Resources, Guides and Insights

If your marketing feels scattered, reactive, or simply underwhelming, the Strategy Sprint gives you the clarity you need — fast. In two weeks, we’ll uncover what’s holding you back, sharpen your positioning, and deliver a practical plan you can act on immediately.

When AI gets it wrong: lessons from Deloitte's $440,000 mistake Recently, Deloitte made headlines after refunding part of a $440,000 government contract in Australia. The reason? The report they produced - on automation in welfare compliance - contained AI-generated “hallucinations”: fabricated quotes, citations, and references to academic work that didn’t exist. For one of the world’s leading consulting firms, it was an embarrassing moment and a wake-up call.

Exit readiness: the business strategy evey SME should adopt today. Preparing an SME for exit - whether through a sale, merger, or succession - is ultimately about maximising value, minimising risk, and ensuring the business can thrive independently of its founder. But the principles behind an exit readiness plan aren’t only useful at the point of sale. In fact, they provide a powerful framework for building and running a stronger business at any stage.

How to cut costs without losing productivity. UK SMEs are operating in a tough environment: higher cost of goods, rising wages, supply chain pressures, and energy costs all put strain on margins. For many, the instinctive reaction is to cut costs quickly - but this often risks reducing capacity, staff morale, or customer service.

The UK is home to some of the most dynamic and innovative SMEs. And yet, as the Financial Times recently highlighted, the UK has a “corporate scaling problem.” Too many SMEs with potential to become national or international champions stall at the mid-market stage. For founders and leaders, the key question is: why does scaling prove so difficult for UK SMEs - and what can be done to overcome it?

Strategic leadership, without unnecessary overhead. Whether you’re building a start-up from the ground up or running an established SME, there comes a point where marketing starts to feel like it’s holding you back rather than driving you forward.

Scaling your SME is exciting - but rapid growth can also lead to operational chaos and diluted marketing impact. Here’s how to scale effectively while keeping your business aligned and focused.

Many SMEs invest in marketing but struggle to know whether it’s paying off. Measuring marketing ROI (Return on Investment) is essential to ensure your efforts drive real business results. Here’s a practical guide to get started.

Marketing is a critical growth engine for SMEs - but many small businesses struggle to get it right. Missteps can waste time, money, and resources. Here are the five most common mistakes SMEs make in marketing and how to avoid them.o jump straight into marketing. You want visibility, leads, and sales - fast. But here’s the truth: even the smartest marketing strategy will fall flat if the underlying business strategy isn’t in place first.

It’s tempting to jump straight into marketing. You want visibility, leads, and sales - fast. But here’s the truth: even the smartest marketing strategy will fall flat if the underlying business strategy isn’t in place first.

You’ve invested time, money, and energy into your marketing. You’ve run campaigns, produced content, maybe even hired specialists. Yet the results just aren’t there. Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

It’s one of the most common mistakes in business: teams confuse strategy with tactics. The result? Misaligned efforts, wasted resources, and frustration when results don’t materialise. Understanding the difference is essential if you want your business and marketing plans to deliver real impact.

A practical guide for ambitious companies ready to align vision, strategy and execution.