Would you trust AI to run your business? Could you spot an AI-written product description, or would you even care?This week, Matt, Tom, and Morgan swap war stories (and a few hate comments) for a deep dive into the AI revolution changing British business right now, not five years from now. From customer service bots to data-driven decisions, we unpack how UK companies are using AI (and sometimes missing a trick), what’s just hype, and what you need to know to stay ahead.Expect real-life examples from the trenches, honest chat about the human side of tech (is it really “robotic” if you can’t tell?), and plenty of tips on using AI for everything from sharper emails to strategic analysis even if you’re not a techie.🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode🤖 The truth about how British businesses are (and aren’t) using AI right now📈 AI for real-world problem-solving: stock analysis, cashflow, customer service, and more🧑‍💻 How to blend human judgement with machine intelligence (and when NOT to trust the robot)🇬🇧 Surprising UK stats: why we’re punching above our weight in global AI investment✉️ Why even dyslexics are using AI to sharpen up business emails🏃 Running competitions, tax loopholes, and TrustPilot rants what does AI not touch?🧠 Are we all about to be replaced? The real opportunities (and threats) of the AI era💡 How to future-proof your business and yourself in an age of exponential change🕒 Chapters0:00 Intro & why you should leave us a hate comment3:00 Life updates, running challenges, and British small business stories6:05 British Business Fact of the Week: UK’s AI investment boom8:04 How Matt, Tom, and Morgan actually use AI in their companies (warts and all)16:00 Data, cashflow, and letting AI spot the anomalies21:00 Are British businesses ahead, behind, or just confused?25:00 AI and customer service: Would you know if it’s a bot?29:00 Could AI be your business mentor (or Chancellor of the Exchequer)?33:00 Is it even possible to future-proof your job anymore?36:00 Closing thoughts, wild predictions, and a challenge for listeners🎧 Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHL0KUZL2m9dLx9JvO📺 Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcastMatt:Linktree - https://linktr.ee/mrmatthollandTom:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/Morgan:Podcast Studio - https://cheshirepodcaststudio.com💡 Key Takeaway:If you don’t embrace AI, your competition will. The winners? Those who keep adapting—one human judgment call at a time.Question for You:Would you let AI run your business if it did 80% as well as you? Why or why not? Drop your answer in the comments!#BritishBusiness #AIinBusiness #Automation #UKBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #ChatGPT #BusinessPodcast #FutureofWork #Leadership

You pour your heart into building a business then a war breaks out, borders close, and your entire team is scattered. Would you risk it all and rebuild?This week, Matt and Tom sit down with Paul from MageCloud, a Ukrainian founder who built a seven-figure agency from scratch, then had to start again when everything changed overnight.From hustling fruit in Siberia to navigating UK visas, Silicon Valley failures, and wartime pivots, Paul’s journey is a real-life playbook for resilience, reinvention, and growth.🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode🇺🇦 How Paul survived post-Soviet hardship and learned to hustle from age 10💻 From developer to agency owner: the wild journey behind MageCloud🏃‍♂️ Why founders must own their mistakes and pivot quickly when the world changes🌍 How to build and manage cross-border teams (and why Ukrainian devs are different)🚀 What it’s really like to lose $100k chasing the Silicon Valley dream🧠 Why AI disruption forced a full business pivot and how to future proof your agency👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The raw reality of moving your family to safety while leading a business💡 Real lessons in resilience, leadership, and not letting setbacks define you🕒 Chapters0:00 Introduction & What to Expect0:45 Paul’s Wild Entrepreneurial Origins2:35 Selling Fruit, Surviving in Soviet Times4:00 Hustling in School & Early Businesses7:00 From Ukraine to the UK: The Big Move10:30 Building MageCloud (and Early Failures)14:40 Silicon Valley Dream And $100k Lost17:30 Surviving War & Rebuilding the Team20:30 Pivoting the Business: Agency vs Product22:55 Managing Teams in Ukraine & the UK25:30 The Family Story: Moving Amidst War28:00 Real Lessons in Resilience & Ownership30:45 The Role of Luck (and Why It’s Overrated)33:10 Future-Proofing Against AI Threats36:00 Key Takeaways & Final Thoughts37:35 Where to Find Paul, Matt & TomWhere to Find Us & Key Links🎧 Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHL0KUZL2m9dLx9JvO📺 Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcastPaul / MageCloud:Website - https://magecloud.agencyLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/magecloud/Matt:Linktree - https://linktr.ee/mrmatthollandTom:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/Podcast studio - https://cheshirepodcaststudio.com💡 Key Takeaway:Setbacks are inevitable. The founders who win are those who take full ownership, adapt fast, and keep building no matter what the world throws at them.What’s the hardest business pivot you’ve made and what did you learn? Drop your story in the comments!#BritishBusiness #FounderLife #ImmigrantEntrepreneur #BusinessGrowth #Resilience #MageCloud #StartupStory #UkraineBusiness #Leadership #SmallBusinessUK #EntrepreneurshipCredits:Podcast by British Business PodcastProduced by Cheshire Podcast Studio (https://cheshirepodcaststudio.com)Guest: Paul - Founder, MageCloud (https://magecloud.agency)

You pour your energy (and sometimes a little bit of your sanity) into a new idea. But what happens when your big business brainwave… just isn’t working?Do you double down, Dyson-style, and keep pushing for that 5,000th prototype? Or do you do the hardest thing in entrepreneurship - cut your losses and move on?This week, Matt and Tom get brutally honest about when to quit - and why killing bad ideas fast can save your business, your time, and your mental health.🧨 How to spot when persistence becomes stubbornness (and why it’s so hard to admit defeat)💸 Knowing when to pull the plug on a project, hire, or partnership🧠 Why “sunk cost syndrome” is so dangerous for founders🥊 Real-world stories: agency regrets, wasted hours on beanies, and quitting booze🐟 Why sometimes catching the wrong fish is the only way to learn🌳 How quitting can actually help your business grow back stronger (like pruning a tree)🔥 Turning business “failures” into your next big winFrom Woolworths clinging to the high street, to James Dyson’s 5,000 prototypes, to Matt’s rant about shady agencies—this episode is all about the art of knowing when to walk away, and how to bounce back even better.💡 Key Takeaway:Quitting isn’t failure—it’s a skill. The best founders know when to kill a bad idea, cut their losses, and invest in what works.🎧 Listen now on Spotify | 📺 Watch on YouTube🔊 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHL0KUZL2m9dLx9JvO📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcastFollow Matt:🌐 https://linktr.ee/mrmatthollandFollow Tom:👨‍💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/💬 What’s something you wish you’d quit sooner in your business journey? Or did sticking it out finally pay off?#BritishBusiness #WhenToQuit #FounderLife #FailFast #BusinessLessons #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #SmallBusinessUK #GrowthMindset

Ever found yourself putting off a tough conversation, hoping a bad hire will just “sort themselves out”?Or maybe you’ve ignored a red flag in an interview then paid the price for months?This week on British Business, Matt and Tom get brutally honest about hiring slow and firing fast—why it matters, why it’s so hard, and what happens to your team if you don’t act quickly enough. From awkward probation chats to the true cost of keeping the wrong person, we’re cutting through the British politeness to talk about protecting your business, your culture, and your sanity.We get real about:🔎 Why most founders wait too long to let people go🚩 The red flags we all ignore (and regret)💔 Why “being nice” can destroy your team👥 Building a squad you don’t have to babysit⚖️ The balance between second chances and protecting your best people🔥 Lessons from Lord Sugar: fire fast to save your businessPlus, rants on British bureaucracy, civil service pensions, and why hiring in the UK is so damn hard right now.💡 Key Takeaway:Kindness is great, but courage keeps your business alive. Hire with care. Fire with speed. Your A-players will thank you.🎧 Listen now on Spotify | 📺 Watch on YouTube🔊 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHL0KUZL2m9dLx9JvO📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcastFollow Matt:🌐 https://linktr.ee/mrmatthollandFollow Tom:👨‍💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/💬 Have you ever waited too long to let someone go? How did it impact your business?#BritishBusiness #Hiring #Firing #SmallBusinessUK #FounderLife #TeamCulture #Leadership #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #ToughDecisions

You build a business because you care about the details. But at some point, your obsession with “getting it right” can choke growth, stress your team, and keep you stuck in the weeds.So… when is micromanaging actually good? And when is it just getting in your own way?This week, Matt and Tom dive into one of the most painful truths for founders: learning to let go.Why do entrepreneurs cling to every task, even after hiring? How do you really step back, build trust, and let your business scale without losing control?We get real about:🔍 The hidden upside (and obvious downside) of micromanagement🕹️ Why letting go can feel like losing a piece of yourself🧑‍🤝‍🧑 How to build trust so you’re not always needed📦 When it’s time to step away from the “shop floor” (and why it’s so hard)💥 Why great systems beat great people every time🚧 How to create guardrails for your team (without stifling them)Plus, the Timpson’s story: what Britain’s biggest shoe-repair chain teaches us about real delegation and local empowerment.💡 Key Takeaway:Real leadership means letting go. If you can’t trust your people, you hired the wrong ones or you’re the bottleneck. The more you let go, the more your business can grow.🎧 Listen now on Spotify | 📺 Watch on YouTube🔊 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHL0KUZL2m9dLx9JvO📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcastFollow Matt:🌐 https://linktr.ee/mrmatthollandFollow Tom:👨‍💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/💬 What’s the one thing you still can’t stop micromanaging even though you know you should?#BritishBusiness #FounderLife #Micromanagement #Delegation #LettingGo #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #SmallBusinessUK #TeamBuilding #BusinessGrowth #BusinessMindset #growthmindset

You pour your heart into building a business then someone publicly slates it.Maybe it’s a bad review, a brutal comment, or a DM from someone who’s never met you.Do you bite back? Or learn something valuable and move on?This week, Matt and Tom dive into one of the rawest parts of being a founder: how to handle haters, trolls, and tough feedback without losing your cool or your confidence.🧠 Why your brain focuses more on one bad comment than ten good ones💬 Coaching your team through savage reviews and unfair feedback🛠️ Turning criticism into growth not bitterness👨‍👩‍👧 How business owners confuse feedback with personal attacks🚫 When to fire a toxic customer or ignore the noise completelyFrom viral takedowns to one-star reviews that cut deep, this episode explores how to separate signal from noise and why the worst feedback might be your biggest opportunity.💡 Key Takeaway:Negative feedback can sting, but it’s often free insight into how to improve. The trick? Don’t flinch—filter it, fix it, and grow from it.🎧 Listen now on Spotify | 📺 Watch on YouTube🔊 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHL0KUZL2m9dLx9JvO📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcastFollow Matt:🌐 https://linktr.ee/mrmatthollandFollow Tom:👨‍💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/💬 What’s the most brutal bit of feedback you’ve ever received and how did you bounce back?#BritishBusiness #FounderLife #NegativeFeedback #ReputationManagement #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #SmallBusinessUK #Resilience #BusinessMindset #GrowthMindset

We’ve all scribbled down a brilliant idea then left it to gather dust. So why do some founders turn sketches into empires, while others get stuck on ‘what if’?This week, Matt and Tom get real about one of the hardest truths in business: ideas are worthless without action.From midnight DIY disasters to the 5,127 failed prototypes behind Dyson’s first vacuum, they unpack what separates serial starters from true finishers.🛠️ The real reason most ideas never get built☕ How perfectionism and “busywork” sabotage execution📈 Why the best businesses launch messy and iterate fast🏗️ Learning to let go delegating the day-to-day so you can move the needle🐸 Eat That Frog: tackling your ugliest task (before your inbox swallows you whole)From micro-managing entrepreneurs to the myth of the “perfect moment,” this episode dives into the discipline, mindset, and brutal honesty it takes to actually ship your ideas and why ‘imperfect action’ beats talking every time. #BuildToLast #ExecutionMatters #BritishBusiness💡 Key Takeaway:Talk less, do more. Imperfect action beats perfect intentions—every single time.🎧 Listen now on Spotify | 📺 Watch on YouTube🔊 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHLdho0f9o3hc0WjLZ📺 YouTube – www.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcastFollow Matt:🌐 https://linktr.ee/mrmatthollandFollow Tom:👨‍💻 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/#BritishBusiness #FounderLife #Execution #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #StartupJourney #MVP #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusinessUK #Discipline #LegacyBuilding

Ever felt like you’re standing at a crossroads, play it safe or go all in? In this episode, Matt and Tom dive into what it really means to burn the boats and commit fully.From late arrivals and exposed brick walls to real talk on failure, risk and pushing limits, this one is packed with stories, laughs, and lessons.Whether it’s a young gymwear startup or investing in property with your back against the wall, this episode unpacks the mindset of betting on yourself when there’s no plan B.We talk about:🗣️ Taking bold risks when safe isn’t smart💼 Learning through failure (and fire guards)☝🏼 The “Snugaroo” story and other business scars📈 Why sometimes the best results come when there’s no way back💡How inspired youth + personal passion = powerful business fuel🎯 Key Takeaway:Success starts when there’s no turning back. Burn the boats, back yourself, and go all in.#BurnTheBoats #EntrepreneurMindset #NoPlanB #StartupLife #RiskAndReward #AllIn #FounderJourney #PodcastHighlights #BritishBusiness #BusinessTalks #CommitAndConquer #CreativeEntrepreneurs #founders #FromIdeaToBrand #PushYourLimits #BuildInPublic🎧 Listen on Spotify | Watch on YouTube 🔈 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHLdho0f9o3hc0WjLZ?si=PAlUDhgITly2CL1o2JC18w 📺 Youtube - www.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcast Follow Matt:🌐 https://linktr.ee/mrmatthollandFollow Tom:👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/