Had a great day at Chester Racecourse today as a guest of the Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub

The morning began with insightful presentations from my good friend Pete Loughlin of Xeinadin and Gorvins Solicitors, followed by an engaging session from Deepbridge Capital and my colleague Richard Lydon on what investors are really looking for when assessing new opportunities.

The afternoon focused on a series of pitches from innovative businesses seeking investment, followed by lunch and the opportunity for some excellent informal conversations with founders, investors and advisers alike, some of which I have worked with so it was a good opportunity to catch up.

To round off the day, Kate Dawson, Commercial Director at Chester Racecourse, gave us a fascinating tour of the racecourse, sharing its rich history and exciting plans for the future.

A well-organised event, some strong businesses, and plenty of interesting conversations throughout the day.

I attended the inaugural Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority board meeting this week. There’s a lot of energy in the room. But more importantly, there’s a clear recognition that this is not about creating another layer of structure. It’s about whether we can actually shift outcomes.

The Get Cheshire & Warrington Working Plan sets the context well. On paper, this is one of the strongest economies in the North. High employment, strong sectors, good earnings. But scratch the surface and the gaps are obvious. We still have over 100,000 people economically inactive. Long-term sickness is rising. Early retirement is a major factor. And there are 65,000+ people on Universal Credit who have been out of work for over a year.

At the same time, employers are struggling to recruit. That disconnect is the real issue. Not a lack of opportunity, but a failure to connect people to it in a way that actually works.

What stood out

The plan is honest about where the problems sit.

It identifies six priority groups, which broadly come down to:

• people disconnected from opportunity
• people held back by health
• people falling through transition points
• and people in places where access simply doesn’t work

This is not new insight. But the difference here is the intent to treat it as a system problem, not a programme problem. That matters, because the current landscape is fragmented. DWP, NHS, local authorities, skills providers, employers, voluntary sector… all doing something, but rarely aligned. The plan calls that out directly and pushes toward a joined-up, locally driven employment system rather than a collection of initiatives.

The real test

The next 12–18 months are critical.

The plan talks about:

• governance to align delivery
• auditing existing provision (and stripping duplication)
• targeted task groups for priority issues
• and moving toward a single strategic employment support model

These are all sensible but this only works if it goes beyond coordination and into control and accountability. Devolution gives Cheshire & Warrington a real opportunity here. Not just to shape policy, but to redesign how the system actually operates on the ground.

That includes:

• how funding flows
• how outcomes are measured
• and how employers are genuinely brought into the solution

The bit that needs more focus

If there is a gap, it’s this, we still risk over-indexing on supporting people into work without equally addressing how employers behave. The plan touches on this, particularly around:

• low investment in workforce training
• lack of progression pathways
• and limited incentives to take on early talent

But this needs to be more central, because without changing employer behaviour, we’re just recycling people through the same system.

Final thought

There is no shortage of strategy in this space. What’s different here is the platform:

• devolution
• aligned partners
• and a clear economic case to act

If this turns into a genuinely integrated system, it will move the dial. If it becomes another well-written plan with loosely connected delivery, it won’t. Simple as that.

Kognise is pleased to highlight Responsible Business, a specialist advisory we work closely with across our sustainability and responsible business engagements.

This work is focused on helping SMEs identify, assess and manage sustainability-related risks and opportunities in a way that is proportionate, evidence-based and commercially grounded. Rather than treating sustainability as a standalone initiative, Kognise and Responsible Business support businesses to embed environmental, social and governance considerations into strategy, governance and day-to-day decision-making.

Together, we work with businesses that need to demonstrate a credible, auditable approach to sustainability — whether to support investment discussions, meet sustainable fund requirements, manage regulatory exposure, or strengthen long-term resilience — without over-engineering programmes or relying on superficial ESG labelling.

Anthony King, Founder of Kognise, commented:

“For investors and lenders, sustainability is increasingly about understanding risk, resilience and long-term value. Our work with Responsible Business is focused on helping companies assess what is genuinely material, manage those risks properly, and evidence their approach in a way that stands up to scrutiny.”

Lucinda Lay, Founder of Responsible Business, added:

“Sustainability becomes meaningful when organisations move beyond intent and start managing it as part of normal business practice. Our role is to help SMEs translate environmental and social risks — from carbon and supply chains through to governance and culture — into practical actions that are measurable, proportionate and credible.”

This collaboration brings together Kognise’s strategic and investment expertise with Responsible Business’s hands-on capability across sustainability materiality, carbon and emissions management, climate and supply-chain risk assessment, reporting and regulatory readiness, responsible procurement, and impact measurement.

The shared aim is clear: to help businesses assess sustainability risks effectively, manage them pragmatically, and communicate progress with confidence and credibility.

We will be at the Clean Growth Fund Roadshow Core Technology Facility, Manchester, England this evening. Clean Growth Fund is a specialist climate tech venture capital fund investing in early stage (Seed to Series A) companies.

This evening is a chance to meet up with Academia, local authorities, investors, innovators, accelerators, corporates and the wider ecosystem.

With over 25 years’ experience at senior leadership and board level, Richard has coordinated R&D, product development, and commercial strategy across global operations — from multi-site industrial groups to cutting-edge university spin-outs. He brings deep expertise in transitioning technology businesses from early-stage innovation through to venture funding, scale-up and M&A.

His work spans IP protection, business development, and innovation leadership, particularly in the fields of Filtration & Separation, Life Sciences, Clean Water, Air Quality, and Sustainable Energy.

Richard has led global R&D programmes, worked with CROs and institutes on the commercialisation of novel technologies, and built collaborative pathways between science and market.

At Kognise, Richard supports our mission to unlock value at the intersection of technology, investment, and execution— shaping ventures with ambition and discipline.

Welcome, Richard

We’re off to the Chester Business Club Club5to7 event at the Artezzan Restaurant and Bar on 26/06/2025. This is a free event, open to Club members, their guests and the wider business community to attend for drinks and informal networking between 5pm and 7pm.

www.https://chesterbusinessclub.co.uk

It’s a great opportunity to catch up with people and enjoy a few nibbles. The booking link is below

https://chesterbusinessclub.beaconforms.com/form/040d2694

This morning, I had the privilege of attending the LCR Investor Pitch and Investor Partnership event hosted at Sci-Tech Daresbury—a dynamic showcase of innovation and collaboration in one of the UK’s most forward-thinking tech ecosystems.

🔹 First, a huge thank you to John Leake, Business Growth Director at Sci-Tech Daresbury, and Paul Treloar, Head of Business Support, for making space for me at the last minute and curating such a valuable programme. Also, a special thanks to Richard Lydon, who gave me the heads-up about the event and was great company—especially appreciated after a late night!

🔹 It was also a pleasure to meet up with Dr. Susanne Coles from Innovate UK Loans Ltd, and to meet a range of visionary founders .

What Made the Event Stand Out?

World-class venue: Sci-Tech Daresbury is more than just a tech park. It’s a deeply integrated innovation ecosystem—a hybrid physical and virtual campus where entrepreneurs, researchers, and funders collaborate to scale science-led businesses.

Exceptional pitches: The founders presenting today were well-prepared, purpose-driven, and already generating traction. Whether in AI, life sciences, clean tech or advanced engineering, the calibre of business and strategic vision was outstanding.

Meaningful connections: Beyond the pitches, the real value came from the quality of follow-up discussions—several of which are already turning into active conversations around support and investment.

Final Thoughts

Events like this are a reminder of the power of place-based innovation. Sci-Tech Daresbury plays a vital role in driving regional economic growth by connecting capital to capability. The atmosphere was energetic, forward-looking, and collaborative—a true testament to the ecosystem John, Paul, and the broader team have built.

Looking forward to continued engagement and supporting the next generation of standout ventures.

Kognise will be attending the LCR Investor pitch and investor partnership event – Thursday June 5th (8.30am – 2.00pm) at Sci-Tech Daresbury.

Sci-Tech Daresbury is a national science and innovation campus established back in 2006 and home to over 160 exciting science, technology and engineering companies. Notable exits over the years have been Auralis to US biotech Viropharma, FS Walker-Hughes to Amor Group and then subsequently to Lockheed Martin, Perceptive Engineering to US multi-billion dollar materials engineering business Applied Materials, and more recently Perfectus Biomed to NAMSA, a US Life Sciences CRO business.

Sci-Tech Daresbury, with its key joint venture partner STFC, provides a range of facilities, support services and networks that helps reduce the risk around its cluster of tech companies and accelerates their growth. Since it started in 2006, business failure rates on campus are an astonishing 7%. Alongside this, sales growth rates of 25%/year have been achieved in the past 5 years by companies on campus.

We are delighted to formally welcome Georgina Chapman as a partner at Kognise Ltd. Georgina brings an impressive breadth of experience and expertise that will undoubtedly enrich our firm and its future endeavours.

Georgina possesses an extensive and influential network, is a proven leader across both the Not-for-Profit (NFP) and For-Profit (FP) sectors, with a deep understanding of organisational dynamics and strategy. She has specialist skills in working with High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWI), providing tailored insights and strategic engagement. She has incredible organisational abilities and a distinguished track record as a project manager, ensuring precision and efficiency in all endeavours.

Outside of work Georgina is an accomplished equestrian, having owned and retrained racehorses, Georgina has cultivated an extensive network within the equestrian community, including breeding and performance expertise.

A Message from Anthony Keith King, Founder of Kognise Ltd:  “It is with immense pride and excitement that I welcome Georgina to Kognise Ltd as a partner. Her unique expertise, remarkable organisational skills, and broad network are an excellent fit for our firm’s vision and values. Her passion for connecting people and creating opportunities aligns perfectly with what we stand for, and I have no doubt she will play a vital role in driving us forward. Georgina, welcome to the team—it’s an honour to have you on board!”

Last night was a perfect example of how powerful business networking can be when you combine a fantastic venue, great company, and an atmosphere designed for meaningful connections. Courtesy of the Chester Business Club’s renowned 5 to 7 event, I had the pleasure of meeting and engaging with professionals from a diverse range of industries.

It was inspiring to see business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals come together to share experiences, discuss opportunities, and support one another’s ambitions. Artezzan Restaurants Ltd truly outdid themselves with their exquisite selection of snacks. Their commitment to quality and hospitality shone through in every bite.

These events serve as a great reminder that networking isn’t just about handing out business cards—it’s about forming genuine connections that can lead to exciting new ventures, partnerships, and friendships.

A huge thank you to Chester Business Club for organizing such a brilliant evening and to Artezzan for hosting us so beautifully. I’m already looking forward to the next gathering!