UK Startup & Scaleup Week

In the ‘Talking Inspiration‘ podcast, Peter Bull (Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder, Cluarantonn Podcast Services) gets up close & personal (but not too close!) with some of the biggest names from the tech / digital scene in the North East of England (& occasionally beyond).

Ever wondered what makes these leaders tick, what inspired them to aim so high, or what advice they’d give to anyone brave enough to follow in their footsteps?

Peter’s here to pull back the curtain, dive into their stories & sprinkle in a few laughs along the way. Expect a mix of career wisdom, personal quirks & maybe a tip or two you didn’t see coming!

In this first episode, Peter is joined by Paul Lancaster, Founder of the PLATFORM & UK Startup & Scaleup Week events.

When asked how to define his work, Paul says: “I build audiences for businesses” & his primary focus is on supporting the business startup & scaleup ecosystem in the North East of England through:

• PLATFORM Events: Monthly events in Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough & Edinburgh, dedicated to inspiring people to start and grow businesses. They educate attendees about funding & support while featuring successful entrepreneurs who share their challenges & lessons learned.
• UK Startup & Scaleup Week: An annual event that brings together the best advice & support in one place.
• The Goal: To combat the “Brain Drain” by retaining local talent & attracting people & businesses from outside the region. Paul aims to provide a ready-made, informal & supportive platform where people can access the advice, support & collaboration they need to start or grow a successful business.

The Object: A Philosophy for Overcoming Obstacles

When asked to bring a meaningful object into the studio, Paul revealed a Stoicism medallion that he carries in his wallet. The inscription reads: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

• Philosophy: Stoicism, an ancient Greek philosophy, teaches that while bad things will happen, you are ultimately in control of how you respond (if at all). It’s about managing your emotions & finding a way through difficulty.
• Personal Impact: This philosophy provided comfort & support during the COVID-19 lockdown which coincided with a divorce & a sharp drop in business income.
• Business Alignment: Paul applies this thinking, alongside Lean Startup Principles (test, measure, iterate), to his work. He also considers himself a ‘Spiritual Stoic’, believing in the concept that “Thoughts Become Things,” provided they are followed up with real-world action.

The Photograph: A Reminder of Joy

Paul shared a photograph of himself & his two children, Jake & Amber, taken at Gibside, a Georgian landscaped garden near Rowlands Gill in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear.

• The Moment: The photo captured a moment of pure happiness with his kids during a summer after his marriage ended.
• Inspiration: It serves as a reminder of what is important & motivates him to be a good role model, showing his children that they can achieve anything they want with effort & dedication.

The Dinner: Lessons in Humility

A stand-out inspirational moment was having lunch with Graham Wylie, the founder of FTSE 100 software business, Sage.

• The Connection: Paul had mentioned in a newspaper interview that he would like to have lunch with the successful entrepreneur, demonstrating the “Thoughts Become Things” principle in action.
• The Lesson: Despite his immense success with one of the UK’s biggest tech success stories, Wylie remained incredibly humble & encouraging. Paul was also inspired by Wylie’s inherent entrepreneurial spirit – retiring for only a weekend after exiting Sage, before starting a new business (TSG).

Sharing and Finding Inspiration

Paul believes he inspires others by helping them access the inspiration that already resides within them.

• As a Catalyst: He recalled an instance where he helped entrepreneurs Ross & Matt (Co-Founders, Stable State) fully formulate their new business idea by setting a hard deadline for them to speak at a PLATFORM event. The deadline acted as the catalyst they needed to bring the project to life.
• Personal Sources: He finds his own inspiration through a variety of sources:
  • Conversations with other business owners.
  • Attending other people’s events where “light bulbs go off.”
  • Long walks in the countryside (like Hadrian’s Wall).
  • Music, film, books & creativity (including street art).