‘I’m always the only socialist in the room’

Novum Personnel’s Tom Simpson tells Sam Hawcroft why he’d rather have happier staff than lots of money… Tom Simpson describes himself as “probably more left-wing than Jeremy Corbyn” – which is a bit unusual for the business world, it’s fair to say. It’s these “socialist” values that have informed his journey into business, where his company revolves around people whose development motivates him...

Hire ground

Things have certainly not been easy since Sally Wray decided – almost on a whim – to buy a tool rental company, but she’s learned to roll with the punches, writes Sam Hawcroft Sally Wray had always harboured entrepreneurial ambitions – but it took her a long time to realise them. As it does with many people, the attraction of a secure, though unspectacular, position, kept her from taking the...

Raising the bar

Sam Hawcroft talks to Great Newsome director Matthew Hodgson about how the brewery is holding its own in Holderness… The craft beer industry is having a tough time of it at the moment. Scores of small brewers have gone out of business in recent months, with Covid and Brexit being the biggest factors in ending the boom of the past couple of decades. Great Newsome Brewery, though, in the heart of...

A force for Good

John Good Group CEO Adam Walsh tells Sam Hawcroft how the sixth-generation family business is focused on reinvesting in its own operations – as well as its charitable foundation Adam Walsh was always the team captain in school sports – and leading people to success has been his ambition ever since. He’s always had an entrepreneurial spirit, not that he likes to call it that – entrepreneurs never...

Artificial Intelligence tailors to the needs of the user

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent in the world of start-ups, with many entrepreneurs and investors recognizing the potential of AI to transform industries and create new opportunities. In recent years, there has been a growing body of research into the impact of AI on start-ups, and the ways in which AI can be used to drive innovation and growth. In this blog, we'll...