Conference Special
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Adventures in Liverpool: No more chop and change? Apart from a Brexit rethink.
The Labour Conference wraps up today, and our team of policy geeks spent the week in the gusty corridors of power where policy delivery was deliciously dissected.
Just when we thought it was all over, news has landed that a rethink of Brexit could be on the table. The Prime Minister has signalled that he will set out options for the UK's long-term relationship with the EU at a summit later this year.
Let's face it. For the last decade we've become institutionalised to a wild flurry of political announcements and the adrenaline-fuelled scramble to unpick the impact. Businesses grow when policy is steady. All parties should take note of this point. We’d love to hear your views.
The highlight for us came from our Tech Hub fringe event with Square, Dell, Google which the AI Minister Kanishka Narayan assure the gathering that the Prime Minister wants AI at the heart of his pledge for growth in every postcode. He also agreed with our COO Polly Dhaliwal that government must improve its own digitalisation to meet the demands of a 21st century economy.
We also heard repeatedly that there’s no shortage of innovation but still a lack of funding ambition. Small businesses didn't get a mention in the PM’s emotional speech, but the Great British Grid and his ambition to lead the world on new global code for AI will have implications for our community. While Chancellor John Healey promised a "new age of industrialisation", we're still trying to work out how this will impact the early-stage founders and side hustlers building the businesses of tomorrow. The answers may come on 28 October, when the Budget lands.
Conference update: PM finds hope in Liverpool, and the small print can wait until the Budget
Conference update: Grant-backed start-ups stall as small firms warn of stagnating growth
Inside No.10 North: Why small businesses are the engine of British growth
Why your small business needs a system, not another strategy
From kitchen table to one million ice pops: How Pola scaled up without losing its flavour
Have a brilliant product you want to take to the world? The Alibaba.com CoCreate Pitch is coming to Europe and it’s your chance to get in front of one of the world’s biggest e-commerce platforms and win a $200,000 start-up fund in 30 seconds.
💰 Apply for the Enterprise Nation Next Generation Grant and give your business a £1,500 boost, plus six hours of mentoring.
💸 Share your experience with us and enter a prize draw for £300 in vouchers. Take our barometer.
🚀 Join NatWest Accelerator for free access to a nationwide founder community, co-working hubs and events – plus expert support when you need it.
🤖 Access fully-funded AI training with courses designed to support adoption, boost productivity, and turn technology into a catalyst for change.
🤝 Want to win new contracts? Sign up to Supply Connect to secure reliable, long-term contracts tor your business.
🏆 Share your latest wins with us and we’ll feature you on our social channels
That’s all for this week!
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