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Why companies are rebuilding around freelancers and AI

13 May 2026

12 min

Britain’s freelancer boom is changing work forever Why companies are rebuilding around freelancers and AI Freelancers are no longer sitting on the sidelines of the economy. They are becoming central to how modern businesses operate. In this episode, Liz Barclay talks to Matt Dowling, founder of Freelancer Club, about the explosive growth of freelance working, the rise of side hustles among younger generations, and why companies are increasingly building “blended workforces” around flexible talen...

Small businesses are quietly closing. Government must finally listen

8 May 2026

7 min

From tax complexity to vanishing local support, Britain’s smallest firms are being squeezed from every direction. If they fail, communities feel it first There is a phrase I hear more and more often from small business owners: “I’m still open… but only just.” It is not dramatic. It is not shouted. It is not even always visible. But it is everywhere. And it should worry us far more than it does. Because Britain’s smallest businesses are not collapsing in headlines. They are quietly closing...

Help to Grow - Management Essentials

1 May 2026

1 min

The Help to Grow: Management Essentials, a free, government funded course is built around short, practical videos and real-world advice — a flexible, self-guided introduction to the kind of thinking that drives growth. And if you want to go further, the full Help to Grow: Management Course which is 90% funded by government goes deeper — with structured learning, peer support, and one-to-one mentoring to help you build a robust growth plan around your business. Here, we bring that thinking to...

How do I get confident using AI?

17 Feb 2026

15 min

In the video, Kirsty discusses the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in small businesses, particularly in the construction sector. She dispels the common misconception that AI will take over jobs, instead arguing that it will simply change the nature of work. For instance, AI can automate tasks such as organising emails or painting with a spray arm, freeing up time for business owners to focus on other aspects such as marketing and pricing. She also mentions a semi-automated brick mason that ...

What is AI and what can it do for me?

17 Feb 2026

10 min

In this episode of Business111.com coffee pod, Liz Barclay and Kirsty Ingleson discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in small businesses. Ingleson, who works for AI Meets Reality, explains that AI is already embedded in our daily lives, often without us realizing it. She mentions examples like predictive text and sat navigation systems. The conversation then shifts to the recent boom in generative AI, which pushes AI to its limits to create new things based on its training. Ingleson h...