Growth Idea

07/08/2026

Are you one of the 25%?

Only one in four UK businesses is making meaningful use of generative AI.

If your answer is "I think so"...

You probably aren't.

Using ChatGPT isn't the same as building an AI-enabled business.

The businesses pulling ahead are using AI to rethink how work gets done, not just to speed up individual tasks.

That's exactly what this month's newsletter explores.

https://rpst.in/jcVxZ%2ByXWZA%3D%3D

Most business owners think they're using AI. They're not.

05/08/2026

Most people heard one thing from Kevin Warsh's latest announcement: no change to interest rates.

They also heard him reaffirm the Federal Reserve's commitment to bringing inflation back to its 2% target.

But many corporate leaders heard something else entirely.

Despite the Fed holding its benchmark rate at 3.50% - 3.75%, concerns are growing over long-term borrowing costs.

Why does that matter? Because it's long-term interest rates, not just the Fed Funds rate, that influence the cost of financing expansion, investing in infrastructure, securing capital and planning for future growth.

Recent reports suggest many CEOs and CFOs are paying closer attention to 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields than the headline rate itself.

The concern is that even without a rate hike, elevated long-term borrowing costs could continue to make investment more expensive.

It's a timely reminder that economic policy isn't just about the announcement.

It's about understanding what those decisions mean for your business, your cash flow and your growth strategy.

If you're looking to navigate an uncertain economic landscape with greater confidence, we're here to help.

At Growth Idea, we help business owners make informed strategic decisions, strengthen cash flow and build resilient growth plans, whatever the market conditions.

Get in touch to discuss how we can help your business grow with confidence.

31/07/2026

The biggest obstacle to business growth isn't always the answer.

Sometimes, it's the question.

Many business owners spend their time asking questions that lead to small, incremental improvements. But the businesses that achieve exceptional growth start by challenging the way they think.

In this short video, discover a simple exercise designed to push your thinking beyond the obvious and help you ask the questions that drive bigger opportunities.

Watch the video below and ask yourself: Are your questions bold enough to create the growth you want?

22/07/2026

Most business owners look forward to holidays.

But very few stop to ask one simple question:

What is a holiday actually for?

In this short video, our Principal Coach, Shweta Jhajharia, shares a different perspective on time away, one that could change the way you approach your next break.

If you're planning a holiday this summer, this is well worth a watch.

Watch the video

20/07/2026

Why are overseas investors buying UK businesses at record levels?

Because they see value where others don't.

Over the past year, overseas buyers agreed $142 billion in takeovers of UK companies, a 74% increase compared with 2024.

In the first two months of 2026 alone, deal values reached nearly $90 billion, the highest level in 26 years.

So, what are they seeing? They're looking beyond today's challenges and investing in tomorrow's potential.

For business owners, there's an important lesson here. Too many entrepreneurs only think about valuation when they're ready to sell.

The smartest ones build value long before they ever need to.

Ask yourself:
Is my business dependent on me?
Are our financials clean and predictable?
Do we have recurring revenue and healthy margins?
Can someone else step in and run the business successfully?
Would an investor see opportunity or risk?

Whether you plan to sell in two years, ten years or never, these are the questions that matter.

A valuable business isn't just easier to sell. It's also easier to grow, attract investment, and is much more resilient during uncertainty.

The current surge in international acquisitions isn't just a story about M&A. It's a reminder that the market is constantly judging the quality of businesses.

The question is:

If an opportunity knocked on your door tomorrow, would your business be ready?

16/07/2026

The most interesting AI statistic isn't that 41% of UK businesses use AI.

It's that only 6% are using their own business data to improve it.

That means most businesses are asking just generic AI questions like:

"Write me an email." "Summarise this meeting." "Draft a proposal."

It may be quite useful but has zero competitive advantage.

As every business has access to the same models, the biggest advantage comes from what you feed it.

Your customer conversations. Your sales calls. Your project history. Your internal processes. Your knowledge.

When fed properly, that's when you'll use AI to the fullest and custom to your needs. Because that's the information your competitors don't have.

The companies creating real value won't necessarily have the best AI. They'll have the best understanding of their own business and use AI to amplify it.

So next time when you have a real AI problem, try feeding AI with real data of your business!

And if you need more help figuring out best ways to use AI that none of your competitors may be using right now, reach out!

Book a free call with us here - https://growthidea.co.uk/

08/07/2026

27% of UK businesses are considering raising prices because of rising energy costs. A year ago, that figure was just 16%.

It's a reminder that many businesses are once again looking at their pricing.

But here's the question we encourage our clients to ask:

Are you increasing your prices because your costs have gone up... or because your value has?

They're not the same thing.

When price increases are driven purely by rising costs, they often feel like an apology. "We're sorry, but we have to..."

When they're backed by a clear value proposition, improved service, better outcomes or greater expertise, they become much easier for customers to accept. That's why pricing shouldn't be a conversation that starts with finance.

It should start with your customers. What are they getting today that they weren't getting 12 months ago? What makes working with you worth paying more for?

Can your team explain that confidently?

Rising costs may force the conversation. But they shouldn't define it. The strongest businesses don't just review their prices. They review the value they deliver alongside them.

When was the last time you reviewed your value proposition before reviewing your pricing?

02/07/2026

Only 182 days remain until the end of the year.

That's all the time most businesses have left to hit their annual targets.

Which means your Q3 plan shouldn't begin with goals. It should begin with a reality check.

Ask your leadership team these five questions:

1. If we lost 20% of our leads tomorrow, what would we do?

If the answer is "generate more leads", your growth strategy is too dependent on marketing.

2. Which customer segment has become more profitable in 2026?

Economic conditions have shifted. Your best customers six months ago may not be your best customers today.

3. What are we still doing simply because we've always done it?

Every recurring meeting, report, approval process and campaign should justify its place.

4. Where could AI remove hours, not jobs from our business every week?

The businesses seeing the biggest gains aren't replacing people. They're eliminating repetitive work so teams can focus on higher-value activities.

5. If we could only deliver one strategic initiative before Q4, what would create the greatest commercial impact?

Most businesses fail because they pursue too many priorities, not too few.

Here's the uncomfortable truth. You don't need another quarterly plan. You need fewer priorities, faster decisions and relentless ex*****on.

Because by the time Q4 arrives, you're no longer planning the year. You're trying to rescue it.

The businesses that finish 2026 strongly won't be the ones that worked the hardest over the next 90 days. They'll be the ones that focused on the work that mattered most.

*****on

24/06/2026

Most business owners are measuring overall performance the wrong way. They focus heavily on sales and revenue…but fail to track the things that actually drive long-term growth.

That’s exactly why Kaplan’s Balanced Scorecard remains one of the most important strategic frameworks for business owners today.

It helps leaders look beyond financial numbers and understand the full health of the business from customer experience and operational efficiency to team performance and ex*****on.

In this video, Shweta breaks down why the Balanced Scorecard matters, how business owners should think about it strategically, and why relying on financial data alone can leave major blind spots inside a business.

If you want to build a business that grows sustainably instead of constantly reacting to problems, this is well worth watching.

Watch the video and let us know your biggest takeaway below 👇

15/06/2026

Learn the Equation That Separates Scalable Businesses from Stuck Ones! This Thursday we're running our popular webinar series; 'The Founder-Led Framework @ 2pm BST. If you would like to join for free and get 40 minutes of PRIME business coaching from Shweta Jhajharia, one of the UK's top coaches, register your attendance here

You have built a successful business, but growth has plateaued. Operations become fragile when you step back, margins tighten, and your involvement becomes the bottleneck. This is not unique to you. Across the region, a vast majority of founder‑led companies stall between USD 600K and USD 3M , not...