David Dyer

In Sep 1995, nearly 30 years ago, Warren Mead and I joined KPMG straight from University to become accountants. We were both from the 93% club (the 93% that went to state school). We didnt know each other during our combined time there and once we qualified, 3 years later, we went on different paths - me to JMFinn to build finnCap and Warren to work his way up to become the COO of KPMG. Almost 30 years later, thank goodness, Warren got the entrepreneurial itch and set up Sumer with Private Equity firm, Penta’s, backing. I had also just stepped back from my CEO role at finnCap and was delighted when I got a call to join the board as NED. Warren and I realised then that we actually trained together at KPMG! What a small world. It was clear we both had a passion for building something with a special culture where inclusion and fairness is front and centre and where Sumer can champion SME’s around the country in the way that is now needed. Sumer really is very special as are all the people and clients that are part of it. Just over one year later Sumer now acts for 50,000 amazing small and medium sized businesses, from agriculture to AI. These companies are the real bedrock of the economy. They are the risk takers, the job creators and the value makers. We now employ 1,400 great people and are growing fast. Now is time to do our bit to be The Business Champion of the SME community. Warren and his team have built a phenomenal culture that I am proud to be part of and I am delighted Warren did his first early start yesterday on Wake Up to Money, to start really championing the issues the SME’s need raised and actioned. I listened to it at the airport on the way back from World Entrepreneur of The Year 2024 and couldnt have been a better entrepreneurial end to the week. ✅ A great interview below that is worth a listen to see what Sumer is up to - he even gets to talk about Taylor Swift!! #SME #growth #risktakers #jobcreators #entrepreneurs #inclusiveculture #goodgrowth #leadership

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In the UK we own more and more clothing that we are getting less and less use out of, and this comes with a high environmental price tag. Join Green Alliance and PwC UK on 22 April for a webinar to discuss how circular reuse business models can help fashion brands respond to this challenge and deliver what consumers want to see from a greener clothing industry. #EarthDay #Fashion #CircularEconomy

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In the UK we own more and more clothing that we are getting less and less use out of, and this comes with a high environmental price tag. Join Green Alliance and PwC UK on 22 April for a webinar to discuss how circular reuse business models can help fashion brands respond to this challenge and deliver what consumers want to see from a greener clothing industry. #EarthDay #Fashion #CircularEconomy

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- Acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than retaining an existing customer.  - Increasing customer retention by 5% can increase profits from 25-95%. On Wednesday 17th July, we've got something special lined up for Networking-in... Vinay Parmar is joining us to talk about "Why Customer Experience is Your Secret Weapon." With stats like this, it's clear that keeping hold of the clients and customers you already have is more cost effective than generating new. Vinay, the guiding force behind Dhruva Star, has a simple yet powerful mantra: fight churn, win loyalty. He's going to show us how creating a fantastic customer experience can be the key to business success. Here's why you should be there: ✅ Boost customer satisfaction. Figure out what's working and what needs a tweak in your customer satisfaction metrics. ✅ Enhance frontline service. Understand if your clients are receiving consistent, quality service. ✅ Unify leadership vision. Get on the same page about what an outstanding customer experience looks like. ✅ Amplify your voice. If your ideas for improving the customer journey aren't being heard, Vinay will share strategies to make impactful changes. Join us to discover how to turn your customers into loyal brand ambassadors through exceptional experiences. Beat the stats, get booked on with our incredible small business owning networkers, and get your customer experiences working in your favour 🌟 https://lnkd.in/erxwtxxq #SmallBusinessNetworking #SmallBusinessGrowth #CustomerExperience

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🤔 Do you know what your business is worth? A third of business in the UK and about 40% of European business owners are unaware of their company's valuation. Why it matters? Having a good understanding of value and what drives and detracts from it, is not only essential at the time of raising investment for growth or selling your business. It is key from the very beginning, to help ensure your business is growing and evolving in the right direction. Added to this, and despite market challenges, most expect the market conditions to improve. In fact, 75% of SME leaders anticipate an increase in business value over the next year. This will only happen if you have a good understanding of what your current value is and how to improve it. At Vivero, we work closely with businesses to identify opportunities for innovation and growth, simplify the complexities of funding, and provide access to our extensive investor and buyer network, guiding you in realising the true equity value of your business. https://lnkd.in/etCH6jyH #BusinessValue #ExitStrategy #BusinessGrowth

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🤔 Do you know what your business is worth? A third of business in the UK and about 40% of European business owners are unaware of their company's valuation. Why it matters? Having a good understanding of value and what drives and detracts from it, is not only essential at the time of raising investment for growth or selling your business. It is key from the very beginning, to help ensure your business is growing and evolving in the right direction. Added to this, and despite market challenges, most expect the market conditions to improve. In fact, 75% of SME leaders anticipate an increase in business value over the next year. This will only happen if you have a good understanding of what your current value is and how to improve it. At Vivero, we work closely with businesses to identify opportunities for innovation and growth, simplify the complexities of funding, and provide access to our extensive investor and buyer network, guiding you in realising the true equity value of your business. https://lnkd.in/etCH6jyH #BusinessValue #ExitStrategy #BusinessGrowth

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🤔 Do you know what your business is worth? A third of business in the UK and about 40% of European business owners are unaware of their company's valuation. Why it matters? Having a good understanding of value and what drives and detracts from it, is not only essential at the time of raising investment for growth or selling your business. It is key from the very beginning, to help ensure your business is growing and evolving in the right direction. Added to this, and despite market challenges, most expect the market conditions to improve. In fact, 75% of SME leaders anticipate an increase in business value over the next year. This will only happen if you have a good understanding of what your current value is and how to improve it. At Vivero, we work closely with businesses to identify opportunities for innovation and growth, simplify the complexities of funding, and provide access to our extensive investor and buyer network, guiding you in realising the true equity value of your business. https://lnkd.in/etCH6jyH #BusinessValue #ExitStrategy #BusinessGrowth

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Half of consumers say they have cut their non-essential spend in Q1 of 2024 and in turn, a quarter have said they are using their savings to help meet essential costs. 🚫💷 Financial health would therefore appear the top priority, yet data from Snoop shows an increase in spend for their customers; as they still treated themselves in certain categories during the somewhat soggy start to the year. 🌧 Where are they choosing to spend their cash? Find out in KPMG UK's Consumer Pulse Snapshot: http://spkl.io/60404NBYO #consumerpulse #consumerbehaviour #costofliving

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Great insights from the new BFC "Commercialising Creativity 2.0" report - a collaboration between the British Fashion Council, London Business School and Monitor Deloitte. The findings strongly validate why we started StudioThree and the support we aim to provide founders and CEOs. Key highlights that resonated: 📊 Cash flow management remains critical - without proper financial foundations, even the most promising brands can falter. 🤝 Accessing commercial expertise early is essential, whether through buying, borrowing or renting talent. 🎯 Channel strategy must evolve with growth - from initial DTC and selective wholesale to carefully curated retail expansion 💡 The most successful brands maintain creative vision while building robust operational capabilities The report powerfully illustrates that funding alone isn't enough - fashion businesses need strong support networks and access to practitioners with both breadth and depth of expertise to thrive. Thank you Lia Barone and Holly M. for this comprehensive analysis that will help guide the next generation of British fashion businesses. Your work illuminates exactly why we're so passionate about providing operational infrastructure to help designers focus on what they do best - creating. Check out the full report available to download here: https://lnkd.in/extWDRVV #BritishFashion #Fashion #RetailInnovation #CreativeIndustries #FashionBusiness

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In 2024 the UK still does not have a well defined Industrial Strategy! But a new report out from @PwC_UK - which surveyed over 1200 of the UK's senior business decision-makers and interviewed more than 60 business leaders - is set to address that. Find out what it says here and get in touch if you'd like to know more. #IndustrialStrategy

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So I've written about a few posts about impact measurement approaches that I'm not a fan of, so here is an example of one I like. I'm not suggesting that its the right approach in any situation, but it illustrates some of the important principles in impact measurement. The tool is the Outcomes Star. The reasons that I like this tool are: 1. There are tailored stars for almost any cohort and impact domain you can think of (they've been around that long) 2. Each star is internationally validated and widely used 3. The star is applied not as a written assessment but as a conversation with someone who knows you well throughout the program. Both parties discuss and agree where your skills and knowledge now are in several different domains (or points of the star). Conversations happen every six months 4. The results are presented graphically so that you, and the organisation, can see the distance you have travelled since starting the program. Many tools can feel like an exam and aren't pleasant or quick to complete. They take information but don't give anything back to you. Applying the Outcome Star feels like a chat not a test and it gives you back insights about yourself that you and your support network can learn from. Its too common that we only take data when measuring impact and forget to whom that data belongs and the responsiblity we have to share that back and allow people to use it themselves. It also provides insights to the organisation that recognises the complexity of change which is more like a web than a straight line, therefore more reflective of the reality of the work. Do you have other tools you've used that display similar characteristics? #impactmeasurement #socialoutcomes #socialchange https://lnkd.in/gkUfjC-C

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📢 CALLING ALL UK IT & TECH SERVICES FOUNDERS & OWNERS 📢 I would love for you to join me, Actus Consulting and a panel of expert speakers as we delve into the Tech Services M&A market, outline the impact of recent economic shifts on buyer and investor behaviour, reveal practical tips on how to position your business for success and share predictions you should consider as you look ahead to 2025. In partnership with Technology Holdings, you’ll gain valuable insights from both the ‘buy side’ and the ‘sell side’, featuring: • Insights from M&A Deal Maker: Bruce Robert Green, Director at Technology Holdings • The Buyer’s Perspective: Christine Olmsted, Managing Director of Corporate Development and Strategy at Synechron • The PE Investor’s Viewpoint: Tom Maizels, Partner at Horizon Capital • And I will be offering strategic advice as Managing Partner of Actus Consulting Key discussion points and takeaways from this event will include: 📈 Understand what’s happened in the Tech Services M&A market: Experience a deep dive into the present state of the Tech Services M&A market, including changes underway, and the indicators for and against a return to increased activity in 2025. 🔍 Gain an insider’s perspective on the current mindset of buyers and investors and what they are looking for: Discover how buyers and investors are evaluating businesses differently in the wake of a challenging macro-economic period in 2023/24. 💡 Receive practical tips on how to position your business for success: Walk away with actionable tips and strategies on what you can do now to set yourself up for an eventual ‘exit event’ and ultimately attract strong buyer and investor engagement for your business. 💼 Hear expert predictions on the market as we look ahead to 2025: Get an insider’s perspective on what the future holds for M&A in the Tech Services sector in 2025, ensuring you stay ahead of the curve. Details: Thursday 26 September 8.30-11.00am (breakfast will be served!) in Soho, London. I’m really excited to bring this event together with Technology Holdings; sharing our knowledge via this awesome panel and sparking lots of conversation during and post this event. To book your place to join us, then please message me directly for the event sign up link (we have limited places available). Very much looking forward to it! #GrowthWithPurpose #TechnologyServices

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Our Forecasting & Planning service – examples of what we do Effective forecasting and planning within your customer operation are key to delivering exceptional customer and employee experiences, driving both operational excellence and strong commercial performance. 📈 Unlocking Opportunities At Atlantic Insight we have a proven track record, spanning diverse industries, helping organisations create, develop and refine their capability in forecasting & resource planning. Listed below are some of the projects we have successfully delivered with our partners, helping deliver excellent customer experience, control costs and boost employee experience - bringing improved commercial improvement and value into organisations. 🟩 Organisational design and recruitment, building a planning team to support the customer operations of a digital retailer 🟩 Review and transformation of processes & methods for resource planning of outsourcer resource requirements for a major energy utility, improving outsourcer delivery and service to customers 🟩 Successful implementation of a WFM for a UK outsourcer 🟩 Design & build of forecasting & resource planning model for a bank, increasing CX by raising service level to target 🟩 Interim management of resource planning function of UK retailer, protecting revenue by ensuring service levels achieved during peak Christmas trading 🟩 Accurate forecasting of sales demand based on promotional activity for household appliance manufacturer/retailer 🟩 Determining future resource requirement and recruitment planning for the branch network of an insurer 🟩 Implementation of weekly model & processes for planning resource across multiple accounts of an outsourcer with annualised hours as a feature 🟩 Redesign of shift patterns for a travel business - balancing cost, customer experience and employee experience 🌟 Our Forecasting & Planning Services: We have a range of services to meet your needs: 1️⃣ Operations planning review 2️⃣ Demand forecasting – build and improve 3️⃣ Resource requirement estimation 4️⃣ Schedule optimisation 5️⃣ Effective resource planning improvement 6️⃣ Expert WFM implementation & fix 7️⃣ Real-time transformation 8️⃣ Support services team development 9️⃣ Budget submission support 🗨️ Let's Start a Conversation Do you have opportunities within your operation to boost forecasting & resource planning capability up to the next level? Are you grappling with any aspect of your forecasting, planning, or real-time processes? We can help. Let's start a conversation to explore how our services can help your operation achieve improved customer experience, employee experience and performance. #Forecasting #ResourcePlanning #CustomerExperience #EmployeeExperience

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The CBI has released a new report proposing a comprehensive reform of the business rates system to boost investment and economic growth. The current system is widely seen as complex, unpredictable, and unfair. The report calls for a simpler, more transparent approach, urging the government to move beyond the revenue-neutral stance and consider short-term support for the hardest-hit sectors while planning for long-term changes.

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Is this Probably the best deal in the world? 🤔 🍺 Yesterday Carlsberg Group announced its £3.3B acquisition of Britvic plc having had an earlier offer of £13.15 per share rebuffed by the U.K. soft drinks group. So what was behind the deal and what does it mean for Carlsberg and the UK beverage market going forwards?  . At first glance a move for a U.K. soft drinks giant seems strange particularly given Carlsberg's stated strategy of focusing on premium beer, near beer and Asia. However scratch beneath the surface and we start to get a sense of what was behind it... Publicly Carlsberg called out three main reasons for the deal. 1. The cost synergies, which it put at a juicy £100M pa 2. The opportunity to acquire a stable, well-run business which Britvic undoubtedly is 3. The value of a total beverage approach, citing markets where it has combined brewing and soft drinks operations and enjoys above average margins. Here we are more sceptical Whatever one thinks of the deal though, what it does point to is that Carlsberg clearly sees few meaningful, attractive and accessible opportunities to invest in beer and therefore rather than continue to distribute cash to shareholders through buybacks (something some would say demonstrates a lack of ideas), they decided to go big with an acquisition where hard and meaningful synergies can be captured. Longer-term the move also points to a possible future M&A direction for Carlsberg, that of consolidating the PepsiCo bottling network across Europe, albeit with net debt >3x EBITDA following the deal we'll have to wait a few years before we see if this pans out. And what are the implications for the UK market more generally? In truth, it's hard to see much changing. It's unlikely that the deal will serve as any more of a catalyst for Carlsberg in the UK than the now-dead JV with Marton's did. And whilst the temptation may be to parachute in Carlsberg execs to run the soft drinks' side, we expect them to leave it well alone - if it ain't broke don't fix it. So was this, as CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen will have pitched to investors, probably the best deal in the world? The truth is ‘probably not’ but it was an interesting and bold move by the Danish brewer nevertheless and for that they deserve credit. Congrats to all those involved in the deal and best of luck to Carlsberg Britvic in the future!.

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𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 When SME businesses talk about growth they actually talk about 'organic growth' and very rarely consider 'growth by acquisition'. There are several ways in which you can increase the size of your business by acquiring others - competitors, complimentary businesses, supply chain - plus of course diversification. The reason why this is not done is probably a lack of knowledge - it is likely the owners have never done it before. If you can turn your £5m turnover business into a £10m business in 12 months is it worth considering? Inheriting a bigger customer base, some great new staff, better systems, more machinery and equipment could all be possibilities. We can support at every step of the way, from identifying targets right through to the day of completion (and the integration project beyond). Contact me if you would like to explore. [email protected] 07952 286686 #mergersandacquisitions #businessgrowth #acquisition #specialistsupport  #ambition  

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