Scale What Does Not Leak: Where Export Plans Actually Fail
While exports in the UK soar, it is important to understand how to minimise hidden costs of internationalisation. We have developed a framework to identify those costs beforehand.
The Spinout Gap Just Got a Funding Call
UKRI’s own data shows that around 60% of UK spin-outs from arts, humanities and social sciences backgrounds have unknown sectoral data. AHRC has now opened a £250,000 call — “A guide for the commercialisation of Creative Industries Research” — to help fix it, open 30 July to 15 October 2026. NorthStar Consulting has been tracking this gap since January, and is now inviting academics working on commercialisation in these disciplines to talk directly, ahead of the call’s guide being built.
From Brilliant Idea to Sustainable Business: The Missing Commercial Infrastructure
Commercialisation doesn’t end when a product reaches the market—it begins there. From hidden operational costs and pricing decisions to compliance and commercial infrastructure, sustainable growth depends on far more than a great idea.
The SME Support Paradox: Surrounded by Services, Still Searching for Demand
Operational Support for SMEs is not lacking. The challenge is bridging that gap between capability and opportunity. What we learned at SCALE.
Five Critical Risks and Opportunities for UK SMEs in April 2026
April 2026 updates: from effective cost of living and labour costs, UK SMEs are facing some changes. Our latest analysis and review.