feet. Retargeting is anaemic, attribution is fiction, and CFOs want ROI, not dashboards. You feel the shift, but whereās the playbook? 2025
Artificial intelligence has quickly shifted from hype to hard numbers in the UK economy. By 2023, UK AI companies were generating Ā£14.2 billion in revenues, employing more than 64,000 people, and contributing Ā£5.8 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA). In 2024, the sectorās market value surged to an estimated Ā£72 billion, placing Britain firmly as
AI in the UK: Growth at the Top, Strain at the Edges Read More Ā»
Google ās AI-powered search evolution isnāt just another algorithm update ā itās a seismic shift changing how brands need to think about visibility, engagement, and conversion. Recent research from BrightEdge and a growing body of industry insights show that AI-driven search experiences are redefining the SEO landscape, forcing marketers to adapt or risk irrelevance. The